Key Takeaways
- Nintendo Switch 2 Lite could arrive in 2027 with a reported price of around $299.
- The rumored handheld may use a 7.1-inch display instead of the standard model’s 7.9-inch screen.
- Samsung’s 8LPU+ process could reduce chip power consumption, although its use in Nintendo hardware remains unconfirmed.
- Nintendo has not announced a Lite model or provided details about its possible hardware changes.
Nintendo Switch 2 could get a cheaper handheld-only version in 2027. The rumored console called the Switch 2 Lite, could cost around $299 and come with a 7.1-inch display. That would make its screen smaller than the 7.9-inch display on the standard Switch 2, while the lower price could give buyers another option if they are not interested in spending $499.99 on the current model. The console may also get a processor change, with Samsung’s 8LPU+ manufacturing process reportedly part of the hardware.
Nintendo Switch 2 Lite Reportedly Targets A $299 Price In 2027
Along with a 7.1-inch display, down from the 7.9-inch LCD used in the existing console. Nintendo’s official Switch 2 specifications list a 1920 x 1080 resolution for its handheld screen, but there is no confirmation that a Lite version would retain the same resolution or display features.
The reported hardware changes could extend beyond the display. GameGPU claims the rumored model may use a modified NVIDIA T239 chip manufactured with Samsung’s 8LPU+ process. It also describes a handheld-only design without detachable Joy-Con controllers or TV output through a dock. These details would make the device closer to the original Switch Lite in its approach, although none of the design changes have been confirmed.
A cheaper model would also give Nintendo another price point within the Switch 2 lineup. The original Switch Lite followed a similar approach when it launched in September 2019. Nintendo described it as a system designed specifically for handheld play, with integrated controls and a smaller body than the standard Switch. The company continues to list the original Switch Lite as part of its hardware range. There has already been some discussion among players about whether Nintendo will introduce a second-generation Lite. A discussion on Reddit’s Nintendo Switch 2 community shows users discussing the possibility of a smaller model arriving in 2027. Some pointed to the original Switch Lite’s release two years after the first Switch, while others questioned whether current hardware costs would make a cheaper version practical.
For players who already use handheld PC or are planning to get one such as the Steam Deck, Xodus Nexus recently added experimental Steam Deck support and PC Game Pass plans.
Samsung’s 8LPU+ Chip Process Adds To Switch 2 Lite Speculation
Samsung’s semiconductor technology is another part of the report. The proposed connection involves 8LPU+, an updated version of the company’s 8nm manufacturing process, Samsung plans to introduce the process before the end of 2026.
The report says 8LPU+ is expected to deliver a 12% performance improvement, a 15% reduction in power consumption and an 8% reduction in logic area compared with the existing 8LPU process. Samsung is looking to use the updated technology for applications including automotive systems, robotics and edge AI chips.
There is a reason the possibility has attracted attention. The existing Switch 2 already uses a custom NVIDIA processor, and Samsung is connected to the production of its current chipset. A revised version using an updated manufacturing process could give Nintendo more room to adjust power consumption and production costs. However, improvements reported for Samsung’s manufacturing process should not be treated as guaranteed improvements to a finished console. Battery life and performance would also depend on the processor design, clock speeds, display, battery capacity and Nintendo’s own power settings.
