The Nintendo Switch 2 represents a massive leap in power over the original Switch—approximately 10x the graphics performance according to NVIDIA.
Key Specifications
Processor (NVIDIA Tegra T239 "Drake")
| Component | Switch 2 | Original Switch | |-----------|----------|-----------------| | CPU | 8-core ARM Cortex-A78C | 4-core ARM Cortex-A57 | | CUDA Cores | 1,536 (Ampere architecture) | 256 (Maxwell) | | GPU Clock (Docked) | 1,007MHz (up to 1.4GHz) | 768MHz | | GPU Clock (Handheld) | 516MHz | 307.2MHz | | Ray Tracing | ✓ Supported | ✗ Not available | | DLSS | ✓ 3.1 | ✗ Not available |
Memory
| Spec | Switch 2 | Original Switch | |------|----------|-----------------| | RAM | 12GB LPDDR5X | 4GB LPDDR4 | | Available to games | 9GB | ~3GB | | Bandwidth (Docked) | ~102 GB/s | ~25.6 GB/s | | Bandwidth (Handheld) | ~68 GB/s | ~25.6 GB/s |
Storage
| Spec | Switch 2 | Original Switch | |------|----------|-----------------| | Internal | 256GB UFS 3.1 | 32GB eMMC | | Expansion | microSD Express | microSD |
Real-World Performance
- Native 1080p in handheld mode (vs. 720p on original)
- Up to 4K/60fps when docked via DLSS
- 120fps support on compatible displays
- Ray tracing in supported games
- HDR support across modes
Context
The Switch 2 is roughly comparable to a PlayStation 4 Pro or Xbox One X in raw capability. DLSS helps it punch above its weight for visual output. Nintendo prioritizes the hybrid portable/TV console experience over raw power leadership.
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How we researched this
Where this comes from: this answer draws on the product's published specifications and the reviews ShopSavvy collected for it, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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