Nintendo Switch 2 rumoured to deliver up to 4 TFLOPs in docked mode but also severely constrained handheld performance

The so-called Switch 2 may still be a while off yet. Based on recent speculation, Nintendo may be eyeing a release sometime between autumn 2024 and spring 2025. Nonetheless, rumours about potential performance targets for the company's next game console have been maturing in recent months, such as its usage of NVIDIA DLSS to make up for a lack of outright performance.

Now, Moore's Law is Dead (MLID) has expanded upon previous rumours by divulging details that are said to originate from discussions had with NVIDIA employees. In an interview with The Phawx, MLID alleges that the next-generation Switch will target a nominal performance target of 4 TFLOPs FP32 (float), a doubling of previous expectations. In short, this would see the Switch 2 match the theoretical performance of the Xbox Series S and near the PS4 Pro, which delivers 4.2 TFLOPs.

However, this would not be achievable in all scenarios, just like the original Nintendo Switch (curr. $296.99 on Amazon). Allegedly, the Switch 2 will only activate its peak performance when docked, just like its predecessor. For context, while the current Switch delivers 0.39 TFLOPs in docked mode, it can only muster 0.15 TLOPs in handheld mode. Reportedly, the Switch 2 will employ similar tactics, with drastically reduced power limits and GPU clock speeds to reduce fan noise and heat output while maximising battery life.