Latest news with #SwitchPro
Tom's Guide
15-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
Switch 2 hardware leaks detail more console specs — and finally reveal what happened to Switch Pro
Remember a few years ago, there were countless rumors of a Nintendo Switch Pro that never came to fruition? Well now that the Switch 2 is on the way, and some of the hardware has leaked out ahead of release, it sounds like there's a reason why that console never materialized. According to Digital Foundry, it seems like the Switch Pro was always supposed to be the Switch 2. We just started hearing about the hardware super early. Nintendo has revealed the official specs for the Switch 2, but there are some details that are a little vague. On top of that, there's only so much you can get from hardware specs on their own. But as Digital Foundry notes, alleged Switch 2 motherboards have arrived on various Chinese retail sites — allowing for some testing to take place. YouTubers Geekerman and Kurnal have actually released hands-on videos with those alleged motherboards. In them, they dive into what the motherboard has to offer and start to test its overall capabilities. If you want in-depth technical details about the Switch 2 hardware, check out both the aforementioned videos for a deep dive. But here are the basics of what to expect. Much of the analysis seems to corroborate previous Switch 2 rumors, including the fact it has a custom Nvidia T239 processor, with eight ARM A78-class CPU cores and a custom RTX 30-series Ampere GPU. Six of those CPU cores are available to developers, while the final two are reserved for system software. It's noted that despite concerns that the 8nm chips employed in the Switch 2 would require too much power for handheld use, that doesn't seem to be an issue. Which makes sense for a console that is literally named after its hybrid nature. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Other points of note include 12GB of LPDDR5X DRAM, split between a pair of 6GB modules, though apparently only 9GB is available to developers. Where that other 3GB of memory goes is unclear. The analysis on the motherboard does show one bizarre piece of information, though. Both Geekerman and Kurnal found that the chip was "taped out", or had its design finalized, all the way back in 2021. Which is likely where all those rumors about the Nintendo Switch Pro came from. Stuff will have leaked out much earlier in the production process, and may have got muddled up with the impending launch of the Switch OLED. Because, if you remember all the way back to the early part of the decade, there had been rumors suggesting the Switch Pro could come with a 7-inch OLED screen. Though in the end the Switch OLED came out offering a display upgrade and little else of substance. That certainly tempered the rumors for a little while. As Digital Foundry notes, chips are typically finalized the year before a big release — meaning the Switch 2 could technically have been released three years ago. As to why Nintendo would wait, all we can do is speculate. Presumably the ongoing popularity of the original Switch played a part, because why ditch your existing system if it's still selling in great numbers? No doubt the surge in popularity during the pandemic helped prolong the console's lifespan too. As to why Nintendo can use 4-year old hardware in a console that will likely last the better part of the next decade, Digital Foundry says the "fundamental features are still impressive and clearly do the job." Which is more than most of us can really ask for. It wasn't like the Switch 2 would ever offer PS5 Pro-levels of performance anyway.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller Fixes One of the Worst Parts of the Original
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. The Nintendo Switch 2 reveal in early April told us the company is introducing a new controller for the system, but it also confirmed you can use your original Switch Pro controller with the upcoming console. Now, Nintendo has confirmed the technical specifications for the Switch 2 Pro Controller, including a major improvement for charging. The controller is similar to the original version, but a key upgrade means you can charge it in almost half the time. As spotted by Nintendo Life, the Switch 2 Pro controller is said to charge in approximately 3.5 hours. That's almost twice as fast as the estimate of the original controller, which was six hours. The new controller will then work for around 40 hours, depending on what you're playing. The original Switch's controller had a similar battery life. Interestingly, Nintendo has shrunk the battery slightly here from the 1,300mAh one inside the original model to a 1,070mAh cell inside the Switch 2 Controller. We'll have to see whether Nintendo's estimates prove accurate, but this likely means the company has found some battery efficiencies for the next-gen product. Other changes on this new controller include introducing the C button that allows you to turn your microphone on and off for online voice chat, plus two buttons on the underside of the controller called GL and GR for controlling gameplay. Switch 2 preorders go live on April 24. Nintendo recently increased the price of the Switch 2 Pro Controller from $79.99 to $84.99 due to US tariffs. The console is still $449.99, with the Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundle set to cost $499.99.
