Samsung’s New Chip Process Fuels ‘Nintendo Switch 2 Lite’ Speculation

Image: Nintendo Life

Samsung reportedly has a new chip in the works that could help make dreams of a ‘Switch 2 Lite’ a reality (thanks for the heads up, Notebook Check).

As shared on Bluesky by Nintendo Patents Watch, Samsung has supposedly been working on a new 8LPU+ chip process which might be able to assist with making the Nvidia chip inside Switch 2 more compact and more powerful, while drawing on less power.

While the chip itself hasn’t been officially revealed yet (South Korean outlet Electronic Times reports that it could be unveiled in December), the word on the street is that the chip process will boast a 12% performance enhancement, 15% power reduction, and an 8% area shrink, among other features, making it a prime candidate for, we don’t know, a smaller console.

With Samsung behind the custom Nvidia chip already in the Switch 2, there’s every chance that the new tech could also be used in Nintendo’s favour. A smaller Switch 2 — perhaps borrowing the portable-first, non-dock USPs of its predecessor’s Lite model — might even pose a cheaper alternative for those wanting to get in on the new hardware’s exclusives. With rising costs on just about everything (particularly in the tech space), a less powerful Switch 2 model with cheaper components sure does sound appealing.

We’ve also got to remember that Nintendo is wrapping up Switch 1 distribution in February 2027. It doesn’t necessarily mean that something will be coming in to replace it, we should point out, but if Nintendo and Samsung do have something in the works, it’d be a prime time to introduce it. Heck, the original Switch Lite was released a mere two and a half years after the base model, so who’s to say Nintendo doesn’t have a Switch 2 equivalent in store for late 2028?

Of course, we’ve already seen the smallest Switch 2 revision already this year, with the replaceable battery model being introduced in Europe. Rumblings of an ‘OLED model’ remain under the surface as ever, but what if a ‘Lite’ option pops up first? Only time will tell, eh!

What do you make of this ‘Switch 2 Lite’ speculation? Let us know in the comments.