Amid the rumors surrounding Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 console, sources stated that it will be deliberately underclocked in handheld mode to prolong battery life and could be more powerful than anticipated while in its TV dock. The same rumors also stated that the Switch 2 could output up to four teraflops of graphical power while docked, which is more than anticipated in previous rumors.

The rumor about the Switch 2's potential power came just days after another rumor made the rounds on social media concerning the controllers it could use. According to Switch accessory manufacturer Mobapad and reputable leaker Pyoro, the Switch 2 will have backward compatibility with the Switch Pro Controller and existing Joy-Con controllers via Bluetooth. In addition, the Switch 2 would be backward compatible with Switch cartridges, and the former's cartridges would be different and would not fit into current Switch units. Fans compared the cartridge rumor to how the 3DS game cards differed from the DS.

While any rumors surrounding Nintendo's future console should be taken with a pinch of salt, such as the proposed magnetic Joy-Cons, more sources have claimed that the Switch 2 could offer two different performance modes. According to the Broken Silicon Podcast, hosted by the YouTube channel Moore's Law is Dead, the Switch 2 will have a "crazy low" underclock down to around 800 Mhz while in handheld mode.

About one hour and 45 minutes into the podcast, one of the show's hosts, The Phawx, said that the change would be a way for Nintendo to extend the unit's battery life. The Phawx later added that the underclock would have an additional benefit, as the lower power consumption would not require as much cooling, making the Switch 2 potentially less prone to overheating.

Rumor: Switch 2 Could Be Underpowered In Handheld Mode

Handheld mode would be clocked at 800Mhz.
The move would result in less power used, leading to longer battery life.
The Switch 2 could be less prone to overheating as a result.

Moore's Law is Dead also stated that the Switch 2 could have a faster clock speed while docked, which was at the request of Nvidia, who previously helped with the Switch's Tegra X1 chip. Though the Switch 2 is rumored to have an 8-inch display that can output up to 1080p in handheld mode, the dock would allow the Switch 2 to output at up to 4K. While the Switch 2 is allegedly compatible with Nvidia's raytracing and DLSS technologies, it remains to be seen how both Nintendo and third-party game developers will utilize the system in both docked and handheld modes.

Although the Switch 2 is not slated to be released until 2025, Nintendo has remained tight-lipped about the system. Only time will tell which of the rumored features will be proven true.

Posted: May 06, 2024 1:57 pm
Related Forum: Gaming Discussion

Source: https://gamerant.com/switch-2-underclocked-handheld-mode-better-battery-life-rumor/