Nintendo is weighing a cheaper hardware variant of its second-generation hybrid console, with reports pointing to a Samsung fabrication process for the Nvidia processor. The Japanese video game giant is already thinking about offering a more economical version of the current console just as it did with the original model, following the undeniable success of the original Nintendo Switch and the initial sales of this Nintendo Switch 2 a year and a half after its launch.
Samsung Fab Schedule and the Nvidia T239 Chip
Samsung plans to introduce its 8LPU+ manufacturing process on December 14, 2026. Nintendo Patents Watch suggested that Nvidia might adapt the custom Tegra T239 processor used in the current console to this advanced Samsung node. The updated technology yields a logic area eight percent smaller and reduces power consumption by 15 percent, according to Electronic Times. That same outlet reported that the process delivers a 12 percent performance improvement while cutting production expenses for Samsung Foundry customers. Nintendo increased research and development spending during the fiscal year ending in March 2026, a pattern that coincides with periods prior to previous console launches. Electronic Times cites a source that affirms the change will affect all current 8 nm ecosystem customers of Samsung Foundry, and this manufacturing of the Nvidia T239 can be a good start to apply this improved 8 nm technology from Samsung, which is initially targeted at the automotive and robotics industries.
Nintendo Switch 2 Lite rumored to feature Samsung’s new 8LPU+ process https://t.co/Iuq9rjYBis
Hardware Reductions and European Market Timeline
Speculation surrounds how a budget console variant might differ from the standard model. Notebookcheck reported that the hardware could drop TV dock connectivity, integrate the controllers directly into the chassis, and feature a smaller liquid-crystal display. Other factors such as a less powerful chip, non-detachable controllers, and a smaller screen can reduce the total cost of this rumored model to offer it to users at a much more advantageous price, although some fans want a cheaper model or an upgraded version with an OLED screen. Meanwhile, the original Switch Lite will stop commercial distribution in Europe in February 2027.
Unresolved Pricing Pressures and Official Silence
Nintendo has not confirmed the existence of a budget console or any formal supply agreement with Samsung, and it is not even known if Nintendo has plans to launch this console, as there is no formal relationship between this new Samsung manufacturing process and the supposed Nintendo Switch 2 Lite. Rising component costs for memory and storage have complicated the possibility of a more affordable portable Nintendo console and have strained portable console budgets across the industry, with a recent price increase of the Switch 2 putting budgets to the test even though the console is not as expensive as its Xbox and PS5 rivals. It remains a risky time for hardware development, but Nintendo continues investing, and this advanced manufacturing process appears to coincide with Nintendo’s demands regarding a new CPU for a supposed more economical model.
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