Full disclosure that I am not a tech expert, so please excuse me if I sound very ignorant here lol. But my understanding is this: Notable about the recent surge in component prices is the increase in cost for DRAM, which has made many in the tech sector pull back on releasing “budget-friendly” consumer products since the cost for DRAM is destroying the already slim profit margins on cheaper alternatives.

Assuming I have a proper understanding of everything: What do you think Nintendo is planning? Is a Switch 2 Lite actively being planned still? Will Nintendo perhaps consider delaying the system until prices stabilize? Would Nintendo be open to a Home Console variant of Switch 2 that uses a different kind of DRAM (i.e. not LPDDR5X)? Or perhaps release a “digital only” handheld with less RAM? Give me your thoughts.

It is going to be more difficult to get a good price difference that's for sure. The DRAM is going to cost the same for both the lite and current model and that's the biggest issue. They will both have to have 12GB LPDDR5X.

OG Switch was a whopping 50% more expensive than the Switch Lite so it was a compelling difference to get the cheaper less equipped model. They're not going to get close to a price difference like that for a lite model as things are now.

Switch 2, along with everything else, is likely to rise further.

I could see a $599 Switch 2 and a $499 Switch 2 Lite as a possibility by fall 2027, and they'd still be losing money with those prices. Maybe if they cut the nand storage as well they could get the lite down to $449.

I think Nintendo is gonna make a Lite model, they're gonna want a more accessible model and a new SKU is always helpful to revitalize sales (and based on Furukawa's statements they definitely want the generation to last atleast a good amount of time).

When will it happens is the tricky question. On one hand I think there's a lot of things that could point out to 2027 (the need to make a new base model with an amovible battery for Europe by February 2027, Pokemon launching in 2027) but it really depends on how the economic situation evolves too.

I'm not a tech expert either but one thing I could maybe see, if they indeed make a Lite model, is give it less storage (128 GB ?)

Imaging Switch 2 Lite being digital only AND with significantly reduced storage at a cost of $449USD… oh that just sounds terrible lol. But at the very least it would make for a somewhat more affordable system.

It wouldn't be possible to change the ram type without effecting performance. Less RAM would be even worse and some games just wouldn't be playable.

I can't imagine the game card reader in a Switch 2 costs more than $10 so there's no real saving there, reducing the nand, not including a dock and having cheaper integrated controls is where the money saving options are.

I see. That makes sense. I still would curious if it even would be possible to have sorta like an XBSX|S situation but for NS2… otherwise I have no idea how Nintendo could pull off a cheaper SKU.

If they can make a system that is at least a $100 cheaper, then it's worth it and will make a difference. Nintendo needs to retain the advantage of producing the most affordable dedicated gaming hardware. The PS6 handheld on the other hand may get cancelled or downgraded. Just terrible developments all around.

This would require porting all existing games to the new Switch something I don't think is realistic, especially given how existing Switch 2 ports have already been quite the effort to get over (lots of delayed ports, already struggling performance etc)... 

I think currently only Sony is in the position to consider introducing a new cheaper system which requires dedicated support. Reason being there is already decent headroom on the system; most games have 60fps modes that can be cut in half & target a decent resolution 720p-1080p internal res which can also be cut in half with an AI upscaler like PSSR2 or a future model. Even then it's a complicated topic and something I think they'll see as a last resort as far as a "home console"

The Nintendo Switch 2 is ultimately still at a mass market price at $499 and Nintendo honestly doesn't "Need" to profit off the hardware when they make so much in software sales. They could really bite the bullet with evergreen games having a near 80% profit margin now development costs have been covered etc.