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Forums - Nintendo - Nintendo adds "Handheld Mode Boost" to Switch 2 via firmware update, runs Switch 1 games at docked performance while portable

Wman1996 on 17 March 2026

Should've been there at launch but at least it took less than a year.



Lifetime Sales Predictions 

Switch: 161 million (was 73 million, then 96 million, then 113 million, then 125 million, then 144 million, then 151 million, then 156 million)

PS5: 122 million (was 105 million, then 115 million) Xbox Series X/S: 38 million (was 60 million, then 67 million, then 57 million. then 48 million. then 40 million)

Switch 2: 120 million (was 116 million)

PS4: 120 mil (was 100 then 130 million, then 122 million) Xbox One: 51 mil (was 50 then 55 mil)

3DS: 75.5 mil (was 73, then 77 million)

"Let go your earthly tether, enter the void, empty and become wind." - Guru Laghima

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Vodacixi on 17 March 2026
Conina said:

Hallelujah!

Screenshots of Switch 1 games in Switch 2 handheld mode are still downsampled to 1280x720 but even then the difference is awesome in some games.

I wondered why my screenshots looked very different from actually playing. I wanted to do a bunch of comparisons, but you can't see the extent of the improvements with the S1 screenshot system.

Seriously guys, go play them for yourselfs. You'll be surprised.

As for enabling this for SW2 titles while plugged to the power... If there is no negatives from doing it, then they should do it. However, I will say that most SW2 titles run and look from good to great in general (except rare cases like Persona 3 Reloaded, which has a 60fps mode exclusive to docked mode).



curl-6 6 days ago
sc94597 said:
Soundwave said:

Great. Now do it for Switch 2 games too if you are plugged in to power. PSP used to do this.

Yes, this is my most wanted feature outside of docked VRR. 

The fact that this handheld mode update come to fruitition makes me feel like docked VRR has a good chance of happening eventually, as it demonstrates that Nintendo hasn't simply washed their hands and said "okay it's done now" but have continued to work on updating Switch 2's functionality at now 9 months post-launch.



curl-6 1 day ago

Digital Foundry have posted their analysis; long story short, they came away impressed



HoloDust 1 day ago

@curl-6

What's most impressive is that Nintendo actually did something that community asked for. :P



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curl-6 1 day ago
HoloDust said:

@curl-6

What's most impressive is that Nintendo actually did something that community asked for. :P

Sssssh, don't say anything and maybe they'll do docked VRR next haha



Chrkeller 22 hours ago
curl-6 said:
HoloDust said:

@curl-6

What's most impressive is that Nintendo actually did something that community asked for. :P

Sssssh, don't say anything and maybe they'll do docked VRR next haha

That would be really nice if they did.  VRR should be a standard at this point.  



“Consoles are great… if you like paying extra for features PCs had in 2005.”
IcaroRibeiro 18 hours ago

Need to test. This is really good if it fix my issue playing handheld mode

I still haven't donated my Switch 1 because the games look blurry on Switch 2, if this fix the things I can gift some of my cousins with my Switch 1