Switch 2 Lite Leak: $299, 7.1-Inch Screen, 2027 (Unconfirmed)

By GameDrop Staff · Nov 03, 2026 · Leaks · 2 min read

Nintendo Switch 2 game artwork — Image: Nintendo

A new rumor says Nintendo is working on a Switch 2 Lite: a cheaper, handheld-only revision with a 7.1-inch screen, aimed at a 2027 launch for about $299. Nintendo has announced nothing, and parts of the story are openly described as speculation by outlets that covered it. Here is what is claimed, who says it, and how much weight to give it.

Quick summary (all unconfirmed)

Reported by: GameGPU, repeated by IBTimes UK, NQ Brief and others
Price claim: $299, about $200 under the current $499.99 US price of the standard Switch 2
Screen: 7.1-inch, versus 7.9-inch on the Switch 2, still 1080p
Design: single-body handheld, no detachable Joy-Con, no TV output
Chip: Samsung "8LPU Plus" based, said to cut power use by about 15%
Launch: 2027; Nintendo has not confirmed the device

What does the Switch 2 Lite leak claim?

According to GameGPU, the Lite would be a portable-only console without a dock, with a monolithic body instead of detachable controllers. It reportedly keeps a 1920 x 1080 panel on a smaller 7.1-inch screen, which would make it sharper per inch than the standard model. A separate performance mode is said to exist for demanding games, and the European version may have an easily removable battery to meet new EU rules.

Is the Switch 2 Lite really coming in 2027?

Nobody outside Nintendo can say. IBTimes UK stresses that the price, year and specs are "rumoured information rather than announced product details". Tech4Gamers goes further and calls the $299 figure a speculative proposal rather than a reported Nintendo target. A Japanese roundup from iyTech traces the chip theory to the Nintendo Patents Watch account, which itself labelled it guesswork in an October 27 update. It also notes that Samsung's chip announcement names cars and robots as uses, not Nintendo or NVIDIA. So treat the Samsung link as a theory.

How would it compare with the Switch 2?

	Switch 2 (current)	Switch 2 Lite (rumored)
Screen	7.9-inch	7.1-inch, 1080p
TV docking	Yes	No (reported)
Controllers	Detachable Joy-Con 2	Built-in (reported)
US price	$499.99	$299 (rumored)
Chip	Current chip	Samsung 8LPU Plus-based (rumored)
Status	On sale	Unannounced

The pattern has precedent. The original Switch got a Lite in 2019, announced in July and on sale that September. That is a precedent, not proof.

Why would Nintendo make a cheaper Switch 2?

The standard console's US price rose to $499.99 from 1 September 2026, which opens a gap below it. A $299 handheld would be an easier entry for families and Indian-market buyers, where imported Switch 2 units are expensive. We would still wait for Nintendo, which tends to announce hardware late.

Meanwhile, check our guide to the Switch 2 games coming in November and December and the Ocarina of Time rumor. Our launch calendar tracks confirmed releases.