Nintendo Switch 2 Only Supports VRR in Handheld Mode, Nintendo Apologizes

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Summary

  • Nintendo Switch 2 only supports VRR in handheld mode, not docked.
  • Nintendo apologized for mistakenly claiming it supports both on its website(s).
  • The Switch 2 could, in theory, receive docked VRR support post-release, via an OS update—although Nintendo hasn’t committed to exploring such an option.

Nintendo has acknowledged an oversight where they stated incorrectly that the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 would include Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support in its docked mode. This misinformation may have sparked unfounded expectations among potential buyers, who looked forward to utilizing the new console with high-refresh-rate TVs or monitors.

VRR, or Variable Refresh Rate, is a technology that coordinates the rate at which a visual output device generates frames with the screen refresh rate of the connected monitor. This alignment minimizes screen lag and tearing, issues often experienced when the screen’s refresh rate doesn’t match the frame rate of the image being displayed. It can also help diminish input delay, though this advantage is more dependent on specific circumstances. In summary, VRR enhances gaming performance by offering a smoother and steadier experience, particularly for games with fluctuating frame rates.

Originally, Nintendo claimed that the Switch 2 would support Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology in both docked and handheld modes. However, it has been clarified that this is not accurate; instead, VRR will only be available in handheld mode. A representative from Nintendo explained this discrepancy to Nintendo Life, stating that the incorrect information was initially posted on the Switch 2 website and they apologize for any confusion caused.

Nintendo Could Theoretically Expand Switch 2 VRR Support Post Release

After the release, there’s a chance that the device could gain support for Docked Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) through a system software update. This technology typically requires two conditions to be met: one of them is an HDMI 2.1 output, or in certain instances, HDMI 2.0b with AMD’s FreeSync. The dock of the upcoming console, as suggested by leaked shipping manifests discovered in early April, seems to contain a Realtek RTD2175N-CG chip, which is thought to be a DisplayPort 1.4 to HDMI 2.1 converter. While this specific model number has not been officially confirmed by Realtek, its designation hints that it’s related to the RTD2173, a chip known to comply with VRR standards.

In a correction made after an initial mistake, it’s been clarified that the Nintendo Switch 2 offers Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) exclusively during handheld play. We sincerely apologize for any confusion caused by the inaccurate information previously posted on our website.

To enjoy VRR support in the dock for Switch 2 after its launch, an upgraded GPU is needed that can produce a VRR-compatible signal. As the current console’s graphics chip, made by Nvidia, already supports this technology in handheld mode, it’s evident that it meets this requirement. Nintendo has stated to Nintendo Life that they have no news to share about potentially adding docked VRR support to the Switch 2 through a software update.

In simpler terms, Nvidia explained that the handheld Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support on the upcoming Switch 2 console is due to their own technology called G-Sync. Initially, G-Sync needed specialized equipment, but more recent versions of it, labeled as G-Sync compatible, use standard VRR protocols through HDMI or DisplayPort connections. This means that if Nintendo decides to implement VRR in the docked mode for the Switch 2, the fact that it uses G-Sync shouldn’t pose a problem since it now works with common display standards.

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2025-05-16 20:53