Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Supports VRR, But Not with Switch 2: Confusing Situation Explained

As a movie connoisseur, I must express my bewilderment regarding the VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) capabilities of the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Upon its initial unveiling, the VRR feature left me scratching my head, and now, it appears that even more mysteries have unfolded. It seems that the dock for the Nintendo Switch 2 possesses the ability to support VRR; however, paradoxically, this functionality does not seem to be compatible with the very console it is designed to serve. Quite a peculiar turn of events indeed!

Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is a technology meant to eliminate screen splitting or tearing. This issue occurs when a display’s refresh rate and the frame rate of the content being shown don’t align, causing an effect that can be distracting and disruptive during gameplay. The announcement that the Switch 2 would incorporate VRR was met with enthusiasm among gamers, but Nintendo later walked back their statement about using VRR when the device is docked.

It has been verified that the Switch 2 dock indeed can handle Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology. However, this functionality doesn’t apply to the Nintendo Switch 2 itself but rather when another device is connected to the Switch 2 dock. A journalist named Sean Hollister from The Verge found this out after testing a Steam Deck and finding that VRR functioned perfectly. It’s not just the Steam Deck that can take advantage of this, as they also tested handheld devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S and the Asus ROG Ally X, both of which utilized VRR while docked.

Why Doesn’t the Switch 2 Use VRR While Docked When Other Systems Can?

It seems that Nintendo hasn’t explicitly explained why the Switch 2 can employ Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) in handheld mode but not when docked, or why other devices can do so via the Switch 2 dock. Since they initially advertised the Switch 2 as supporting VRR while docked and later retracted this claim, it’s plausible that the technology wasn’t functioning correctly with their new console. Instead of launching a system with a known issue like this, it might have been wiser to disable it entirely when docked until such a time when Nintendo can rectify the problem and enhance the user experience.

Currently, Switch 2 users don’t have Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support while docked, but since the hardware is capable of it, there’s a glimmer of hope that this might change in the future. In the interim, owners of Switch 2 who also use devices like the Steam Deck can leverage their dock’s VRR capabilities for those consoles, making the lack of VRR on Switch 2 somewhat less frustrating. Fingers crossed, Nintendo may roll out an update that enables VRR for Switch 2 when docked at some point.

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2025-07-05 02:03