Samsung Foundry will introduce its second-generation 8LPU platform, 8LPU+, at IEDM 2026. Nintendo Patents Watch suggests that this process could be a candidate for a future low-cost, handheld-only model such as the "Switch 2 Lite," although Nintendo has not yet announced such a device.
Existing data shows that compared to 8LPU, 8LPU+ offers a 12% performance increase, 15% power reduction, 8% area shrinkage, approximately 10% reduction in I/O area, and lower standby leakage. The process still relies entirely on DUV lithography, with Samsung primarily targeting automotive, robotics, and edge AI chips.
The basis for this speculation lies in the fact that the NVIDIA T239 chip used in the Switch 2 utilizes Samsung's 8nm node, leading to the belief that 8LPU+ could be suitable for future handheld-only products with lower cost and power requirements.
However, the materials currently released by Samsung do not mention Nintendo or NVIDIA, and Nintendo has not announced a "Switch 2 Lite." Therefore, there is no confirmed link between the 8LPU+ process parameters and plans for the new console.