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  1. Platforms
  2. Nintendo

Switch 2 for $499 is a "great deal," analyst says, because "you might end up paying over $800" for the Nintendo console soon enough thanks to rising costs

News
By Anthony McGlynn
Published 4 August 2026

Nintendo can't magically make memory cheaper

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Consoles are not getting any cheaper, that's for sure, and one analyst believes you should enjoy the current prices while you can. This is particularly true regarding the Switch 2, which may very well see its price soar over the next couple of years.

Danial Ahmad, director of research and insights at Niko Partners, says as much in a post on Twitter. He responds to a news story about Samsung pointing out that memory shortages are still impacting prices, saying these conditions are entirely why he picked up Nintendo's latest console.

"I just purchased a Nintendo Switch 2 for $449 because of this btw," he says, before pointing to the new price that's coming in September.

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I just purchased a Nintendo Switch 2 for $449 because of this btw. I recommend you buy one now while it's $499. It's a great deal right now at just $599 and if you don't buy it now for $679, you might end up paying over $800. https://t.co/IA6C0fIBiLAugust 3, 2026

"I recommend you buy one now while it's $499," he adds. Then he dives right into the escalating amounts meme.

"It's a great deal right now at just $599 and if you don't buy it now for $679, you might end up paying over $800," reads the posts, tongue firmly planted in cheek. But like any good satire, there's a healthy amount of truth behind it.

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  • Photo of the Tears of the Kingdom OLED Switch Joy-Cons sitting on top of a Nintendo Switch 2. Word to the wise - if you're planning to wait for that leaked Zelda Switch 2, you'll have to contend with the price hike
  • Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave character in royal crown and gold robe This is your last chance to buy a Switch 2 before Nintendo raises prices to $500

Hardware isn't going to level out any time soon. There's been talk of the successors to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S crossing the $1,000 threshold, joining Valve's Steam Machine, and the case for such a move being appropriate value is strong, given the specs.

The market for parts is being continually squeezed, and not even Nintendo can protect itself from that. The Switch 2 may be some distance from such heights, but that could change fast. If you want to play the Ocarina of Time remake and the next 3D Super Mario game when they arrive, you should probably follow Ahmad's lead.

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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake rating suggests some changes, with its "suggestive themes" missing, and we can probably guess what that means

CATEGORIES
Nintendo Switch 2
Anthony McGlynn
Anthony McGlynn
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Contributing Writer

Anthony is an Irish entertainment and games journalist, now based in Glasgow. He previously served as Senior Anime Writer at Dexerto and News Editor at The Digital Fix, on top of providing work for Variety, IGN, Den of Geek, PC Gamer, and many more. Besides Studio Ghibli, horror movies, and The Muppets, he enjoys action-RPGs, heavy metal, and pro-wrestling. He interviewed Animal once, not that he won’t stop going on about it or anything.

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