The Nintendo Switch 2‘s VRR capabilities have been confusing since shortly after the console was first revealed, and now, users have discovered that the Switch 2 dock is capable of VRR. However, strangely enough, it doesn’t actually work with the Nintendo Switch 2.
VRR stands for variable refresh rate, which is designed to get rid of screen tearing. When a refresh rate of a TV or monitor doesn’t match the frame rate of what it’s displaying, screen tearing can happen, which can be jarring and take a player out of the experience. Finding out that the Switch 2 supports VRR was exciting for players, but Nintendo retracted its claim that the Switch 2 could use VRR while docked soon after.
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It’s now been confirmed that the Switch 2 dock is actually capable of supporting VRR. However, it doesn’t work with the Nintendo Switch 2. Instead, Sean Hollister at The Verge discovered that if a different device is plugged into the Switch 2 dock, VRR works correctly. In their experiment, they tried a Steam Deck and discovered that VRR worked flawlessly. It’s not limited to the Steam Deck, either, as they also checked with handhelds like the Lenovo Legion Go S and the Asus ROG Ally X, which also used VRR while docked.
Why Doesn’t the Switch 2 Use VRR While Docked When Other Systems Can?
Nintendo hasn’t offered an official answer as to why the device can use VRR when in handheld mode but not while docked, nor why other devices are capable of using through the Switch 2 dock. Given that it originally advertised the Switch 2 as using VRR when docked and then retracted the claim, it’s possible that the technology wasn’t working the way that Nintendo wanted it to with its new console. Rather than releasing a new system with a known glitch, it may have made more sense to disable it entirely while docked until such a time comes when Nintendo can fix the experience.
For now, players are stuck with no VRR on Switch 2 while docked, but the fact that the hardware itself is capable of using it may inspire hope that could change. In the meantime, Switch 2 owners who also use other handheld systems like the Steam Deck can utilize the dock’s VRR capabilities for those consoles, so it’s not a total waste. With some luck, Nintendo will release an update in the future that enables VRR for the Switch 2 when it’s docked.
- Brand
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Nintendo
- Original Release Date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating System
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Proprietary
- Resolution
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1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR Support
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Yes