Switch 2 could've cost $350 in US without tariffs, analysts say

The Switch 2 could have cost as low as $350 if it weren't for U.S. tariffs, two analysts have said.

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Nintendo recently made an unprecedented decision to delay the pre-orders of its new video games machine in the United States. Nintendo says that Switch 2 pre-orders were pushed back because of tariff concerns. It's assumed that Nintendo will raise the price of the Switch 2 commensurate with the potential impact of tariffs on hardware profit margins, meaning the Switch 2 could end up costing more than its $450 launch price.

Analysts have said the Switch 2's high $450 price tag was influenced by uncertain economic risk and disruption that the Trump Administration's tariffs could inflict on Nintendo's business, which relies on a carefully-controlled global trade network. If it weren't for tariffs, the Switch 2 could have been $100 cheaper than its announced price.

"Nintendo made assumptions on tariffs when setting the $449 price (around 20%I think ) but actual tariff is 46%/54% and hence why the potential to revise up prices . If there was no tariffs we would be looking at potentially $350 launch price!" MST Financial senior analyst David Gibson said on Twitter.

Daniel Ahmad, director of research and insights at Niko Partners, had a one-word response:

Our own findings showed that consumers had become more willing to spend a premium on Nintendo products; in a shorter relative market span, the more expensive Switch OLED model had accrued a rapid share of total Switch family hardware sales.

Nintendo has yet to announce plans for US-based pre-orders for the Switch 2.