If you’re waiting for a Nintendo Switch 2, don’t wait any longer. It’s quite unlikely that Nintendo would release a sequel to its innovative hybrid gaming system anytime soon, especially since the Switch OLED was released less than a year ago.
Given how inexpensive some of the best 4K TVs are, a Switch that could output a native 4K presentation would be beneficial, but the current Switch is arguably at its top and there are still plenty of titles to come. Nintendo won’t probably replace it for a few more years.
Therefore, we advise you to buy a Switch OLED and get started.
Here is what we believe we currently know about the Nintendo Switch 2 in the interim.
New Nintendo Switch 2 potential release date
Dates for the upcoming New Nintendo Switch 2 releases
If a second Nintendo Switch is in development, it will probably be released in 2024. But as of now, we have no factual data to support that; only conjecture.
In connection with that, some online sleuths have noticed a significant increase in Nintendo’s spending on raw materials, which some are interpreting as a sign that the Nintendo Switch 2 may be in development and coming sooner than we believe.
But we don’t anticipate the Switch 2 to appear until at least late 2023, if not 2024.
- Nintendo Switch: March 3, 2017
- Nintendo Switch (upgraded battery): August 2019
- Nintendo Switch Lite: September 20, 2019
- Nintendo Switch OLED: October 8, 2021
New Nintendo Switch 2 price
Costing $349 is the OLED Nintendo Switch. This is consistent with the earlier theory.
The Switch Pro, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Matthew Kanterman(opens in new tab), will cost at least $100 more than the outgoing model. “$349.99 will improve the device’s value proposition, but I still believe Nintendo can generate significant demand even at $399.99,” the author said.
Not just Kanterman, either. Serkan Toto, a games consultant based in Japan, predicted that the Switch Pro will cost around $399 in an interview with Gamesindustry.biz(opens in new tab). This estimate does not necessarily mean that the Switch Pro will be the same console as the Switch 2, in which case the Switch 2 will likely be less expensive.
New Nintendo Switch 2 specs
The OLED Nintendo Switch is more of a ‘Pro’ version of the current Switch than a completely new Switch, though it does fit several of the leaks we’ve previously reported.
For instance, a prior leak mentioned a redesigned Switch console with two USB-C connections, a 64GB SSD, 4K video capabilities, and a special Nvidia Tegra Xavier engine. However, it also suggests that such a console might be a TV-only device, which seems improbable. Although Nintendo announced that the 64GB storage capacity will be an improvement over the 32GB capacity, we are still unsure of the chip in the next model.
Additionally, several advancements in mobile GPU technology recently indicate a bright future for next handheld gaming consoles like the Switch 2. If Nintendo decides to choose that CPU over the dated Tegra X1 featured in the current Switch, a new Exynos 1000 chip with AMD graphics integrated might provide the Switch 2 a significant power gain.
New Nintendo Switch 2 display
One of the most important components of the Switch is the screen, so it’s hardly surprising that Nintendo is using OLED to make the panel more attractive. Nevertheless, it only outputs in 1080p (at most) when docked, therefore it is still a 720p panel. That supports our own findings, which established the use of Samsung OLED panels in a future Nintendo Switch version.
During a discussion with Tom’s Guide The possibility of an OLED display on the Switch Pro or Switch 2 and the benefits and drawbacks of such a screen were examined by Ross Young, co-founder of Display Supply Chain Consultants.
“Whether the image is white or black, LCDs employ a maximum brightness. And OLEDs don’t,” Young added. “The content affects how much electricity they use. Therefore, it will depend on the kind of content you are playing. OLEDs have a significant edge for video. But OLEDs might use more power if the video game is bright and has a lot of white.
A recent announcement of a new Switch console by the CEO of Universal Display Corporation provided evidence in favor of the OLED hypothesis. Nintendo is considering switching to OLED because of the advantages it offers over LCD in terms of contrast and response times, according to the company’s president and CEO Steven V. Abramson. It’s encouraging that a new Switch is on the way even though Nintendo is keeping quiet about it.
Regardless of the display type Nintendo selects, there can also be a resolution increase. A new Switch will reportedly employ a sophisticated upscaling method to achieve 4K resolution. In order to effectively upmix graphics into high-resolution images without the performance requirements of rendering them natively at, say, 4K, Nvidia has developed a technique known as Deep Learning Super Sampling, or DLSS. According to information provided to Bloomberg, a new Switch is also using new chips and has the necessary hardware to support DLSS.
According to the same claim, the next Switch would have a bigger OLED panel and be capable of 4K output, if not native 4K rendering.
Additionally, a more recent investigation into the Switch firmware uncovered the line “4kdp preferred over usb30,” which might be a hint to the possibility of a 4K output over DisplayPort over USB 3.0 for the Switch 2.
However, enhanced specifications might only be the beginning for the Nintendo Switch 2. The April 2020 firmware update for the Switch has a series of codes that could indicate capability for a dual-screen system, indicating that the upcoming Nintendo Switch might have two displays.
Given Nintendo’s well-known Nintendo DS and 3DS handhelds, this wouldn’t be a first for the firm, but we’d be interested to see how dual-screen capability would fit into the Switch environment. Maybe, like the Wii U, you’ll be able to play in portable mode while streaming certain material to your TV.
New Nintendo Switch 2 features
The OLED Switch supports play in docked-TV, tabletop, and handheld modes, just as the original Switch. An Ethernet port on the dock and a redesigned kickstand for improved tabletop gaming are neat additions.
Having said that, Nintendo has filed a patent for a novel health-tracking gadget that could monitor your mood using microphones and sensors, track your sleep, and even alter the odor of a space. A curious feature of the patented device is that it has a dock of its own (similar to the Switch) and appears to be made to function with health-related video games like Ring Fit Adventure.
This Nintendo Switch doesn’t appear to contain that technology. It’s too soon to say if such a product will even be released, but it will be interesting to see if Nintendo improves their fitness-tracking technology before the launch of the next Switch console.
What about the Nintendo Switch Pro?
The so-called Nintendo Switch Pro was rumored to be the successor to the original Switch for a long. The Nintendo Switch OLED, however, improved several aspects of the original Switch without improving its performance. This implied that there may still be some unconfirmed whispers about a “pro” version being developed.
The speculations and purported leaks we’ve heard so far, however, are for a second-generation Switch rather than a mid-generation upgrade because Nintendo has stated that this will not be the case. We must trust our instincts because there is no simple method to acquire any confirmation in this situation. Whether it will be known as the Switch Pro or Switch 2, we believe an upgraded Switch console is in the works.
What we want from the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 might become a tempting high-end choice for Nintendo enthusiasts if a few features that we’d love to see are added.
- 1080p handheld gaming: The Switch’s 6.2-inch screen is only capable of 720p resolution in handheld mode, making it impossible to fully enjoy games like Super Mario Odyssey and Pokémon Sword and Shield. A significant motivation to upgrade to a new Switch would be the ability to play games on the go in 1080p; if the system can manage 60fps at 1080p, all the better.
- TV mode compatibility for 4K or 1440p. Given the availability of 4K consoles and the fact that the PS5 and Xbox Series X will play 8K content, it would be wonderful to see the Switch 2 receive the resolution increase we recently campaigned for. Imagine how beautiful Breath of the Wild would look in 4K, even if the new console required a powerful new dock to accommodate 2560 x 1440 pixels.
- improved ergonomics We just got our hands on Alienware’s Concept UFO, a portable gaming PC that resembles the Switch and has buttons, triggers, and grips that are typical controller size. The Switch 2 might be the most comfortable portable gaming system if Nintendo can design new Joy-Cons that are larger and more ergonomic without being too bulky.
Why we want a Nintendo Switch 2
Despite everything, we’re still holding out hope that Nintendo will eventually add 4K and increase the pace. A device that is pure joy to use, the Nintendo Switch is supported with some of the best titles Nintendo has ever produced. But more than three years after its introduction, its hardware is beginning to show its limitations, particularly when it comes to ports of significant third-party titles.
The Outer Worlds’ latest Switch adaptation, according to Kotaku’s Ethan Gach, “looks so horrible on Switch I’m tempted to urge even people who have no other means of playing it to stay away.” Gach’s screenshots show that the port is highly grainy and has framerate drops. Similar problems have been reported by gamers with ports of Wasteland 2 and Pillars of Eternity.
While Nintendo titles like Breath of the Wild and Animal Crossing: New Horizons are optimized for the Switch, the system appears to be having trouble with AAA titles. And it could be particularly difficult for Nintendo, particularly in light of the recent release of third-party games for the PS5 and Xbox Series X, some of which may be more graphically demanding than ever.
Nintendo doesn’t necessarily need a system that is as powerful as the best gaming PCs or Sony’s and Microsoft’s most recent consoles (and the Switch did just fine against PS4 and Xbox One), but the OLED panel could improve the visual quality of Nintendo’s games and make the company’s hybrid console more appealing for fans of popular third-party franchises.
Should I wait for a Nintendo Switch 2?
You might be disappointed if you were hoping for 4K, but you’re definitely thrilled if you wanted a sharper screen for mobile gaming. To be honest, we’re very excited about the redesigned kickstand, even though it doesn’t exactly scream “Nintendo Switch Pro.”
Despite this, the Nintendo Switch is still a fantastic gaming system because to its hybrid design and top-notch titles. Our list of the top handheld gaming consoles includes both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite. We anticipate that they will receive funding for many more years as a result. Because it won’t be replaced anytime soon, now is as good a time as any to join the Switch train if you haven’t already.
As anticipated, the OLED Switch will function with the console’s current game selection. The Nintendo DS/Nintendo 3DS family has supported the same game catalog for more than 10 years, and Nintendo has a history of supporting their handhelds through numerous revisions. Nintendo should treat its current console similarly given how well-liked the Switch is.