It seems there might be at least some level of truth to the rumours that Nintendo is working on a new version of the Switch.
According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Nintendo plans to release a new version of the Switch with a larger display in time for the 2021 holiday season.
This time around the 7-inch, 720p display will be OLED and manufactured by Samsung Display. Bloomberg says that the displays are set to ship to the companies that assemble the Switch in July.
Making the jump to OLED would give the Switch better battery life and likely improve the screen’s contrast ratio. The current version of the Switch features a 6.2-inch screen, while the Switch Lite’s display measures in at 5.5-inches.
Further, while the current Switch’s LCD screen is passable, moving to a Samsung panel would almost certainly improve its overall picture quality given the South Korean company’s prowess in the TV and smartphone display space.
It’s unclear if anything else about the console will change beyond the larger screen. Though the Switch continues to sell well and recently hit 79.87 million consoles sold as of February 1st, it faces stiff competition from Microsoft’s more recent Xbox Series X/S and Sony’s PlayStation 5.
This could be an effort on Nintendo’s part to build excitement surrounding the home console-portable hybrid system moving into the holiday season.
However, Shuntaro Furukawa, the Japanese gaming giant’s president, recently stated that Nintendo has no plans to announce a new version of the Switch “anytime soon.”
Last year The Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo was working on two Switch models, including the Switch Lite, which was eventually released, and the Switch Pro. Though the company has repeatedly denied that an improved Switch is on the way, rumours continue to persist.
According to some rumours, this upgraded version of the Switch reportedly features a more powerful processor, an improved design and a 4K display.
Source: Bloomberg
