Nintendo Switch. (Nintendo)
It’s rumoured that a new Nintendo Switch Pro model could be on the way, offering a larger OLED display and 4K capability.
The latest report comes from Bloomberg, which says Nintendo plan to unveil the new Nintendo Switch Pro later this year equipped with a bigger Samsung OLED display to “prop up demand in time for the holidays”, according to insiders familiar with the plan.
Samsung will start mass production of the 7-inch displays as early as June, to be sent to assemblers by July.
The current Switch screen is 6.2 inches with a 720p display. This proposed increase in size would replace the black bezel around the screen of the current model.
The new model would reportedly offer 4K ultra-high definition graphics when used in docked mode on the TV, but remain 720p in handheld mode.
Yoshio Tamura, co-founder of display consultancy DSCC, explained: “The OLED panel will consume less battery, offer higher contrast and possibly faster response time when compared to the Switch’s current liquid-crystal display.”
If the rumours are true, it would benefit Samsung as the market price of their OLED panels has fallen due to excess supply. In turn, Nintendo would secure a valuable hardware partner in a time when semiconductor shortages are impacting rival consoles from Sony and Microsoft.
Nintendo is yet to formally announce a new model of its console, with Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stating they didn’t have plans “anytime soon” when questioned on their latest earnings report.
And with the Nintendo Switch already selling so well globally, does it need to? Current lifetime sales passed 79.87 million units as per December 2020.
However, the company frequently updates its handheld consoles with fresh designs and tweaked features so an enhanced Switch is perhaps inevitable. Releasing later this year, as rumoured, would give Nintendo an extra boost compared with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
So, a ‘Switch Pro’ console with the Breath of the Wild sequel this year? We can but hope.