When Did The Switch Lite Come Out

Nintendo Switch Pro: The story and so far

Nintendo Switch OLED held between two hands with one of the JoyCons being slid off

(Image credit: Nintendo)

For a while we'd though the Nintendo Switch Pro rumors has withered on the vine, but a leaked Nvidia DLSS source lawmaking has what looks like reference to a new Switch. And this could be the Switch Pro, or perhaps the Nintendo Switch ii.

Even if all this ends upward being mode off the mark, we still feel there could be an upgraded have of the Nintendo Switch on the cards, as the current hardware isn't the most modern and some games are becoming more demanding.

As such, here'due south what nosotros know then far and would similar to encounter from the Nintendo Switch Pro, even if it'south merely fanciful thinking.

Latest Nintendo Switch Pro news (updated May 26)

A new Nintendo console has been tipped for 2024 release — could it be the Switch Pro?
Simply when we though nosotros'd heard the end of Nintendo Switch Pro rumors, a new Nvidia leak has popped up suggesting a new Switch could exist in the works.
Nintendo has officially stated it has "no plans for launching any other model" of Switch console. But it also said "at this fourth dimension," which arguably doesn't 100% write off the Switch Pro for a release later on down the line.

Nintendo Switch Pro release date and price speculation

Final year, Nintendo has basically hammered home that there'due south not going to be a Switch Pro. Yet the Japanese gaming giant has stopped brusk of 100%, copper-bottom denying that in that location's some work going on around an upgraded Switch panel.

And apparently, programmer kits for an upgraded Switch console were given out at some indicate. Merely in that location's a chance these could be for a second-generation Switch or Nintendo console. Every bit it stands, there's basically no hard evidence that a Switch Pro is coming; equally, it's difficult to pour water on these smoldering rumors that keep popping up.

Furthermore, Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis has said that "Ampere is currently forecasting a next-gen Nintendo device to release in 2024."

The analyst predicts that despite the potent contempo sales of the current Switch consoles, they will eventually pass up leading to the need for a new Nintendo console. Whether that'll be the Nintendo Switch Pro or Switch two or a completely new console remains unclear.

Nintendo released multiple generations, besides equally upgraded and culling versions, of the Game Boy and 3DS. So we come across no reason why it couldn't do the same for the Switch, given that's at present its only handheld console that it's actively selling. And so we'd not write off the potential for a Nintendo Switch Pro, only we'd expect to wait some other couple of years for it to go far.

Nintendo Switch Pro rumored specs

Nintendo Switch Pro rumors — (Paradigm credit: Nintendo)

Sources seem to offer unlike reports of what sort of specs we can expect to see in the Switch Pro. The majority of them announced to agree that we're likely to come across support for 4K resolutions in docked mode, as well every bit better bombardment life.

Currently, the Nintendo Switch features a custom Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, a 720p LCD display and 32GB of storage. The almost contempo refresh of the Nintendo Switch happened in Baronial 2019, which bumped up the battery life, taking it from half-dozen.5 hours to ix hours of game time. When we tested the battery life upgrade using Super Blast Bros. Ultimate, we found that the corporeality of game time we were able to fit in before it needed to be recharged doubled.

Co-ordinate to a notable information miner, @SciresM, details found in a recent firmware update for the Nintendo Switch seems to indicate that the Pro model volition characteristic the aforementioned processor equally the 2019 Switch base model and the Lite: the Tegra X1+ chipset. The leak uncovered a projection titled "Aula," which indicates that the chipset will offer higher performances by existence pushed to higher clocking speeds supported by an improved cooling organization. SciresM too hinted that the console will receive a substantial visual upgrade, with an OLED brandish and 4K capabilities in docked mode, powered by a RealTek chip.

How legitimate the above information remains questionable, equally are a lot of Nintendo Switch Pro rumors. Just a written report from Bloomberg, citing insider information, also has the Switch Pro tipped to offer a 4K output in some form of docked mode. Likely when docked the Switch Pro will take some form of co-processor to upmix a 1080p video feed into a 4K output.

Furthermore, a newer probe into Switch firmware has revealed the line "4kdp_preferred_over_usb30" that could bespeak the potential for a 4K output over DisplayPort over USB 3.0.

Bloomberg (opens in new tab) has besides reported that 11 developers are in possession of 4K toolkits supplied by Nintendo. This would strongly imply that Nintendo is at least thinking about releasing a Switch that tin can output in 4K. Although, Nintendo did quickly release a argument (opens in new tab) denying the accuracy of the reporting.

While Economic Daily News in Taiwan claimed that instead of an OLED display, the Nintendo Switch Pro would feature Mini-LED engineering every bit a more than affordable alternative, our sources say otherwise. Right now all intelligence is pointing to Samsung providing rigid OLED panels to Nintendo.

In an exclusive interview with Ross Immature, co-founder and CEO of Brandish Supply Chain Consultants, discussed with us the potential for the Switch Pro to accept an OLED display and what advantages and shortcomings the tech could provide.

"LCDs use a maximum brightness, whether it's a white or black paradigm. And OLEDs don't," said Young. "Their power consumption varies with the content. So it's going to depend on the type of content that y'all're playing. If it'south video, OLEDs have a big advantage. But if it'southward a bright video game with a lot of white, then OLEDs may consume more power."

Some rumors seem to propose that the Switch Pro might accept some more controversial features, too. In a now-deleted 4Chan mail service (via Inverse (opens in new tab)), user Xhyll alleged that according to a "former employee of Nintendo," the Switch Pro will feature meaning hardware improvements, including a custom Nvidia Tegra Xavier processor, 64GB SSD storage and 4K support.

The obvious downside hither is that the post likewise suggested that the new console volition exist a TV-only arrangement aimed primarily at users who are in the market place for a more traditional panel experience. Considering that some Switch gamers spend the majority of their fourth dimension in handheld mode, this seems somewhat unlikely.

What we want from the Nintendo Switch Pro

If Nintendo were to make a Switch Pro then hither are the features we'd love to see brand their manner to the premium console.

Improved 1080p handheld display: Because the ongoing rumor manufacturing plant, a display upgrade seems likely. At the moment, using the Switch in handheld mode restricts yous to a six.2-inch 720p display, so many users would welcome a better visual feel when gaming on the go (delight, Nintendo).
Sturdier build quality: Ane of the biggest reasons some Switch owners adopt the Low-cal to the base of operations model is due to the sturdiness of the console in handheld mode. Since the Joy-Cons of the original Switch are detachable, playing on the go tin feel somewhat flimsy, and this is something that we'd like to come across improved in the Pro version. A more ergonomic Joy-Con design would go a long style too.
4K support in docked mode: The 4K console gaming community is growing past the mean solar day, and you lot can partially thank the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series for that. Unfortunately, comparisons with new-gen consoles don't do the Switch any favors - Nintendo's flagship console no longer provides the visuals gamers desire. Equally we recently discussed, introducing 4K support and a more powerful dock with higher resolution capabilities would considerably meliorate Nintendo's offering.
Bluetooth support for third-party accessories: Although the Switch currently features Bluetooth iv.i, this is reserved exclusively for wirelessly connecting Joy-Cons and Pro controllers. This means that in order to connect accessories like headphones, y'all demand an adapter, which is admittedly abrasive.

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Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He ofttimes writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he'south also got an involvement in cars. When not at his desk Roland can exist found wandering around London, often with a wait of curiosity on his confront.