Nintendo’s upcoming console, often referred to as the Switch 2, is rumored to release in late 2024. Reports suggest that the new device may not feature an OLED screen like the recently released Switch OLED, potentially to reduce costs. This decision aligns with other handheld devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, which also use LCD screens instead of OLED. It is speculated that the success of these PC handheld devices, which offer more powerful systems for graphically intensive games, may have influenced Nintendo’s choice.
The Nintendo Switch is currently six years old, and it is speculated that the new console will release in the second half of 2024. Nintendo is reportedly in negotiations with suppliers to avoid the shortages seen with the launches of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2020. The company’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, stated that no new or upgraded hardware was factored into Nintendo’s annual forecast, suggesting that the new console launch is planned for 2024 due to declining hardware sales of the Switch.
According to sources, the Switch 2 will be able to be used in both portable and docked modes, similar to the current Switch. It will also have increased internal storage to handle higher fidelity games. However, it is rumored that it may launch with an LCD screen instead of OLED to reduce costs. The OLED screen on the Switch OLED offers improved brightness, contrast, and power efficiency compared to the original Switch. OLED screens also provide richer and darker areas due to individual pixel illumination.
While the lack of an OLED screen may be seen as a step back for the Switch, it aligns with other handheld devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, which also use LCD screens. These devices offer more power and the ability to play graphically intensive games, which may have influenced Nintendo’s decision. It is possible that the success of these PC handhelds, which allow players to play their PC library on the go with offline availability, led Nintendo to believe that players would accept the compromise of a more powerful system without an OLED screen.
As more details emerge in the coming months prior to the official announcement of the Switch 2, players will be able to determine how it compares to other handheld devices and decide whether sacrificing an OLED screen is worth it.
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