Nintendo is reportedly considering an OLED model for the Switch 2, with mass production potentially starting next year, according to South Korean business website ZDNet Korea. The site cites three insider sources claiming that Nintendo is 'considering releasing a Switch 2 OLED' with an upgraded resolution. The current Switch 2 features an LCD screen, albeit a larger one than the original Switch. An OLED screen would necessitate a new model and allow for even higher resolutions, addressing complaints about ghosting issues that make visuals blurry in handheld mode.
Timeline for OLED development
ZDNet's sources add that development of the OLED model could start as early as the end of this year, meaning mass production could follow either in late 2027 or early 2028. The Switch 1's OLED model launched in 2021, four years after the original, and was otherwise unchanged except for the larger OLED screen. It is unclear if a Switch 2 OLED model would be larger than the current Switch 2, but if the only difference is an improved screen, it would make more sense for Nintendo to prioritise this over a Switch 2 Lite.
Memory shortages and pricing strategy
Current memory shortages have likely forced Nintendo to re-evaluate its plans. A Switch 2 OLED model would be sold at a higher price than the current Switch 2, but with the current model seeing a price hike this year, having a more expensive model could offset costs and allow Nintendo to avoid raising the price of the regular model a second time. Nintendo admitted the increase in price 'does not fully account for all cost increases,' suggesting it is making less profit on the console than at launch. The company also promised 'a robust software line-up' to encourage investment in the Switch 2, including a full remake of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time for this year and Pokémon Winds and Waves in 2027.
Lite model unlikely amid shortages
The whole purpose of a Switch 2 Lite would be to make the console more compact as a smaller, handheld-only alternative. Given the ongoing memory shortages, Nintendo may struggle with compartmentalising the hardware, making it difficult to reduce the price tag. Samsung is reportedly pushing Nintendo to prioritise the OLED model over the Lite, according to industry sources.
