Switch 2 OLED: Nintendo is apparently planning a display upgrade after all
Nintendo is reportedly still internally planning an OLED version of the Switch 2 for the coming years. However, rising production costs are currently putting the project to a tough test and are making implementation complicated.
Nintendo Switch 2 OLED in planning
Recently, concrete hopes for a Switch 2 with an OLED screen were dashed after a new variant of the Nintendo console turned out to be another LCD model and the version with a replaceable battery also continued to rely on the cheaper of the two display technologies. However, according to a new report, the Japanese video game company is currently continuing to internally examine the development of a revised version of the Switch 2 with an OLED screen. The new model could launch globally in late 2027 or early 2028. However, the final decision for production is still pending. Those responsible have to take into account sharp increases in component prices, which affects the schedule.
Cheaper rigid panel
A rigid OLED panel is said to be at the center of the considerations. In principle, such rigid screens offer better contrast values and faster response times than conventional LCD variants. They are also slightly cheaper to produce than flexible panels, which are often used in expensive smartphones. By choosing the technology, Nintendo is probably trying to keep the production costs for the console within a manageable range. The resolution should be 1920 x 1080 pixels, i.e. Full HD. This would correspond to the resolution of the base model of the Switch 2 released in 2025, but would still be a big advance compared to the first OLED model of the previous generation, which only had a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.
Like the South Korean technology portal ZDNET (via Android Authority) reported, citing industry circles, that Samsung Display is making intensive efforts to secure the supply contract for the new screens. The South Korean company is a long-time partner of Nintendo and supplied millions of panels for the first Nintendo Switch. If Nintendo gives the green light soon, concrete product development will reportedly begin towards the end of the current year.
Costs are a major challenge
The price difference between LCD and OLED technology remains an obstacle to timely market launch. Hardware manufacturers across the industry are currently experiencing massive cost increases for memory components and semiconductors. Nintendo traditionally tries to keep manufacturing costs low in order to sell consoles profitably. However, the more expensive screens are driving up the selling price of the hardware, which is currently slowing down internal considerations. A potential release of the Switch 2 OLED in 2027 or 2028 would fit exactly into the usual rhythm of the Japanese, who traditionally rely on staggered releases. The first Switch came out in 2017 with a normal LCD. Two years later, the compact Switch Lite for price-conscious buyers followed. The first OLED model completed the console family in 2021.
