As we head towards the next console generation, with the PS5 and Xbox Series X launching in just a few short weeks, Nintendo is marching along to the beat of its own drum with the Switch and handheld-only Switch Lite which are doing just fine, thank you very much.
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That doesn't mean it's not working on a follow-up to the Switch, although reports seem to vacillate between a Pro version of the console, and a completely new piece of hardware. The latest leak hints at a display upgrade using next-gen tech that comes with a slew of benefits which players will love.
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According to Economic Daily (via GamesRadar) Nintendo has already started preparing for production of its next console that's set to feature Mini LED display tech from a Taiwanese supplier.
Mini LED panels have also been rumored for upcoming iPad models, and offer improved contrast, faster response times, richer colors, and are less power intensive than the run-of-the-mill OLED and LCD displays.
As it stands, the existing Switch models utilise LCD displays at 720p resolution – although in docked mode, the OG Switch offers 1080p through an HDMI plugged into a TV.
The general consensus still seems to be that Nintendo will launch a new console next year with 4K support; just last month the company was reportedly reaching out to third-party developers, asking them to make their titles 4K-ready.
A patent was also spotted for standalone Joy-Cons suggesting that the next iteration of hardware could be in for a design overhaul, with a range of compatible peripherals in the works.
Regardless of its plans, the Nintendo Switch has been hugely popular and is only three years into its lifecycle. The Wii U managed a five-year stint and was a bit of a flop, while the phenomenally successful Wii managed to squeeze out seven years, so jumping ship to a next-gen system in 2021 seems unlikely.
A Pro version seems a safer bet, to round out Nintendo's hardware offerings with a variety of options to cater to the differing needs of its audience, while it enters the later half of its lifecycle.
If you've got your eye on a Nintendo Switch, be sure to bookmark out Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday deals pages for unmissable discounts.
Source: GamesRadar