When Does Nintendo Switch Pro Come Out

Nintendo Switch Pro: everything we know about the long-rumored 4K Switch

(Paradigm credit: TechRadar)

Fifty-fifty though a Nintendo Switch Pro never materialized, rumors of a 4K Switch turn down to become abroad. The Japanese company launched the Nintendo Switch OLED last October, a pleasing upgrade over the original console that comes with a bigger screen, redesigned kickstand, more than internal storage, improve speakers, and a striking OLED brandish.

But when it comes to power, the Nintendo Switch OLED is exactly the same as the original Nintendo Switch, released in March 2017. The console displays at 1080p when docked, and 720p in handheld mode.

That news came as a disappointment to many, as the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series 10 highlighted the functioning gap between Nintendo'south panel, which is approaching its fifth anniversary, and the state of the industry. 4K TVs are now the standard in many homes, likewise, which makes the Switch's 1080p output look noticeably soft on well-nigh mod displays.

Demand for a Nintendo Switch Pro is certainly in that location, but volition we ever see a 4K Switch? Could existing hardware hold hints of what's to come? Here's everything you need to know about Nintendo's elusive 4K console.

All-time Nintendo Switch games: the most essential Switch releases

Nintendo Switch Pro: cut to the chase

What is it? A souped-up Nintendo Switch capable of outputting at 4K
How much will it cost? TBA
When volition it release? TBA

Nintendo Switch Pro: release date

Nintendo Switch Lite — Image credit: Nintendo

The Nintendo Switch Pro was rumored to launch instead of the Nintendo Switch OLED, which landed on October 8, 2021. At present, though, the being of a Pro panel has come into question, as the Nintendo Switch OLED includes many of the leaked specs that were said to be included in the Switch Pro.

Bloomberg predicted a Nintendo Switch Pro console would release around September or October in 2021, which surprised many at the time. Instead, that release date belongs to the OLED model. A release appointment of March 2022 was hinted at besides, though this has since come and gone.

Nintendo Switch Pro: cost

Information technology goes without saying that redesigns cost coin, doubly so when it involves improved hardware. The Nintendo Switch Pro, with its updated and more than powerful hardware, will almost definitely cost more than the electric current Switch'due south £279 / $299 / AU$449 pricing.

The Nintendo Switch OLED is already a more premium model and launched at $349.99 / £309 / AU$539. Thankfully this isn't a huge step upwards from the original Switch'south asking price and is less than the $399 cost tag that was predicted by some. For comparison, the PS4 Pro was $100 more than the PS4.

As a family-focused company, we'd be surprised if the Nintendo Switch Pro came in at the same price equally PS5 and Xbox Serial 10, $499 / £449 / $AU749, only information technology'll exist more expensive than the Nintendo Switch OLED, still.

Switch Pro: developers tell the states what they desire from the rumored Switch upgrade

Nintendo Switch Pro: news and rumors

Nintendo Switch OLED holds 4K secrets

With the Switch OLED's launch, some of the changes from previous consoles accept started upward speculation that 4K capability could exist hidden right under our noses. For one, the console ships with an HDMI 2.0 cable – instead of the 1.4 standard used by the regular Switch – which should enable 4K passthrough from the dock, or fifty-fifty HDR.

The Switch OLED dock, contains a Realtek bit that could be 4K capable, which is new to this console – though it could be tied to other features like improved audio or Ethernet capability instead. While this isn't a 4K console simply yet, information technology's possible that the dock could be used in some minimal upscaling capacity down the line, or for a 4K Switch Pro when it eventually launches.

Nintendo denies the existence of Nintendo Switch Pro after new reports
Bloomberg (opens in new tab) has in one case again reported that a Nintendo Switch Pro is indeed real, and has claimed that xi different game studios had access to an official evolution kit that featured 4K support.

The console was apparently shelved due to supply issues caused past the ongoing global semiconductor shortage, though information technology could notwithstanding be released.

Nintendo, however, has moved swiftly to deny these claims. In a post on Twitter (opens in new tab), Nintendo said that Bloomberg'due south report "falsely claims that Nintendo is supply tools to drive game developers for a Nintendo Switch with 4K back up", the company went on to say "we have no plans for any new model other than Nintendo Switch OLED Model".

A Nintendo Switch Pro could however be in the works
Co-ordinate to Tokyo-based analyst Serkan Toto, a Nintendo Switch Pro could still happen. Toto has suggested that the Switch OLED might be a "dummy upgrade" before a real upgrade arrives next year.

Speaking to Bloomberg (opens in new tab), Toto said: "This new Switch looks more than like an interim model than a real upgrade to me," Toto told Bloomberg. "This might merely be a dummy upgrade until Breath Of The Wild 2 is set up and the component shortage is over adjacent year."

The Nintendo Switch OLED has been appear
The Nintendo Switch OLED (which was supposed to be the Nintendo Switch Pro) has been announced by Nintendo. In an annunciation trailer posted to the official Nintendo YouTube channel, we got our commencement glimpse of the hardware improvements that are coming.

Obviously, the display will be enhanced and take reward of OLED technology to deliver an amazing picture with vivid colors and impressive dissimilarity. The Switch OLED's screen will also exist slightly bigger (vii-inches every bit opposed to 6.2-inches) and the internal audio arrangement is getting a boost. If you lot like downloading games yous'll be able to have advantage of 64GB of internal storage, and those who like gaming online tin utilise the new Nintendo Switch dock'southward Ethernet port which is built in.

The Nintendo Switch OLED does not support 4K gaming while docked as was expected of the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro, and outputs at 720p in handheld mode.

Dataminer strikes gilt?
A information miner known as SciresM has claimed (via Wccftech (opens in new tab)) that they have found reference to a new Nintendo Switch model within the Switch's latest firmware update, codenamed 'Aula'.

Reportedly, this hardware uses the same scrap every bit the Nintendo Switch Lite and 2019 Switch model, the Mariko (Tegra X1+) SoC. Even so, SciresM as well claims that at that place are references to back up for a Realtek bit which is a "4K UHD multimedia SoC".

Rather than being within the Switch tablet, they think that it "might be within a new dock and not inside the tablet, though, there'southward no style to tell from the firmware code nonetheless." They also say that the tablet itself will have an improved OLED screen, though what resolution information technology'll offering is still unclear. The claims of some kind of 4K support exercise line up with the many other reports from the past twelvemonth which claim that an upgraded Switch capable of 4K is on the horizon.

Of form, there's been no confirmation from Nintendo itself that a new Switch is on the cards and, in fact, Doug Bowser has made comments very recently that suggest at that place might non be for some time. With that in mind, we're withal taking this with a pinch of common salt.

Nintendo Switch outsells PS5 and Xbox Series X
Perchance Nintendo was right not to worry most the launch of the side by side-generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft. It has been revealed that in the launch month of the PS5 and Xbox Series 10, Nintendo's Switch family of consoles has stayed on height in the United states of america in terms of console sales.

According to analytics film NPD Group the Switch and Switch Lite garnered a full i.35 meg sales in the U.s.a. alone throughout Nov. In fact, the report as well says that Nintendo's hardware is selling fifty-fifty more than in 2020 than the previous year – effectually half a 1000000 units more, to a total of half dozen.92 million – despite at present beingness iii years into its lifecycle. We don't actually accept firm numbers for sales of the PS5 and Xbox Series X yet, but the former panel is estimated to have sold effectually 2 million units worldwide across its ii November launch dates, with stock drying upward soon afterwards.

The story isn't the aforementioned across the earth – information technology's worth noting that the PS5 did outsell the Switch in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. Regardless, it shows that the Switch'due south momentum does not seem to be slowing even in the face of new and more than powerful 4K consoles. What this means for a prospective more powerful Nintendo Switch Pro remains to be seen. Nintendo clearly doesn't really need a new console right now with those sales but launched at the right time it could propel the Switch to fifty-fifty greater heights.

Close-up of Joy-Con controller — (Prototype credit: Nintendo)

Standalone Joy-Con patent
A newly discovered patent (via VGC) suggests that some standalone Joy-Con controllers have been considered by Nintendo.

A newly-discovered Nintendo patent suggests that the company may exist planning to release a new form of Joy-Con style controller.

Originally filed in May 2018 and registered in April 2020, the patent shows a controller that's highly like in shape and layout to the existing Joy-Con found on the original Switch. However, it is slightly updated and rather than existence designed to slide onto a screen like the electric current Joy-Con, this controller appears to exist a standalone device, with no rail for sliding in sight.

While there isn't much need for standalone Joy-Con on the original Switch, they could be useful with the more recent Nintendo Switch Lite, which has its controls permanently attached, every bit it would let for easier multiplayer gaming. Given the recent rumors around the Nintendo Switch Pro, though, information technology's also worth considering that the standalone Joy-Con has been designed with this new console in heed.

Rumors of a mini-LED display
Something slightly unlike from the 4K rumors we've been used to when it comes to the Nintendo Switch Pro; we may run into a mini-LED display supplant the current LCD screen. According to a study from Taiwan's Economic Daily News (opens in new tab), the still-rumored Switch Pro model could sport mini-LED screens supplied by Innolux, a well-known manufacturer in the field.

The electric current Switch and Switch Lite consoles use an HD (720p) LCD screen. If a new Switch console did have 4K capability, we imagine information technology'd be in docked manner, with handheld fashion offering a slightly-boosted Full HD (1080p) display. Upgrading to a mini-LED brandish would brand all of those pixels wait meliorate than before as mini-LED displays use thousands of tiny individually-controlled backlights in the glass substrate of the console to offer a wider contrast ratio, better effulgence command, deeper blacks and richer colors. It could fifty-fifty mean thinner and lighter product designs. There are rumors that 2021 will bring an iPad Pro 12.9 which utilizes mini-LED engineering science, too, so it could be a engineering that'southward on the ascension.

Devs are reportedly being told to get 4K-ready
A recent written report by Bloomberg (opens in new tab) has declared that Nintendo is request developers to make their Nintendo Switch games 4K-ready, adding weight to previous rumors that Nintendo has a resolution upgrade up its sleeve with a 4K-ready upgraded Switch console.

Bloomberg'due south report nearly notably corresponds with a recent reports from the Economic Daily News, which cited various hardware manufacturers responsible for the Switch's wink storage and Joy-Con controllers, and claimed that a more powerful Nintendo Switch console with upgraded interactivity and improved display quality could go into production in 2021.

Utilizing Nintendo Switch features
In the 80th Almanac Full general Meeting of Shareholders (via VideoGamer (opens in new tab)), Nintendo stated that future consoles will harness the the Switch's unique elements and experience.

"Our current generation game organisation, Nintendo Switch, has entered its fourth twelvemonth since launch, but its momentum is increasing," Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said. "We believe there are two factors behind this. First is the being of two hardware configurations with unlike characteristics, in Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite. The second factor is that Nintendo's development resources are full-bodied on developing content for a single platform, Nintendo Switch. We want to extend the life wheel of Nintendo Switch while maximising such advantages.

"From the perspective of playing with the image displayed on a TV, we believe that because consumers can play Nintendo Switch on a Tv set or the game console screen itself, it has profoundly increased the opportunities for gameplay in various scenes in their lives, compared to previous consoles," Furukawa continued. "Through Nintendo Switch, we've made many discoveries about where a dedicated video game platform can fit into a consumer'south daily life. We come across scenes on social media of children and their families sitting effectually a game console to play, which gives us a renewed sense of the value of our defended video game platform. We volition utilise these experiences in carefully because the grade our future game consoles will take."

Codenames
Dataminers have been coursing through Nintendo's firmware version x.0.0 for information on new Switch consoles and accept plainly identified codenames for the upcoming devices.

According to JershJopstin on Resetera (opens in new tab), there are 5 identified codenames for Nintendo Switch models: Icosa, Copper, Hoag, Iowa, and Calcio. Here's a breakup of what nosotros know about their codenames and so far (thanks TweakTown (opens in new tab)):

Icosa - Switch released at launch - nx-abca2 - 20nm Tegra X1 -
Iowa - revised Switch - nx-abca2 - 16nm Tegra X1 and 'Mariko' fleck
Hoag - the Switch Lite - nx-abcc - 16nm Tegra X1 and Mariko chip
Copper - unconfirmed- nx-abcb
Calcio - unconfirmed - nx-abcb - 16nm Tegra X1 and Mariko bit

While Iow, Hoag and Icosa have already released, Copper and Calcio take not been confirmed to be in evolution.

According to JershJopstin, Copper appears to be a not-mobile device due to its lack of battery and charging services, and the HDMI services it appears to have which would typically be handled by a Switch docking station.

Meanwhile, according to another rumor, Calcio volition apparently be a docked-only, more traditional console.

Nah, and official devs don't know anything yet (at least indies). Nintendo has these athenaeum that contain a bunch of settings for specific hardware types + there'southward some configuration in various sysmodules. Nintendo oft adds some or all of that earlier the hardware releases heh.March ii, 2020

In add-on, JershJopstin has suggested that this Calcio console could be digital-only due to its credible lack of support for game cards and new naming form factor.

However these rumors should be treated with a healthy dose of skepticism until we go confirmation from Nintendo.

Possible dual-screen
A dataminer has dug into the new Nintendo Switch version 10.00 firmware and institute hints that information technology adds preliminary support for a new Switch model, - nx-abcd -, one with a secondary display, possibly a dual-screen similar the Nintendo DS. This is the aforementioned dataminer who previously uncovered that Nintendo was working on a revised model – which turned out to be longer battery-life Switch – from firmware version 9.0.0. However, this should all the same be treated with skepticism.

This is a different form factor from the Switch codenames we've seen before, with Resetera user suggesting we may see a unlike type of Switch device birthday – non handheld or docked.

Firmware 10.0.0 adds preliminary support for a new hardware model: "nx-abcd".three of the 5 new DRAM profiles are for this new hardware type and there'southward evidence of a secondary display of sorts being added exclusively on this model. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)April 14, 2020

Nintendo isn't worried about the next console generation
2020 wasn't the year of a new Nintendo Switch console, just it was the year that Sony and Microsoft launch the adjacent generation of consoles: the PS5 and Xbox Serial X. Nintendo, however, isn't worried most catching up.

Talking to investors during a Japanese Q&A (via VGC), Nintendo's president Shuntaro Furukawa said that while the gaming landscape will change, the visitor doesn't think the release of these next-gen consoles will take a big impact on its own fortunes.

"Nosotros do not believe that the business trends of other companies will have a significant impact on our business organisation," Furukawa told investors, explaining that the reason Nintendo is so confident that the PS5 and Xbox Serial X won't pose huge competition is considering the Nintendo Switch targets a different audition.

While this doesn't tell us a whole lot about any specific new console plans Nintendo has, it does suggest that the visitor isn't feeling any great hurry or force per unit area from its supposed competitors to release, or even announce, a Nintendo Switch Pro in the firsthand future.

AR and VR support
VR and AR support for the Switch never looked likely, with the Medico of Nintendo France citing a lack of mainstream entreatment for the technology back in 2018, but the Labo VR Kit shows Nintendo has changed its listen about the viability of VR.

The Switch doesn't have the high resolution of virtually VR gaming rigs, so we could encounter an avant-garde model with 2K or 4K resolution to improve those shut-upward VR experiences. However, given the VR Kit is all the same focused mainly on children, we'd exist surprised to see a visual overhaul simply for this one peripheral.

What near 3D?
Another Nintendo patent came to light in early on 2019: this time for a 3D sensor array that sits in a higher place your television, and creates a stereoscopic image in a similar manner to the 3DS, meaning y'all wouldn't even demand spectacles.

3D visuals felt like a passing gimmick fifty-fifty with Nintendo's handheld consoles – and the defunct Microsoft Kinect camera will no dubiousness proceed it wary of unnecessary Goggle box peripherals. Only getting disarming 3D imaging on standard 2D TVs may the step needed to bring 3D gaming mainstream.

Could it support 4K?
While Sony and Microsoft push button at the 4K market, there isn't really any big reason for Nintendo, the company that staunchly sets itself apart from other hardware producers, to follow suit.

In the aforementioned interview (opens in new tab) where he dismissed VR, Nintendo French republic Full general Manager Philippe Lavoué also brushed off 4K saying that the technology has "non been adopted by the majority" and it would, therefore, be likewise early for Nintendo to jump in.

Nintendo didn't enter the HD console marketplace until 2012 when information technology released the Wii U. This was effectually four years later on Sony and Microsoft and at the point when more than 75% of US households really had HD displays in their home.

Miyamoto all the same has said he wished Nintendo had washed the jump to Hd sooner than this, saying that the brandish technology became popular around three years before Nintendo expected it to. Information technology's expected that by 2020, l% of United states households will take adopted 4K engineering science and it might be at this betoken that Nintendo decides to join the 4K fray, rather than waiting until the 75% market saturation of before.

Looking forward to the side by side generation of gaming? Read more than nigh the Xbox Serial Ten and PS5
Check out the best Nintendo Switch bundles and sales
Shop the latest Nintendo Switch Lite bundles
Nintendo Switch game deals: all the latest savings

Vic is TechRadar Gaming'south Associate Editor. An award-winning games announcer, Vic brings experience from IGN, Eurogamer and more than to the TechRadar tabular array. You may accept even heard her on the radio or speaking on a panel. Not just is Vic passionate near games, but she'southward besides an avid mental health advocate who has appeared on both panels and podcasts to hash out mental wellness sensation. Make sure to follow her on Twitter for more than.