Nintendo's 'Switch 2' Rumored with 8-Inch Screen, Launch Set for 2024

Another expert has apparently revealed new information concerning the rumored “Switch 2” system, suggesting that Nintendo's next device will have an 8-inch LCD screen and will be released in 2024.

'Switch 2' To Reportedly Launch This Year With 8-Inch LCD Screen

This information was published in a new piece by Bloomberg, with the source being Omdia analyst Hiroshi Hayase, who performs research on firm supply chains of "small and medium displays.”

Again, there is no official confirmation, and a Nintendo spokeswoman had nothing to say about the current rumor, so there are no certainties, but Bloomberg says this is a reputable source. The latest OLED model system features a 7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720.

This follows an analyst's prediction earlier this month that a "Switch 2" model would be released this year and priced at about $400. Last year, there were also claims that Sharp would supply LCD displays for a new system.

Everything We Know About The Rumored Nintendo ‘Switch 2’

Rumors about a new Switch model first circulated early in the system's life, with hints of a “Switch Mini,” a handheld-only console that debuted as the Switch Lite. In January 2019, analysts predicted the release of several Switch SKUs, including a Switch Lite and a Switch “Pro.”

Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa denied rumors, stating that Nintendo was not considering a "successor" at the time – a technically true statement given that both Switch Lite and the then-unknown Switch OLED model are variations on the main console.

In 2019, Nintendo replaced the original Switch console with a "silent" hardware update that used the same Nvidia Tegra X1 chip as the Switch Lite. Because the original model's inventory has been depleted on store shelves, the updated console now offers just the base model. While the chip corrected a security flaw in the old model's CPU, it also provided increased power efficiency and battery life. This chip was reused in the Switch OLED variant.

Various rumors about a “Switch Pro” circulated during 2020 and 2021. However, many of them were about Switch OLEDs rather than Switch SKUs that offered performance upgrades over the standard model.

Bloomberg reported in September 2021 that numerous developers were working on 4K Switch apps using Nintendo-provided technologies. Nintendo quickly issued a statement rejecting the reports.

A patent was later made public, indicating that Nintendo is working on upscaling technology, while "Switch Pro” conjecture resurfaced after references arose following a large Nvidia leak in March 2022. It's unclear whether this referred to a scrapped Switch "Pro" variation or the console's real successor.

Nintendo purportedly demoed “Switch 2” hardware to select developers and gaming media at Gamescom, with sources claiming that the new hardware's power was displayed in the "Matrix Awakens Unreal Engine 5" demo from 2021.

A version of "Breath of the Wild" was apparently utilized to demonstrate the device's additional power, but there is no indication that Nintendo intends to release an enhanced version of the Switch launch title — it was solely used for demonstration purposes. According to sources, the demoed technology may be utilized in portable mode, similar to the present Switch.

Photo: Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons