After all those rumors, it turns out Nintendo was working on a new Nintendo Switch. It's just not the long-rumored Pro version, but a slightly bigger Switch with a new screen. No new resolution support, no new CPU/GPU to power it. Crucially, though, it's not much more expensive than the existing switch, and it comes with a built-in kick-stand to make local multiplayer gaming that bit easier.
Nintendo has been rumored to be working on a new-generation Nintendo Switch for some time. Four years on from the console's original release, it felt like the right time for a refresh. Many expected it to include a new-generation Tegra GPU from Nvidia, perhaps even a new CPU too, or more memory. The idea was that this would give it the ability to output at 4K using Nvidia's DLSS technology.
At this time, however, a Tegra chip with tensor cores that enable DLSS doesn't exist, and would likely have far too few to upscale 1080p to 4K without some serious visual artifacts, so it's arguably unsurprising that Nintendo hasn't gone with that. In fact outside of switching to what will no-doubt be a better looking OLED panel, it's not made any major hardware changes.
Nintendo has confirmed to The Verge that the new OLED Switch "does not have a new CPU, or more RAM, from previous Nintendo Switch models." https://t.co/47TLLL7qFk pic.twitter.com/WamoTrcS2w
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) July 6, 2021
It has made a few quality of life tweaks, however, including adding a wide kick-stand for easy local multiplayer, a wired Ethernet port, and an extended battery life that offers a minimum of 4.5 hours. It will also have double the storage space of the original Switch — 64GB instead of 32GB — with the option to expand it up to 2TB with SD cards. It will still support Wi-Fi 5, though not 6, and will be restricted to Bluetooth 4.1.
The New Switch OLED will launch on October 8 for $350.