Nintendo Switch Pro specs, rumours and features (2023)

FAQs

Is the Nintendo Switch Pro powerful? ›

Nintendo Switch Pro: Tech specs

We've also heard that the Switch Pro could feature NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) AI rendering technology, along with a more capable CPU. One Nintendo leaker has claimed that the Switch Pro's power will amount to around that of a PS4 – pretty impressive for a handheld device.

Nintendo Switch Pro release date and price speculation

Last year, Nintendo has basically hammered home that there's not going to be a Switch Pro. Its president, Shuntaro Furukawa, also said in a recent interview that there's no new Switch coming in its upcoming financial year, which runs to March 2023.

As we've said, the Steam Deck has the best compute hardware nestled inside its frame and so can run games at a higher FPS than the Switch and more taxing games too. Even more so when you're streaming from your gaming PC.

However, because the new dock is HDMI 2.0 compliant, it can theoretically produce a 4K signal at 60 frames per second with HDR added. Switch OLED's Dock Can Output 4k & 60fps, Future Proofing for a New Switch!

Besides a 1080p display, 4K video output to a TV when docked and beefier graphics hardware, there's one thing many fans would hope to see from the Switch Pro: stronger battery life. The Switch already received a boost in this regard when Ninty quietly upgraded its cell in 2019.

“If you look at the newest iPhones, then spec-wise, they are already far more powerful than the Nintendo Switch, so that alone is a good argument to buy a phone instead of the Switch, which over time will lead to the growth of new players only playing games on their phones.”

When fully charged, the battery for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller can last approximately 40 hours. This may be shorter depending on the software application and functions being used.

A notable Nintendo insider has claimed that the Japanese video game publisher is still going to release a "Switch Pro" version of the console in the first half of 2023.

Like the original, it will be a hybrid console because it will work as a handheld device and a regular console. However, it will have a larger display, faster response time, and improved battery life. It will also be a 4K-capable Switch and function as a “higher-end” Switch model.

It shines thanks to its library of standout games that should not be missed, and it does not seem like the steady release of new titles is slowing down soon. Even in 2022, the Nintendo Switch remains a worthwhile purchase.

Is Switch OLED worth it? ›

If you largely play in portable mode, then yes, the Nintendo Switch OLED will be a significant upgrade, and is likely to see some decent discounts over the Black Friday period. If you're primarily a TV player, the Nintendo Switch OLED won't be doing much to improve your experience.

For most people, picking up a Switch over the Deck probably makes the most sense right now, especially if you're not an avid PC gamer. But while the Nintendo Switch technically edges past the Steam Deck thanks to better battery life, display, and overall value, both were created with different audiences in mind.

For Nintendo Switch, model number: HAC-001(-01) [product serial number begins with "XKW"], the battery life is approximately 4.5 to 9 hours. For Nintendo Switch Lite, model number: HDH-001, the battery life is approximately 3 to 7 hours.

Teardown Suggests The Switch OLED Dock Is 4K 60fps-Ready And 'Future Proof'

While the original Nintendo Switch uses the HDMI 1.4 cable (which could support 4K but only at 30fps), the OLED model has a HDMI cable that supports 4K and 60fps; possibly HDMI 2.0 or higher.

(Pocket-lint) - Further proof has emerged that the new TV dock that comes with the Nintendo Switch (OLED model) is capable of outputting 4K Ultra HD video. The HDMI cable supplied with the console is too.

A larger 7-inch, 720p resolution OLED screen, which offers higher contrast than the current model, and a considerable size increase, from 6.2 inches on the standard Switch model and 5.5 inches on the Switch Lite.

If you watch the kind of game graphics available for either system, you won't struggle to tell them apart thanks to the higher fidelity of the PS4's graphics. You'll notice the difference even more if you find a PS4 Pro. This console offers additional processing power and can output games in 4K.

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is a more traditional-style controller for more avid gamers. While it can't be connected directly to your Switch or split into two individual controllers, it does feature a much more ergonomic design and a bigger button layout that is more suitable for competitive gaming.

It's normal for the Nintendo Switch to occasionally take some damage. The game console is known to have a few problems with Joy-Cons breaking and cracks popping up along the Switch's vents or by the back corners. But that doesn't mean you have to buy a new Switch.

Is Nintendo Switch powerful enough? ›

While the Nintendo Switch's Nvidia Tegra processor isn't the fastest compared to Sony's PS4 Pro, it's just powerful enough to give you an almost miraculous Hyrulian adventure.

Yes, the switch is way more powerful. The Tegra chip on the switch has 1 Teraflop of power (the chip, its possible that on the switch it is less due to heat, energy efficiency). The PS3 had a theoretical 203 GFlops. This means that the PS3 was roughly 5 times slower.

Leaving the console on the dock or plugged in directly with the AC adapter overnight, or past the point where the battery is fully charged will not cause harm to the battery.

Once fully charged, the battery duration for the console varies depending on model and on the software application and functions being used. For Nintendo Switch – OLED Model with a serial number that starts with “XT”, the battery life is approximately 4.5 to 9 hours.

According to the information sheet from joystick parts manufacturer ALPS, the expected operation life of the joystick's potentiometers is 2,000,000 cycles, and the centre push function (clicking the stick down) is 500,000 cycles.

The Nintendo 4DS is the newest system in the Nintendo DS family that will be released on November 15, 2022.

The Nintendo Switch Pro release date is October 8, with it retailing for $349.99.

The Nintendo Switch OLED Model will feature a larger 7-inch OLED screen (the standard console has a 6.2-inch LCD screen), a new wider kick stand, enhanced audio through new in-built speakers, a LAN port in the dock, and 64GB of internal storage (double the 32GB of the standard model).

New Nintendo Switch 2 display

That said, it's still a 720p panel, only outputting in 1080p (at most) when docked. That matches our own reporting has confirmed that an upcoming Nintendo Switch iteration will use OLED displays provided by Samsung.

Is the new Switch touchscreen? ›

The Nintendo Switch uses a capacitive touchscreen designed to be used with your finger.

Not Supported at This Time

While the Switch doesn't support Netflix, it does offer other video streaming services, both paid and free, through the Nintendo eShop.

The Xbox One S and X clearly output games at a higher resolution than the Switch, but the Switch's games are optimized for the platform and often look just as good at first glance. Plus, the Switch often looks just as good on your morning commute as it does on a TV. Overall, it's too close to call.

Nintendo Switch allows for different play styles. You can play Nintendo Switch in handheld mode, tabletop mode, or TV mode. TV mode allows you to play Nintendo Switch while the game or application is displayed on your television screen.

Ultimately, whether or not you should wait for the Nintendo Switch Pro is up to you, but if you want our two cents, we'd say you're better off investing in the OLED model at the moment. The Nintendo Switch Pro is not yet confirmed and it may never be launched meaning you could be waiting a long time.

In case you're wondering, there is no power upgrade between the Switch OLED and the Switch V2. They offer the same processing abilities and the same resolution. It's just that the OLED screen makes game visuals look much better on the new model.

Unlike a standard LED display which requires separate backlighting, an OLED screen illuminates each pixel individually, resulting in more vibrant, clearer image and better contrast.

In my tests, the Steam Deck was fun to use for playing Steam games. It smoothly ran modern games with intense graphics like Monster Hunter Rise, and the controller, which includes triggers, joysticks and buttons, felt comfortable to use.

Steam Deck review: a heavy, buggy Nintendo Switch alternative PC gaming behemoth Valve has rolled out a portable console. While it's heavy and buggy, the Steam Deck has already become a hot item for ardent gamers.

The Steam Deck is not quite as portable, however, being a near 60% heavier device than the Switch.

What happens if your Switch runs out of battery? ›

When a Switch's battery is fully drained, it can take several minutes to turn back on, even if connected to its charger. Give it up to a few hours to charge and restart. If you haven't used your Switch in days or weeks since its battery drained, it can take even longer to resuscitate, up to 12 to 24 hours.

The bad news is that there is currently no way for a consumer to install a new battery in the hand-held device or the Joy-Con controllers. While Nintendo hinted at a paid battery replacement service prior to the launch of the system, it has yet to institute such a program.

It scratches at level three of the Mohs scale of hardness, but it's not exactly surprising. After all, Nintendo did say that the Switch OLED does come with a plastic film on top of the screen that prevents the glass beneath from flying all over the place if it shatters.

In its hardware section, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model showed quite some impressive numbers. The OLED Model has sold a total of around 5.8 million units, with a good spread of sales throughout key regions worldwide.

While the Switch doesn't support anything over 60Hz in terms of refresh rate, it certainly doesn't hurt playing on a 144Hz panel.

Nintendo Switch – OLED Model is compatible with the full library of Nintendo Switch games.

While no model of Nintendo Switch natively supports 4K, that's not to say it's incapable of achieving higher resolutions than its official specs suggest. That's if recent evidence of certain technologies being used in upcoming Switch titles is anything to go by.

The big difference between the standard and OLED docks is that the latter now comes with wired internet connectivity too - in the form of a LAN port. This is instead of the hidden USB socket on the rear of the old Switch. You can only connect the standard Switch via Wi-Fi.

For most games, the Nintendo Switch does run at 1080 p 60 fps. However, when it is in handheld mode most developers decide to lower the frame rate and resolution to save battery life.

The Nintendo Switch OLED Model provides the best portable experience you can get on a Nintendo handheld, assuming you want the best and biggest screen, loudest and clearest speakers, and the most useful stand you can get on a Switch. It's also $50 more than the base model Switch, and $150 more than the Switch Lite.

Can you play Switch games on Switch Pro? ›

Switch Pro game compatibility

Backward compatibility is a shoo-in. However, a report in March 2021 claimed that while the Nintendo Switch Pro will play all existing and future Switch games, there could be some new titles that will exclusively run on the new console.

There's an elephant in the room when you compare these three consoles that we'll address head-on - the Nintendo Switch is far less powerful than the PS5 or Xbox Series X.

Based on the hardware specifications, the PS5 is a much stronger console when compared to the Nintendo Switch, but that cannot be the only factor when deciding between the two. If you are looking to play the latest games at the highest graphic settings, the PS5 is for you.

What's the difference? Short answer: nothing. Despite all the talk about a 4K-ready Switch Pro being on the horizon, the Switch OLED will have the same customised Nvidia Tegra X1 as its predecessor.

Drifting is a problem that is undeniably common in the Switch's Joy-Con, but it can also affect Pro Controllers as well. That's not to say Nintendo's products are cheap or shoddy universally; drift is an issue that can affect any controller on the market – even the mighty Xbox One Elite Controller isn't safe.

The Nintendo Switch Pro, with its updated and more powerful hardware, will almost definitely cost more than the current Switch's £279 / $299 / AU$449 pricing. The Nintendo Switch OLED is already a more premium model and launched at $349.99 / £309 / AU$539.

Looking for the best switch controller? The Nintendo Switch's Pro controller is superior to the company's smaller Joy-Con controllers for more demanding games. (Drift issues aside, the Joy-Cons are good for simple multiplayer games.) With the addition of actual grips, the Switch Pro controller is more comfortable.

The Switch runs off of a customised Nvidia Tegra X1 chipset, while the PS4 contains an AMD Jaguar CPU and a 1.84 TFlops AMD Radeon GPU. What that translates to is that even though it was released several years before the Nintendo Switch, the PS4 outperforms it when it comes to overall computing power.

All the Xbox and PlayStation consoles are capable of high dynamic range (HDR) graphics too. The Switch can't match this, nor can it really hold a proper candle to the graphical performance these consoles can manage. Where the bigger Nintendo Switches have a distinct advantage over its direct rivals is in portability.

What is the fastest selling Switch game? ›

Phones and Tablets ARE more powerful than the Switch. The Switch is almost 4 years old, and the latest Samsung or Apple phone is by far more powerful than the Switch. Switch CPU technology is at least older than as well.

Games for the Nintendo Switch range from just a few gigabytes to in the dozens of gigabytes per game, so it's possible that a 400GB card will be the only one you'll ever need. And if you ever move on from your Switch, microSD cards can work with some Android phones, Chromebooks, and other gadgets like GoPro cameras.

If you're planning on downloading many games, you probably want a high-capacity card like a 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB microSD card. You'll be able to store more than enough games and they'll load faster since they're higher performance cards. For moderate use, a 32GB or 64GB microSD card will work.

The new Switch will be with us in early 2021 according to Bloomberg. The site says Nintendo will "include more computing power and 4K high-definition graphics" and the new model will most likely feature an upgraded but custom version of the Nvidia Tegra chipset based on newer ARM technologies.

So there you have it; whilst the official Pro Controllers from Nintendo don't tend to suffer from drifting, it's another story entirely for the Joy-Con controllers.

When fully charged, the battery duration for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller can last approximately 40 hours. This can be shorter depending on the software application and functions being used.