Nintendo Switch Pro: the 5 most tantalising hints that have piqued our interest

If you didn't get a Nintendo Switch OLED for Christmas (or even if you did), you might be interested in hearing about the Nintendo Switch Pro, which has been widely rumored.

To keep the Big N competitive against the next-gen might of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox One X, the "Nintendo Switch Pro" console would likely offer more power than the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite.

The Switch is easily one of the best consoles ever, both in terms of cool hardware and fantastic Switch games, and the prospect of a higher-end model should make any self-respecting gamer happy. But, realistically, how likely is it?

The first thing we need to mention is that, despite multiple reports pointing to a Nintendo Switch Pro console, Nintendo itself stated at the time of the Switch OLED's launch that it has "no plans to launch any other model at this time."

However, multiple reports from reputable outlets and industry insiders suggest that, while Nintendo has "no plans to launch any other model at this time," that doesn't rule out the possibility of a Switch Pro.

What, after all, is "at this time"? Never a day, a week, a month, or a year? Exactly. Let's see what has been said about the Nintendo Switch Pro so far to see if we can learn anything.

1. THE NINTENDO SWITCH PRO COULD BE THE NINTENDO SWITCH 2 OR THE SUPER NINTENDO SWITCH.

Because Nintendo has added "Lite" and then "OLED" to the end of the Nintendo Switch name, "Nintendo Switch Pro" has gained traction as the obvious name for any future upgraded console. However, as previously reported, Switch Pro could simply be "Nintendo Switch 2," with rumors conflating information.

This new Nintendo Switch console could be dubbed the "Super Nintendo Switch" or the "Nintendo Switch 2," as some have speculated. When the Big N transitioned from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the addition of "Super" would be in line with previous naming conventions. However, nothing concrete is known at this time.

A Super Nintendo Switch Pro with a SNES theme would excite us here at T3. That would definitely be a case of "shut up and take our money."

2. THE NINTENDO SWITCH PRO IS RECOMMENDED FOR INTERNAL HARDWARE UPGRADES.

One thing that all existing reports agree on is that if a Nintendo Switch Pro is in the works, it will have new internal hardware.

The original Nintendo Switch, which has been on the market for nearly half a decade, now has a creaking Nvidia Tegra X1 processor and up to 64GB of storage.

According to @SciresM, a well-known researcher, there is evidence of a Tegra X1+ processor in Nintendo's code, which would be faster in almost every way than the current processor, and there has also been talked of an Nvidia Tegra Xavier processor.

Furthermore, it's not unreasonable to expect Nintendo to upgrade the Switch to 1080p (or even 4K) resolution, though this would have an impact on battery life, and possibly increase storage to 128GB, allowing for more games and media.

While much of this makes sense and is intriguing to consider, the fact remains that nothing has been officially confirmed.

3. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THE NINTENDO SWITCH PRO WILL USE THE UPGRADED HARDWARE TO PLAY 4K GAMES.

Bloomberg reported a few weeks ago that Nintendo was sending out developer packs with 4K gaming references, though Nintendo stated at the time that this was only for testing purposes. However, there's usually no smoke without fire, and 4K would be a logical "Pro" step given that both Xbox and PlayStation support it.

It would be a logical step for a Nintendo Switch 2 console as well, and with no concrete information to go on, all we know is that while 4K makes sense, we have no idea if the Big N will deliver it.

4. THE NINTENDO SWITCH PRO MAY USE A MINILEDPANEL INSTEAD OF AN OLED PANEL.

There's also some evidence that Nintendo will use MINILED technology instead of OLED in its next console, though we're not sure how realistic that is given that MINILED is extremely expensive and the Switch is priced in the middle of the market. 

It would be strange if the "Switch Pro" had a lower-resolution screen than the Switch OLED, so this would only make sense if the MINILED could match the OLED's performance.

In terms of pricing, however, if the Pro system is loaded with more advanced internal hardware, it could be a way for the Big N to keep prices low.

5. THE NINTENDO SWITCH PRO WOULD NOT REQUIRE A NEW DOCK IF RELEASED.

And, if a Switch Pro console is on the way, and it does support 4K gaming, it will almost certainly be while docked, as the Big N has no way of putting 4K screens on the Switch Pro due to cost and technical constraints. 4K output would be delivered in docked mode, according to common sense and, as we'll see, leaks.

And if that's the case, we already know the Switch Pro won't need a new dock to deliver it, because the Switch OLED's dock can output 4K. This means Nintendo could sell the Switch Pro without a dock, similar to how it sold 3DS XL consoles without a charger, which could be another way to keep the Switch Pro's price low.

T3'S WISHLIST FOR THE NINTENDO SWITCH PRO

The Nintendo Switch is an incredible gaming system. It has a distinct look and feels that sets it apart from the PS5 and Xbox One X. That's before you even consider Nintendo's incredible game library, which is easily one of the best in the industry.

Having said that, we'd like to see 4K resolution, more powerful internals to help developers push the Switch further, better battery life, Bluetooth support, and possibly a new design.

We'll have to wait and see, as Nintendo is notorious for its secrecy. If Nintendo is working on a Switch Pro, more rumors will surface over time, so stay tuned to T3 for updates throughout 2022.