It's been a while since the Nintendo Switch was released, and some say that it revitalized the handheld market which was followed by other devices like the Steam Deck. A new version of the Switch is long overdue, especially with the new game titles that require better specs, and it might even arrive soon.
Nintendo Switch 2 Rumored Release
The first Nintendo Switch was released back in early March 2017, making it a little over a month away from being seven years old. Many would agree that the handheld is quickly becoming outdated and overshadowed by its competitors.
Not to worry, if you're a fan of the Nintendo console, as the company is rumored to be gearing up for a 2024 release of the Nintendo Switch 2. Rumors say that it could be unveiled as early as March and even accept pre-orders by late August or early September.
As for the release date, it might arrive around the holidays, as reported by Gizmodo. Unfortunately for people who have higher expectations for the display, Omdia analyst Hiroshi Hayase says that the next generation of the Switch might feature an 8-inch LCD screen instead of OLED.
That means the display would be an inch bigger, but the picture quality will not be as good as the Nintendo Switch OLED that was released back in 2021. However, with an LED display, the Switch 2 might be cheaper on release.
To back the claim, the company behind the assembling of the Nintendo handheld, Sharp Corp, announced that they were working on a console as they were supplying LCD displays last year, which means that there's more than a year between the announcement and the rumored release.
Read Also: 5 Reasons You Should Buy a Handheld Console Instead of a Gaming PC
Nintendo Switch Specs Rumors
Nintendo hasn't revealed any official information about the upcoming Switch yet, but fans of the console who are expecting a more powerful handheld compared to its predecessor might be a little disappointed if the rumored specs are accurate.
Rumors say that the next-gen Switch will feature an eight-core Cortex-A78AE processor, 10 streaming multiprocessors, 8GB of RAM, and just 64GB of eMMC storage. With those specs, it might just be as powerful as a PlayStation 4, as per Tom's Guide.
On the upside, the display, despite having an LCD screen will have a 120Hz refresh rate. It is also said to be fully backward compatible, so you won't have to purchase a whole new set of games and can revisit your old favorites from its predecessor.
Provided that the Switch 2 does have hybrid hardware, you also won't have to spend much on accessories for the handheld as the Nintendo Switch's will be compatible. Unfortunately, that may not be enough to make it an anticipated release for some.
Hopefully, Nintendo intends to release an OLED version of the next-generation Switch, especially for those who are a little picky about the display. They might even release a more powerful model, a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro, for those who want a smoother gaming experience.
Related: Valve Says Steam Deck Successor Might Take 'A Couple of Years'
