While Nintendo has been doing quite well with last year’s launch of the Switch 2, it looks like the console is going to follow a hardware cycle similar to its predecessor. According to a report by ZDNet Korea, the company is seemingly looking at releasing an OLED version of the Nintendo Switch 2.
The report does note, however, that these plans haven’t yet been written in stone. Rather, the company is still just considering an OLED-equipped refresh, and development of such a design will start later this year if Nintendo goes through with it. This means that, at the earliest, we could see a Nintendo Switch 2 OLED launch in 2028.
The original Nintendo Switch, which was launched in March 2017, got an OLED version four years later, in October 2021. Going by the report’s estimation of a 2028 launch, the Switch 2’s rumored OLED version would come out at a faster pace than that of its predecessor.
As for why Nintendo hasn’t yet decided on whether to work on an OLED version of the Switch 2 at all, the report has brought up the cost of the displays as the major concern. Citing conversations with industry officials, ZDNet Korea noted that Nintendo has been in talks with suppliers like Samsung. However, details about the price difference between OLED panels and the Switch 2’s current LCD panels are unknown.
“Nintendo is considering applying rigid OLED to the Switch 2, but has not yet confirmed the release of the Switch 2 OLED due to the price difference compared to liquid crystal display (LCD) products,” said one official (via machine translation). “Samsung Display will strive to supply Switch 2 OLEDs to Nintendo,” said another, “the extent of the price increase for the Switch 2 resulting from the application of OLED is a variable.”
The current incarnation of the Nintendo Switch 2 makes use of an LCD display. While many consider this a bit of a downgrade when compared to the Nintendo Switch OLED, the step down in color accuracy and sharpness is balanced out by the display’s variable refresh rate capabilities, making games feel smoother even at low frame rates.
Interestingly, before launching the Nintendo Switch OLED, the company had released the handheld-only Nintendo Switch Lite in 2019. The system was made for those who prefer to use it only in handheld mode, and as such, could not be docked to work with a larger external display. It is currently unknown whether the company will follow a similar path with the Switch 2.
In the meantime, Nintendo has announced that the original Switch, the Switch Lite, and the Switch OLED will be discontinued in Europe from February 2027 onwards. The company has said that this is due to local legislation requiring the consoles to have user-replaceable batteries. Going forward, Nintendo plans to replace some of its products with removable batteries. The first wave of these revised products is slated for launch in Summer 2026, with more coming out in Autumn and Winter 2026 and early 2027.
