The Nintendo Switch is Nintendo’s newest machine, capable of full HD resolutions when docked, and 720p output when in handheld mode- but surprisingly enough, it seems like the OS elements of the system, such as the UI, always render in 720p, even when the system is docked.
This was first picked upon by Digital Foundry. “This flags a surprising design choice from Nintendo,” they said in their report. “The Switch outputs at a maximum of 1080p, with options for 720p and 480p in there too. However, even while docked to a TV, the UI still renders at 720p. When connected to a screen, all the graphics, text, and even the Mii Maker app upscale from 720p to whatever resolution you have set as your output” the report reads.
That means if you are viewing the UI on anything beyond 720p (1080p or 4K), the image quality will be less clear. It kind of makes no sense- and maybe this is something that Nintendo can address with a firmware upgrade over time. The Nintendo Switch launches on March 3 worldwide. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for our own coverage.