Certain rumors sure do find longevity, don’t they? Nintendo is reportedly preparing to release the Nintendo Switch Pro. The buzz began to circulate in 2019, and it is going strong in 2021. Bloomberg reports that Nintendo plans to show off the new models to capitalize on the larger screen for holiday sales. 

Allegedly, Nintendo will use Samsung Display Co’s 7-inch, 720p-resolution OLED panels. Current Nintendo Switch consoles have a 6.2-inch, 720p screen. It may not sound like much of an upgrade, but the OLD panel offers a few pluses. OLED panels consume less battery, provide deeper black levels, fuller viewing angles, and faster refresh rates. Visually, the Switch’s display will be larger, eliminating more of the black bezel.

Nintendo intends to use rigid OLED panels instead. Nintendo claims they are a “cheaper but less flexible alternative to the type commonly used for high-end smartphones.”

The best features would be reserved for Nintendo Switch Pro’s Docked Mode

Should this rumor be true, the Nintendo Switch Pro’s OLED will output 4K graphics in docked mode. Data miner @SciresM claims a recent firmware update indicates the Pro model will feature the same processor as the 2019 Switch base model and the Lite: the Tegra X1+ chipset. It’s supposed to offer a higher performance by raising clock speeds while being supported by an improved cooling system. Would Nintendo be willing to offer upgraded texture patches for previous games? How well would the Nintendo Switch upscale graphics?

Another Year of Switch Pro Rumors may pass

Fans have speculated about the “Switch Pro” long enough to become skeptical. There have been many rumors, from official sources to ‘people on 4chan.’ In February 2021, President Shuntaro Furukawa said Nintendo is not planning to announce Switch’s new model ‘anytime soon.’ 

In an interview with Polygon, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said this they were focusing on current consoles. “However, we also see right now – and we just talked about it – that the momentum on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite in the fourth year is strong. And we believe we’re changing the trajectory of another typical console life cycle.” Bowser also reiterated a belief that he and Shuntaro Furukawa share: “we believe we’re just at the midpoint of this life cycle on this platform.”

Pokemon Legends: Arceus didn’t appear to perform well on the Nintendo Switch. Maybe we’ll receive a Nintendo Switch Pro in 2022 to coincide with the release of Pokemon Legends? Either way, Nintendo remains tight-lipped. They refuse to deny outright that they’re working on the hardware. Sony and Xbox were well within their console cycles when they released upgraded hardware. Nintendo may do the same thing. For now, we’ll have to wait on official word from Nintendo.