The ’Switch Pro’ rumour mill is full swing thanks to a new codename found in the latest Nintendo Switch firmware. As Wccftech reports, well-known Pokémon data-miner SciresM is responsible for noticing the codename ‘Aula’. SciresM states what Switch Pro is packing, although it’s speculation until Nintendo drops the new hardware bomb. We’re hoping that happens in 2021.
Nintendo Switch is showing its age and, arguably, started doing so not long after its initial release. As previously noted, Switch is performing terribly with some newer titles such as ‘Legend of Zelda: Age of Calamity’. Maybe this is another sign of a hardware refresh doubling as the messiah of the mighty Ninty?
Here are ten essential features an upgraded Nintendo Switch should be offering:
Bigger, Better Display
The screen on a standard Nintendo Switch rocks a 1280×720 resolution 6.2 inch LED screen. A quick search for a budget handset sees 6.7 inch OLED displays outputting 3K resolutions for under £150. Removing every other aspect of the OPPO Find X2 Pro would leave a sub £100 larger screen that provides deeper colours, better resolution, a 120hz refresh rate and long shelf life.
Nintendo could easy tick all the boxers here by removing the outrageous bezel on current screens and making fair use of space. Current screen technology allows for a serious upgrade here.
Faster Chipset
NVIDIA’s Tegra chip has given the Nintendo Switch some great mileage since 2017, but it’s time for an upgrade. Based on the A57 chip architecture, Nintendo’s flagship is multiple generations behind current mobile chip hardware out there.
Whilst we see similar GPU configurations in NVidia graphics cards, Nintendo needs more horsepower moving forward. The Tegra X1+ Looks to be featured in Switch Pro, featuring around 25% more overall power than its predecessor. 1440P gameplay alongside 4K upscaling is possible and will open more creative doors for Nintendo moving forward.
Bigger Battery
The current Lithium-Ion 4,310mAh battery was an upgrade over the launch of Nintendo Switch’s vanilla offering. Whilst it’s unrealistic for games consoles to keep up with smartphone hardware refreshes, it’s evident that Switch is falling way behind in the juice race. 2021 is a great time to expand the battery life of the Nintendo Switch, seven hours gameplay could become a reality this time around.
Revised Kick-Stand
Whilst it does the job, the current Nintendo Switch stand feels about as sturdy as a chocolate fire-guard. It would be nice to see a wider/robust variant found on most tablet/smartphone cases anywhere except the back of a Switch.
Larger Internal Memory Support
Nintendo Switch is hitting it’s fourth year in an increasingly digital-focused market. Performance hits it’s peak when playing games from internal storage, and 32GB isn’t enough anymore. Granted, Nintendo Switch supports up to 2TB MicroSDHC/MicroSDXC cards, but upgrading internal storage in 2021 should be a natural progression.
Screen Mirroring
Yes, Nintendo Switches come with docks, but what if you don’t have/want to have one handy whilst at friends for example? Screen mirroring to any TV provides a cheap solution to quick game sessions with friends and family. It’s also an excellent idea to show videos/screenshots with the flick of a (digital) switch.
Bluetooth
More people than ever are sporting wireless headphones/earbuds, with the gaming community are the forefront of wireless audio solutions. There’s an argument for controller compatibility too. Baking Bluetooth support would make Switch Pro even more accessible alongside making it more premium.
Party Chat
Why Nintendo thought it was a super idea to have party chat support operate from a mobile app instead of the console is beyond me. There’s an audio jack that’s more than capable of supporting a mic connection. Let’s hope this is something Nintendo is now taking into consideration.
Themes
Because Dark and Light themes doth butter no parsnips Nintendo, come on!
Revised Joy-Con
Something that everyone can enjoy. It’s no secret that Joy-Con has a defect that causes drift on analogue sticks. Why not offer a premium alternative which features an official D-Pad with better ergonomics for extended playtimes. Maybe just for pros? (See what I did there?)
Do you think these points are necessary? Maybe there’s something I’ve missed, let us know in the comments or on our social media platforms.
