Switch 2 OLED reportedly in early discussions at Nintendo, but cost is the sticking point

Nintendo is actively exploring a Switch 2 OLED model, according to three industry sources cited by ZDNET Korea. If plans move forward, product development could begin by the end of 2026, with mass production not starting before late 2027 — pointing to a 2028 launch at the earliest, roughly three years after the current LCD Switch 2 hit shelves.

The reported OLED panel would run at 1080p FHD, matching the Switch 2's existing handheld resolution — a step up from the 720p screen on the original Switch OLED. Samsung Display is the likely supplier, the same company that built the Switch 1 OLED's 7-inch panel. The big unknown is price: Nintendo already announced a $50 price hike on the current Switch 2 less than a year after launch, and OLED panels carry higher manufacturing costs that would need to be passed on to consumers. ZDNET Korea notes that "the extent of the price increase resulting from the adoption of OLED is a variable" — and no figures have been floated yet. There's also no word on screen size, though the Switch 2's minimal bezels and 7.9-inch display leave limited room to grow.

The current Switch 2 LCD has drawn real criticism — Digital Foundry and others have documented its ghosting issues, motion blur, and imprecise HDR support, all of which an OLED panel would address. Nintendo followed the same playbook with the original Switch, releasing an OLED upgrade four and a half years after launch in 2021 to considerable commercial success. This time around, the component shortage driven by the AI chip boom is complicating the economics of any hardware revision. Nintendo has already begun rolling out minor Switch 2 revisions in Europe this fall — user-replaceable batteries to comply with EU Right to Repair rules — and is discontinuing the original Switch in the region in mid-February next year.

None of the sources had pricing details, which makes sense given the hardware isn't yet in active development. The original Switch OLED was announced just three months before release, so Nintendo is unlikely to say anything official for a long time. For now, this is a rumor with credible sourcing but real financial headwinds — Nintendo wants to do it, but hasn't figured out how to make the numbers work.