Everything we know about the Nintendo Switch Pro Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us.

Nintendo Switch Pro The story so far

By Denise Primbet, Roland Moore-Colyer published 4 October 2022 Here's what we know about the much-rumored Nintendo Switch Pro, and if it's might still be coming (Image credit: Nintendo) For a while we'd though the Nintendo Switch Pro rumors has withered on the vine, but a leaked Nvidia DLSS source code has what looks like reference to a new Switch. And this could be the Switch Pro, or perhaps the Nintendo Switch 2. Even if all this ends up being way off the mark, we still feel there could be an upgraded take of the Nintendo Switch on the cards, as the current hardware isn't the most modern and some games are becoming more demanding. As such, here's what we know so far and would like to see from the Nintendo Switch Pro, even if it's just fanciful thinking.

Latest Nintendo Switch Pro news  updated September 27

A new Nvidia leak seemingly confirms the existence of the Tegra239 SoC - widely rumored to be powering the Switch ProThese are the things we'd want Nintendo to improve for the next Switch.An insider with a history of leaking accurate information has claimed the Nintendo Switch Pro will release in the first half of next year.

Nintendo Switch Pro release date  and price speculation

Last year, Nintendo has basically hammered home that there's not going to be a Switch Pro. Its president, Shuntaro Furukawa, also said in a recent interview that there's no new Switch coming in its upcoming financial year, which runs to March 2023. Yet the Japanese gaming giant has stopped short of 100%, copper-bottom denying that there's some work going on around an upgraded Switch console. This denial hasn't stopped leaker from tipping the console for release in the next few months. Nate the Hate, who does have a history of reliable insider information, has indicated that the Nintendo Switch Pro is set to release in the first half of next year. And apparently, developer kits for an upgraded Switch console were given out at some point. But there's a chance these could be for a second-generation Switch or Nintendo console. As it stands, there's basically no hard evidence that a Switch Pro is coming; equally, it's difficult to pour water on these smoldering rumors that keep popping up. Furthermore, Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis has said that "Ampere is currently forecasting a next-gen Nintendo device to release in 2024." The analyst predicts that despite the strong recent sales of the current Switch consoles, they will eventually decline, leading to the need for a new Nintendo console. Whether that'll be the Nintendo Switch Pro or Switch 2 or a completely new console remains unclear. Nintendo released multiple generations, as well as upgraded and alternative versions, of the Game Boy and 3DS. So we see no reason why it couldn't do the same for the Switch, given that's now its only handheld console that it's actively selling. So we'd not write off the potential for a Nintendo Switch Pro, only we'd expect to wait another couple of years for it to arrive.

Nintendo Switch Pro rumored specs 

(Image credit: Nintendo) Sources seem to offer different reports of what sort of specs we can expect to see in the Switch Pro. The majority of them appear to agree that we're likely to see support for 4K resolutions in docked mode, as well as better battery life. Currently, the Nintendo Switch features a custom Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, a 720p LCD display and 32GB of storage. The most recent refresh of the Nintendo Switch happened in August 2019, which bumped up the battery life, taking it from 6.5 hours to 9 hours of game time. When we tested the battery life upgrade using Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, we found that the amount of game time we were able to fit in before it needed to be recharged doubled. According to a notable data miner, @SciresM, details found in a recent firmware update for the Nintendo Switch seems to indicate that the Pro model will feature the same processor as the 2019 Switch base model and the Lite: the Tegra X1+ chipset. The leak uncovered a project titled "Aula," which indicates that the chipset will offer higher performances by being pushed to higher clocking speeds supported by an improved cooling system. SciresM also hinted that the console will receive a substantial visual upgrade, with an OLED display and 4K capabilities in docked mode, powered by a RealTek chip. How legitimate the above information remains questionable, as are a lot of Nintendo Switch Pro rumors. But a report from Bloomberg, citing insider information, also has the Switch Pro tipped to offer a 4K output in some form of docked mode. Likely when docked the Switch Pro will have some form of co-processor to upmix a 1080p video feed into a 4K output. Furthermore, a newer probe into Switch firmware has revealed the line "4kdp_preferred_over_usb30" that could indicate the potential for a 4K output over DisplayPort over USB 3.0. Bloomberg (opens in new tab) has also reported that 11 developers are in possession of 4K toolkits supplied by Nintendo. This would strongly imply that Nintendo is at least thinking about releasing a Switch that can output in 4K. Although, Nintendo did quickly release a statement (opens in new tab) denying the accuracy of the reporting. While Economic Daily News in Taiwan claimed that instead of an OLED display, the Nintendo Switch Pro would feature Mini-LED technology as a more affordable alternative, our sources say otherwise. Right now all intelligence is pointing to Samsung providing rigid OLED panels to Nintendo. In an exclusive interview with Ross Young, co-founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, discussed with us the potential for the Switch Pro to have an OLED display and what advantages and shortcomings the tech could provide. "LCDs use a maximum brightness, whether it's a white or black image. And OLEDs don't," said Young. "Their power consumption varies with the content. So it's going to depend on the type of content that you're playing. If it's video, OLEDs have a big advantage. But if it's a bright video game with a lot of white, then OLEDs may consume more power." Some rumors seem to suggest that the Switch Pro might have some more controversial features, too. In a now-deleted 4Chan post (via Inverse (opens in new tab)), user Xhyll alleged that according to a "former employee of Nintendo," the Switch Pro will feature significant hardware improvements, including a custom Nvidia Tegra Xavier processor, 64GB SSD storage and 4K support. The obvious downside here is that the post also suggested that the new console will be a TV-only system aimed primarily at users who are in the market for a more traditional console experience. Considering that some Switch gamers spend the majority of their time in handheld mode, this seems somewhat unlikely. Some rumors have suggested that NVIDIA's Tegra239 system on chip will power the Switch Pro. The latest leak suggests that this chip does exist and will come with an 8-core CPU. Reddit users have speculated this would make the Switch Pro about as powerful as a PS4 - which would be a disappointment.

What we want from the Nintendo Switch Pro 

If Nintendo were to make a Switch Pro then here are the features we'd love to see make their way to the premium console. Improved 1080p handheld display: Considering the ongoing rumor mill, a display upgrade seems likely. At the moment, using the Switch in handheld mode restricts you to a 6.2-inch 720p display, so many users would welcome a better visual experience when gaming on the go (please, Nintendo).Sturdier build quality: One of the biggest reasons some Switch owners prefer the Lite to the base model is due to the sturdiness of the console in handheld mode. Since the Joy-Cons of the original Switch are detachable, playing on the go can feel somewhat flimsy, and this is something that we'd like to see improved in the Pro version. A more ergonomic Joy-Con design would go a long way too.4K support in docked mode: The 4K console gaming community is growing by the day, and you can partially thank the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series for that. Unfortunately, comparisons with new-gen consoles don't do the Switch any favors - Nintendo's flagship console no longer provides the visuals gamers want. As we recently discussed, introducing 4K support and a more powerful dock with higher resolution capabilities would considerably improve Nintendo's offering.Bluetooth support for third-party accessories: Although the Switch currently features Bluetooth 4.1, this is reserved exclusively for wirelessly connecting Joy-Cons and Pro controllers. This means that in order to connect accessories like headphones, you need an adapter, which is admittedly annoying.Nintendo Switch Lite vs Nintendo Switch: what should you buy?Both Switch models are on our list of the best handheld gaming consolesToday's best Nintendo Switch deals987 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆ (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$299 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$299.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$299.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Be In the Know

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Denise PrimbetNews WriterDenise is a Life Reporter at Newsweek, covering everything lifestyle-related, including health, relationships, personal finance, beauty and more. She was formerly a news writer at Tom's Guide, regularly producing stories on all things tech, gaming software/hardware, fitness, streaming, and more. Her published content ranges from short-form news articles to long-form pieces, including reviews, buying guides, how-tos, and features. When she's not playing horror games, she can be found exploring East London with her adorable puppy. She's also a part-time piano enthusiast and regularly experiments in the kitchen. More about nintendo switch Best Nintendo Switch games for 2022 Nintendo Switch OLED vs. Nintendo Switch vs. Switch Lite: What should you buy?Latest The best workout headphones in 2022See more latest ► Topics Nintendo Switch See all comments (5) 5 Comments Comment from the forums Soaptrail A new low Tom's, the headline says there is a release date but that is not true. Can you pretend to have good management that cares about content like when this site was founded? Reply Alex79uk This is pure, shameful click bait. I genuinely used to expect better from this website, but it seems you're going with all the other hack sites that thrive on nothing more than misleading headlines. Reply The schmo Alex79uk said:This is pure, shameful click bait. I genuinely used to expect better from this website, but it seems you're going with all the other hack sites that thrive on nothing more than misleading headlines.I signed up just to reply to this. I agree! This was pure click bait!!! Horrible headline! Tired of people/businesses trying to get clicks with misleading headlines. Reply forumuser hopefully it includes fixing the joycons! Reply armac119 Hehehe just keep doing this ...
Reply View All 5 Comments MOST READMOST SHARED1Amazon Fire TV Cube (2022) review2The best workout headphones in 20223Daily Quordle #274 - answers and hints for Tuesday, October 254The best business laptops in 20225The best laptops in 2022: 20 top picks tested and rated1The best workout headphones in 20222Daily Quordle #274 - answers and hints for Tuesday, October 253The best business laptops in 20224The best laptops in 2022: 20 top picks tested and rated5Best laptops for college students in 2022