Nintendo Weighs a Switch 2 OLED Upgrade, But Fears Higher Price Tag
Nintendo is reportedly weighing plans for a new Switch 2 OLED variant, but the company is said to be cautious about what that upgrade could do to the final price tag.
A recent report cites industry contacts suggesting Nintendo is exploring an updated Switch 2 model featuring a 1080p OLED display, with the panels expected to be supplied by Samsung.
Even if the concept is still under discussion, the rollout remains uncertain due to the added expense. OLED screens are generally viewed as delivering better image quality than LCD panels—something the current Switch 2 uses—but OLED production typically costs more, and those costs usually need to be reflected in what shoppers pay. That pressure stacks on top of already rising prices for semiconductors and other electronic parts. Nintendo has already felt those market realities; it announced $50 price increases for the Switch 2 just a year after the system launched.
Switch 2 OLED timing and what could change
If Nintendo does move forward, the report suggests development for a Switch 2 OLED model could start later this year, with large-scale manufacturing targeted for late 2027 or 2028. That would put a potential release roughly in the same window as the original Switch 2’s broader lifecycle—about three to four years after the Switch 2 launch.
Nintendo has been here before. The original Switch eventually received an OLED edition a little over four years after the console’s initial debut, and expectations have been building that a similar approach would arrive for its successor. Some players even hoped Switch 2 would come with an OLED screen from day one, but Nintendo has previously said it chose to return to LCD to help keep costs under control.
So far, there’s no mention of a Switch 2 Lite model, even though the earlier Switch Lite proved there’s demand for a more budget-friendly option with a smaller screen and lower pricing.
Meanwhile, Nintendo is already making adjustments to the Switch 2 lineup for Europe. New versions of the Switch 2 console and its controllers are set to roll out starting this fall, and they’ll include user-replaceable batteries to align with EU requirements. Nintendo is not planning to refresh the older Switch 1 hardware; instead, it will be removed from sale in mid-February next year. There’s also talk of a slightly improved display coming for the Switch 2, which could help with ghosting problems, but no official details have been confirmed.
If you still haven’t picked up a Switch 2, there’s a deadline in the U.S., Canada, and Europe: shoppers reportedly have until September 1 to buy before the $50 price increase takes effect.
