ZDNET Korea is reporting (thanks Nintendo Life) that three sources have knowledgeable the positioning that Nintendo is actively pursuing growth of an OLED version of the Swap 2. Reportedly that includes the identical decision because the launch Swap 2’s 1080p FHD, if the claims are true it’d doubtless be anticipated to seem towards the top of 2027 or begin of 2028. In accordance with ZD Korea, their three sources counsel an OLED model of the Swap 2 would have its new, brighter display as soon as once more created by Samsung, which additionally made the unique Swap OLED’s 720p 7″ display. There’s no phrase in there about whether or not this display would even be bigger (the unique, non-OLED Swap was solely 6.2″), though given the shape issue of the Swap 2 and its minimal bezel, it doesn’t appear that there’s lots of room to extend from its beginning 7.9″. Within the common universe, this wouldn’t be probably the most shocking information. The unique Swap was launched in 2017, with an upgraded OLED model showing 4 years later in 2021. It gave the console a second wave, and brought on lots of people to purchase a second model of the identical gadget to make the most of the bigger, clearer display, even when it was working on near-identical tech beneath. It is sensible in a tougher monetary local weather to not wait so long as 4 years this time spherical, and if the assumed timings are right and the brand new model goes into energetic growth on the finish of 2026 and reaches mass manufacturing a yr later, it’d be slightly below three years between the 2 completely different fashions—definitely sufficient time for these with the means to contemplate an improve. Hope of brightness? Nevertheless, we’re not within the common universe, and proper now we’re seeing six-year-old consoles massively rising their costs as an alternative of re-releasing in cheaper, slimmer fashions. The part shortages brought on by the genAI bubble are making it more and more costly to supply {hardware}, and Nintendo itself solely simply raised costs on the Swap 2 lower than a yr after its launch. As such, making a costlier model of the identical gadget appears a doubtlessly dangerous transfer.
On the identical time, the Swap 2’s display is already actually beautiful, sporting a far much less muddied and extra colourful output than the unique LCD Swap 1. It does really feel much less crucial to see that enhance, doubtlessly making an OLED model a tougher promote. That stated, it could possibly be much better, after which temptation calls. None of ZD Korea‘s sources had any phrase on costs for a brand new model, though that’s unsurprising given the experiences counsel it’s not but in energetic growth. Clearly Nintendo gained’t be releasing any data in any respect right now, given how a lot the corporate dislikes such leaks and often opts to publicly ignore them. The Swap OLED was introduced simply three months earlier than its launch, and it’s wise to count on one thing very related this time round too.
