Deutsch
Español
Français
Italiano
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Русский
Türkçe
Svenska
Chinese
MagyarCheckMag | Nintendo Switch 2: 8-inch LCD concerns show a lack of faith in the innovative Japanese company
Since a recent Bloomberg (and Nikkei) article was published, stating that an analyst from the research firm Omdia has forecast that Nintendo will launch a Switch successor (dubbed the “Nintendo Switch 2” until its real name is revealed) with an 8-inch LCD panel in 2024, forums have lit up with the OLED vs LCD conversation and with posts from worried gamers convinced that an 8-inch Switch 2 system will just be way too unwieldy for proper handheld gaming. The worriers among them are forgetting that this new console is coming from a company that started life as a playing-card maker and has managed to morph into one of the world’s most famous – and beloved – video game companies thanks to its willingness to innovate.
Starting with the alleged size of the panel for the Nintendo Switch 2, an 8-inch display should be something to cheer about rather than fret about. Images of how the screen could be possibly implemented have already started appearing online, with ones from @makio_jroses and @SwitchActu being good examples.
Beginning with the latter, there certainly seems to be a huge size difference between the Switch Lite with its 5.2-inch display and the purported Switch 2 with its supposed 8-inch unit. The “new model” looks huge in comparison, even over the OG Switch and the OLED Model. But 8 inches might actually be the sweet spot: The Switch 2 would slot neatly between rivals such as the Steam Deck (7- or 7.4-inch), Asus ROG Ally (7-inch), and MSI Claw (7-inch) and then the hefty Lenovo Legion Go (8.8-inch panel). It certainly wouldn’t look out of place in the crowded handheld console market.
Focusing on the former image (posted below), the bump in size might not even be that noticeable for gamers upgrading from the OG Switch or OLED Model to the Nintendo Switch 2. The Big N has not been shy with the width of the bezels for its current Switch consoles (available on Amazon) and there could be room for some shrinkage. As can be seen in the comparison, with some serious bezel reduction the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t look that much bigger than its predecessors, despite being fitted with an 8-inch panel.
As for the ever-evolving OLED vs LCD discussion, the simple fact is that LCD is considered a more-affordable choice that offers generally greater durability, an important factor for a handheld console that’s probably going to get bashed a little while in mobile use. Nintendo will want to release the Switch 2 at a price that makes it instantly attractive, and of course, an OLED Model can also be offered either at the time of launch or further down the line, as the company has already demonstrated with the original Switch.
If the Nintendo Switch 2 ends up with an 8-inch LCD panel, it should not be seen as a reason not to make a purchase, as this is a company renowned for innovation, even when that innovation goes awry (Virtual Boy, 64DD, etc.). This is a firm that realized how much kids love playing with cardboard boxes and made a whole creative ecosystem out of the concept. As no official image of the Switch successor has even been leaked, commenters and leakers don’t even know what it looks like, so everyone is presuming it’s just going to look like a bigger Switch. We could all be in for a big surprise.
Source(s)
Bloomberg (Yahoo edit) & The Guardian & Nintendo & Nikkei & @makio_jroses & @SwitchActu
