The new Nintendo Switch will reportedly have a slimmer design, better battery life, and sharper resolution
- Nintendo is said to be using Sharp's "IGZO" screen technology for an upcoming new model of the Switch games console, according to The Wall Street Journal.
- Sharp's IGZO screen technology "delivers high-resolution, ultra-low power, and slim product profiles, plus exceptionally detailed touch panel capabilities," the company says.
- All those things could be beneficial to the Nintendo Switch, a console with a built-in display that can become a hand-held gaming device. The Nintendo Switch would benefit from improvements to any and all of those areas.
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A new upcoming version of the hugely popular Nintendo Switch console - which some are calling the Switch "Pro" - is said to come with a significantly better screen than the current model, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The new Switch's screen is said to contain Sharp's "IGZO" display technology. According to Sharp, IGZO screens "delivers high-resolution, ultra-low power, and slim product profiles, plus exceptionally detailed touch panel capabilities."
In those respects, Sharp's IGZO screen technology could be ideal for the Nintendo Switch, a games console that can also become a hand-held gaming device due to its built-in touchscreen and attachable controllers. It could allow the upcoming Nintendo Switch to have a slimmer design, better battery life, and a higher-resolution built-in display.
Sharp's IGZO screen technology can be used in different types of display panels, including LCD and OLED panels. It's not clear what kind of panel Nintendo's upcoming Switch will use, nor is it clear what kind of resolution its display will have or what kind of gains in battery life we should expect.
The current Nintendo Switch has a serviceable display with 720p resolution, which is fine for the Switch's relatively small, smartphone-sized 6.2-inch display. However, higher resolutions, like 1080p or even 4K would likely by appreciated by Switch users.
The current Nintendo Switch also has a relatively short battery life, which Sharp's IGZO screen technology could bolster. Currently, the original Switch released in 2017 can play games for about three hours, depending on the game. Nintendo recently released an updated model of the Nintendo Switch in 2019 with better battery life - up to two hours more than the original 2017 model.
Nintendo has also announced a more basic version of the Switch, called the Switch Lite, which can't be docked and connected to a TV, and is purely designed to be used in hand-held mode. The Switch Lite also has a smaller display, and the controllers aren't removable, either. The Switch Lite launches in September 20.