
Nintendo is no stranger to updating and iterating its hardware. Ever since the days of the NES, the company has seen the value in refreshing its consoles to maintain consumer interest, introduce new features and bring down the cost of manufacture, and that approach hasn't changed in over 30 years.
Therefore, reports that Nintendo is working on new Switch models should come as absolutely no surprise. We've already seen the release of the portable-only Nintendo Switch Lite, but given that the Kyoto veteran is yet to formally announce a more powerful system, there's obviously a lot of speculation and rumour floating around right now – and we plan to cover all of the solid leads here.
Much of the reporting on the topic was tied up with that of the 'Switch Mini', the system revealed as the Switch Lite and essentially a replacement for the outgoing 3DS. Hints that Nintendo was working on revised Switch hardware came as early as October 2018, with The Wall Street Journal claiming that a new Switch SKU was on the way. At the time, it was said that Nintendo was still "undecided" on how it would upgrade the new model, but the plans were clearly already in place.

Then, in January, analysts predicted that we'd see not one but two new models – a Switch Pro and a Switch Lite – would be going into production. Of course, these were just predictions made by people who closely watch the industry, but given Nintendo's track record of updating its systems, it was a fair assessment of the situation – although Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa was quick to dismiss any rumours.
In June 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Nintendo was moving production out of China "to limit the impact of possible U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made electronics", according to "people who work on Nintendo’s supply chain". As part of this report, it was revealed that three Switch models will be produced at the new site in Southeast Asia – which would suggest that the current model, a Lite version and a Pro version are all being made.
Nintendo Switch Pro - What We Know So Far
There's little solid info floating around about the Nintendo Switch 'Pro'. Over the summer Nintendo rolled out a 'silent' update of the standard Switch hardware which reportedly uses the same improved Tegra X1 chip found in the Switch Lite. With better power efficiency and less energy consumption, it enabled the shrinking of the case for the Switch Lite and also offers substantially improved battery life in the updated standard model.
While this internal upgrade to the standard Switch does not constitute a 'Pro' model, the improved chip has the potential to be pushed harder than either of the current models do, and could even offer modest improvements over standard performance. Nvidia has already stated that it expects to have a bumper year, and some have joined the dots and connected this positivity with increased demand for components from Nintendo for not just the standard console and Switch Lite, but also perhaps a Switch Pro.
As for what improvements the Pro will offer over the existing machine, an improved Tegra X1 would only be able to offer so much. Those expecting a massive leap in performance between this model and the existing Switch may be disappointed; even a comparison with the 3DS / New 3DS might be off the mark, as Digital Foundry believe that the 'Pro' revision is more about making the chip more efficient and not about boosting power, as we've seen with the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro. To offer something substantially more powerful would require shifting to an different chip (which could cause issues with compatibility with current Switch games), or potentially adding computing power to the Switch's dock (which obviously wouldn't help in handheld mode).
If the Pro model is real, then we might not see it until 2020 at the earliest. Following the confirmation of the Switch Lite, Nintendo's Doug Bowser confirmed that no other hardware will be coming in 2019.
Nintendo Switch Pro - Release Date
Given how little we've heard about the Pro and how many of the details were tied up with the Switch Lite or the 'silent' standard SKU revision, any guess at a date is pure speculation. From a purely business perspective, it makes sense to save announcements of new hardware until after the Holiday 2019 season to allow Switch Lite time to breath before discussing further iterations of the console.
That said, the Switch Lite and a potential Switch Pro would be targeting very different audiences, and Nintendo is nothing if not unpredictable. Watch this space.
Comments (37)
Man we are milking this so hard.
We know SOMETHING is happening but too much in the air right now.
This seems a little...preliminary.
Unicorns: Everything We Know So Far - Guide - ThanosReXXX
Reports, rumours and above all, speculation: it's all here...
What We Know So Far: rumors fueled by early speculation by news sites an eager to jump manufacturers.
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/rumour_fresh_details_of_star_fox_grand_prix_suggest_its_not_like_f-zero_at_all_thanks_very_much
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/video_can_this_star_fox_grand_prix_rumour_become_a_reality
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/rumour_retro_studios_is_working_on_a_secret_star_fox_grand_prix_title_for_switch
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/random_star_fox_grand_prix_rumour_could_make_one_of_star_fox_commands_endings_canon
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/05/rumour_retro_studios_has_another_project_in_development_alongside_star_fox
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/02/rumour_that_star_fox_racing_game_rumour_is_doing_another_lap
You know nothing, John Snow.
Announce it already Nintendooo!
Don't mind me, I'm just waiting for Godot.
Am I the only one that wants the Switch Pro to have enough power to run some current gen games portably? Make the April Fool's Direct come true Nintendo. Everything coming to Switch!. A guy can only wish.
Fake news....stop it with the fake news. Literally said 3 months ago that a mini and a pro would come out this summer even though Nintendo specifically stated they have no intention of making a new model yet. And the obvious reason for Nintendo moving switch production out of china is because of the tariffs and nothing else. The reports of three new models being made as a result of moving production is just false. No...there will not be a new switch model until Nintendo announced it so stop the FAKE NEWS!
Nothing. Its just a silly rumor!
I want the Switch Mini bad. I've hesitated from getting the original because it's too big.
@dmc79 The Switch already HAS the power to run most modern games decently. Just that the cartridges can't keep up. They are too expensive. Most modern games are over 32GB in size with some games hitting 50-100GB. Most Switch games are 16GB in size. That's what's limiting it from getting some of the third party games.
@LuciferOnReddit Tegra X2 would break compatibility with the Switch so I'll lay my bets on an X1.
Also, the power of the Switch isn't so much the issue but cartridges. People need to realise this by now.
Most Switch games are 16GB in size.
Most modern games are 50GB+.
Assume they can fit the game on a 16GB or 32GB card, you'll get like less then 1/3 of the performance basically.
Edit: And as Nintendo said, they are not competing with Microsoft and Sony because they don't see the point. Microsoft and Sony are like their siblings/brothers. Arch rivals but also best-friend. They help the industry grow and each other to make money. You NEED an Xbox/PlayStation and a Switch thus you BUY two consoles. It's marketing.
@ThanosReXXX Remember how wrong we were with the initial Switch reveal?
Oh, wait...
@Damo Oh, come on, Damien. You should have known I was only kidding. I even put in a smiley, to indicate that it was tongue in cheek.
Now, be a good sport and at the very least pretend you're able to take a friendly punch or two.
@dmc79 You're not the only one. I wish Nintendo switch would also get more modern games.
@Helix87UKNOW how is this fake news? It's a speculative article and nothing more. Switch fans on a Switch website are allowed to get excited by the prospect of a new Switch right?
Yeah but this article is way out there. And to make an assumption or speculate that because they've moved production from china that means new switch models is beyond speculation..that's just lying.
Whatever is released, if I decide to get one I better be able to redownload all of my purchased games on it. Due to the portability of the switch i have invested hundreds if not at least a thousand in digital games. In fact all of my games are digital (besides BOTW which I purchased when I got the switch and has never left the switch). I’ve been worried about this since day one and I hope Nintendo doesn’t let us down and try and get me to repay for a game I have on my switch if I decide to get the switch pro (if it is real and is released). I mean at some point No to do is going to come out with a new version so I wish I knew this answer already.
Why? Won't this compete with the 3DS which is selling like hotcakes? Fanboys keep saying how great the 3DS is selling, and even Bowser himself said the 3DS was doing amazingly well, and they won't stop supporting it anytime soon. This will create market confusion if they release a handheld, because 3DS is a handheld, Switch is not, it's only a home console, meant to replace the failed Wii U, it's why it came out in 2013, only days after Wii U launched, because it was quickly discontinued after launch.
@dmc79 i have plain switch but a switch pro will be able to hold leage legends
@Vectorman I know I know. My wallet literally can't keep up from the amount of awesome coming. But people are still complaining. They mean the "western" third party ports that everyone gets and games like Cyberpunk 2077, etc.
@XxPetriedudexX It does get modern games. My wallet can't keep up with the games coming out. Just not necessarily the latest western third party that take over 50GB to produce. Nintendo will almost always certainly never get those games at launch.
People say this every damn generation and the same results are to be had...when will they adapt and learn? Or move on?
Nintendo is about niche gaming and niche gamers. Their games might be popular but they are competing with other popular brands for your time.
Their consoles with the third party aka the Wii U NEVER SOLD. So it is total bs. Most people who want the Switch Pro are greedy for more power and has competitive issues. They want Nintendo to "crush the competition" or lose money selling expensive hardware that isn't bringing anything new.
Besides, as I said, it doesn't need more power.
It needs bigger cartridges and games that are actually of sizes rivalling the competition and also for the competition to take them seriously.
But why would they? They are competitors.
Even if Nintendo rolled out 64GB carts at launch at a cheap price with the most powerful system on Earth it STILL won't get most of the third party games that are running on competitors system because they want to avoid a monopoly which is bad for business.
Consoles exist the same reason that PC are not monopolies.
Edit: Think about it, if Beyond Good and Evil 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Remake came to the Nintendo Switch, what's the point of a PlayStation or Xbox? For the exclusives?
For one, they wouldn't sell half as many consoles as they do today.
Xbox exclusives are mostly just shooters and doesn't really bring anything new.
PlayStation exclusives are boring/bland and rightly so. They didn't start out making games so kept them to a minimum in order to not peeve off the competition.
What Nintendo needs is more third parties like Platinum Games who would risk making game changing IP like Astral Chain for the Nintendo Switch.
@SNES64DD With all due respect, I want the switch to be more powerful so we get the best gaming experience possible at home or on the road no matter if you like single player or multiplayer games not because I have competitive issues. It will also be easier for developers to port their games over without switch owners waiting months or a year for the same port.
I never bought many 3rd party games for the Wii U and so did many other gamers for several reasons despite the Wii U being more powerful than the PS3 and 360.
1.) Many were missing content because Wii U didn't use blu-rays or HD DVD.
2.) Gamers including myself already had a console to play those same games. PS3 or 360.
3.) Wii U marketing was horrible.
4.)Many gamers didn't see Nintendo as brand you went for powerful hardware and third party support after the launch of the Wii.
5.) Wii U has some amazing games but no killer app that made people wish they owned a Wii U.
@XxPetriedudexX Well sure but that experience changes every generation based upon where the bar is set.
"Pro" iterations of game consoles are there to improve on what has already been set as standard. If the standard isn't getting third party games, the Pro version won't get any more then it does.
Yet I'm hearing people who are wanting X2 based Switch's when it isn't even used for computer gaming. They want Nintendo to basically make a leap but still keep compatibility with the OG Switch.
These people want Nintendo to get all the third party games and more basically. I understand that it can be a pain for people to own two consoles or more (or only one for that matter) but it is a choice that they make.
You mention that the Wii U had no killer app but the PS3/4 and X360/XBone didn't have for a long time and some argue still don't and they still...sold.
The fact that most Nintendo "fans" call themselves fans but will not think twice to buy a competitor's consoles say more about them then anything else. They have no understanding of Nintendo's philosophies and ascribe to buy whatever whenever.
Yes, the Wii U had no Blu-Ray/HD DVD player but people should have known this since the GameCube.
Its the same with why Netflix still hasn't arrived on the Switch.
Nintendo is a gaming company and they want people to be playing games on their console. Is that so much to ask?
Yes, many of us don't just play games but Nintendo believes that they can provide enough content for people to live without Netflix.
They focus on games and just games and they want your time...period.
Netflix is also a competitor and that's where Nintendo has always differed from the competition.
The fact that the Wii U didn't sell tells me that people just don't get it and are mostly "casual" gamers. Nothing wrong with that of course but it means Nintendo has to pander to that crowd to "sell".
(I agree that "the Wii U marketing was horrible." though but I think Nintendo's aim was trying to sell a console that was for everyone - "Wii" and "U" - and it backfired.)
The Switch is doing exactly this and that's why you may have seen some Nintendo Switch detractors complaining about Nintendo having lose their way several years back or something like that.
Personally, I would like to see a successful Nintendo console akin to the N64 and GameCube days but with SNES to Wii like sales and PlayStation doing portables like they did in 2005.
That way, we get the best of both worlds and it meant lots of great games and more great games.
Right now the market is feeling a little stale. Nintendo being Nintendo and Sony being Sony.
@Vectorman I meant that in the terms of third-party that is actually trying to make a difference on the Switch. Not just porting old games or making low budget AA titles like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.
Also you can kind of tell the game stands out from the pack. The gameplay looks amazing even compared to contemporaries. How many single player games that can also be played co-op?
I've played almost all the Sony exclusives and they more or less have the same "feel" to them. That's like a band that always writes music in the same tone, chords and notes. Some people find it amazing. I find it boring. Also what amazing gameplay element have I not seen or is unique to their games because I can't think of anything?
I'm not comparing a PC to console in terms of power but in terms of gaming convenience. Your PC can play games as well as do other stuff. Console arguably work better for their task, sure, and there are "consoles exclusives" but besides Nintendo games, most of them are more of the same and there are also games best played with a keyboard and mouse like Starcraft or DotA 2 or MMOs. A controller doesn't cut it in that instance and thus why console ports are somewhat useless. Yes, you can add keyboard and mouse to consoles too but it also becomes somewhat pointless in that sense as they step closer and closer to being just like a PC.
The console space survived by being unique and marketable.
Marketing and money has a lot to with it. If it didn't sell millions and millions more, I doubt anyone one would continue making them even if they were "superior" to PCs. Just compare Macs and PowerPCs to an Intel-Windows PC, why did the former almost die out while the latter thrived?
It wasn't due to superiority.
Why does McDonalds outsell most other restaurants including other fast food chains which are arguably better?
It wasn't due to superiority.
At least not necessarily a superior product.
A superior product generally doesn't sell better because often it has more factors and quality controls to consider.
Also from a marketing standpoint, it is better to sell the inferior products first until you run out of ideas then move on to the superior products.
Otherwise, we'll all have TVs with gaming consoles built in and the Nintendo Switch would be the norm, not the exception.
It's all just marketing. Why think outside the box when what's inside the box already pays the bills?
@Vectorman I'm talking about Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Its isn't a AAA title. More like an AA. Mario is just in it but it is mostly a run-of-the-mill top-down strategy game.
Crash Bandicoot is now owned by Activision and available on the Nintendo platform and yes, I've played most Sony games: The Last of Us. Uncharted. Jack and Daxter. Ratchet & Clank. God of War. Gran Turismo. LittleBigPlanet (interesting concept). MediEvil (huge fan). Wipeout. Ape Escape (fun times). Twisted Metal. Syphon Filter. Sly Cooper. Shadow of the Colossus. Infamous.
I've also played Spyro, Sunset Overdrive and Spider-Man from Insomniac Games.
It's not all of them but its enough. I don't really plan to revisit a large chunk of these. Feel free to tell me how most of these games are groundbreaking or amazing? ...Which by the way was a joke.
Final Fantasy is from Square and arguably isn't even their best series or best in the series. It's a mainstream jRPG with complex plot points that half the time make no sense. This applies to FF7 as well.
" Console ports are not useless."
Never said it was. Just that some games don't fit on consoles very well. Full stop. I even gave examples.
Consoles have sold over 800 million units in the last 30 years or so. That's over 27 million units being sold a year.
"Why not think out-side the box? Haha. In this day & age, more people need to do more of that."
When everyone thinks outside the box, no one is?
Most companies are trying to think outside the box when it comes to making money all the time. Most the time it backfires on them because users don't like it. Just look at "surprise mechanics"
aka loot boxes?
Is it that a "normal" game or gameplay? No.
Do users like it? No.
I...need...this...NOW!. [gets wallet] noo there is no money in here i need to find some now. dun dun dun dana dun dun dun dana i got it all the money i need ok nintendo lets do this.
@Vectorman Whatever man. You say you don't like "generalizations" but you generalise and make assumptions about people.
I also never said Sony games were bad, just generally boring which I also stated why I feel that way: It has a similar tone and feel to them. At least the ones that are left that are owned by Sony are of a generic feel. Sony is doing this because they want to market an emotion to the mainstream mature core audience and they don't want to offend or put anyone off by having any strange emotions so they take the less is more approach and it makes them come off as somewhat "stale", "generic" and more importantly "controlled" but it works for them. You're the only one seeing it in a negative light here.
Nintendo games aren't that different really. They generally have a happy-go-luckly feel to pretty much all of them. That's because their target market is "everyone and children". The difference is they tend to execute it better and change things up once in a blue moon because children are more fickle then adults.
Which is why if you understand marketing, you would have understood why both of them do this.
Also, I said a controller for games like Starcraft and DotA 2 and some MMOs doesn't work as well as a keyboard and mouse. How am I wrong?
@Vectorman Please go and learn grammar and to read between the lines before commenting and embarrassing yourself further. Seriously.
I am not an "anti-Sony basher" nor a "Nintendo fan-boy" and you say you don't generalise and assume?
I'm not being negative towards any system just stating my opinions and some perceptual truth. If you don't like it go home and have a cry.
In fact, if anything I was calling out non-specific "loyal" Nintendo fans for abandoning the Wii U due to reasons that they should have already known about. That does not make me a fanboy.
At least try to use better examples because Final Fantasy to many IS generic. Not as generic as Dragon Quest but still am. This is not even my opinion. Also as I stated Final Fantasy is not a Sony title.
My goodness, if they make a game, emotional or not that feel the same then that's being generic.
Not hard to understand.
My point is the games have an underlying tone to them that makes you recognise its a Sony, Nintendo or Ubisoft game for example.
Like anyone can recognise that Assassin's Creed was made by Ubisoft without having played a title because it gives off that Ubisoft feel.
Just as looking and acting like an Asian probably makes you an Asian.
Not hard to understand.
I also said this: "Personally, I would like to see a successful Nintendo console akin to the N64 and GameCube days but with SNES to Wii like sales and PlayStation doing portables like they did in 2005."
In order words, I like to see a competitive Nintendo doing home consoles again and a competitive Sony doing handhelds again both of which I loved.
Again tell me how I am wrong and fanboying?
Edit: Also you are again taking the whole children thing out of context like you do with everything I said. I play Nintendo games as well doesn't change that Nintendo targets these games mostly for everyone including children. Nintendo even admitted to this saying they are proud of this because the attention span of children is hard to get/please basically.
Again it is you who are looking at these things negatively. Not me.
My tone is mostly neutral.
@Vectorman Well, apparently paragraphs are not grammar now. And something being beloved and popular can't be "generic" or "boring" to other people.
Wow. "FF was so a Sony title". lol.
Strange it started on the number 7 because 1 to 6 clearly doesn't exist. And you listed a somewhat dead Sonic/DK-influenced series now owned by Activision, a popular Square game ignoring the more interesting ones and a Smash clone.
Great examples dude.
Whatever man. You do you.
I think I just realized all this could be fake. None of these manufacturers have a Nintendo licensed Seal of Quality.
@Helix87UKNOW Definitely fake. It's called the "Lite" not the "Mini", JEEZ.
After years of rumors? You mean months, right? Rumors began in October 2018, so we're not even into one full year.
Hardcore 3DS fans: Switch is NOT replacing 3DS, because Nintendo said so, despite Pokemon leaving, despite another dedicated handheld now, despite all this, it's going to live forever, because it may have no games, but people are buying it, despite 2/3 drops in sales the last 2 years with another one expected this year, it's still got 2 people who want it, so that means it's still alive and selling like hot cakes!
Well whatever happens I'll bet they've patched the security old from the OG Switch which allows full system exploit/control. Probably while leaving another backdoor open somewhere for a different but not as powerful exploit.
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