One of the most talked-about topics before the official announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 was the decision to switch back to an LCD screen rather than continuing with the OLED display used in the latest model of the Nintendo Switch. This choice seems to have come after “a lot of considerations” from the company.
At first glance, returning to older technology may seem like a downgrade, especially considering that OLED screens are known for their superior visual quality. However, when designing a new gaming device, there are many factors to take into account that might not be immediately visible to the user.
The result, however, is still impressive, as shown by the early tests of the new console. The display has received positive reviews for its quality, proving that the choice was not a simple step backward.
The LCD Screen Decision After Much Thought
The Nintendo Switch 2 features a 7.9-inch LCD display with extended color gamut and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 (1080p). This is already a significant upgrade compared to the screens found in previous models.
More notably, the new screen supports HDR10 and even Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) up to 120Hz, which is not something commonly found on an LCD screen of this size.
The inclusion of these advanced features likely played a role in Nintendo’s decision to go with an LCD display. Tetsuya Sasaki, the head of Nintendo’s technology division, explained, “Now there’s a lot of advancements that have been made in LCD technology during development. We took a look at the technology that was available to us now and after a lot of consideration we decided to stick to LCD.”
Why the Switch to LCD?
Sasaki also pointed out that the OLED screen used in the original Nintendo Switch doesn’t support HDR, unlike the Switch 2’s display. Of course, the cost of components is another important factor to consider. It’s possible that using an OLED screen with HDR10 and 120Hz support could have pushed the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 higher.
In the end, while some may see this move as a downgrade, it seems that Nintendo’s decision was based on offering a balance of performance, features, and affordability.
