Nintendo Switch 2 Would Be Better With 720p Screen, Analysts Conclude

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Abiyan

At Tech4gamers, I cover all sorts of gaming news. Whether it’s a leak of any upcoming game or an update, an announcement, or a rumour, I like to write about it all. Over the weekend, I sit and write features where I talk about games that I miss or want to see return.

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While nothing has been officially revealed about the Nintendo Switch 2, rumors have already leaked many features about this console.

Expected to be finally announced around March 2025, Nintendo is said to be preparing another hybrid console. However, the gaming giant is rumored to be utilizing a 1080p display this time.

According to analysts, this may not be the best decision for Nintendo.

Why it matters: The latest handhelds in the market typically rely on 1080p screens. However, Valve’s Steam Deck also features a resolution closer to 720p, making it a viable option today.

During the recent Digital Foundry direct weekly, the tech experts were asked to share their thoughts on Nintendo’s decision to potentially use a 1080p display for the upcoming handheld.

Digital Foundry believes this may go against Nintendo, causing more problems later on that can be easily avoided. The experts argue that backward compatibility would become challenging since most Nintendo Switch games run at 720p in handheld mode.

To deal with this problem, Nintendo would either have to rely on docked versions of the games for backward compatibility or patch each title separately since 720p output on a 1080p display would not look the best.

I’m worried about it. I’m not sure that that’s necessarily the smartest play, to be honest.

-Digital Foundry

The team also argues that it may be better to stick with 720p for performance headroom in future games.

A lower resolution could add extra longevity to the console, allowing it to punch above its weight in newer releases. When combined with DLSS upscaling, the results would be even more favorable in terms of performance.

While there are obvious benefits to a 1080p screen, handhelds like the Steam Deck stick with the lower resolution for a reason. Digital Foundry believes the lower resolution looks good enough on a smaller screen, making it a wiser option in theory.

Nonetheless, Nintendo has yet to confirm the actual resolution for the Switch 2’s display.

If history is anything to go by. the gaming giant will pick the most cost-efficient option. It has also been claimed that the console will be less powerful than the Steam Deck, but it will be a major upgrade over its predecessor.

Abiyan

[News Reporter]

Abiyan is on track to complete his Computer Science bachelor’s degree. His enthusiasm for writing and gaming motivates him to keep readers and gamers updated with the latest information from the industry. In his free time, Abiyan enjoys playing Dota 2 and Rocket League. Abiyan has also been cited in reputed websites such as Kitguru, Comicbook, GamingBible, Eurogamer and Gamingbolt.