While both the PS5 and Xbox series are ridiculously hard to buy at the moment, a third new console could enter the market this year in the form of the Nintendo Switch Pro

At least according to industry analysts interviewed by GamesIndustrybiz, who expect an upgraded Nintendo Switch to arrive in 2021; the Nintendo Switch 2 (the full Nintendo's amazing hybrid console sequel) is likely still some way off, but a Pro version could bring increased power and resolution

Dr Serkan Toto of Kantan Games expects Nintendo to release an "enhanced 4K device" this year

This rumor has been around for some time However, given reports that Nintendo is asking game developers to support 4K TVs in docking mode, we may hear something more concrete in the near future

Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis further lends credence to the rumor: "Last year I was not convinced that a new flagship Switch would come out in 2020, but an updated version released in 2021 would makes more sense commercially"

In a recent interview with Polygon, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said that the Nintendo Switch is "at the midpoint of this lifecycle" and that the company is in no immediate rush to replace it

However, the Switch Pro will not necessarily be the successor to the current Switch, but a higher-end version for those who want more from their gaming console

Nevertheless, if the Switch Pro rumors are true, it is likely that the newer console will offer not only increased specs, but also quality of life improvements, including hardware updates and improved battery life

Recent speculation has also suggested that it could feature a Mini-LED display Additionally, the Switch Pro could feature a dual-screen design similar to the Nintendo 3DS, which is likely a feature of the Switch 2

There has been some speculation on the Internet, with prominent data miner SciresM (@SciresM) allegedly posting on 4chan that he has discovered new information about the Switch Pro 4chan's post states that the codename "Aula" claims that the next revision, called "Aula," will feature an OLED display and 4K-capable graphics The unit will use the same Nvidia Tegra X1 (codenamed Mariko) processor, but will be overclocked with better cooling for 4K gameplay

In a Twitter thread between SciresM and the site Centro Pokemon, a data miner took offense to certain phrasing used regarding the leak; SciresM claimed that Centro Pokemon took his speculation out of context and claimed it was factual He claimed that it was not Centro Pokemon later revised his Twitter post to make it less authoritative

Tom's Guide has asked SciresM for an explanation, but has not received a response at the time of publication of this article If we hear from him, this article will be updated

Based on our analysis, it is unlikely that a simple up-clock of the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip will allow the Switch to jump from 1080p gameplay to 4K The jump in resolution between the two would be huge and would likely require more power As it stands, the current Nintendo Switch runs games like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" at 900p An upclocked chip might be able to run games at 1440p, but that is a big jump, and checkerboard upscaling could be used to output 4K images

It has also been speculated that Nvidia's DLSS technology could come into play and use artificial intelligence to interpret low-resolution frames and output images at 4K

As for OLED displays, that is also a possibility However, Nintendo has not been very interested in display technology to date The company's 3DS line has been plagued by screen discrepancies, depending on which Chinese suppliers could provide the displays In many cases, the 3DS unit used a lower quality TN panel, or sometimes a higher quality IPS display for the upper screen and a TN panel for the lower screen On rare occasions, one might find a 3DS unit with two IPS displays This has become the Holy Grail for 3DS collectors and fans

For Nintendo, switching to OLED would be more expensive than sticking with LCD Therefore, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Nintendo will adopt a jet-black OLED, but it is definitely not likely

Currently, finding a place to buy an Xbox Series X as well as a PS5 is a thankless task However, finding a place to purchase a Nintendo Switch online is much easier

That's why analysts are predicting a bumper year for the Nintendo Switch family And if the Switch Pro does indeed arrive in 2021, it will further boost the success of Nintendo's gaming console

"Everyone who expects the Switch to go from strength to strength in 2021 will be bitterly disappointed," says Toto" The Switch will be the best-selling console of the year" The increase in first-party games, the hardware revamp (see above), and the device's development into a mass-market lifestyle product over the course of 2020 are helping

Harding-Rolls believes the same will be true this year, especially once the Switch Pro is launched: "Nintendo's Switch family will once again be the best-selling gaming console in 2021 I am currently including an updated version of the Switch in my 2021 predictions"

NPD's Mat Piscatella echoed this, noting that despite the recent launch of the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, "the best-selling console hardware in 2021 will ultimately be the Nintendo Switch"

Naturally, time will tell if these predictions will come true However, 2021 is also shaping up to be another interesting year for gaming, especially the Nintendo Switch