Nintendo Switch Pro - What we want to see in an upgraded Switch console - Android

Rumors of a more powerful Nintendo Switch console have been floating around for years at this point, but recent news suggests we might finally see a Nintendo Switch Pro — or whatever Nintendo decides to call its souped-up semi-portable console. Maybe Nintendo Switch 2? New Nintendo Switch? Nintendo Switch Plus? Who knows.

Sure, we’ve been fooled before with news about a new Switch console but this time the timing makes sense given the imminent release of the next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles this holiday season. Mid-cycle console refreshes also became the standard last gen with the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, so it’s high time Nintendo gets in on the action.

We’re big fans of the Nintendo Switch here at Android Authority, so we thought we’d put in our two cents for what we’d like to see in a Nintendo Switch Pro upgrade. Nintendo is notoriously unpredictable, but it isn’t hard to find at least a few glaring issues with the current hardware.

Keep reading for our Switch upgrade wishlist, and scroll down to the bottom to vote for the feature you’d most like to see in a Nintendo Switch Pro console!

Bluetooth audio support

Let’s start the list with something completely reasonable that honestly should have been included with the original console. Bluetooth audio has exploded in popularity in recent years (mostly because the headphone jack has gone the way of the dodo), but it isn’t supported on the Nintendo Switch.

Joy-Con controllers connect via bluetooth, but audio is frustratingly disabled.

The absence of bluetooth audio is extra ridiculous because the console itself already has bluetooth capabilities. Joy-Con controllers connect to the console via bluetooth. Nintendo Switch Pro controllers connect to the console via bluetooth. Audio though? That princess is in another castle.

Currently the only way to use your fancy bluetooth headphones with Nintendo’s console is with a USB-C dongle or dedicated wireless USB-C headset like the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless. You could also dig out that cable and connect them to the headphone jack at the top of the console, but that’s so 2015.

Embracing bluetooth audio on an upgraded Nintendo Switch Pro is a no-brainer that likely wouldn’t even add manufacturing cost to each unit. Heck, it could probably be added to existing consoles with a simple software update.

Redesigned Joy-Cons

Ah, the iconic Joy-Cons that every Nintendo Switch owner loves to hate. The colorful bifurcated controllers are a key part of the console’s image, but like the console hardware itself it’s time for an upgrade.

Read also: The best Nintendo Switch controllers for all budgets

There’s no doubt that the controllers look good, and there are plenty of great color options on the market. Plus, the way they slide out of the console for seamless two-player gaming is certainly a novel way to punish younger siblings.

The problem is that they aren’t suitable for many games, and Nintendo still hasn’t found a permanent solution to the Joy-Con drift issues that have plagued the controller since the console launched in 2017. A slightly more ergonomic option that fixes hardware faults packaged with a Nintendo Switch Pro would convince this Switch owner to upgrade right away.

High-definition screen

I love my Switch, but man is the screen awful. The 1280×720 resolution might make sense on a decade-old laptop, but with smartphones hitting the market with QHD+ screens for several years now, it’s time Nintendo upped its game.

We’re not asking for larger 4K screen to be crammed into a handheld device (although that Alienware UFO concept piece was pretty slick), but a simple 1080p LCD screen would be nice. The Switch is already capable of running many games in 1080p while docked, so why not extend that experience to gaming on-the-go?

As an aside, we don’t want to see a docked-only Nintendo Switch Pro console that eliminates handheld play. A slightly beefier version would be fine, since the original console weighs less than a pound already.

A kickstand that works

While we’re on the subject of the Switch body, let’s take a moment to talk about the kickstand. The small piece of plastic, which I will generously describe as “dinky”, is located on the far right hand side of the device. This placement means the Switch can only be used on an extremely stable surface, and even then it can be knocked over by a stiff breeze.

Its troubles don’t end there. The kickstand also can’t be used while the Switch is charging, which limits your play to a few hours. It also has the durability of a stale cheeto, snapping off at the slightest application of pressure.

The solution here doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Either put another kickstand on the left side of the device or replace it with a slightly larger one in the center. If we can dream though, a built-in stand that offers some of the versatility of the official Ninte