Samsung to supply OLED panels for Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade

The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console sports a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 chip manufactured by Samsung Foundry. However, a recent report indicates that Samsung may play an even greater role in shaping the future of Nintendo's latest console.

While the first-generation Nintendo Switch received a display upgrade from LCD to OLED halfway through its lifetime, Nintendo decided to go back to an LCD screen for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 sequel. Now, everyone expects the Japanese brand to follow a similar strategy and upgrade the Switch 2 with an OLED display at some point.

A new Bloomberg report (via 9to5toys) claims that Samsung is trying to become Nintendo's screen supplier again. Samsung supplied Nintendo with OLED panels for the first OLED Switch upgrade, so it stands to reason that the Korean tech giant is now trying to partner with Nintendo for an eventual OLED Switch 2.

Why didn't Nintendo use a Samsung OLED display from the beginning for the Switch 2 console? It's complicated. Nintendo (via IGN) said it picked LCD for the Switch 2 because of recent LCD advancements.

For example, the original Switch OLED doesn't support HDR, but the Switch 2 with an LCD panel does.

Some believe it was a cost-cutting measure, while other theories suggest that Nintendo wanted an LCD Switch 2 version first so it could have room for a future OLED upgrade that could bolster sales down the line.

Whatever the case may be, it sounds like Samsung could once again be pivotal in bringing OLED technology to Nintendo's gaming console and eventually supply the Japanese company with OLED screens for a future Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade.

The partnership is not yet official, but the report says that Samsung is pushing to make it a reality. The Nintendo Switch 2 will likely be a massive hit, and Samsung getting a piece of that pie would surely help the Display division's bottom line.