Resident Switch hacking scene member SciresM, known for his work on Atmosphere CFW, has made a curious discovery via datamining. A Nintendo Switch Pro model might actually be on the way, if you believe what he's uncovered from an update on the Switch. It should be noted that while interesting, this information does not confirm anything, and much is speculation on SciresM's part after having dug around some firmware files.

Existing under the codename of Aula, this hardware uses a Mariko SoC. It also would support both handheld and docked mode, and features "substantially" better cooling and battery life. While there's nothing concrete to fully determine, SciresM thinks that the revision would support 4K when docked, with an OLED tablet screen, as it features a Realtek chip branded as having "4K UHD multimedia SoC". If it's to be believed, then Nintendo has been working on a "Switch Pro" for over a year, which would line up with many reputable outlets repeatedly claiming that Nintendo is indeed working on a more powerful Nintendo Switch system.

Nintendo actually is working on a new model with upgraded display stuff and has been for ~1.5-2 years. I personally believe it's 4K given the signs I'm seeing in the firmware, but that's not confirmed yet and could be wrong.

Aula has firmware support some Realtek chip that advertises itself as a "4K UHD multimedia SoC", too, hence my belief it's 4K. That chip might be inside a new dock and not inside the tablet, though, there's no way to tell from the firmware code yet.

Aula explicitly supports handheld mode. It is not docked only; that's calcio, which seems like it's for internal only/never releasing since Calcio has no gamecard slot and no battery.

Checked my previous discussions with hexkyz, the upgraded tablet display is an OLED screen. Probably not higher resolution on tablet itself, so I guess the 4k realtek chip is more likely to be new dock than I thought it was.

Source

 

[WaffleRaccoon]

Would the new Switch Model be worth buying? I have a normal Switch that is modded and a Switch Lite that is not modded. Would selling my Switch Lite be a good idea so I can get the new model? Also, I don't have plans on modding the new model(If it was moddable) since I already have a Modded Switch.

 

[Deleted User]

Would be great if I can keep my current day 1 switch and only get the new dock - hacked day 1 switch pro

 

[Socke81]

Guys didn't you read the post correctly? It's about a Realtek multimedia chip. This is not a GPU! This is about 4k videos and a new chip to decode new codecs. The chip can certainly decode Dolby Sound. Maybe it also has new WiFi.
But that has nothing to do with the performance of the console. Nintendo might clock the Mariko SoC a bit higher. Then you have 30 FPS in some games instead of 25 FPS. That's it.

 

[Rahkeesh]

Tegra can already output 4K HDMI so this realtek thing has to be something in the dock. As mentioned it is not going to be a powerful GPU or coprocessor.

I think anyone expecting something like DLSS upscaling is going to be highly disappointed. This is going to be some m-cable class shit at best.

 

[smf]

Remember when Nintendo had no plans at all to build a Switch pro? Then it changed for 'no new model this year' and here we are now

Why is that funny? Seems like they told the truth.

 

[MasterJ360]

4K is nice, but you have to be naive to think your going to play 4k in 60fps on a Nintendo console.

 

[raxadian]

Would the new Switch Model be worth buying? I have a normal Switch that is modded and a Switch Lite that is not modded. Would selling my Switch Lite be a good idea so I can get the new model? Also, I don't have plans on modding the new model(If it was moddable) since I already have a Modded Switch.

Go ahead, once this model is finally out, the Lite is crap.

 

[Bladexdsl]

welcome to the 4k Race nintendo took you long enough

 

[osaka35]

so the chip would be upscaling the output, yes? it would be taking the same native output as it does now, and upscaling to output to 4k? I'm fairly sure my reciever probably already does a better upscale of the 1080p signal we get, so I'm not sure of the benefits. unless I'm misunderstanding

 

[ZoNtendo]

I have a mCable and this thing does not look that good, I hope Nintendo's way is better

 

[yoyoyo69]

Likely 1080p in portable and upscale to 4k when docked, no way they have native 4k, even on Nintendo or indie titles.

 

[pedro702]

I personally think the switch is fine as it is. If they want to release a 4K dock that's fine but it doesn't justify purchasing a new console especially when the game catalogue isn't really that impressive. They should spend more time making newer games or probably putting the 3DS and DS online.

I can't think of any 2021 game that is highly anticipated besides Mario 3D world which is a port

you got breath of the wild 2 and metroid prime 4 which may come this year or not, who knows.

 

[ChibiMofo]

Finally!

Finally what? The idiotic rumors from 2019 about a mythical "Switch Pro" were all completely bullshit.
And so are these. Like Nintendo is really going to stick an RTX 3060 inside a docking station!

 

[subcon959]

So the Switch stays the same, but the new dock can upscale to 4K? Seems disappointing.

 

[GenNaz]

It will not be called a Switch "Pro" though. Sony already uses the 'Pro' product identification for their console, and frankly, it would be a mistake for Nintendo to follow suit.

Switch 'Advance'....now doesn't that sound more appealing?

New Switch.
New Switch XL.

 

[godreborn]

Definitely buying. I'll make it my main switch, put the animal crossing one downstairs. I have a normal hackable system that I might keep or sell as well.

 

[Lazyt]

wish it would have been true

 

[linuxares]

Nintendo can finally live up to their old motto, "Now your playing with POWER!"

Imagine Botw with Raytracing

 

[raxadian]

Imagine Botw with Raytracing

Been done, The Wii U version at least.

 

[Foxi4]

I fully expect a 1080p panel for the tablet, 2K at best, and up to 4K docked, that's an optimal price to performance compromise. There's very little point in using an ultra HD panel on a screen this small, not to mention that at high resolutions yields decrease with the physical size (the smaller the pixel the harder it is to manufacture). Seems like the datamine findings somewhat support the theory. I doubt that all we'll see is a new dock too, just based on the interface used to connect the console to the dock. I expect a new SoC, and definitely more memory.