The new Nintendo Switch OLED dock could allow for 4K output after all, as it was previously though that only its HDMI cable was 4K-capable. The latest iteration of the hybrid console was released earlier this month and boasts a larger and brighter touchscreen, although there are no other notable improvements or upgrades much to the chagrin of players who wanted a more powerful Nintendo Switch Pro.
An earlier teardown discovered the Nintendo Switch OLED HDMI cable supports 4K as it's HDMI 2.0, which is an upgrade from the original Switch model's cable. This is the same type of cord that came with the likes of the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X, while the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S use a more advanced HDMI 2.1 cable that supports 120fps frame rates. Despite having the HDMI 2.0 cable, though, it was thought that the OLED's dock did not have the required power to allow for a higher resolution.
Twitter user kawlums has discovered that the new Nintendo Switch OLED dock does, in fact, come with a chip that seemingly supports 4K resolution. After taking apart the dock to examine the new hardware's inner workings, they found the OLED dock contains a new "RTD2172N KBDQH1" chip that the original Switch dock doesn't include. The chip has the theoretical capability of outputting higher resolutions than 1080p. Nintendo has also added an option to update the firmware of the Switch OLED dock, meaning it could be possible for the company to update it in the future to enable 4K output from a more powerful (and hypothetical) Switch. However, kawlums also notes this chip could be used to instead provide better audio output, and there is currently nothing included in the console's operating system to suggest the theorized update is in development.
After Nintendo Switch Bluetooth headphone support's introduction, there's new precedent when it comes to new Switch features being added in firmware updates. This particular update marked a major step forward for the system, especially considering that it is meant to be a portable device that can be played on the go. Perhaps Nintendo also has more ambitious plans for the latest Switch model's upgraded dock
Since the Nintendo Switch OLED model's announcement, there have been complaints about the fact that it does not include upgraded hardware or support for higher resolutions, improvements some convinced themselves were coming amid rumors of a Switch Pro. However, potential support for higher resolutions in the Switch OLED dock could signal those performance expectations may be met by the Nintendo console line in the future.
Source: kawlums