The next Nintendo Switch model requires Bluetooth

A new Nintendo Switch model could be coming soon. According to many reports from Bloomberg, The legendary “Switch Pro” can be released right away during the holiday season. That’s exciting news for current Switch owners begging for an upgrade.

Current rumors note that the new model will have a 7-inch, 780p OLED display, better battery life, and a better Nvidia chipset to support 4K image upscaling when updated. The price is still rising, but analysts tell Bloomberg they expect it to be between $ 350 and $ 400.

All of those features could make for a much needed upgrade after the 4 years of the console’s lifespan, but current rumors lack one that the new Switch really needs: Bluetooth support.

The Switch initially not supporting wireless headphones was a confusing choice when it launched. In theory, this panel is the ultimate portable panel, but its limited audio options prove to be the Achilles heel. Playing the Switch on the go means fans are having trouble using wired headphones unless they want to invest in an adapter.

That’s less of an issue in handheld mode and more problematic in its other configurations. Using wired headphones in desk mode is an awkward experience. The player must insert the cord to the bottom of the system to keep it from dangling in front of the screen. Even then, it’s hard to completely stop that, making the headphones a must-see in desktop mode.

The bigger problem occurs when the control panel is attached to TV mode. There’s no wireless option, and there’s no good way to use headphones while playing without sitting next to the dock. That’s an annoying thing for anyone wanting to use a headset when playing multiplayer games on a system.

The lack of Bluetooth support should not be an issue if the Switch’s controller has a headphone jack. Confusingly, even the Switch Pro controller doesn’t have a headphone jack, which is still an incredible oversight.

When it comes to technology, Nintendo is famously after its time. Its ancient online system remains a source of frustration for fans who have to transcode long friends or gather in third-party voice apps to communicate. The Bluetooth omission is an extension of that lingering problem.

Nintendo has a golden opportunity to fix that problem with its next Switch model. While the larger screen and better graphics are both shiny features that help move units around, it’s the tiny dashing touches that will make the Switch feel like a worthwhile upgrade. Nintendo needs to give players more flexibility when it comes to how they listen to games, not just how they play them.