I have reasons to believe that the Switch 2’s LCD display is an LTPS panel—not IGZO—manufactured by Sharp (シャープ) and Innolux (群創). Compared to conventional a-Si panels, LTPS LCDs offer higher resolution, faster refresh/response, better color/brightness, and lower power consumption.
Nikkei Shimbun reported in Aug 2024 Sharp CFO stated that a “new application” would begin production from Oct. The paper ID’d Nintendo as the customer and Sharp’s Hakusan plant to produce the panels. Hakusan was known for supplying iPhone LTPS panels until Apple went all-OLED.
In Oct an Omdia analyst indicated that Sharp “is launching a new project for amusement displays” to shore up its declining LTPS production. This substantiated the Nikkei report. (Video game business falls under the “amusement” segment in Japan.)
The recently released Sharp management plan disclosed that IGZO won’t be implemented at the Hakusan plant until later in 2025, therefore the Switch 2 display cannot be an IGZO panel despite some old rumors linking it to Switch. (Sharp uses LTPO for XR glasses.)
Based on Nintendo’s work-in-progress inventory in Sep (img 1 below) and factory rumors from Foxconn Yantai, we can surmise that the initial Switch 2 assembly started that month. If Hakusan only began production in Oct, there must be another display supplier shipping ahead of Sharp.
According to customs data, Taiwan is the trading country of the panels received by Hosiden Vietnam (assembler). Being a Foxconn subsidiary and Switch 1 supplier, Innolux is the most likely answer. Innolux also named “gaming” a growth driver in a recent investor conference (img 2).
AFAIK, Hosiden Vietnam did not receive any LCD panels from Japan. So as long as NOA imports Switch 2 exclusively from Vietnam, NA consumers can only buy NS2 units with an Innolux display. Those gung-ho about getting a Sharp panel would have to obtain it overseas.
However, the quality difference between the Innolux and Sharp LTPS panels may be smaller than you think (if any). Innolux manufactures a full-range of LCDs, from budget to premium. Judging from the panel’s customs value, unlike with NS1 Nintendo undoubtedly chose a premium panel this time.
[Originally posted on 2025-05-19 Pacific Time]
