The Nintendo Switch Pro is getting closer and closer to being a real product. And we at Tom's Guide have strong opinions about the features it needs.

The original Nintendo Switch was an undeniable success. More than four years after its release, it is still selling well, despite facing off against the new Xbox Series X and PS5. However, rumors of an improved version of the Switch are constantly circulating, with features such as larger displays and higher resolutions being proposed as specs.

Some of us are eagerly awaiting these changes. Others have more specific criticisms about the current shortcomings of the Switch. Regardless of our opinions, there seems to be a demand for a more powerful Switch console, so hopefully this rumor is not just speculation.

As much as we would love to see a higher resolution Switch, we feel it is more important for Nintendo to continue to focus on the portability of the Switch Pro. The rumored larger AMOLED display would be a sufficient upgrade from the current model in terms of visuals, although 4K output when docked would also be quite good.

Beyond that, I think Nintendo needs to add default storage to the Switch. It is too easy to fill up the current 32GB of storage space with game saves. While you can add your own microSD card, I wish I didn't have to buy another product on top of my new console.

More battery life, either by making the existing hardware more efficient or adding a larger battery, would be welcome, too. 4 hours on a charge doesn't necessarily mean you can play a game. - Richard Pryday, Staff Writer

Talk of higher-resolution displays and more power under the hood certainly piques my curiosity. But if Nintendo wants my attention, they need to fix the Switch's biggest weakness: the joystick.

It goes without saying that the Nintendo Switch Pro needs to fix the drift problem that has plagued the Switch's Joy-Con controller for the past four years. This problem has gotten so bad that Nintendo is facing multiple lawsuits; the Switch Pro has no excuse not to fix this persistent glitch.

But the Joy-Con problem goes much further. The stick is too small and often slips off the thumb at the wrong time. The triggers are not particularly clicky or tactile, like the PS5 DualSense or Xbox Series X controllers.

The Joy-Cons themselves also feel rather cheaply made (ironically, buying a set is not cheap). The handrail that slides into the console itself also feels flimsy; if you twist the Joy-Con while holding the Switch, you can see the connection start to flex.

For all my fascination with the Switch Pro, the Joy-Cons are probably everything. After all, what is the point of a high-end gaming console if there are so many problems with how it actually operates? - Rory Mellon, staff writer

There are rumors that the Switch Pro can handle 4K graphics, but that is on a TV screen. The current consensus is that if the console is going to be used in portable mode, it will be limited to the same 720p graphics as the current model Switch.

There is some debate about sticking to 720p, in terms of battery life and whether it would make a big difference on a screen this size. However, I find it insulting that Nintendo would even consider this idea, much less actually implement it.

I do not believe that Nintendo will include a 4K display on the Switch Pro itself. But why not 1080p? These days, you can get 1080p on just about any device - smartphones, TVs, tablets, monitors, etc. - for fairly cheap; 720p has not completely disappeared, but it is only found on very inexpensive products.

Indeed, rumor has it that the Switch Pro will have an AMOLED display, which is an upgrade in itself. But there is no need for Nintendo to dig in their heels and refuse to upgrade the resolution at the same time.

I play most of my Switch games in handheld mode. There is little point in paying hundreds of dollars for a new model that offers no meaningful upgrade over the Switch I already have. - Tom Pritchard, Editor-in-Chief

Introduction: the Switch Pro is something I'll believe after I see it. Nintendo is very proprietary when it comes to hardware (and software, marketing, and release schedules), and much of the Switch Pro news basically boils down to wishful thinking.

Still, there is no denying that the Switch needs an update, especially as other consoles embrace a 4K/60fps future. Most important for the Switch Pro in theory would be to target 4K resolution and 60 frames per second for all games (at least while docked.) 4K TVs are beginning to overtake 1080p TVs as the standard home device, and the Switch simply does not have the high resolution set does not look that good.

There are other hardware improvements the Switch Pro could make--Joy-Cons, battery life, Mercury charging port, etc. But honestly, the biggest upgrade I would like to see is Nintendo's game schedule and how they communicate with fans. Mario's 35th anniversary offered three old games and a limited time campaign that fell short. Zelda's 35th anniversary offered one older game six months away.

Fans love the Switch, fans love Nintendo franchises, and fans love both old and new games. If they can't release new Mario, Zelda, and Metroid games on a regular basis, they should at least make the older games playable on the Switch. - Marshall Honorof (Senior Editor)

Let me bring Marshall's attention to the fact that I believe a Nintendo Switch Pro is in development. There are many rumors floating around, but few that are truly concrete. However, if a Switch Pro is to be released, we would like to see one that supports 4K output and offers a crisp, clear image on our TVs.

A larger display would be nice, as would an analog trigger. In reality, however, I am quite happy with the Switch as it is. I would like a sturdier kickstand so that it can stand up well on less smooth surfaces. Otherwise, the upgrades that have been teased in leaks and bits and pieces of information are more of a "wish I had it" than the upgrades I so desperately need. That said, access to game streaming via Xbox Game Pass xCloud would be great. One can only hope. - Roland Moore-Colyer, UK editor

If this really is the Switch Pro, we need a new Switch Pro controller. Not to knock the current one, but it seems a bit basic. It's more like a regular DualShock controller than an advanced accessory as seen on other platforms. Also, while I would like to see the new Switch Pro controller have customizable paddles like the ones on the Xbox Elite controller, that's not what I really want.

What I want is a Switch controller that focuses on comfort. The buttons on the current Switch Pro controller feel a bit clunky and don't provide enough feedback. The plastic casing is not ideal for long sessions. Aside from a more reliable joystick to counter drift (as mentioned above), the new Switch Pro controller should have upgraded button switch internals for a better tactile experience.

And we hope Nintendo avoids the supply chain troubles that plagued the PS5 and Xbox Series X. If they can make the Switch Pro easily accessible, it will impress us more than a faster processor. - Henry T. Casey Senior Editor