The Nintendo Switch Pro is likely to arrive as early as this fall.

According to Bloomberg, Nintendo will reportedly begin production of the upgraded console this July, with a launch planned for September or October of this year. This means that a Switch with improved performance and some form of 4K output could be on the way soon.

However, that power may come at a price. The potential price of the next console is expected to be higher than the existing Switch base model ($299), but it is unclear if the difference will be significant.

Bloomberg reports that Nintendo may officially unveil the long-awaited console before its E3 2021 conference in order to "allow publishers to showcase the full range of Switch games at the global event."

The higher cost of the next console is expected to come from "more expensive components and rising labor costs in China." Potential suppliers also expect "revenue per unit from doing business with Nintendo" to increase.

Whether called the Switch Pro or the Nintendo Switch 2, the Japanese gaming company's next console is expected to eventually completely replace the existing Nintendo Switch. The new console will reportedly be sold alongside the Nintendo Switch Lite, the current low-cost version of the standard console, which recently added new brightly colored options.

According to the latest leaks and rumors, the Nintendo Switch Pro will feature a 7-inch OLED display, presumably made by Samsung Display. It is also expected to have 4K gaming capabilities in docked mode thanks to faster Nvidia graphics.

Speaking of chips, suppliers expect that the upcoming Nintendo Switch console will not be affected by the global chip shortage that has hampered the restocking of next-generation consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, this is not guaranteed, as Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa warned last month about potential inventory shortages due to ever-increasing demand and a shortage of components used in gaming hardware.

Despite the lack of official confirmation on a release as of yet, Nintendo has recently teased about the "next platform" after the Switch, making it almost certain that the company is working on a new gaming console.

However, it is unclear whether the console in question is an upgraded version of the existing Nintendo Switch console or if the company is planning an entirely new device. And not long ago, a new Nintendo patent surfaced on the web, indicating that the new Switch Pro could feature an improved Joy-Con controller.