The Nintendo Switch OLED is the most advanced Nintendo console right now, but most people who already have a Switch won’t feel the need to upgrade.
By 2021, Nintendo would have already shown off its $350 hybrid game console, the Nintendo Switch OLED. The best thing about this hardware update is the slightly bigger and much better-looking screen. However, after a week of using it, I’m still not sure if I like it or not because the internal specs are the same and the dock hasn’t changed much. There’s no doubt that the brand-new display makes this the best Switch for newcomers, but the short list of improvements for current owners makes me wonder why some of these changes weren’t made with the 2019 model.
Even though the 7-inch 720p OLED screen on the Switch OLED is bigger than the 6.2-inch screen on the base Switch, the two consoles are almost the same size (242mm vs. 239mm) because the bezels are thinner on the Switch OLED (the black frame around the screen). The Switch OLED has twice as much storage as the original Switch (64GB vs. 32GB), which is still not very much. In the same way, we can get more space by putting in a MicroSD card (the slot for which has been shifted slightly).
Design
- TV, hand-held, and tabletop modes
- The same Joy-Con controllers that you can take off and put back on
There are some extra things.
Only the bigger screen and the new, spotless white Joy-Con controllers make the Switch OLED look different from the original Switch. But if you look closely, you can see that they are not exactly the same.
The 7-inch OLED screen stands out, even though it’s only 0.8 inches bigger than the 6.2-inch screen on the first Switch. This is the biggest difference. The Switch OLED is a little bit bigger than its predecessor, measuring 9.5 by 0.55 by 4 inches (W x D x H), but it still fits in your hands.
On the other hand, when you hold the Switch OLED, it feels more stable. The total weight with both Joy-Con attached is 422 grammes, which is 22 grammes more than the Nintendo Switch. We didn’t get tired from the extra weight while we played, but keep that in mind if you already find the Switch to be a bit heavy.
There are two Joy-Con controllers, two Joy-Con straps, and a Joy-Con grip that come with the Nintendo Switch. These are the same extras that came with older Nintendo systems.
You’ll also get the new dock for the Nintendo Switch. It is a little bit longer than the original dock but not nearly as deep, and it has a new LAN port. The inside has a little more room to move, which should help with air flow and make it less likely that the Switch’s screen will get scratched from being put in and taken out of the dock a lot. The dock is also smaller and has one fewer 2.0 USB port, but you probably won’t move it around too much.
Also, it’s important to know that you can use the old dock with the original Nintendo Switch and the new dock with the OLED version. Both might require you to update your software, but at least your current dock won’t be completely useless.
The power button on the nintendo switch oled model has been pushed down a little and is now oval-shaped. The volume rocker has been made bigger, and the microSD slot has been moved to a better spot behind the larger kickstand. The Switch OLED’s fans have smaller vents, which help it look sleek and modern. You can plug in headphones, just like with the other Switch models.
The Nintendo Switch OLED hides the warnings and information that were on earlier versions of the Switch because it looks better. Even though it’s a small addition, the stand’s ability to hide the information behind it makes the Switch’s back look a lot less busy.
Most people like small changes to the Nintendo Switch OLED’s design, like adding a slot for a game card. The first Switch didn’t have a little depression in the Game Card slot, which made it hard to use without fingernails. We spent a lot of time trying to open the new game card slot, and we don’t know why it was changed when it’s clearly worse.
Kickstand and Speakers
The other changes to the Switch OLED are smaller, but they are still useful. Instead of just one thin piece of plastic, the kickstand now runs the whole length of the device. Because of this, you can put the Switch OLED down on a variety of surfaces with confidence.
Also, you won’t have to buy an extra adapter because the Switch OLED dock already has an Ethernet socket built in.
Next, there are the speakers, which don’t change in appearance but make a lot better sound. On the Switch OLED, the speakers are much bigger and more square-shaped.
The biggest change is how much better they sound now, especially at lower volumes. The soundscape is clearer and more complex than it was before. Metroid Dread had a good feeling of dread, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule Castle theme had a hero-like tone.
Performance
In every respect, the hardware of the new Switch is identical to that of its predecessor.
It is not the case that the OLED version of the Nintendo Switch improves performance in any manner, despite the fact that it was released just before the original console was about to turn five years old. The new Switch features a better screen than the previous model, but it has the same Nvidia Custom Tegra X1 processor and 4 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM) as the previous version.
It’s possible that this piece of news will disappoint those individuals who were hoping for a more powerful “Nintendo Switch Pro.” It is obvious that the hardware of the Switch console is getting older, despite the fact that the vast majority of Switch games continue to function normally. This assertion is even more accurate now that the PS5 and Xbox Series X have been made available to consumers.
Price
The Nintendo Switch OLED, the fourth-generation home console from Nintendo, came out on October 8, 2021. At $349.99 (£309.99) or AU$539.95, it costs more than the original Nintendo Switch, which costs $299.99 (£259.99) or AU$469.95, and more than the Nintendo Switch Lite, which costs $199.99 (£199.99) or AU$329.95.
Even though the model with an OLED screen costs more, it makes sense. The new console has a 7-inch OLED screen, better speakers, twice as much storage, and a bigger kickstand. The dock has also been changed to include a LAN port, which should make online gaming more reliable.
Nintendo has said that the price of the Nintendo Switch OLED will not go up at this time, which is different from what happened with the Oculus Quest 2 and the PS5. Those price increases were blamed on global inflation. You don’t have to go out and buy an OLED model right away if you haven’t already.
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