Nintendo Switch OLED Model review
Nintendo launched their new and improved version of their wildly successful Nintendo Switch console on October 8th, and it’s called the Nintendo Switch OLED Model. The main benefit is focused on the screen, so if you mainly play Nintendo Switch in handheld mode then you are going to see the most benefit. Nintendo iterated with their handheld consoles before, and this is a big improvement for the Switch.
First up, let’s check out the specs.
System Specs
Size: 9.5” long, .55” deep, 4” high (with Joy-Cons)
Screen: 1280×720 resolution with a 7in OLED screen
CPU: Nvidia Tegra processor
Storage: 64GB (microSD card slot supports additional memory)
Resolution: 1920×1080 docked, 1280×720 undocked
Audio output: Supports 5.1ch PCM output
USB: Type-C
Battery: Lithium-ion battery that lasts between 4.5-9 hours.
Box contents
Nintendo Switch console
Joy-Cons (with straps)
High-speed HDMI Cable
Dock (with LAN port)
Joy-Con Grip
AC Adapter
The main feature of the new OLED model Nintendo Switch is the screen, and it’s a very beautiful thing, plus it’s slightly bigger too. Games now pop out of the screen with beautiful colors, great definition plus you can hold the switch at an angle and you can still see what’s going on in the game.
OLED Screen
The upgraded OLED screen really makes the games stand out. I have been primarily playing Metroid Dread, given it came out on the same day, but I have since played Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey too… both look incredible. The screen still outputs at 720p. Even though it is 720p it feels better, which does sound odd. But I compared my original Switch next to the new OLED Switch, and the difference is huge!
The new screen is also slightly bigger with a seven-inch display and roughly 0.8 inches larger than the original Switch. When you look at the figures it doesn’t sound like much at all, but when you look at the Switches side by side, the difference is real and there to see. There are a few practical applications too like Super Mario Maker 2 and Game Builder Garage. A bigger screen means more control. Overall, the Switch feels a bit heavier, but it has a feel and sense of real quality.
Improved Audio
Another nice improvement with the OLED Switch is the improved audio with the new speakers. This provides a richer sound in all, and if you enjoy playing your Switch on the go this is going to be very useful.
Better Kickstand
The new kickstand is much more robust on the OELD Switch, which now extends along the whole of the bottom of of the Nintendo Switch and feels much more sturdy. I was always scared mine was going to break on the original Switch, but this feels much more robust.
Other upgrades
The dock has also been improved with a new LAN port, so for those who like to play at home connected to a TV and prefer a wired experience, then now you can do with the LAN port. This is particularly good if you play Smash, or if you want to download items faster. I’m super lucky to have very fast broadband and my wireless router performs pretty well.
The OLED Switch comes with 64GB of internal storage, which is more than the original Switch, so that means more room for your games and save files. The original was 32GB and this is a welcome upgrade.
Summary
The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is the best version of a Nintendo Switch out there at the moment but especially caters to those who like to play undocked while sitting on the couch, in bed, or traveling around. The headline act of this machine is the new screen, and games pop with color and a vibrance that is going to take some getting used to, and immediately your entire Nintendo Switch catalog is improved in handheld mode.
It’s not the Switch Pro that everyone thought it might be, but it’s a decent upgrade, especially if you own a base Nintendo Switch from 2017. If you mainly play the Nintendo Switch docked, while sitting on the couch or in the office, then I would recommend waiting it out for the new Nintendo Switch. Nintendo has denied anything like that is in production, but they’ve said that before about in-development kits, so we’ll have to wait and see. For now, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model is the business, and if you are new to the Nintendo Switch game, then I’d recommend checking out this model.
Developer: Nintendo
Price: £309.99
Release Date: 8th October 2021