Everything you need to know about the Nintendo Switch OLED and why it’s not the Nintendo Switch Pro … [+] everyone was hoping for.
Credit: Nintendo
Nintendo announced the Nintendo Switch OLED model today, noting several times in the press release that the new screen will feature vivid colors and crisp contrast.
Heres everything you need to know about the new hybrid Nintendo console.
Meet The New Switch, Same as the Old Switch (Mostly)
First and foremost, this is not a Nintendo Switch Pro. It wont play games with higher frame-rates or graphical fidelity. There is no 4K mode. All the stuff we were hoping to see in a Pro model? Sorry, none of that is happening beyond the nicer screen. That might be disappointing to someI know Im a bit disappointedbut the screen really does sound like a pretty major improvement.
Okay, tell me about the screen.
Sure. The new OLED screen is going to make games look better. For one thing, its 7 inches (instead of 6.2) from corner-to-corner, adding valuable screen real estate in handheld mode. Thats where this slightly-larger Switch is really going to shine.
What makes OLED screens so great is the contrast. Every single pixel can turn off or on individually, which means blacks are much darker and images appear much more vivid as a result. I have an LG OLED TV and its gorgeous. Many people now have OLED screens on their mobile devices now as well. The OLED screen will bring the Nintendo Switch into the modern era…mostly. Just not if you want 4K or 60 frames-per-second.
Is the OLED screen the only difference?
Funny you should ask! The answer is No! but the other improvements are fairly minor and break down into three categories:
Sound
These sound symbols prove that the OLED Switch has better speakers.
Credit: NIntendo
The Nintendo Switch OLED features improved audio in handheld mode, so your games wont just look better theyll sound better also. Never discount the importance of audio improvements to video games, though youre still probably better off with a headset.
Stand
The Nintendo Switch OLED vastly improves the design of the tabletop-mode stand which was pretty flimsy in the original model. Heres a pic:
New Nintendo Switch OLED stand
Credit: Nintendo
Thats a major improvement and should make tabletop mode much more viable. Not sure how much people actually use that mode, but with a larger screen and a better stand its at least more viable.
LAN
Finally, for TV modewith the Switch OLED docked and hooked up via HDMI to a TVtheres now a LAN port so that you can hardwire your Switch to the internet instead of relying on WiFi only. Thats great for competitive online games and for anyone with shoddy WiFi.
Switch OLED LAN port
Credit: Nintendo
Oh, and here are the specs:
Nintendo Switch OLED vs Original Specs
Credit: Nintendo
As you can see, the screen is bigger and theres a LAN input and it weights just a tiny bit more, but mostly its the same machine. Mostly.
Right, this all sounds cool but what about the price?
If you can even find one of these at launchand I wouldnt get your hopes upthe MSRP is $349.99. Of course we live in a very silly timeline and scalpers have super-powered AI bots to do their bidding, so Im sure well see these sell for way more than MSRP. Dont buy into that crap.
My recommendation? Hold out and wait for the price to return to normal.
Do I have to?
No, of course not. A fool and his money are soon parted, as the saying goes, but if you want to drop $500 on one of these instead of waiting a few months go for it. I wouldnt advise it but when have you ever listened to me in the first place?
Whats that now?
Exactly.
I have another question.
Yeah okay, thats what Im here for. Ask away.
Its kind of a big one.
Yep, go for it.
Will the Nintendo Switch OLED model fix Joy-Con drift?
Thats a great question, youre very smart to ask it.
Thank you.
And very attractive, I might add.
Youre too kind.
No seriously, it really is a very smart question. Unfortunately, I dont have an answer for you. Joy-Con drift continues to plague Switch consoles everywhere and its super frustrating. Even the Nintendo Switch Lite, which doesnt have detachable Joy-Con controllers, suffers from drift. My guess is that the OLED version doesnt fix the problem, especially since its compatible with previous Joy-Cons. But I want to believe.
I also want to believe.
Well we can believe together and then later we can suffer together when our hopes are crushed and our dreams are dashed. Any other questions?
Will it come in new colors?
Yes! At launch, there will be a neon blue/red model and a black and white model. You can see that black and white model in action at the top of this post and it isif I may be so boldvery sexy.
You may be so bold.
Thank you, thats very kind of you.
I mean, I agree its very sexy. For a video game console.
Heres another look:
Switch OLED
Credit: Nintendo
I have another question.
Shoot.
What about a Nintendo Switch Lite OLED model?
Nintendo hasnt announced one but its basically a no-brainer at this point so I would count on itprobably in 2022 or maybe even by the holiday season. I imagine it would feature a slightly bigger screen than the current model with vivid colors and crisp contrast.
Thats also pretty sexy. When you talk about vivid colors and crisp contrast, I mean.
Ha, thanks. Anything else?
That about does it. I guess I just need to know the release date.
Sure, no problem. The Nintendo Switch OLED Model with its vivid colors and crisp contrast will release on October 8th alongside Metroid Dread, the first 2D Metroid game in nearly 20 years.
Okay, stop it, that just makes me feel old.
You and me both, pal. You and me both.
Remember how much fun the original NES was?
Okay were getting way off topic here, but sure that was a great video game console. My very first game console actually. If thats all the questions
I was just seeing how old you really were
okay, har har har. You got me.
Now if thats all the questions I think its time we ended this post. Its gone on long enough and then some. If you do want to know more about the Switch OLED I made a video about it which you can watch below. Enjoy!
Thanks, old timer!
Yeah yeah, youre welcome.
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