After months of speculation, we finally know what Nintendo’s update of the Switch console looks like – and it’s called the Nintendo Switch OLED.
Nintendo made the announcement on July 6 on its official Twitter-konto, after many had speculated that the new console would be unveiled before or during E3 2021 in June.
The specifications for the Nintendo Switch OLED are in line with some of the rumors we had heard about the updated console, and it comes with a 7-inch OLED screen, which is larger than the Switch’s 6.2-inch LCD screen.
Nintendo Switch OLED: Quick facts
- What is it? An updated version of the Nintendo Switch with an OLED screen
- When will it be released? 8 october 2021
- How much does it cost? 350 dollar
Nintendo Switch OLED – Release Date and Price
Nintendo Switch OLED will be available from October 8, 2021 and will cost $ 350 (the Swedish price is currently unknown). The current Nintendo Switch costs around SEK 3,700 at Swedish retailers, while Nintendo Switch Lite, which can only be used in a handheld mode, costs around SEK 2,290.
Nintendo Switch OLED will be slightly more expensive than the regular Switch model, about 50 dollars if you compare the US prices, which is not a huge premium to pay for the new features offered.
Nintendo Switch OLED – Function
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We know that Nintendo Switch OLED’s main selling point is its organic LED screen, or in short YOU ARE. OLED is widely regarded as one of the best display technologies and unlike an LCD screen, it does not rely on backlighting to display images. Instead, it displays images using light emitted from each individual pixel, which means you can get perfect blacks and higher contrast levels.
The screen size of the Nintendo Switch OLED is also larger than the LCD screen of the original Switch console. It is now 7 inches, which should give you a little more space when you want to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with friends, and give an extra immersive feeling when you play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 when that game will eventually be released sometime in 2022.
Some surprises also come in the form of a wider, adjustable stand and an improved sound quality; however, it does not appear that the Nintendo Switch OLED supports audio technology as Dolby Atmos. Instead, it seems as if the speakers on the device itself have only been upgraded for a better experience when playing in handheld or table mode.
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Another new addition is wired LAN support, which will be a relief for those who think that online games on the Nintendo Switch are not the most stable or reliable when played via Wi-Fi. It will also benefit titles like Super Smash Bros.Ultimate and Splatoon 3, of which the latter will be released in 2022.
Thankfully, another area where the Nintendo Switch OLED is improved over the original is the internal storage. Nintendo Switch OLED has 64 GB of storage compared to 32 GB on the original Switch model, and there is still support for compatible microSD cards.
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The Nintendo Switch stand has also received a subtle upgrade, as it now has rounded edges for a more modern design and comes in a stylish white color, which matches the new white color scheme for the Nintendo Switch OLED. However, the console is also available in the classic color combination of neon blue and red, with a black stand.
Nintendo Switch OLED – Technical Specifications
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Want to know more about the new Nintendo Switch OLED? Check out the full review of the console’s technical specifications below:
- Size: 24,1 x 1,4 x 10 cm (b x d x h)
- Weight: About 320 grams and about 420 grams with Joy-Con controllers connected
- Screen: Multi-touch capacitive touch screen / 7-inch OLED screen
- Resolution: 1280 x 720 (720p)
- CPU/GPU: Nvidia Custom Tegra-processor
- Storage: 64 GB (expandable with microSDHC or microSDXC cards up to 2 TB)
- Wireless: WI-Fi (802.11 a / b / g / n / ac)
- Video output: Up to 1080p via HDMI in TV mode, 720p in handheld mode
- Audio output: 5.1 Linear PCM
- Speaker: Stereo
- USB connection: USB Type-C for charging
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- Battery life: About 4.5-9 hours
- Charging time: About 3 hours
Is Nintendo Switch OLED 4K?
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Surprisingly, no. One of the biggest features that the Nintendo Switch Pro was tipped to get was the ability to display content in 4K resolution in docked mode, but the Switch OLED will only be able to display content at 1080p, just like the regular Switch. This seems like a big missed opportunity for Nintendo, and may make the upgrade a little harder to justify for some.
It is likely that the Nintendo Switch OLED screen will stick to the 720p output from the original Switch as well, as it means that existing Switch software does not need to be upgraded. This means that rumors of Nvidia DLSS support, which uses AI upscaling to help games get up to 4K, were false.
Focusing on a 4K resolution could also have resulted in the console becoming even more expensive, which may be why Nintendo chose to stick with the original 720p output in handheld mode and 1080p in docked mode.
Will all Switch games work on Switch OLED?
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Can all Nintendo Switch titles be played on Nintendo Switch OLED? Absolutely. Switch OLED is essentially a more advanced Nintendo Switch, so that means every Switch game is compatible. Nintendo notes, however, that some gaming experiences with the Toy-Con accessories from Nintendo Labseries may differ due to the larger screen of the Switch OLED.
Existing Switch accessories will according to Nintendo also work with the Nintendo Switch OLED model.
What happened to the Nintendo Switch Pro?
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Nintendo Switch OLED is essentially Nintendo Switch Pro as there have been so many rumors about for a long time. The technical specifications are in line with what we have heard before, where the biggest difference is the lack of a 4K resolution in docked mode.
It is therefore unlikely that Nintendo will announce another new Switch model in the near future, so those hoping for a more powerful Nintendo Switch model may be disappointed.
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