Nintendo Switch OLED: Hands-on Preview
I have spent a lot of money on Nintendo handheld device upgrades over the years. From the GBA SP to the Nintendo 3DS XL, I have rarely been able to resist the allure of a brighter, more attractive screen. So when Nintendo announced the return of the OLED Switch, I immediately pre-ordered it even though I was privately concerned that it would be a marginal upgrade at best. Is it really worth spending $ 350 on a new screen and a handful of other extras?
Fast forward to September, and I feel better about my decision to buy an OLED Switch. That’s because I recently got a chance to try Nintendo’s updated handheld, and what I found was an absolute improvement on my trusty launch unit, which has taken me through a couple thousand hours of Animal Crossing, Hades. and Zelda: Breath. of the wild. Is it still a ridiculous waste? Oh yeah, definitely. But it’s definitely more of an update than I was initially hoping for.
Nintendo Switch’s OLED screen is a huge improvement
As previously announced, the Nintendo Switch OLED is the latest attempt at updating the Switch’s hardware. For $ 50 more than the base console, it will feature a larger, clearer screen, more storage space, and the feature we’ve all been asking for, an improved kickstand. In particular, the OLED Switch will use the same processor that powers the base model, so it will not have improved performance over the original Switch.
With that in mind, the OLED Switch’s biggest selling point is definitely its 7-inch OLED screen, which is a clear improvement over the LCD used by the base model. Compared to the original Switch, the OLED model features deeper blacks and a richer, more vibrant color palette, which was especially evident when playing Metroid Dread. Unfortunately, I can’t show a direct side-by-side comparison, but having seen the two together, I can definitely attest to how best the screen looks in person. It makes the launch Switch’s screen, with its much larger bezels and LCD screen, look small and dim in comparison.
OLED displays in general are known for their remarkable color fidelity, which is fully displayed with the OLED Switch. However, they are also known to have bigger burnout issues, which a Nintendo spokesperson says will be addressed by existing features like auto-brightness and auto-sleep. Another thing to know about OLED displays is that they can have some issues with glare as well, so it may be a bit more difficult to touch the OLED Switch outdoors, but we’ll have to do more testing to determine one way or another. . .
The other OLED Switch enhancements are smaller, but welcome. Believe it or not, the new kickstand really makes a difference, making the infrequently used tabletop option a much more viable option. The dock now features a LAN port, which means you no longer have to buy an adapter if you want to play online with wired internet. Also, the back of the base opens now, which is a strange but interesting design choice from Nintendo, but it can make some parts of the system easier to access.
An underrated improvement is the portable unit’s built-in speakers. This is due to changes that Nintendo has made to the design of the case, which changes the sound balance between the left and right speakers. The effect is remarkable, even if I still prefer headphones when gaming on the go (and thank goodness all Switches are finally compatible with Bluetooth headphones after the latest software update).
A luxury Nintendo console
Otherwise, the OLED Switch is pretty much the Switch as it has known it for the last four years. It’s still subject to the growing gap in performance that Nintendo’s console is seeing with other consoles, and the Joy-Cons remain unchanged, meaning drift will likely continue to be an issue. It’s pretty much the definition of a luxury item – the version you choose because it needs to have the best possible display.
As for whether the OLED Switch has been improved enough to warrant an upgrade, that’s harder to say. My own rule of thumb is that I update whenever a version with a higher screen comes out, and the OLED Switch certainly offers that. But at $ 350, I can certainly understand why many people would want to keep their base units while they wait for Nintendo to release a suitable Switch Pro in 2022. If you were buying a Switch for the first time, however, this is the version you would do. want. Expect a more detailed review on IGN soon.
The Nintendo Switch OLED is due out on October 8. There’s a lot more OLED Switch coverage on the site, and be sure to check out our final Metroid Dread preview, which launches the same day.
Kat Bailey is Senior News Editor at IGN.
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