The Nintendo Switch is a gaming wonder equipped with controllers that can be attached to the device to be used as a handheld console and a station that enables the same console on television. Several years ago, Nintendo launched a $199.99 Switch Lite explicitly designed for handheld
gaming but lacked the versatility of the original console. Now, it turns out that the Switch hybrid needs an update, too. Nintendo Switch OLED Model is a new and modified or rather optimized version of the switch, which provides a larger and colourful screen, better speakers, more storage spaces, and a new and
improved kickstand. Priced at $349.99, the new handheld-console hybrid is slightly pricier than the standard $299.99 Switch, which will remain in production, but it is the best Switch so far and, therefore, receiving our Editors’ Choice award. It’s just that increased Processing power, better Graphics, and Comfortable Joy-con will not be found here.
Familiar Feel, But Better
The OLED Switch has an identical form factor to the original Switch: It’s just a slab with grooves on the sides for the Joy-Con controllers to connect to and a base that allows it to output to a television. The OLED Switch is slightly larger in tablet form than the LCD model, or by 0.1 at 4 by 9.5 by 0.55 inches with Joy-Cons attached. It is also a couple of 0.8 oz heavier than the LCD Switch, with a total weight averaging 14.9 oz.
Neither of these changes is apparent; were you simultaneously offered both types of switches, you would not even be able to discern the difference between large and small, let alone feel the difference in weight.
This doesn’t mean that the OLED Switch will be built identical to the LCD Switch, though. Nintendo has changed the tablet’s layout in several minor ways, one major way which is very good. The hinge connecting this slot is now perpendicular to the device’s back, thus reducing a likelihood that had been, at
best, remotely possible – of the microSD card popping out. Instead of a round button, the power button has an elongated oval shape; the volume rocker no longer has small protrusions; and both buttons are lower on the device than in the case of the LCD Switch.
The largest hidden improvement in the design is the kickstand, though. Since the LCD Switch is very slim, it has a thin plastic bar that protrudes slightly to allow you to place the tablet on a table. It is small, has access only from a limited and steep angle, and is rather prone to popping off, which makes propping up the system a
rather risky affair. To replace that flaky kickstand, there is a flip-out kickstand made of the same metal as the back of the system and nearly as wide as the tablet itself.
The Stand is secured to the base and permanently attached by a hinge that opens to any position up to 150 degrees. The hinge has ample tension, and the stand remains firmly in that position unless manually rearranged. Also, there are small rubber feet on the bottom of the device, and while the kickstand is relatively
wide to make sure that the system will not topple over when you set it horizontally. It’s a great improvement that enhances tabletop gaming situations, like when friends gather around the Switch playing games on the rooftop like in the commercials.
Even in comparison to the LCD Switch’s offerings, the OLED Switch allows for richer color reproduction, especially red. However, you will see an immediate change when you power on the device for the first time; a small red and white Switch logo will appear on the screen. It is also slightly brighter now, measured with both screens at maximum brightness.
The OLED Switch has a slightly less warm color balance than the LCD Switch, which seems to improve the feel of higher brightness. People, in general, are more inclined to have a natural warmer tilt in their television sets. However, this tilt is still farther from cinematic accuracy than game systems require for high pixel definition and a robust, bright, bold image.
The main difference in the two devices’ physical sizes is in the screen – OLED is larger at 7 inches, while the LCD Switch is 6.2 inches. This on a nearly same-sized tablet means the active display covers much more from the edges of the system, minimizing the black frame of the picture.
This stands more out than the contrast and color differences, and once you hold the OLED Switch, you’ll struggle not to see how much larger the black frame is on the LCD Switch. The larger OLED screen also has the same 720p resolution, so pixel-wise it is smaller, but you would have a difficult time telling the difference. It is also less cluttered and looks better in several screen areas.
Other Enhancements (None of Which Are Graphical)
The company also increased the capacitance of the OLED Switch by expanding and moving down the tablet’s speakers. They’re somewhat louder than the LCD Switch speakers. Still, this increase in speaker efficiency is a less exciting step forward in the system’s audio capabilities than the Bluetooth audio device compatibility that
Nintendo has included in all Switch models via firmware update. Basically, if you require superior sound from the Switch when not docked, just connect a Bluetooth headset or, for gaming on the table, a very affordable Bluetooth speaker that can be much louder than the slate could.
Inside, it stays true to its brethren by having 64 GB of NAND storage while doubling that of the smaller, less expensive LG G2 with an LCD display. This is kind of generous given that most Switch games are not tremendously large in file size anyway, but if you want to fill up this system, you can always shove in a micro SD card.
The OLED switch receives only one non-audio/video upgrade: increased storage space. It has no more performance than the LCD Switch or the Switch Lite. Remember, this is not a Nintendo Switch Pro or a New Nintendo Switch. You will not get better performance of any type from this system. It is a bit disappointing, though, as some games have started pushing the boundaries for Switch.
That is why we have Steam Cloud releases like Control and just a few other titles that leverage hardware more potently than Switch, yet they are available only as streamed games. However, this new Switch has some interesting improvements over the LCD Switch for only a marginally higher price; we should be seeing
a (rumoured) more powerful Switch either costs considerably more money (at least a hundred dollars – like Xbox One X to Xbox One or PlayStation 4 Pro to PlayStation 4), or the original Switch should get at least a decent cut if and when it is released.
The battery life of the OLED Switch has not changed from the current LCD Switch model (HAC-001(-01)), so it can last 4.5 to 9 hours in portable mode. Nintendo introduced an upgraded LCD Switch two years ago with a larger battery, and the first version of the Switch (HAC-001) lasted 3 to 6 hours in portable mode.
Switch Dock: Now With Ethernet
The small OLED Switch has also been modified regarding the dock, which it will feature from now on. This device is 4.1 by 6.9 by 1.9 inches or slightly taller and longer than the dock for the LCD Switch, but narrower. Where there were previously sharper edges along the edges of the entire dock at the top, those have been
softened, so in essence, they are rounded, and the light at the lower left corner of the front of the dock is also slightly smaller than before. Two USB ports are still vertically on the dock’s left side. Here, the rear door part is quite different; it opens fully, and the cut-out for cables has a part fitting in a quarter circular arch.
There’s a USB-C port for charging with a wall adapter and an HDMI port for the HDMI cable, both oriented sideways and recessed at the back of the dock. A new addition is an Ethernet port. Connecting to a wired network while using Switch is now possible without buying another USB Ethernet adapter.
Of the two places where your choice of colour plays a role on the OLED Switch, the dock takes one slot. The tablet part of the Switch, wherever it is regardless, is black, but the dock and Joy-Cons with the white model are white, and the neon blue and red OLED Switch has a black dock, with neon blue and red Joy-Cons corresponding with what they are described as.
Joy-Cons: Often Still Brilliant, Still Uncomfortable
That leads to the Joy-Con controllers point, which is never once addressed. Apart from the new white colour option, these are the same Joy-Cons we first saw with the Switch in 2017. They’re basic external input peripherals or separate elements of the Switch tablet that you connect to the sides of the system wirelessly
so you can play games on your TV or in portable-style mode. Two pieces have two analogies, four face buttons, two triggers, and two system buttons, each delivering modern dual-analogue capability. The Joy-Cons can also be used alone in a traditional style by horizontally holding them for less complex games, which means that if two players want to play together locally, you don’t have to purchase more controllers.
Each Joy-Con has accelerometers and gyroscope sensors, and the right Joy-Con also comes with an IR camera for attachments and some games.
While the Switch has many features, the Joy-Cons are a key part of its design. It can be used as a home console system with controllers stored in the dock or as a portable gaming device with controllers integrated into the tablet part of the console. It, they, and the idea of Nintendo Switch are utterly brilliant and provide versatility no other game console has.
However, they are not the same ergonomic controllers available on the market. A downside to these Joy-Cons is that they are slim and flat, so they do not sit right on the larger palms. I’ve had no issues with Joy-Cons, but recently, I observed my left hand aching when I spent hours playing Castlevania Advance Collection.
Round face buttons positioned for the direction pad on the left Joy-Con also seem less conventional, especially in fighting games, than a standard pad. If you play the system mainly in the portable mode, you may want to look into the Hori Split Pad Pro, which doesn’t connect wirelessly like Joy-Cons but solves all of the comfort and direction pad issues when the Switch is in your hands.
Joy-Con is designed with two wrist strap grips that can be clipped onto the OLED Switch. This console also has a controller grip that attaches Joy-Cons in a traditional console gamepad format. These are the very same plastic accessories that arrive with the LCD Switch; they are good enough for the job, though. Others, such as the 8Bitdo Pro 2 and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, will improve the feeling of most games.
Lots and Lots of Games
OLED Switch has the same power as LCD Switch; therefore, all the features, online services, and game titles are the same as we knew in the classic version of the Switch console. Nonetheless, it has been quite a while since we provided an overall assessment of the Switch, and now is a good moment to check how the Switch performed in 2021.
The number of games available on the Switch right now is mind-blowing. Nintendo systems are most famous for their first-party games, and many encompass almost all of the company’s more famous franchises (excluding F-Zero and Pilotwings).
There’s Animal Crossing: It’s time for gaming with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Kirby Star Allies, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Metroid Dread, new Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Sword and Shield, Super Smash BrosSuper Mario Maker 2, Super Mario Odyssey, and Ultimate. Additionally,
Nintendo has several eagerly awaited titles coming shortly, including Splatoon 3, Pokemon Legends: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and Bayonetta 3.
Third parties published many Switch games. You won’t find many graphically advanced tentpole games, such as Battlefield 2042 and Call of Duty: Other games include Vanguard Far Cry 6 or Madden NFL 22, while Apex Legends, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, The Outer Worlds, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 are present alongside the usual Fortnite and Minecraft.
Even third-party exclusives like Monster Hunter Rise, No More Heroes III, Tetris 99, and the soon-to-be-released Shin Megami Tensei V are available on the Switch. Classic older games have found a home on the Switch as well, and you can find Switch versions of Bioshock: Some of these include the Collection,
Borderlands Legendary Collection, Skyrim, L.A., The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Burnout Paradise Remastered. Noire, Resident Evil Triple Pack, Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster, Star Wars Jedi Knight Collection, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition, and others. For $60, if a significant game was released in the last 20 years that was never exclusive to a console, it is likely for the Switch.
The Switch also has many Indie games, which is great for a gaming console. Nearly every major indie title that has come out in the past few years has been on Switch, from Among Us to Axiom Verge and/or The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, Disco Elysium, Enter the Gungeon, Hades, or even Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley, Undertale alongside Deltarune, and a significant number of others.
In essence, after four years, many games are available on Switch across genres, scales, and generations. Apart from Call of Duty or Madden, there will most likely be something you want to play out of all those games.
The Subscription Service: Nintendo Switch Online
This means that for users to engage in online play with multiple players on Nintendo Switch, they have to sign up for the Nintendo Switch online. It currently costs $3.99 a month, $19.99 a year, or $34.99 for a year’s subscription for a family membership to link many accounts at home.
Many additional communication aspects that players may want are not provided by Nintendo Switch Online, which covers online multiplayer. It does not have features for sending plain Text or organizing groups for joint playing; you can check if your friends are on and what they are gaming, and that is it. It’s also important to
note that there’s no voice chat; Nintendo has a special mobile app for voice chat for Nintendo Switch Online, but besides that, it serves no purpose other than using proper voice chat and feature-filled services like Discord to talk to friends while gaming.
However, Nintendo Switch Online offers cloud save for most games apart from the option to play online. By uploading your saved game data to Nintendo’s servers, you can have your saves mirrored across several Nintendo Switch systems. If you are switching your system, you can copy your saves from the LCD Switch or Switch Lite to the OLED Switch.
However, cloud saving doesn’t work on all games with Animal Crossing: This is by far one of the most egregious examples in the case of New Horizons and all the non-spinoff Pokemon games. Nintendo has presented an exotic method to transfer your Animal Crossing island from one system to another, but both systems must be physically near to each other. Luckily, most games I’ve played on the Switch are backed up with cloud save functionality.
In addition to the membership perks, Nintendo Switch Online brings over 100 Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System games. Iturret There are some absolute timeless pieces, including Donkey Kong Country 1-3, Kirby’s Adventure, Kirby Super Star, Legend of Zelda 1-2, link to the Past, Super.
Mario 1-3, the World, and Super Metroid, among others. Over 50 per cent of the games also have online multiplayer modes. Nintendo is planning to release a new subscription upgrade called Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack later this October, which will include Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games at an extra cost.
Nintendo Switch Online is not an exhaustive service; it’s only one-third the cost of PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold. Cloud saves are included, and selected titles from the 1980s and 1990s are available here. If you play anything online, you should consider purchasing this service.
Because the Windows 8 tablet is the best switch, it is not enough to replace other operating systems.
The newly released Nintendo Switch OLED Model is an aesthetic improvement over the original Nintendo Switch. Certainly, it feels more premium, but it may not offer exactly what people were expecting in an update.
You will not get better system performance; in other words, don’t expect to see better frame rates or high-resolution graphics. But a new, larger OLED screen is magnificent, doubled storage is useful, and the kickstand is in a new position—an improvement after all. It is a simple improvement over the existing Switch, even if it isn’t a huge step up from the current LCD version.
If you’re getting your first Switch or coming from a Switch Lite – the OLED Switch is the one to get; the changes are worth the $50 premium. If you have an LCD Switch, specifically a HAC-001(-01) with a bigger battery, the OLED Switch simply does not have enough features to make the old unit obsolete.
The larger screen and improved kickstand are some changes you would like. However, you shouldn’t spend $350 (minus the amount you can get for the first Switch) on them. While it doesn’t arguably eliminate the LCD Switch completely, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model is undoubtedly the best Switch available on the market.
The screen is better, it has more RAM, the kickstand works, and the rest of the appealing versatility that made the Switch so magnetic in the first place remains intact. That alone makes the OLED Switch our Editors’ Choice for game consoles.
