Author: Ray McGill
Since March 2017, Nintendo has been on a roll with its current console, the Switch. Hybridizing their handheld and console offerings, Nintendo decided to gamble on a system that can be played anywhere, and it has paid off for them big-time. Featuring a dock that turns the system into a 1080p-capable console, and a modular design that allows it to function as a handheld, the Switch has been the go-to console for many of us for a few years now. With over 89 million units shipped as of June 2021, the Switch has gotten many of us through this pandemic time with things like the quiet fun of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and the tactical excitement that is Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Nintendo has long stuck by their established brands to make sure the faithful always follow them, system after system. On the Switch alone, we had a launch Legend of Zelda game, a Super Mario title not long after, and now finally, a new honest to god Metroid entry. With that new addition to the adventures of Samus, we also have a new example of a long-running Nintendo tradition: the console refresh. Nintendo has a long history, especially with its handhelds of tweaking base designs in order to stretch out the lifespan of its handheld offerings, and often to great success. Let’s look at some of the great refreshes Nintendo has given us: The GameBoy Pocket/Color, the GBA SP, the DS Lite, the 3DS XL/New. All of these changed the system for the better in some tangible way, giving us something we often didn’t even know we wanted.
Nintendo Switch OLED Edition
Developer Nintendo
Release date: October 8, 2021
MSRP: $349.99
In keeping with this grand tradition of handheld refreshes, how does the new Switch model, the Switch OLED size up? Simply put...not very well. But there is nuance to that evaluation, and mileage may vary based on what you want out of a system that serves multiple purposes. To get into it properly, first, we need to ask: What is the same in this new unit, and what is different? First, let’s get into the same. The Switch OLED has the same battery life, same Joy-Cons, and same processing power of current base-Switch models. So this will not be running games any better on your TV, it is not a more powerful system like the “New” 3DS was. The Joy-Cons are perfectly compatible with the base-model Switch, but the OLED does have a new color, the white-ish gray, which is actually the color I got, and they’re nice. Also, it will not run games longer in handheld mode; again, same battery.
While some of that is definitely disappointing, let’s instead concentrate on what is different, because those will be the factors that get you to buy a new one. First, let’s deal with what is in the name: the OLED screen. This thing is definitely an improvement over the base-model LCD screen, and really gives me flashbacks to why I loved my PS Vita so much. Colors pop on that screen, and games look extremely vibrant, really no matter the base detail level. Smash looks amazing, Mega Man Legacy Collection looks fantastic. I took a few screenshots, but really they don’t do the actual experience of the OLED screen justice.
Next, the screen itself is 13% larger on the new OLED model. That is a change from 6.2 inches, to a full 7 inches. This is achieved largely by eliminating most of the bezeling around the screen. While still not the entirety of the tablet part itself, the screen uses a lot more of the available real estate, and it is a subtle, but noticeable difference. The device itself is also slightly larger, and I mean very slightly. Enough to where it doesn’t fit comfortably in a grip-extender anymore, but it won’t feel very different in your hands.
Also worth mentioning, the system has more onboard memory. The base Switch has 32GB of onboard storage, which is paltry. The OLED model of the Switch has upgraded to 64GB of storage, which is also paltry. If you can, buy a micro USB card. But even more important than opening the kickstand to get to the micro USB slot is the damn kickstand itself. Nintendo decided to change it entirely, sunsetting the pathetically fragile, off-center plastic stick for a sturdy, full-length, adjustable angle, stable kickstand. This thing makes playing the console on a table easy, and convenient, as opposed to the brittle, Jenga-like atmosphere the base model forces you into. Perfect for rooftop parties.
Lastly, the dock is very different. The biggest change to the dock is that there is a dedicated ethernet port, allowing for a wired internet connection without a dongle. Smash players rejoice! Also, there are USB slots on the back now, so charging a pro-controller while playing is slightly more annoying. The “door” to the dock, the part that houses the HDMI, ethernet, and AC cable also come off very easily now, in a way that seems to be on purpose. I don’t know if that is to accommodate awkward cable placement, but it doesn’t seem to hurt functionality in any way.
So...is this $350 OLED Switch worth the upgrade? I would say it depends on what you’re looking for in your Switch. If you’re a dedicated handheld player, and cannot stand the smaller screen of the Switch Lite, then I would say yes, yes it is. The screen is as vibrant as can be, it is bigger, and still feels good in the hands. If you’re the hybrid player who plays on the TV, and on the go? Maybe? Depends on how much disposable income you really have. I can say who this upgrade is not for: Dedicated TV players. There is no actual improvement in TV gameplay quality, and a USB-to-ethernet dongle is easy to find.
Verdict: I feel compelled to address the launch of this product. There have been rumors that this OLED model is the result of Nintendo planning a “Switch-Pro” model, and being able to get the screen components, but falling victim to the worldwide chip-shortage that has hit so many industries, and then making do with what they had. Given the difference in how the dock looks and the slight size difference of the Switch itself, I am almost inclined to believe it. Even though Nintendo has denied this line of reporting, this model serves no...real attention-grabber. The screen is nice, but under normal circumstances, I don’t feel like Nintendo would have launched a new SKU based on the screen alone. This feels like not even a half-step, it is a quarter-step. If you’re a dedicated handheld player, then you’ll find some value in this. But for the rest of the Nintendo consumers out there, there is no real reason to upgrade.
[This review is based on the hardware’s retail release purchased by the reviewer]