Console Review: Nintendo Switch OLED Model

The new Nintendo Switch OLED model is out now, and the question is being asked, is it worth buying? Whether you’re an owner of a previous Nintendo Switch console or a first-time buyer. Hopefully, I’ll be able to answer that question for you today.

Firstly, don’t expect any drastic changes if you’re thinking about upgrading to the OLED model. At its core, this is pretty much the same console as before. Only this time, we have some various ‘quality of life’ improvements if you will. Earlier in the year, Nintendo confirmed to The Verge that the OLED model does not feature a new CPU or increased RAM. So, don’t expect any visual improvements when docked or faster loading times.

As confirmed in the Nintendo FAQ, other than colour, the Joy-Cons with the OLED mode are the exact same. The website reads: “The Joy-Con controllers included with the Nintendo Switch (OLED model) are the same as the controllers currently available.” Though I do love the black and white design of the Joy-Cons included in the OLED model. The battler

The battery life is also the same as the previous model, which is said to last around 4.5 to 9 hours with one full charge. That said, this is based upon the second version of the Switch tablet, which is better than the original model which had a battery life of around 2.5 to 6.5 hours from a full charge.

Now that the minor negatives are out of the way, let’s talk about the positives because there’s plenty of good about the Nintendo Switch OLED model. The first thing that you will notice is the increased screen size. The new OLED screen is 7” compared to the original 6.2”.

This might not seem much at quick glance, but the extra dimensions make more difference than you might think when playing in handheld mode. It kind of reminds me of when you pinch and enlarge a mobile screen to full size. Going back to my older Switch, I can certainly notice this somewhat subtle increase in screen size.

The OLED screen is also absolutely gorgeous, and this is easily the most noticeable difference between this and the older Switch models. The screen has a resolution of 1280×720, but that OLED screen makes all the colours of the screen pop. It really does bring extra vibrancy to your games. Your experience playing the OLED model on the go has also improved. Previously I would often struggle to see the screen if it’s a sunny day with the light glaring on the screen. Thankfully, the OLED screen has removed much of that annoying glare.

I’ve been playing Metroid Dread, Super Monkey Ball and the 2002 Resident Evil remake on my new Switch and the OLED model is most certainly the best way to play Switch games from now on. However, when playing in docked mode on the TV, the visual quality is exactly the same as they were before.

Improvements have also been made to the dock. Not only does it look extra stylish in its black and white design, but subtle changes have also been made to this too. For one, it’s quite considerably lighter than the previous dock, which is extra handy when travelling with your OLED Switch. There is also a new LAN port in the dock, so now you can connect the OLED Switch to the internet via a cable and wirelessly. Previously, the Switch was wi-fi only.

The LAN cable has been included at the expense of a USB port. Which might disappoint some for those that might use a wired USB headset or even power other USB devices. However, all Nintendo Switch consoles support Bluetooth wireless headsets, which even includes the official Xbox headset. 

There is also some additional space in the dock for the Switch tablet. This can cause a little wobble from side to side. But I must stress that the tablet is as secure as before. However, the extra breathing space should have to keep the tablet cool and from overheating. I also like to keep my Switch in a protective clear case. Previously, I couldn’t fit my Switch tablet with a protective case into the dock. However now, I no longer have that problem. My Switch now fits into the dock with a protective clear case on the tablet.

 

Finally, the OLED model also has onboard speakers’ which improves the audio experience of any game that you are playing. Furthermore, the internal storage space has also been increased from 32GB to 64GB. If like me you own most of your games digitally, you will quickly run out of space, but it’s handy to have double internal storage. That said, you will still need an external memory card for additional storage.

So, that covers my review of the Nintendo Switch (OLED Model). The Nintendo Switch is one of my favourite consoles and upgrading from the previous model to the OLED is worth your time in my opinion. You can always sell your old Switch to buy the OLED model to reduce the cost, and from what I can tell, the older Switch still fetches a decent sell-on price.

The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) makes your games pop like never before, and once you indulge this gorgeous screen, you won’t want to go back. The OLED model is available now with an RRP of £309.99 in the UK and $349.99 in the US.

Featured Image Credit: Nintendo