Nintendo finally admitted the rumors were true this week. That there really is a new Switch model on the way. The OLED Model. A slightly bigger console with a better screen. While it isn't the more powerful Switch Pro many had hoped for, there are still a lot of differences between a normal Switch and its new sibling. Check out everything you need to know about the latest member of the Switch family below.
The Screen And Audio
The biggest change of all is, of course, the screen. The Switch's screen is 6.2 inches wide, whereas the OLED's screen is slightly bigger at seven inches. Not a lot on paper, but you'll notce it when you have one in your hands. Not as much as you'll notice the OLED display, though. Even though the new model will still have a 720p display, its OLED screen will make your Switch games look better than ever. Sidenote: the display will be 1080p when docked, rendering the 4K rumors untrue.
Since the screen is bigger, the console itself will be bigger too. Slightly longer, and a little bit heavier. The original Switch weighs 0.66 pounds, and the OLED will weigh 0.71 pounds. What won't have added to that weight is the OLED Model's improved audio when in handheld mode. Nintendo hasn't divulged how drastic an improvement in sound the new console has undergone, but apparently it will be better than the original Switch.
Memory And Battery
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While the OLED's weight hasn't been increased in a major way, its memory has. The OLED Model's internal memory is capable of holding 64GB worth of games. That's twice as much memory as a normal Switch, so quite the upgrade. However, internally, that's about it on the improvement front. Nintendo has already confirmed the OLED Model will not be more powerful. It will use the same CPU and the same amount of RAM as the base Switch. It will also still have a nine-hour battery life despite its bigger and brighter screen.
What's on the inside most certainly counts, but Nintendo mostly used the new Switch's reveal to flaunt its outer beauty. Not just the screen, but also its new stand. The stand is much wider and appears to be far more sturdy than before, further lending it to tabletop play. You'll also find an additional port in its dock for an ethernet connection. That will allow for a more stable internet connection for those of you who play Switch games online.
Speaking of the dock, it will be available in two colors. Black like the original Switch, and white which is the one shown off in the trailer. Nintendo has confirmed the dock can be bought separately and will be compatible with a normal Switch. That means anyone who already owns a normal Switch who is interested in the LAN connection but not bothered about the screen can just buy a dock. The only other difference between the new dock and the old one is the former has rounded corners rather than sharp ones.
JoyCon Drifting, Still
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The Joy-Cons will also be the same which is both good news and bad news. That means any Joy-Cons you already own will be compatible with the new model. However, that presumably means the OLED's Joy-Cons will also be prone to drift. At least the dock being sold separately likely means the white Joy-Cons shown off in the trailer above will also be available without having to buy a whole new console.
Price
Which brings us neatly onto the final points of all, but perhaps the most important ones. How much this new Switch will cost and when you will be able to get your hands on it. The OLED model will cost $349.99 in the US, and £309.99 in the UK according to Game's preorder price. The updated console will release in both regions on October 8, 2021.