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The Nintendo Switch OLED isn’t trying to be a major upgrade. Set to launch this October for only a slightly higher price than the original console, it’s the exact same hardware in a fancier package. The screen has been enhanced, the dock feels more premium, and audio has been given a significant boost to make portable play much more immersive. While all of its additions might seem small in isolation, hands-on time with Nintendo Switch OLED is making it hard to return to my vanilla model. It isn’t a Switch Pro, but you’d be a fool to dismiss the OLED as anything other than a step forward.
I recently spent an hour going hands-on with the console, testing out the likes of Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. None of these exclusives are new, and there was no sign of BOTW 2 or Metroid Dread, but I had more than enough games to put the new console through its paces and see if it fell at the same hurdles as its predecessor. Spoilers - it does. Performance still topples when surrounded by fire and bokoblins in the fields of Hyrule, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is keen to crumble when more than two players are participating in split-screen mayhem.
But as I said before, this isn’t pitched as a major upgrade, nor is it priced as one, so appreciating that context, the OLED feels like a superior system in a variety of different ways. As it’s placed in my hands, my eyes immediately jump to the lack of a bezel adorning the outside edges of the unit. While the screen size has only seen a modest increase from 6.2 to 7 inches, the absence of black bars surrounding the display makes the screen appear much larger. The OLED display pops something fierce, allowing the handheld experience to be more akin to an iPad Pro or a Samsung Galaxy Tab than the washed out colours of the Nintendo Switch we’ve had since 2017.
It’s difficult to describe how transformative the display is without coming across as hyperbolic. The best example comes in the opening moments in Breath of the Wild. Nintendo had clearly cherry picked a selection of demos as I jumped from game to game playing certain levels and being given enough freedom to pick up the console and glance at every nook and cranny. As Link awakens from the Shrine of Resurrection, the luscious streaks of blue that stretch across his temporary coffin almost bounce off the screen, packing the visual clarity I’d expect from docking the machine on a much larger and more expensive television.
As I step outside and glance upon Hyrule for the first time, the music swells and the majesty of the OLED screen sells the moment in a way its older sibling just wasn’t capable of. The original console is no slouch in portable play, and the screen still looks sharp, but LCD panels can only express so much in terms of colour, brightness, and vibrancy without topping out - this new model doesn’t abide by such constraints. The hardware is the same and so are the games, but I’m viewing them in a different light that comes with a newfound appreciation for portable play. Obviously, some of the more prominent issues that troubled the existing machine remain, so don’t expect any fixes to Joy-Con drift or the bland user interface. This is an aesthetic upgrade and little more, which might underwhelm some.
Nintendo tried to make a big deal about the improved audio capabilities, telling me that dialogue and music are far more pronounced on the Switch OLED than its predecessor. While I agree, I was merely told to crank up the volume and immediately notice the improvements instead of being given an opportunity to analyse them more naturally. It’s louder - obviously by virtue of the volume being at maximum - but it was also easy to appreciate the crushing of grass beneath Link’s feet, or the aggressive grunt as he swings a rusty axe towards a horde of enemies. I imagine many will simply use headphones, but for those who want to play with friends or in their living room, this new model seems to place a greater focus on ensuring the audio and visual elements are both significantly enhanced. Once again, it’s not a reinvention of the Switch as we know it - it’s a refinement.
Tabletop play is now a more realistic proposition, with the flimsy detachable kickstand being replaced by a robust piece of plastic that can be altered to sit at a number of different angles. I’d find it impossible to place the existing Switch on the seat of a train or a plane without it toppling over, and the OLED model aims to fix this problem. I doubt I’ll find myself in many situations that warrant detaching the Joy-Con and going all tabletop on someone’s ass, but for younger players and those who are into co-op experiences, this is a meaningful improvement that, combined with the excellent screen and speakers, feels more premium. Given the price increase is so slight, that’s a big achievement.
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The dock is lush. Sure, it’s a piece of plastic, but it’s a real sexy piece of plastic. I tested the black and white model, and the dock feels like a more finessed piece of kit this time around. Softer edges and a shiny finish allow its colours to pop, reminiscent of something you’d store a £1,000 phone in as opposed to a £300 gaming console. With the exception of an ethernet port to enable for faster downloads and more consistent online play, it’s functionally the same. Existing Switch owners can even purchase the new dock and use it with older consoles with no issues. Nintendo told me that no performance benefits will come through the new dock, which is a shame, although this is likely a result of the OLED model packing all of the same internals with the exception of its display and speakers. I’m a big fan of docked play, so knowing that no changes have been made to that side of things is disappointing.
If you already own a Nintendo Switch, the OLED model is merely an upgrade to the weaker aspects of handheld play. The new screen is beautiful, and a big enough improvement for me to swallow the asking price and never look back. But that won’t be the same for everyone, especially those who haven’t owned one since launch. It’s not a small investment, and in the grand scheme of things the new features are geared towards enthusiasts who want the most out of visual and audio quality. I’m one of those people, and for others like me, the Nintendo Switch OLED is a no brainer. For everyone else, you’re better off waiting until the Switch Pro potentially rears its head in the years to come.