One of my worst and best qualities is that I hate being wrong but will reluctantly admit when I am. I’m not always particularly graceful about it - my eyes dart sideward as I apologise through gritted teeth - but I unironically believe in the cliched but valuable adage of honesty being the best policy.
And so, here we are. After moaning about how unnecessary the Nintendo Switch OLED was and saying that there would undoubtedly be zero point in anybody with an existing model buying one, I am forced to avert my gaze and grit my teeth: I was wrong. The Nintendo Switch OLED improves on the base console in every single way, to the extent that after just one week with the new machine, I’m unconvinced I could ever go back to my old one. I am furious.
The OLED is incredibly slick. Handheld, it feels more akin to a Switch Lite than the original model, which feels retroactively chunky by comparison. It’s not that the OLED is small - it isn’t - but that the slimmer bevels and sleek main rig create an illusion of lightness - it’s slender and clean, refined and chic. It’s Nintendo by Gucci.
Even though I know my Joy-Con will inevitably drift, they seem to feel better, too. The click-and-spring of the triggers is extremely tactile and the analogs are refreshingly fluid. These are, as far as I can tell, standard Joy-Con - but again, the new screen and lack of massive bevels somehow manage to change the entire way you perceive the machine. It feels better because it looks like it feels better, a powerful placebo that persists even after you discover its trick.
I personally haven’t noticed enormous differences between the base model and OLED when it comes to docked play, but then again, I’m not sure many people are expecting that. The new dock looks much more elegant than the one paired with the Switch back in 2017, and the LAN port is a nice touch, although performance increases in docked play are negligible. That being said, I don’t think that was ever one of the OLED’s USPs, and so it’s not really something worth holding against it. Essentially, playing the OLED docked is like playing a brand new Switch plugged into a more stylish station with some decent additional hardware features. Where the OLED shines as an upgrade worth investing in is in its handheld capabilities.
I’ve been playing Metroid Dread over the last few days - you can read my review at the link - and, just like Breath of the Wild was a perfect showcase for the original Switch’s power, I’ve been able to see what makes the OLED a worthwhile investment. The battery, while touted as being only slightly more durable than before, has been radically improved. At the time of writing, I haven’t charged my OLED in days. The visual fidelity - once again, not necessarily better in terms of measurable performance - is so drastically better thanks to the revamped screen that this feels like much more than a typical hardware upgrade. I’ve never been one for pro models - the only one I ever had was the Xbox 360 Elite, which I bought secondhand after my fifth red ring of death - but the OLED is different. It’s a pricey purchase for anyone who already owns a base Switch or Switch Lite, although I couldn’t in good conscience recommend either of those models to any prospective buyers from here on out. The OLED is better by every conceivable metric.
Speaking of which, it’s worth delving into the OLED’s main selling point - its OLED screen. While the integration of this might not seem like much to those who aren’t particularly interested in lighting or visuals, it’s immediately noticeable even to the most untrained eye. The lack of a backlight allows the OLED to present its own distinct style, allowing it to achieve a much higher contrast ratio than its predecessors. Even the home page looks more organic and natural - it’s pretty astonishing.
I know that plenty of people are sceptical about whether or not we need a new Switch that isn’t a full-blown Switch Pro. I know this, reader, because I was one of them. I have said on numerous occasions that without a fix to Joy-Con drift, there is no point in Nintendo ever launching another Switch model. I was ready to not only die on this hill, but fight to my last breath on it.
Now, though, as I sit here typing this review, I’m forced to reckon with the fact I spoke way too soon. It’s not easy admitting you’re wrong - especially when it’s about something related to your profession - but I can’t just lie out of sheer stubbornness. The OLED is better and brighter (quite literally) than any of Nintendo’s former Switch models. The battery lasts longer, the console and dock are more elegant, and the new screen is a game-changer for handheld play. It’s not some sort of super Switch that renders everything before it as inconsequential, but it’s refined enough for me to admit that once you go OLED, you won’t be able to go back. I’m annoyed that I’ve had to write almost 1,000 words on how wrong I was, but given that I can kick back and relax with Metroid Dread… Yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy to be wrong before.