Nintendo Switch OLED Review

Verdict

The Nintendo Switch OLED is a fantastic upgrade for portable play, with the new screen looking significantly ameliorate than the standard model'southward. But with no substantial upgrade for docked style, it isn't a worthwhile buy for those who but desire a home panel for the TV.

Pros

• OLED screen offers a huge upgrade
• Bigger screen, but still very portable
• Stand is a lot sturdier at present
• Increased storage capacity

Cons

• No performance upgrade
• No substantial upgrades for docked way

Central Features

• OLED screen: The OLED panel allows for improved brightness, contrast and colour accuracy
• Larger 7-inch screen: Nintendo has increased the size of the display by squeezing downwardly the chunky bezel
• New stand: Larger and sturdier stand for table-top play, with numerous angles supported

Introduction

Nintendo has launched a new edition of its popular hybrid games console: the Nintendo Switch OLED.

This may not be the fabled Nintendo Switch Pro that people had been hoping for, lacking any sort of functioning upgrade to challenge the upcoming Steam Deck, just the inclusion of the new OLED screen results in a far bigger upgrade than you may expect – at to the lowest degree for portable play.

All the same, since the Switch's principal appeal is its capability to be played as both a portable and a dwelling house console, it feels very odd that Nintendo has refrained from offering a significant reason to upgrade for the latter apply example. If you utilize the Switch mainly as a home panel, information technology's probably best to skip out on the new OLED model birthday.

Screen

• The OLED screen is a massive upgrade on LCD
• Screen size increased to 7-inches
• Screen resolution is capped to 720p

Let's focus on the most heady characteristic first: the titular OLED screen. I'm very familiar with OLED screen engineering, seeing it implemented on various laptops and TVs, and notwithstanding I was still surprised past how big an impact it has had on the Nintendo Switch.

The OLED panel allows for better contrast and colour accuracy, resulting in a picture that's far superior to the original portable – the difference is dark and day, even on the homescreen. The Switch OLED panel looks brighter, with bolder and more than vibrant colours popping out of the display.

The improved colour accuracy is also noticeable, displaying a pure white background compared to the red tint of its predecessor. Playing the opening sequence of Jiff of the Wild hit a lot harder with the OLED model, presenting added item in the heaven and lush light-green forest, while showering a greater contrast between the sunbeams and shadows in a cave.

I likewise played through the entirety of Metroid Dread on the Switch OLED, and was stunned by how good the 3D cutscenes looked with the improved vibrancy that the new screen allows for – this feels like a significant upgrade, arguably more so than whatever resolution bump could offer.

Of course, at that place are notorious downsides with OLED screens – fire-in issues take seen images scorched into the display of old TVs following extended time displaying a static image. Merely I don't encounter that being a problem here. The Switch OLED will automatically go to sleep if yous haven't used the device for 5 minutes or so, and OLED applied science has come a long style in contempo years to remedy this problem.

Nintendo has also increased the screen size for the OLED model, boosting from half dozen.2-inches to 7-inches. That doesn't sound similar much of an comeback, just the added width makes a huge difference. Personally, I was very happy with this attribute as I'm transitioning from the dinky Switch Low-cal.

Nintendo has smartly shaved downward the system's bezel in order to conform the larger screen, so in that location's hardly any size or weight divergence at all between the original and OLED Switches. Even erstwhile Joy-Cons are supported here, so you won't need to become out and buy controllers – although this does also mean the Joy-Con migrate seemingly hasn't been resolved.

The screen resolution remains the same at 720p, but I don't feel like that's a trouble at this screen size. I didn't ever detect the individual pixels when playing games in portable play, and I personally wouldn't want a heave in pixels if it meant a larger pattern or shorter battery life.

Design

• New stand up is better at propping up the Switch
• Remains equally portable as the standard model
• Dock has seen a redesign, with Ethernet port included

The new OLED screen is going to catch all the headlines, just Nintendo has fabricated some tweaks to the design besides, to go far experience more premium.

The well-nigh notable upgrade in this respect is the new stand – it now stretches across the unabridged rear of the portable for a far sturdier hold, and it supports multiple angles for added versatility. My OG Nintendo Switch would often topple over when propped up on a train tabular array, only I'one thousand confident this won't be an outcome with the OLED model.

The Switch OLED is still made of plastic in the main, but it feels far nicer than its predecessor, with a firmer build that's improve able to hide fingerprint smudge marks. While the OG Switch arguably felt similar a toy, this comes across as a premium product intended for a more mature audience.

The speakers have too been enhanced, with louder and more detailed sound. I was then impressed with the portable's audio quality, that I was happy to play without my headset at home. Bluetooth is too now supported across all Switch consoles for wireless headsets.

All of the same buttons and ports feature here, including a power push button, volume switchers, headphone jack, USB-C charging and microSD storage expansion. In that location'due south too a game cartridge slot – but, equally someone with very brusk fingernails, I've found the game cartridge slot amore difficult to prise open.

Nintendo has also redesigned the dock. It feels a lot better now, with a sturdy plastic build. The rear can easily be snapped off to reveal all of the interior ports, including the new LAN port that allows for a wired net connection without the need of an adapter. The new design also enables cable routing, which will no doubt please those who want a clean setup.

The functionality remains the same, with the Switch slotting nicely into the USB-C dock to output an image to the Tv set. Disappointingly, withal, there isn't a more powerful chip inside the dock – which means y'all're notwithstanding merely getting a 1080p resolution for Goggle box mode.

Functioning and battery life

• No performance upgrade on standard Switch
• 1080p resolution looks rough on large TVs
• Bombardment life is solid, lasts v hours with Metroid Dread

The biggest disappointment about the Switch OLED is the lack of a performance upgrade – it's yet using the aforementioned Nvidia Tegra processor equally the original system that launched back in 2017.

For portable play, I don't recall information technology's a big event. Starting time-party games still run smoothly, bated from the odd frame-charge per unit hiccup, and I dubiousness a resolution boot would make that big of a difference for a screen of this size.

Withal, it'due south a far bigger issue for those who similar to play the Switch in docked mode. When connecting my Switch to my 55-inch OLED Television set, I was disappointed to meet how visible the pixels were for Metroid Dread, resulting in a fuzzy picture quality that isn't present in portable manner. This will be even more than obvious if you engage with 4K gaming on the PS5 or Xbox Series X.

Bated from a new Ethernet port and additional storage capacity, at that place's no incentive for people to upgrade to the Switch OLED if they mainly play in docked mode. A more powerful GPU baked into the dock would take fixed this, theoretically enabling the Switch to upscale the resolution when connected to the TV. But I assume Nintendo didn't want to push the cost up further.

This is an even bigger issue considering an increasing number of Switch games are only playable via the cloud. And with the PS5 and Xbox Serial X encouraging developers to brand even more GPU-intensive games, I worry that this trend will continue and see the Switch struggle to proceed upwards when it comes to third-party game support.

If y'all're looking for an affordable games panel and aren't fussed about portability, I suggest looking at the Xbox Series S instead. It'south cheaper, significantly more powerful and will support a greater number of third-party games in the futurity.

Nintendo claims the Switch OLED offers iv-and-a-one-half to nine hours of battery life, depending on which game is beingness played. That'due south the same bombardment life as the virtually recent version of the standard Switch, just a large comeback on the original iteration that launched in 2017.

These figures seem accurate according to my time with the device, with the Switch OLED lasting five hours while playing Metroid Dread before requiring a recharge. Jiff of the Wild saw a like consequence, with two hours of playing seeing the bombardment fall to 63%. Yous tin expect even better stamina if you stick to less taxing games such as Celeste or Slay the Spire.

I'chiliad pleased with the Switch OLED's battery life. Asking for anything better would arguably be unreasonable for a gaming portable of this pedigree – almost gaming laptops fail to fifty-fifty hitting five hours of gameplay.

Games and software

• Some exciting start-party games coming in 2022
• Some tertiary-party games only available via the cloud

A panel is only as expert as the games it has on offering – so where does that exit the Nintendo Switch OLED? Nintendo's new panel supports every single game available on both the original Switch and Switch Low-cal.

However, information technology'south no hole-and-corner that Nintendo has been on a bit of a lull in terms of commencement-party game support, with Animal Crossing: New Horizons and New Pokémon Snap being some of the only noticeable original Switch titles in the past 2 years.

That looks to be changing though, with the Switch OLED launching alongside an absolute banger in Metroid Dread. Plus, we're set up to see even more exciting first-political party games get in in 2022, including Breath of the Wild 2, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Splatoon three, Bayonetta iii and more than.

The Switch also continues to be a stellar platform for indie games, existence i of the starting time consoles to support Hades; it looks prepare to land ports for Outer Wilds, Disco Elysium and more than.

I exercise have slight concerns most the Switch OLED's third-party back up going forward, however, with the likes of Marvel's Guardians of the Milky way and Hitman iii both requiring a fast internet connection in order to be played.

With games demanding more from hardware since the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Serial Ten, I worry that third-party support for AAA games volition offset to become scarce on the Switch. This means you really need to be sure that you're happy to settle for first-party Nintendo games also equally indie gems when purchasing a Switch OLED.

On the bright side, Nintendo has recently appear that N64 games will exist coming to Switch via the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, providing access to classics such every bit Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

The Switch OLED's software is the exact same every bit you'll find with other Switch consoles. I'k a big fan of its parental controls, plus it's piece of cake plenty to transfer saved data betwixt consoles. However, the aforementioned hurting points persist, such as a sluggish eShop and the requirement of a divide smartphone app for multiplayer voice chat. In addition, there's still no sign of trophies, which have been offered past PlayStation, Xbox and PC for a long fourth dimension now.

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Should you purchase it?

You want Nintendo'due south very all-time gaming portable Thanks to the upgrade of the OLED screen, this is very much the best portable that Nintendo has to offering. The jump in picture quality is very much worth the upgrade, if yous can nab a skilful trade-in bargain for your current Switch.

You play primarily in TV style Bated from a new Ethernet port, there are no upgrades hither that volition improve the experience in Goggle box style. This is particularly frustrating if you take a large TV, since games tin can look pixellated when stretched out with a 1080p resolution.

Final thoughts

I've been super-impressed past the Nintendo Switch OLED. The screen'due south picture quality is a far greater upgrade than I expected, while boosted improvements such as a sturdier stand up, wider screen and more premium design all assistance to ensure this is the accented best gaming portable device you tin can buy right now.

Withal, the lack of performance upgrade ways that it isn't a worthwhile purchase if y'all spend most of your time playing the Switch in docked mode. Information technology feels outdated running at 1080p, and it's concerning that an increasing number of tertiary-party games are just supported via the cloud.

How nosotros test

In club to test the Nintendo Switch OLED, we played a number of games and compared information technology to the visual offered by the standard Switch.

Nosotros too checked out all of the new advertised features, including the stand and speakers.

Played multiple games to test operation

Compared the screen quality to the standard Switch model.

Drained the battery to examination out its stamina.

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FAQs

Does information technology support 4K?

The Nintendo Switch OLED does not support 4K in either portable or docked mode.

What is new?

The new upgrades include an OLED screen, larger display, extra internal storage, improved stand and an Ethernet port on the dock.

Jargon buster

OLED

Organic Light Emitting Diode is panel engineering science that allows each individual pixel to produce light rather than relying on a backlight. This enables the screen to accurately brandish blacks by turning off the pixel, resulting in improved contrast compared to conventional LCD panels.

Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/nintendo-switch-oled

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