After months of speculation, we finally know what Nintendo’s refreshment in the middle of the Switch generation looks like. And it’s called the Nintendo Switch OLED.
Nintendo made the announcement on July 6 on its official Twitter account, after many have wondered whether this new console would car revealed even before E3 2021 in June.
The specifications of the Nintendo Switch OLED are in line with some of the rumors we have heard about the upgraded console. It comes with a 7-inch OLED screen, which is thus larger than the 6.2-inch LCD screen of the Switch. Here’s everything you need to know about Nintendo’s new hybrid console.
Nintendo Switch OLED – straight to the point
- What is this? A mid-generation refresh of the Nintendo Switch with an OLED screen
- When will it be released? October 8, 2021
- How much does it cost? $ 349.99, Norwegian price not yet ready
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mHq6Y7JSmg
Nintendo Switch OLED – release date and price
The Nintendo Switch OLED will hit the market on October 8, 2021, and the price is in the US set at 349.99 dollars. The current model of Nintendo Switch was launched in Norway in 2019 at NOK 3,490, while Nintendo Switch Lite came on the market for 2269 kroner. One must expect that the OLED model will cost around 4000 kroner, which is perhaps not so bad considering the new features it can boast.
Nintendo Switch OLED features and functions
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We know that the most important attraction of the Nintendo Switch OLED is the organic LED screen (OLED). This is considered one of the best display technologies available, and unlike an LCD monitor, it does not rely on backlighting to display images. Instead, it displays images using light emitted from each pixel, giving you very deep black denominations and higher contrast levels.
The new OLED screen is also larger than the original LCD screen on the Switch. Now it has reached 7 inches, which gives you a little more bolt space when you play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with friends and will offer deeper empathy when you play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 after it is finally launched sometime in 2022.
There are also some surprises here, including in the form of a wider, adjustable stand and improved sound quality. However, it does not appear that the Nintendo Switch OLED will support audio technology such as Dolby Atmos. Rather, it seems that the speakers on the device itself have only been upgraded to provide a slightly better experience when playing handheld or in table mode.
The wider stand is most reminiscent of anything we could have seen on one Microsoft Surface, and it gives you much easier a perfect playing position in table mode.
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Another new addition is wired LAN support, which will come as a relief to those who have experienced the online games of the Nintendo Switch as a bit unstable or unreliable when played over wifi. There will also be games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 3 for good. The latter game is planned to be launched in 2022.
Fortunately, the Nintendo Switch OLED also makes improvements to the built-in storage space. Nintendo Switch OLED has a storage space of 64 GB, compared to 32 GB on the original Switch model. There is also support for compatible microSD cards.
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The Nintendo Switch dock has also been the subject of a careful upgrade. It has rounded edges, which gives a more modern look. It also comes in off-white, a color that matches the color scheme of the Nintendo Switch OLED. The console is also available in the classic neon blue / red combination with black dock.
Like its predecessor, the new Switch dock can be purchased separately from Nintendo (and not at other retailers), and it will also work with the original version of the Switch.
Nintendo Switch OLED – technical specifications
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Want to know all about what the Nintendo Switch OLED has to offer? Check out the full list of console technical specifications below.
- Goal: 24,1 x 1,4 x 10,1 cm (b x d x h)
- Weight: Approximately 0.3 kg / 0.4 kg with the Joy-Con controls attached to it
- Screen: Multi-touch capacitive touch screen / 7 “OLED
- Resolution: 1280 x 720 (720p)
- CPU/GPU: Nvidia Custom Tegra-prosessor
- Storage space: 64 GB (expandable using microSDHC or microSDXC cards up to 2 TB
- Wireless: WI-Fi (802.11 a / b / g / n / ac-kompatibel)
- Videovisning: Up to 1080p via HDMI in TV mode, 720p in handheld mode
- Sound reproduction: 5.1 Linear PCM
- Speakers: Stereo
- USB connection: USB Type-C for charging
- 3.5 mm headphone output
- Battery life: around 4.5 – 9 hours
- Charging time: around 3 hours
Is the Nintendo Switch OLED 4K?
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Surprisingly not. One of the biggest favorites for new features of the Nintendo Switch Pro was the ability to play in 4K resolution in docked mode. But Switch OLED only plays in 1080p, just like a regular Switch. Nintendo has missed out on a great opportunity here, and for many, this makes it a little harder to choose to upgrade.
The Nintendo Switch OLED will probably also rely on the 720p resolution, such as the original version of the Switch. This means that the Switch software does not need to be upgraded. Thus, there was nothing in the rumors about support for Nvidia DLSS, which with the help of AI upscaling provides playback in 4K.
With a resolution of 4K, the console could have been even more expensive. There may be a reason why Nintendo has chosen to stick to 720p in handheld mode and 1080p in docked mode.
Will all Switch games work on Switch OLED?
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Can all Nintendo Switch games also be played on Nintendo Switch OLED? Absolutely! Nintendo Switch OLED is basically an even nicer Nintendo Switch, which means that all Switch games are compatible. But Nintendo states that some gaming experiences with the Toy-Con accessories from Nintendo Labseries will be able to behave a little differently due to the larger screen of the Switch OLED.
According to Nintendo, existing Switch accessories will also work with the Nintendo Switch OLED model.
What happened to the Nintendo Switch Pro?
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The Nintendo Switch OLED is basically the same as the Nintendo Switch Pro, which has been rumored for quite some time. The technical specifications are in line with those we have heard of before, but the biggest discrepancy is the lack of 4K resolution in docked mode.
Thus, it is unlikely that Nintendo will announce yet another new Switch model immediately. If you were hoping for an even more powerful version of the Nintendo Switch, you might be disappointed.
