Nintendo Switch OLED: release date, price, news, technical sheet, all info

Summary

• ? What is the release date of the OLED Switch?
• ? What is the price of the OLED Switch?
• ? What are the new features of the OLED Switch?
• ? What are the differences between the OLED Switch, the Classic Switch and the Switch Lite?
• ? Are all the games on the old Switch compatible with the OLED Switch?
• ⏱ Have there been any precedents?
• How to avoid burn-in on the OLED screen?
• ? Does Nintendo have an interest in launching the OLED Switch?
• ? Our recap of the novelties of the OLED Switch in video
• Comments

The OLED Switch is now available in stores. New screen, revised design, new features, the console brings its share of innovations, while remaining in the right lineage of its big sister. In this file, we summarize everything there is to know.

Nintendo OLED Switch

The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) has dimensions close to those of the Nintendo Switch It ...

Best prices

• 319.99 € See Fnac
• 329.99 € See Cdiscount
• 359.99 € See Baker
• 409.00 € See Amazon

These prices were updated on 14/01/2022 by All4affiliates. They are listed in ascending order and excluding delivery costs. Only the prices displayed at the merchants are valid.

Long evoked by the nickname Switch Pro, the OLED Switch is now a reality. It has long been the subject of the craziest rumors, but Nintendo hissed the end of recess in July 2021 by announcing this new model. In this file (which is set to evolve), we will take stock of everything there is to know about the machine.

Nintendo Switch OLED test: the new queen of portable consoles

? What is the release date of the OLED Switch?

The OLED Switch is commercially available octobre the 8 2021. Metroid Dread, the new episode of the franchise dear to the player, accompanies the release of the machine. It will also be compatible with the classic Switch, like all other future games, by the way. It only took 3 more days before an emulated version appeared on PC.

? What is the price of the OLED Switch?

The Switch is displayed at different prices depending on the merchant sites. Micromania it sells for 349 euros while Fnac raises the price to 359 euros. In the United States, it is marketed at $ 349, which is consistent. Remember that when it was launched, the Switch was sold for 329 euros and that it is currently sold for less than 300 euros. A few days after its release, Fnac dropped the price of the console to 319 euros. It could become complicated to get the console, since the president of Nintendo America Doug Bowser expects shortages in 2022.

We therefore note an increase of 50 euros compared to the current price of the classic Switch. Only and according to our colleagues at Bloomberg, this increase does not really reflect the manufacturing costs of the OLED Switch. According to industrial sources close to Nintendo, the manufacture of this new Switch would cost the manufacturer only 10 dollars more.

So, the OLED screen would cost an additional $ 3 to $ 5 per unit on assembly lines, while the move to 64 GB of internal memory is billed at $ 3,5 per console. The rest of the amount being distributed will be the new speakers and the addition of the Ethernet port. Nintendo would therefore allow itself a comfortable margin, and difficult to blame it as we see the success of the Switch, the only console on the market sold at a profit.

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? What are the new features of the OLED Switch?

In short, here is the list of new features of the OLED Switch:

• un OLED screen 7 inches
• un ethernet port integrated into the dock
• un designer dock revised and corrected and now separately purchasable
• un wider foot at the back and adjustable in 2 positions
• un 64 GB storage (instead of 32 on the classic Switch)
• a best audio quality

The Switch may be an excellent console, but it was already technically outdated when it was released. It is all the more so today. Difficult in 2021 to be satisfied with a mediocre LCD screen. This is why drastic improvements would be planned by Nintendo.

As its name suggests, the OLED Switch therefore embeds a brand new OLED panel which brings clear advantages, such as higher contrast, less glare and better power consumption. We saw this during our test. On the other hand, HDR does not seem to be expected. The screen brightness (lower than that of the classic Switch) does not allow full use of HDR, even if it is theoretically present. Switch games aren't designed for either.

Note also that the console adopts the same size as its predecessor, although we are moving to a 6,2-inch screen with a 7-inch screen. Here, it is the edges that are reduced. We then notice some changes on the design side, such as the presence of a wide adjustable support, which allows “to adjust to your preferred viewing angle so you can play comfortably in portable mode on a table”.

Another notable improvement long requested by users, the Switch OLED embarque an Ethernet port. Players who like online multiplayer with a Wi-Fi connection that leaves something to be desired will therefore be able to connect by wired and enjoy better speed. Essential when it comes to beating up strangers on Super Smash Bros Ultimate.

In addition, Nintendo has chosen to double the internal storage capacity of the Switch. Thus, the OLED Switch will benefit from Go 64 internal memory. As on previous versions, it is possible to extend everything via a microSD card compatible. Finally, note the new audio side, since the OLED Switch embeds upgraded built-in speakers, for better sound quality in portable mode and table mode.

Much to the chagrin of many gamers, rumors of a new processor that would display 4K have been proven to be false. The OLED Switch is not more powerful than the standard model, being both equipped with the same SoC. In other words, this new iteration is definitely not a next-gen console. On the other hand, the dock is 4K compatible. Indeed, Nintendo will use on this new generation an HDMI 2.0 port and cable, against an HDMI 1.4 port on the classic Switch.

This new connection theoretically allows the dock to broadcast content in 4K HDR up to 60 FPS, but the Switch will unfortunately not be powerful enough to take advantage of it. Since it uses the same Tegra X1 chip as the previous generation, which is not capable of upscaling content to 4K and even less of using Nividia's DLSS, all hopes of seeing an update making it possible to playing in 4K seems to be reduced to nothing. We therefore imagine that the dock could be reused on a future generation of more powerful console, the famous Switch Pro or Super Switch.

Another disappointment for the players, the problem of Joy-Con Drift will not disappear on this new generation. In an FAQ dedicated to the console, Nintendo confirms having used the same joysticks as on previous models, although some improvements have been made. “The joystick components have been continuously improved from the start and we keep improving them. […] “This is an issue we are constantly working on. "

? What are the differences between the OLED Switch, the Classic Switch and the Switch Lite?

Below you will find a comparative table listing all the technical characteristics of the three Nintendo Switch models available on the market, namely the classic Nintendo Switch, the Switch Lite, and the last one of course, the Switch OLED.

We also carried out a small comparison analyzing all the changes compared to the first version. 

? Are all the games on the old Switch compatible with the OLED Switch?

Yes, all classic Switch games are 100% compatible with the OLED Switch. If you already have a software library on Switch or Switch Lite, keep it in a safe place: you can find all your favorite titles on Nintendo's new console.

Especially since the Switch catalog is rather well stocked. Less than a year after its launch, in 2018 therefore, the console already had nearly a thousand titles. At present, the console has nearly 4000 games. And there is heavy, like the inevitable Zelda Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Hades, Pokémon Sword and Shield, The House in Fata Morgana… The list is long, very long .

Nintendo also unveiled a new Switch Online + Additional Pack subscription at 49,99 euros which allows access to many retro Nintendo 64 and Sega Megadrive games, but this one has been criticized a lot by fans. Indeed, its official trailer even quickly became the most hated video ever on Nintendo's YouTube channel. In addition, gamers have complained about the quality of the emulation of Nintendo 64 games, which did not live up to expectations. Nonetheless, Nintendo is committed to improving emulation on its Switch consoles in the future, so fixes can be expected.

⏱ Have there been any precedents?

Releasing an upgraded version of the Switch isn't an overly daring move. The history of the media is punctuated with examples of this type. We can cite the recent PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, which coexist with similar models, but inferior, or even the Xbox Series X and S. Nintendo is also a regular at the thing.

For example, the first PlayStation of the name, released in 1995 in Europe, was originally intended to be an improved version of the Super Nintendo and allow it to play CDs in addition to cartridges. The project fell through and Sony continued the development in its corner, with the result that we know. In 1999, Nintendo Nintendo 64DD released in Japan, an extension for the console of the same name. This allowed him to have more memory, and therefore more beautiful games, as well as an Internet connection. However, the project was not unanimous and Nintendo stopped sales after two years.

The Game Boy Advance is the manufacturer's first console to experience a successful “refresh”. In 2003, la Gameboy Advance SP gives a facelift to the classic Game Boy Advance released in 2001, giving it a new shape and above all a backlit screen.

The Nintendo DS, released in 2005 in Europe, has experienced three other variations (DS Lite, DSi and DSi XL). The Nintendo 3DS, released in 2011, has multiplied its versions in order to appeal to the widest possible audience. There have been six Nintendo 3DS in total, counting the 2DS models (which run the same games). Finally, the Switch suffered the same fate with the Switch Lite, designed only for gaming in portable mode. The arrival of the OLED Switch is therefore not something exceptional. It even goes in the logic of the constructor.

How to avoid burn-in on the OLED screen?

One of the fears that comes up most often when talking about OLED screens is marking or “burn-in”. On this type of technology which uses organic compounds, some pixels can wear out faster than others and leave permanent marks on the screen. This is very unlikely to happen, but Nintendo did offer some advice on how to reduce the risk.

Marking can appear when fixed elements on some games remain frozen for too long. Nintendo therefore advises keep the standby mode activated, which will therefore allow the screen to turn off when you are not using it. You should also avoid playing for too long with the brightness at maximum, it is better to turn on the automatic brightness.

In most games, it is rare for elements to remain static for too long, since the phases of the game are regularly interspersed with cutscenes, loading screens or menu changes. We should therefore not see the first cases of burn-in appear for at least several months, even several years. This estimate is also confirmed by a video of Bob Wulff, who left his Switch OLED running non-stop for 1800 hours, without any damage being to be deplored.

? Does Nintendo have an interest in launching the OLED Switch?

In 2021, the arrival of the OLED Switch makes sense, for several reasons. 2020 has been a good year for Nintendo, which has never sold so many consoles in its history. In Spain, it has almost reached 5 million units sold since its release, experiencing double-digit growth according to the director of Nintendo Spain. Worldwide, more than 80 million copies have been sold, helped in 2020 by flagship titles like Animal Crossing New Horizons, a huge hit. By way of comparison, the Wii, the brand's greatest success, had sold 101 million copies in total.

Releasing an OLED Switch allows Nintendo to diversify its offer and attract players looking for a better visual experience. This version should also benefit from the excellent momentum currently experienced by the product. What's more, this OLED Switch can bring real added value to players. We will obviously keep this file up to date based on various leaks or potential announcements from Nintendo. And you, are you tempted by this OLED Switch? Tell us in the comments !

? Our recap of the novelties of the OLED Switch in video

Read also - Nintendo Switch Lite test: a reduced model that does not have to be ashamed of its big sister

Nintendo OLED Switch

The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) has dimensions close to those of the Nintendo Switch It ...

Best prices

• 319.99 € See Fnac
• 329.99 € See Cdiscount
• 359.99 € See Baker
• 409.00 € See Amazon

These prices were updated on 14/01/2022 by All4affiliates. They are listed in ascending order and excluding delivery costs. Only the prices displayed at the merchants are valid.