After months of Nintendo Switch hardware improvement rumors, Nintendo has finally announced the much-anticipated “upgrade.” And well… It’s much less of an upgrade than the majority of people following this saga had expected.
What’s “New”?
The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) will hit store shelves on October 8, 2021, the same day as the Metroid Dread release. As the official name suggests, the Nintendo Switch OLED will feature a larger 7-inch OLED screen offering a more vivid experience than the current LCD version. Unfortunately, the console will still only support 720p.
The new Nintendo Switch OLED will also feature a wider and now adjustable kickstand for different viewing angles. The new dock features a rounded design and a wired LAN port, a most welcome addition. Internal storage will be upgraded from the standard 32GB to 64GB, and Internal memory can be expanded with a compatible microSD card.
That’s pretty much it. The Nintendo Switch OLED has no 4K docked mode. No 1080p handheld mode. No new NVIDIA DLSS tech. The minimal Switch feature upgrades feel more like a lateral step for the Nintendo Switch than the full-blown “Pro” version that we were all expecting.
Will there be a proper “Pro” version?
Well, we don’t know. As the Xbox Series models and PlayStation 5 continue to widen the gap in terms of performance, graphical resolution, and online services, it feels like Nintendo is falling further behind with this iteration instead of closing that gap. If an actual “Pro” model does exist in the pipeline, we definitely will not be seeing it this year.
Should you buy it?
It’s honestly hard to recommend the new Switch to existing Switch owners. It’s even harder to recommend it to Switch owners who primarily play in docked mode. Although if you currently don’t own a Switch and have been looking to purchase one then this most certainly would be worth the wait.
The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) will be available on October 8, 2021, and retails for $349.99.
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