The new Nintendo Switch (OLED Model) is a slight upgrade over the original, but it isn’t quite the ‚Switch Pro‘ that we anticipated. Here’s what the latest Switch brings to the table on October 8, 2021.
Today, Nintendo announced the new, $349.99 Nintendo Switch (OLED Model), an upgraded version of the current, $299.99 console/handheld hybrid game system. It was a surprisingly quiet announcement, with only a press release, a new product page, and a video showcasing the new hardware; there wasn’t a dedicated Nintendo Direct stream. That’s understandable, because a lot hasn’t changed with the newest Switch. Still, there are several important updates that might make this latest version more appealing, and we’re here to go through them all. Original Switch vs. OLED Switch Let’s get this out of the way first: the OLED Nintendo Switch is not a „New Nintendo Switch“ or „Nintendo Switch 2“ or „Nintendo Switch Pro.“ Behind the screen, the hardware remains mostly unchanged. Nintendo hasn’t announced a faster processor or new graphical capabilities with the OLED Switch. It doesn’t seem to use a new Nvidia chip that supports DLSS and 4K graphics, as rumors said it would. There have been no claims of faster loading times or improved visuals. This doesn’t seem to be the Switch version of the New Nintendo 3DS. You probably won’t enjoy higher framerates, and you certainly won’t see ray tracing on this system. The general design has been untouched, as well. The OLED Switch uses the same tablet form factor that can slide into a dock for use as a home game console, or have Joy-Con controllers snapped onto its sides for use as a gaming handheld.
