Nintendo handhelds have thrived on their iterations. The jump from the Game Boy to the Game Boy Color was immense. The backlit screen and clamshell design made the Game Boy Advance SP a significant improvement over the original GBA. The DS Lite slimmed down the awkwardly shaped DS, while the DSi XL and 3DS XL added some much desired screen real estate to their respective models.
Even with the iterative nature of Nintendo's handhelds, skepticism around the Nintendo Switch OLED is understandable since it's a console that is riffing on arguably the best piece of hardware Nintendo has ever made with seemingly minor improvements. But the Nintendo Switch OLED is a marked improvement over the original and Switch Lite. If you play a lot in handheld mode, the OLED model is a surprisingly huge upgrade. And if you don't play your Switch in handheld mode often, the Switch OLED's new screen is impressive enough that it could change that.
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Nintendo Switch OLED Hands On Impressions
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This presentational trick, if you want to call it that, is even more evident when you're playing games. I tested Metroid Dread, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and several other games on the Switch OLED, and each one looked brilliant on the new display. Brighter, more vivid colors make a huge difference, especially when playing games with harsher color tones in spots. It makes sense that Metroid Dread is releasing alongside the OLED, as a side-scrolling Metroid game feels at home in handheld mode, and it looks absolutely gorgeous on the OLED display.
While testing the OLED model, I often compared the display to the original Switch, and the difference was striking. After playing for a few hours in a row on the Switch OLED, I switched over to my launch Switch console and found that it took a bit of time for my eyes to adjust to the duller tones. I say this as someone who would've put the launch version of the Switch at the top of my list for the best gaming console ever made. The Switch OLED, in a matter of hours, turned me into a believer that this literally surface level upgrade is a game-changer.
The most impressive aspect of the OLED display actually isn't how it compares to the original Switch's screen; it's how it looks compared to TVs. Unless you have a 4K OLED TV, chances are that the Switch OLED will boast a more vibrant picture on its display than your TV is capable of. Granted, I have a mid-tier 4K LED TV, but the average person isn't likely to have a high-end OLED TV. In effect, the Switch OLED could encourage players to ditch docked mode for handheld mode more often, provided that frame rate and overall performance is the same (which is not always the case on the original Switch). I greatly preferred playing Metroid Dread in handheld mode because of the screen's increased clarity and more colorful picture compared to my TV.
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I can count the number of times on one hand that I've ever used the original Switch's flimsy kickstand for tabletop mode. The small piece of plastic that propped up the original Switch to play multiplayer without a TV wasn't ideal, but the OLED fixes this with a wide-hinged stand that spans the entire back panel of the console. It's sturdy and can be placed at multiple angles; critically, it doesn't feel as if it will snap just from messing with it. Though a smaller detail, the back panel has a slightly rough finish to it, and so far it seems less prone to those "scratch" marks that popped up on my original Switch not long after getting it.
The OLED also doubles the onboard storage from 32GB to 64GB. It's a nice improvement, but those who game on Switch a lot will still need to expand their storage space via microSD. Since microSD cards are so cheap anyway, there's no reason to consider the increased storage space as a real selling point; it's more of a little bonus.
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While the OLED model sticks with stereo speakers, audio is sharper and louder than before. It's not a massive improvement, but it's certainly noticeable when playing with the volume cranked up. For portable play, you're still better off using a pair of nice headphones, but it's a noteworthy upgrade for tabletop mode.
The Switch OLED's battery is the same as the upgraded model that launched in 2019. It's graded to last for 4.5 to 9 hours on a single charge. I played Metroid Dread for over five hours between charges, but battery life is still dependent on the games and apps you're using on your Switch. If you still have a launch model Switch or Switch Lite, the increased battery life is another welcome upgrade to consider.
It's worth noting that Nintendo hasn't updated the Joy-Cons for the OLED model, so they are still susceptible to Joy-Con drift. I've only tested the console for around 25 hours, so I haven't experienced any drift (and surprisingly never have with any Joy-Cons). This also means that the OLED is compatible with all existing Joy-Con controllers, including third-party attachments like the Hori Split Pad Pro, which I personally tested with the OLED model.
About the author: Steven Petite tested the Switch OLED, mainly in handheld mode, for about 25 hours. He is now trying to convince his wife that he needs an OLED TV. Nintendo provided a sample of the Switch OLED for review.