Nintendo Switch OLED release date, price, specs and everything you need to know

Date:
Tue, 06 Jul 2021 13:38:11 +0000

Description:
The Nintendo Switch OLED model upgrades the Nintendo Switch LCD screen and adds brand-new features. Here's what you need to know.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

After months of speculation, we finally know what Nintendo's mid-gen refresh of the Switch looks like and it's called the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Nintendo made the announcement on July 6 on its official Twitter account, after many speculated the new console would be revealed before or during E3 2021.

The Nintendo Switch OLED aligns with some of the rumors weve been hearing about the updated console, and comes with a 7-inch OLED screen, which is larger than the Switchs 6.2-inch LCD display. Cut to the chase What is it? A mid-gen refresh of the Nintendo Switch with an OLED screen When is it out? October 8, 2021 How much does it cost? $339.99 / with two color options available: white and Neon Blue/Red Nintendo Switch OLED release date and
price

The Nintendo Switch OLED will be available October 8, 2021 and it costs $349.99 / TBC / AU$TBC . The current Nintendo Switch costs $299.99 in the US, 279.99 in the UK, $469.95 in Australia, while the Nintendo Switch Lite, which is a handheld-only device, costs $199.99 / 199.99 / AU$329.95.

It means that the Nintendo Switch OLED costs $50 more than the standard
Switch model, which isnt a massive premium to pay for the new features on offer. Nintendo Switch OLED features

We know that the Nintendo Switch OLEDs main appeal is its organic light emitting diode display, or OLED for short. OLED is widely regarded as one of the best display technologies around, as unlike an LCD screen, it doesnt rely on a backlight to display images. Instead, it displays images using light emitted by each individual pixel, which means you can get perfect inky blacks and higher contrast levels.

The display size of the Nintendo Switch OLED is also larger than the original Switchs LCD screen. Its now 7 inches, which should give you a bit more real estate when youre huddled over playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with friends, and provide some added immersion when playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 when it eventually releases sometime in 2022.

Some surprises come in the form of a wider, adjustable stand, and enhanced audio quality; however, its unclear whether Nintendo Switch OLED will support spatial audio tech like Dolby Atmos, or whether the speakers on the unit itself have merely been upgraded. It looks to be the latter.

Another new addition includes wired LAN support, which will come as a relief to those who feel Nintendo Switchs online games arent the most stable or reliable when played over Wi-Fi. Itll also benefit titles like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 3, the latter of which is due to release in 2022.

Thankfully another area where the Nintendo Switch OLED improves over the original is when it comes to internal storage. The Nintendo Switch OLED has 64GB of internal storage as opposed to the 32GB found on the original Switch model, and theres still support for compatible microSD cards.

The Nintendo Switch dock has also received a subtle upgrade, as it now sports rounded edges for a more modern looking design, and comes in an off-white which matches the new White color scheme of the Nintendo Switch OLED. The kickstand has been greatly improved (Image credit: Nintendo) Is the Nintendo Switch OLED 4K?

Surprisingly, no. One of the biggest features the Nintendo Switch Pro was tipped to have was the option to output at 4K resolution when docked, but the Nintendo Switch OLED will only output at 1080p, just like the regular Switch. This seems like a big missed opportunity for Nintendo, and might make the upgrade a little harder to justify for some.

Its likely that the Nintendo Switch OLED display will stick to the 720p
output of the original Switch too, as it means existing Switch software wont have to be upgraded. What happened to the Nintendo Switch Pro?

The Nintendo Switch OLED is essentially the Nintendo Switch Pro that has been heavily rumored for quite some time. The technical specifications all line up with what weve heard previously, though the biggest outlier is the lack of 4K resolution support when docked.

Its unlikely, then, that Nintendo will announce another Switch model anytime soon, so those hoping for a more powerful Nintendo Switch model may be disappointed.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/nintendo-switch-oled-release-date-price-specs-a nd-everything-you-need-to-know/


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)