Nintendo Switch OLED Review: Worth the Upgrade?

A Refined Handheld Experience: Assessing the Nintendo Switch OLED

The latest iteration of Nintendo’s popular Switch console presents a noticeable, yet not essential, improvement over the original model. For those considering a purchase now, particularly with a focus on handheld play, it represents a worthwhile investment. However, owners who primarily utilize their Switch docked for television output will find little incentive to upgrade.

Nintendo’s Hardware Philosophy

Determining Nintendo’s overarching hardware strategy can be challenging, and whether a defined strategy even exists remains open to debate. The $350 Switch OLED exemplifies this ambiguity. While competitors like Sony and Microsoft prioritize raw power in their next-generation consoles, Nintendo has released a refined version of a console that was already considered underpowered upon its initial release five years ago.

Is this indicative of a weakening position, or a demonstration of unwavering confidence? The prevailing speculation suggests a more substantial upgrade – a new Switch with enhanced internal components and a revised screen, maintaining the existing form factor – was initially planned for this year.

Circumstances and Iteration

However, the global pandemic and the resulting chip shortage reportedly disrupted these plans. Consequently, Nintendo opted to integrate OLED screens into the original hardware, positioning it as a quality-of-life enhancement. This approach mirrors Nintendo’s iterative development of the 3DS over several years. While Nintendo has officially refuted these claims, the narrative resonates with many observers.

The resulting console is undeniably superior to its predecessor, though the degree of improvement is modest and may be imperceptible to some users.

The Enhanced Display

The most significant upgrade is undoubtedly the screen. Playing Metroid: Dread on the OLED model showcased the game’s vibrant, fast-paced environments with remarkable clarity. The deeper blacks of the OLED display enhance color vibrancy and contrast, although peak brightness measurements are slightly lower. The subtly increased screen size also contributes to improved readability of details, UI elements, and text.

It’s worth noting that the screen’s surface readily attracts dust, particularly on the black bezel.

The OLED’s faster pixel refresh rate minimizes motion blur, resulting in a clearer visual experience. While the original Switch’s screen is perfectly adequate, it is demonstrably surpassed by the OLED panel.

Color and Visual Settings

The color profile differs from the original LCD, with a slight shift towards green compared to the original’s magenta tendency. The OLED model offers “vivid” and “standard” color settings, with “vivid” pre-selected, providing increased saturation without appearing overly artificial.

Improved Build Quality and Features

Beyond the screen, the overall build quality feels more refined. The previously flimsy kickstand has been significantly reinforced and made adjustable. A slightly improved thermal design may contribute to cooler operation and reduced fan usage. The speakers have been updated, though they remain a secondary audio option.

The Switch OLED includes 64 GB of internal storage, doubling the capacity of the original model. While most users will likely utilize a microSD card, the increased internal storage reduces the need for frequent game archiving.

Who Should Upgrade?

For players who primarily enjoy their Switch in handheld mode, or those planning to do so, the Switch OLED is a clear upgrade. While not justifying a full-price repurchase for existing owners, it represents a worthwhile $50 premium for those needing a new console. (Compared to the $150 premium over the handheld-only Lite model, the trade-off of losing TV connectivity remains significant for many.)

However, if you consistently dock your Switch for television play, the benefits are minimal. The new dock, featuring a more robust build and an ethernet port, offers a slight improvement, but the core gaming experience remains largely unchanged.

Final Thoughts

The Nintendo Switch OLED undoubtedly provides the optimal way to experience Switch games currently. Nevertheless, there’s no compelling reason for existing owners to feel pressured to upgrade. The timing of the next-generation Nintendo console remains uncertain, even within Nintendo itself. Therefore, unless your current Switch is damaged or you believe it would be better utilized by another, it’s prudent to retain your funds.