Today, Nintendo revealed its updated Nintendo Switch out of nowhere, and it’s not what many were expecting.
This new Nintendo Switch comes packing a larger 7-inch OLED screen, an improved kickstand that resembles that from Microsoft’s Surface, better speakers, a built-in wired LAN port (YES!), and 64GB of internal storage. The Nintendo Switch OLED model will be released on October 8th, 2021, the same day as Metroid Dread and is priced at $349.99 — that’s $50 more than the current switch model. The updated Switch will come in both a white set and a neon red/blue set. I do think that the white model looks pretty slick.
Short of the new 7-inch OLED screen with smaller bezels, this updated Switch looks exactly like the currently available model. It will perform the same as well, as the held hand resolution is still stuck at 1280x720p, while docked will provide 1080p. Sadly, this is not the 4K version of the Switch (Switch Pro) that everyone was hoping for. There’s no new CPU, no extra RAM, nothing.
Here’s what Nintendo had to say about today’s surprise announcement:
“The new Nintendo Switch (OLED model) is a great option for players who want to experience the new vibrant screen when playing in handheld and tabletop mode,” Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser says in a press release issued a few minutes ago. “With the addition of this new model to the Nintendo Switch family of systems, people have an additional choice of a system that best fits the gaming experience they desire – whether it’s Nintendo Switch (OLED model), Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite.”
Admittedly, the new kickstand is a great addition to this model, as the current kickstand is garbage. I never liked the kickstand and refused to use it. While coming with just 64GB of internal storage is a slap in the face of anyone who downloads Switch games. Thankfully, you can still upgrade the storage up to 2TB using a micro SD card, but Nintendo could have at least bumped up the internal storage to at least 512GB.
Is this new model worth getting? Well, that depends. If you don’t already have a Switch, then of course it is. For those who already have a Switch, it’s going to come down to if you want that 7-inch OLED screen. For me, I’ll pass. I rarely take my Switch out of the dock, so this new model isn’t that attractive to me. I was hoping we’d see an updated model that added more power under the hood — but that wasn’t the case here.
Before I get out of here, I”ll leave you wiht this. The OG Nintendo Switch is 4 years old. I was hoping that Nintendo would at least introduce a refresh with more powerful hardware, similar to the PS4 Pro/Xbox One X. A system that would still play the same games while providing a better gaming experience. I’m disappointed by this attempt to pass along the same system with a few minor upgrades.
Are you going to pick up this updated model or are you watching for the rumored Switch Pro? Let us know in the comments or hit me up on Twitter @Shadowhaxor.
