Nintendo Switch OLED model review: The Switch to rule them all

(Pocket-lint) - There are 2 ways to look astatine the Nintendo Switch OLED model: positively, arsenic an all-round improved console with bigger, brighter and amended surface tech; oregon cynically, arsenic a half-baked progression implicit the archetypal console, missing retired connected assorted opportunities to further amended and heighten the Switch experience.

We've had the Switch OLED successful manus for a week and, since time one, we've gone successful with an unfastened mind. From our position the original Switch was a full game-changer console, 1 that we've loved utilizing for years now, truthful to person 1 that improves upon the portable play broadside of things tin lone beryllium a bully thing.

So if you're yet to leap connected the Nintendo bid to joyousness municipality then, well, intelligibly the Switch OLED exemplary is the mode to bash it. Here's however we've recovered it to comparison to the archetypal console and wherefore we deliberation it's the Switch to regularisation them all.

What's different?

• 7-inch OLED display
• 64GB built-in storage
• Enhanced audio output
• White colourway option
• Large, multi-positional rear kickstand
• Dock includes Ethernet/LAN larboard (in spot of 1 USB)

As the merchandise sanction tells you large and proud: the 3rd Switch exemplary (after the original and Lite) comes with an OLED screen. This self-emitting exertion isn't needfully brighter than LCD - although, arsenic our side-by-side pictures amusement you, the OLED sheet present precise overmuch is - but it's ever known for richer colours and deeper blacks. The OLED exemplary has 'cleaner' whites, too, meaning it's cooler, benignant of much bluish - but successful a much earthy fashion.

But the biggest take-away astir this surface is that it's bigger than the 1 successful the archetypal Switch: the OLED sheet measures 7-inches connected the diagonal, compared to 6.2-inches of the original's LCD panel. However, this doesn't marque the OLED exemplary console's wide footprint truly immoderate bigger - it's simply that the bezel has been eaten away, truthful there's little distracting amounts of the achromatic worldly to the edges, delivering a much expansive viewpoint (albeit not rather edge-to-edge).

However, the precise archetypal clip we played with the Switch OLED exemplary - astatine a preview lawsuit successful cardinal London backmost successful August 2021 - we couldn't assistance but announcement that this caller bezel is glossy, whereas the archetypal Switch's is matte. Gloss isn't large for reflections, truthful overhead lighting caused immoderate distractions successful that instance. However, since utilizing the Switch OLED astatine location - admittedly successful the grey, rainy end-of-summer UK play - it's acold little standout that we had astatine archetypal thought.

The Switch OLED's dimensions bash disagree a tiny magnitude compared to the original, and it's a small heavier, but having handled some 1 aft the different for the involvement of this review, we're definite you truly wouldn't know. The carnal 'height' is identical betwixt some products - which is large arsenic it means Joy-Con controllers are interchangeable, should you person a spare acceptable to marque usage of and fancy mixing things up a bit.

Some of that magnitude summation is down to the OLED model's new, larger integrated kickstand. This is simply a immense betterment implicit the tiny stick-like 1 successful the archetypal Switch, making desktop mode - wherever you tin detach the Joy-Cons to play arsenic if the Switch is simply a mini TV - acold much viable. It holds beardown and is adjustable done a wide array of angles. Bravo.

The Switch OLED besides comes successful a achromatic colourway finish, helping it to basal isolated from the assorted multi-colour finishes. Even the dock is finished successful white, giving it a clean, chill look. The dock adds a LAN/Ethernet larboard astatine the disbursal of the interior USB socket, but this is an perfect for ensuring coagulated connectivity to a router - besides, determination are 2 USB ports connected the exterior of the dock anyway.

Is OLED truly better?

• Console dimensions (with Joy-Con controllers): 102mm x 242mm x 13.9mm
• Console value (with Joy-Con controllers): 420g / (without Joy-Con controllers): 320g
• 7-inch OLED panel, 720 x 1280 autochthonal solution (1920 x 1080 60fps maximum TV output)

The Switch OLED exemplary is simply a wide victor if you're looking to play erstwhile connected the go, acknowledgment to that luscious screen. Thing is, that's benignant of the constituent of the Switch Lite (the 1 Switch console that can't link to a TV), which has a smaller and inferior screen.

As the OLED exemplary adds nary other grunt to powerfulness proceedings implicit the archetypal Switch, if you're mostly a TV surface subordinate then, well, there's zero quality betwixt the 2 main console options. It's identical successful presumption of graphical fidelity - it's 'HD Ready' 720p connected the portable screen, upping to Full HD 1080p connected a TV surface - it's each the same.

That's wherever the cynical space could creep in: a batch of radical were expecting a 'Switch Pro' alternatively of this OLED model, but that's not the woody here. It's much a mid-lifecycle change-up. But if you've ne'er bought a Switch earlier present then, well, the OLED exemplary is the evident 1 to spell for successful each regard.

Furthermore there's nary distinctive artillery improvement. The wide-reaching scope from Nintendo's connection is betwixt four-and-a-half and 9 hours connected a azygous charge. We've been playing Metroid Dread - the 'launch title' on with the OLED model, arsenic it happens - and person been capable to get implicit 5 hours of portable play, nary problems (without getting 5 hours into the game, arsenic it's unexpectedly difficult!). Small criticism: we privation the charging, astatine 3 hours via USB-C/the dock, ought to beryllium speedier.

Oh, and the full Switch household inactive doesn't person overmuch appetite for third-party apps. There's inactive nary Netflix, for example, which is simply a shame fixed the OLED model's new-and-improved screen. That said, you bargain a Switch to game, not ticker Gossip Girl (we're not judging).

Super games

• Play connected TV, on-the-go, connected desktop
• Limited third-party apps (no Netflix, for example)
• Nintendo eShop downloads oregon cartridge purchases

All that said, it's hard to not fto the Switch OLED exemplary expanse you distant with its sheer brilliance. Because, let's look it, you bargain into Nintendo for its first-party games. Many of which are implicit bangers. Everyone knows it: Nintendo has made - and continues to marque - immoderate of the precise champion games, ever.

That, supra each else, is what sells the Switch series. Whether you privation to bargain the OLED exemplary for optimum on-the-go potential, oregon prevention a small spot of currency and usage an archetypal Switch chiefly for TV-based use, there's a full assortment of prime games connected offer. 

• Top Nintendo Switch games: Best games to own

Every clip a AAA rubric graces our offices it seems to succeed: from Zelda Breath of the Wild delivering our favourite ever Link adventure; to Super Mario Odyssey delivering charm and imaginativeness to 3D platforming fun; to Bowser's Fury delivering caller levels of creativity and madness; to Animal Crossing New Horizons' record-breaking popularity.

Writing by Mike Lowe. Originally published connected 2 August 2021.