SWITCH OLED. The new version of Nintendo’s hybrid console has been available since October 8 in France. Improved screen, extended storage: what are the benefits of this new model. And where to find it at the best price?

SWITCH OLED. The new version of Nintendo’s hybrid console has been available since October 8 in France. Improved screen, extended storage: what are the benefits of this new model. And where to find it at the best price?

[Mis à jour vendredi 22 octobre à 16 h 30] Nintendo’s family of consoles grew in early October 2021, with the release of the third version of its flagship machine, the Switch OLED. Released in March 2017, the original Switch marked Nintendo’s comeback to the forefront of console manufacturers, after the difficult years of the Wii U, which had struggled to establish itself in the home video game market. In September 2019, its little sister, the Switch Lite, an exclusively portable version of the machine, was added to the manufacturer’s catalog. Two years later almost to the day, a third version of the console has taken its place in Nintendo’s video game offer, the Switch OLED. Neither rupture nor major technological revolution for this model, but welcome improvements of the existing formula, which come to endow the hybrid game console of assets which it lacked for a machine of 2021. Overview.

What are the characteristics of the OLED Switch?

The new Nintendo console model was expected for a time as a “pro” version of its big sister, which would have included more powerful components, allowing it to run games in better conditions, or even, let’s dream a little, offer functions such as 4K video output or ray-tracing. This is what suggested, in any case, the rumors which rustled from all sides in the spring of 2021. It will ultimately be nothing. If the new model of the Japanese manufacturer brings several notable improvements, its main architecture remains strictly identical to that of the classic Switch. We should therefore not expect any gain in performance or quality in the game, whether in terms of frames per second or visual rendering.

In summary, here are the main new features of the OLED Switch.

• a new screen with Oled panel, instead of an LCD on the other models, which will therefore offer improved contrast, deeper blacks and more faithful colors. The diagonal of the screen increases noticeably, increasing from 6.2 “(15.75 cm) to 7” (17.78 cm). However, the definition remains the same, namely 1280 x 720p, and the resolution is therefore down, from 237 to 210 dpi (dots per inch).

• A 64 GB internal storage capacity, compared to 32 previously, still expandable up to 2 TB via a compatible microSD card. A significant increase, at a time when the purchase of dematerialized games has become the norm and where many titles weigh several tens of gigabytes.

• A docking station with an Ethernet port, allowing you to play online or download games while taking advantage of the speeds offered by the wired support and to avoid the instabilities of Wi-Fi. It should be noted that this new dock can be purchased separately and that it is compatible with the classic Switch. On the other hand, and it is regrettable, no Ethernet cable is supplied with the console and it will therefore be necessary to pay a little more to take advantage of this new connection. In addition, the appearance of the Ethernet port comes at the cost of the disappearance of one of the USB 2.0 ports, which increased to two against three previously.

• the retractable foot located at the back of the console, which allows it to be placed on a table or any other support when used in portable mode, has been revised: wider, to offer better stability, it now benefits from a three-way adjustable inclination different angles, providing (a little) more flexibility and comfort in mobile use of the machine.

• The integrated speakers, located on the front of the console, have they been improved, without knowing much more about their technical characteristics. Nintendo promises in any case a clearer sound, therefore more intelligible, in portable mode.

What is the release date of the OLED Switch?

The OLED Switch is available since Friday, October 8, 2021. The console is available in two colors: white or neon (red and blue). You can now buy it online at most usual retailers (Amazon, Micromania, Fnac, Boulanger, Cdiscount, Darty, etc.) for delivery or collection in store. It is of course possible to buy the console directly in store since October 8. The period was obviously not chosen at random. Like all new game consoles, the OLED Switch arrives before the end of the year holidays to be able to appear on the gift list, after having been the subject of multiple tests on specialized sites, in the press and on the channels. of gamers.

What is the price of the OLED Switch?

For its launch, the new Nintendo console is offered at € 350, or € 80 more than the classic version, which is currently displayed at € 270 at most distributors. A major difference when you consider that, in addition to its new screen and the few hardware improvements it brings, the new version is strictly identical to the previous one in terms of components: same processor (CPU), same graphics circuit (GPU) , same RAM. All the games already available and all those to come will be compatible with both models of the console and will not run better on the OLED version. Also, since most of the improvements to the OLED model are in the console’s portable features (better screen, speakers, and stand), you’ll benefit even less if you’re going to play primarily on a TV. With these elements in mind, it is not foolish to prefer the classic Switch to the newcomer, especially since to fully enjoy the console, it is often necessary to go to the cash register to acquire very practical accessories (not to say essential), such as the famous Switch Pro controller (around € 50) and a carrying pouch (around € 20). The cost of these two accessories alone is equivalent to the price difference between the classic Switch and the OLED Switch. However, just a few days after its official release, we can already find the Switch OLED) 320 €, which is more reasonable.

What are the different models of Switch?

To better understand the differences between the three Switch models available, here is a table summarizing all their technical characteristics.