This moderate upgrade of the Nintendo Switch is definitely worth spending an extra $50 to get if you are already in the market for a new Switch. The most important question though, is if it's worth it for the people who already own a Switch. This depends a lot on personal preference as well as how old your current switch is (and if you own the original HAC001 from 2017-2019 or the V2 that released in late summer of 2019). I mostly play in handheld mode because that is what this console excels at, for playing on a TV/Monitor, there are plenty of better options.
So what do you get with this OLED model? You get a larger screen that is OLED instead of IPS LCD. This is the type of screen that most iPhones have used since 2017 (and all of them use it now except for the SE2). You get a better contrast ratio, meaning deeper blacks and brighter colors/whites. There is no HDR support like Dolby Vision or HDR10, but it still looks leagues better than all the other Switch models. The smaller borders around the screen make the device look more modern and it's the size they should have gone with from the beginning (even if the logistics of using OLED wasn't feasible in 2017). There is also improved speakers, they do sound better and make the games your playing sound larger and more immersive. It's not as big of a difference as the new screen is to the old screen, but it's still a good thing to include.
Another new features is a better kickstand that is more like that of a Surface Pro tablet, allowing the Switch to be able to lean all the way back and be much more sturdy while doing so. This isn't really important unless you play in tabletop mode, but this is more realistic of a way to use this console with the screen being just that much bigger, I could see myself using a Pro controller and sitting the switch down for certain types of games.
The last difference here is the dock, which has a built in Ethernet port, which you should really use if you have the option to go wired. Unlike in the previous model "regular Switch", a wired connection is basically twice as fast as using standard WiFI, before it was only about 1.5x as fast. It still is unfortunate that you cannot achieve 100Mbps download speeds, but 60-65 is better than the 40-45 I was getting on my older model.
If I had to oversimplify who should buy the OLED model, I would say that these two types of people should buy the OLED (even if they already have a Switch Lite or V2) It would be: techie people who are nerdy about their tech and want the best they can get (even when they don't need it), and serious gamers who sink hundreds and hundreds of hours into playing the Switch in handheld mode.
Also, I don’t know that we need to specify this anymore because the switch OLED has largely been in stock since early January. But I did not and would not pay one penny more than $350 (plus tax) for this console. I think it’s worth that price if you love Nintendo characters/games, but I don’t think the hardware is worth more than $400 and the tax gets it pretty close to that.
Nintendo Switch – OLED Model w/ Neon Red & Neon Blue Joy-Con
4.8 | 35,952 ratings
Price: 349.99
Last update: 06-07-2024
About this item
Vivid 7” OLED screen
Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
64 GB internal storage (a portion of which is reserved for use by the system)
Enhanced audio in handheld and tabletop modes
Wide adjustable stand
Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
64 GB internal storage (a portion of which is reserved for use by the system)
Enhanced audio in handheld and tabletop modes
Wide adjustable stand
Product information
| ASIN | B098RL6SBJ |
|---|---|
| Release date | October 8, 2021 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars
35,952 ratings
4.8 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #268 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #5 in Nintendo Switch Consoles |
| Product Dimensions | 2.9 x 6.5 x 7.9 inches; 1 Pounds |
| Type of item | Accessory |
| Item model number | HEGSKABAA |
| Item Weight | 1 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Nintendo |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included) |
| Date First Available | July 1, 2021 |
Top reviews from the United States
BMO
Worth it if you're a handheld player
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2021
BMO
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2021
So what do you get with this OLED model? You get a larger screen that is OLED instead of IPS LCD. This is the type of screen that most iPhones have used since 2017 (and all of them use it now except for the SE2). You get a better contrast ratio, meaning deeper blacks and brighter colors/whites. There is no HDR support like Dolby Vision or HDR10, but it still looks leagues better than all the other Switch models. The smaller borders around the screen make the device look more modern and it's the size they should have gone with from the beginning (even if the logistics of using OLED wasn't feasible in 2017). There is also improved speakers, they do sound better and make the games your playing sound larger and more immersive. It's not as big of a difference as the new screen is to the old screen, but it's still a good thing to include.
Another new features is a better kickstand that is more like that of a Surface Pro tablet, allowing the Switch to be able to lean all the way back and be much more sturdy while doing so. This isn't really important unless you play in tabletop mode, but this is more realistic of a way to use this console with the screen being just that much bigger, I could see myself using a Pro controller and sitting the switch down for certain types of games.
The last difference here is the dock, which has a built in Ethernet port, which you should really use if you have the option to go wired. Unlike in the previous model "regular Switch", a wired connection is basically twice as fast as using standard WiFI, before it was only about 1.5x as fast. It still is unfortunate that you cannot achieve 100Mbps download speeds, but 60-65 is better than the 40-45 I was getting on my older model.
If I had to oversimplify who should buy the OLED model, I would say that these two types of people should buy the OLED (even if they already have a Switch Lite or V2) It would be: techie people who are nerdy about their tech and want the best they can get (even when they don't need it), and serious gamers who sink hundreds and hundreds of hours into playing the Switch in handheld mode.
Also, I don’t know that we need to specify this anymore because the switch OLED has largely been in stock since early January. But I did not and would not pay one penny more than $350 (plus tax) for this console. I think it’s worth that price if you love Nintendo characters/games, but I don’t think the hardware is worth more than $400 and the tax gets it pretty close to that.
Images in this review
JD
Nintendo cant lose with this one.
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2023Alexandria Evinger
It's a thing of beauty
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2024Love it
Highly recommended!
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
BestBuys
Extremely fun product
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
BestBuys
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
Images in this review
