New Nintendo Switch OLED Coming October 8

Fans have spent the better part of the year speculating that Nintendo will be giving us a better, beefier Switch. Now, Nintendo has announced the Switch OLED is coming on October 8, but it’s not exactly what gamers were hoping for.

Specifically, most fans were hoping for 4K support and other performance improvements that would effectively give us a “Super Switch.” Instead, this new model will offer no improved visuals or performance. Instead, it offers a seven-inch OLED screen, 64 GB of internal memory, a wired LAN port in the dock, and enhanced audio. It will come in two color configurations: a white-and-black set with a white dock and a neon red-and-blue set with a black dock.

On the one hand, these upgrades sound nice, especially for anyone who hasn’t yet bought a Switch. On the other hand, these upgrades are so minimal that there seems like little incentive for existing Switch owners to upgrade to this model. Especially because, at $350, this is $50 more expensive than the current Switch.

As an added complication, COVID-19 delays have affected Nintendo’s access to semiconductors needed to manufacture consoles. This is partially why it has been so difficult to buy a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S, and it may make it hard for Nintendo super fans to even track one of these OLED models down.

Longtime Nintendo fans know the company is no stranger to introducing upgraded models of existing handhelds to make money, and now the Switch is no exception. But with these upgrades being so lackluster and Joy-Con drifting still being a major unsolved issue, it’s not clear whether fans will rush out to buy this console when it launches on October 8.

Technical Specs for Nintendo Switch OLED:

Size

4 inches high, 9.5 inches long, and 0.55 inches deep (with Joy-Con attached)
*The depth from the tip of the analog sticks to the tip of the ZL/ZR buttons is 1.12 inches

Weight

Approximately .71 lbs
(Approximately .93 lbs with Joy-Con controllers attached)

Screen | Multi-touch capacitive touch screen / 7.0 inch OLED screen / 1280×720
CPU/GPU | NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor

Storage

64 GB
Users can easily expand storage space using microSDHC or microSDXC cards up to 2TB (sold separately).

Wireless | Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compliant) / Bluetooth 4.1

Video output

Up to 1080p via HDMI in TV mode
Up to 720p via built-in screen in Tabletop mode and Handheld modes

Audio output

Compatible with 5.1ch Linear PCM output
Output via HDMI connector in TV mode

Speakers | Stereo
Buttons | Power button / Volume button

USB connector

USB Type-C
Used for charging or for connecting to the Nintendo Switch dock.

Headphone/mic jack | 3.5mm 4-pole stereo (CTIA standard)
Game card slot | Nintendo Switch game cards

microSD card slot

Compatible with microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC memory cards
*Once the microSDXC card is inserted, a system update will be necessary. An internet connection is required to perform this system update.

Sensor | Accelerometer, gyroscope, and brightness sensor
Operating environment | 41-95 degrees F / 20-80% humidity
Internal battery | Lithium-ion battery / 4310mAh

Battery life

Approximately 4.5 – 9 hours
The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Charging time

Approximately 3 hours
*When charging while the hardware is in sleep mode