Nintendo Switch OLED model vs Nintendo Switch: What's the difference?

(Pocket-lint) - Nintendo enactment much that a year's worthy of speculation to furniture erstwhile it announced a caller mentation of the Nintendo Switch backmost successful July. But it wasn't the widely expected 'Pro' model.

It's the Switch (OLED model) instead, which adds a fewer caller features including an OLED show - hence the name.

We've played with 1 down closed doors, truthful here's however it stacks up with the existing Switch.

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What's the same?

• Both enactment successful handheld, TV and desktop modes
• 720p60 (handheld/desktop), 1080p60 (TV)
• Same processor: Custom Nvidia Tegra X1

The Nintendo Switch OLED has a fig of caller features - the OLED has a larger screen, for starters - but beneath the hood it's fundamentally the aforesaid arsenic the existing Switch connected the inside.

This includes the battery, which is the aforesaid capableness for each model. Both consoles besides travel with the nonstop aforesaid processing portion - a customized mentation of the Nvidia Tegra X1 - positive 4GB of RAM. They besides each stock akin surface specs, with a 720p60 solution successful handheld mode, 1080p60 erstwhile docked and plugged into a TV.

This efficaciously means that each the aforesaid Nintendo Switch games enactment crossed some consoles. Accessories excessively - including the Joy-Con controllers - arsenic the size of each console portion is much oregon little the same.

Both travel with a dock, 2 Joy-Con controllers, and a Joy-Con grip to crook them into a much accepted gamepad.

What's different?

There are a fewer cardinal differences betwixt the Nintendo Switch (OLED model) and archetypal Switch.

Size and weight

• Nintendo Switch dimensions: 102 x 239 x 13.9mm (with Joy-Cons attached)
• Nintendo Switch (OLED model) dimensions: 102 x 242 x 13.9mm (with Joy-Cons attached)
• Nintendo Switch weight: 297g (398g with Joy-Cons)
• Nintendo Switch (OLED model) weight: 320g (420g with Joy-Cons)

In presumption of size and weight, determination is small betwixt them, adjacent though the Switch OLED has a larger display. That show eats into the bezel of the archetypal model, though, which is wherefore the devices are precisely the aforesaid height. This is the crushed the Joy-Cons are inactive compatible.

The Switch OLED is besides fractionally longer and somewhat heavier but, having held some broadside by side, you truly won't announcement the difference.

Display

• Nintendo Switch: 6.2-inch LCD display
• Nintendo Switch (OLED model): 7-inch OLED display

By acold and away, the biggest quality betweem the models is the display.

As the newer console's sanction suggests, it present sports an OLED panel, which provides amended colour accuracy, higher contrast, and wide amended representation performance. It besides has a wider viewing space successful examination to the LCD sheet utilized successful the modular Switch.

Having compared the two, that's not conscionable talk. The OLED sheet has a cooler achromatic output that gives it the content of a modicum of other brightness - it's a "cleaner" looking image.

Thanks to the deficiency of a backlight (OLED pixels are self-illuminating), the surface doesn't necessitate arsenic ample a bezel. That means the Switch OLED comes with a 7-inch show without expanding the size of the console itself. The modular Switch surface is 6.2-inches.

However, for immoderate reason, the Switch OLED has a glossy edging beyond its screen, which is reflective to light. The bezel of the older Switch is matte, which is little distracting.

Built-in kickstand

While the archetypal Switch features a built-in kickstand, it's tiny - astatine astir 10mm wide - and not large astatine supporting the console for desktop mode.

The Switch OLED has a overmuch beefier kickstand. Not lone does it tally the crossed the width of the rear, it's adjustable done a wide scope of angles. This makes for amended repositioning for desktop play.

The microSD paper slot is tucked down each console's kickstand.

Colour options

While some consoles travel successful the classical 'Neon' colour enactment (one Joy-Con is blue, the different is red), the Switch OLED volition besides beryllium disposable successful a standout achromatic option, which looks bully and clean. Even the dock is achromatic for this exemplary - it's usually lone successful achromatic plastic.

We fishy much colours and specials volition look implicit clip for the OLED model, but it's conscionable the 2 options astatine launch.

Storage

• Nintendo Switch: 32GB on-board storage, microSD paper slot for expansion
• Nintendo Switch (OLED model): 64GB on-board storage, microSD paper slot for expansion

The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) comes with treble the retention capacity, which means you volition beryllium capable to instal doubly arsenic galore games. However, 64GB is inactive comparatively meagre, truthful you volition privation to bargain a microSD paper separately anyhow - truthful origin successful that cost. We've ever considered it a mandatory request for the modular Switch.

• Nintendo Switch retention full? The champion microSD cards to bargain and debar download disappointment

Dock

Both consoles travel with a charging dock that besides carries TV connectivity. They each athletics 2 USB 2.1 ports to their broadside and a HDMI output.

The large quality betwixt the modular and OLED docks is that the second present comes with wired net connectivity excessively - successful the signifier of a LAN port. This is alternatively of the hidden USB socket connected the rear of the aged Switch. You tin lone link the modular Switch via Wi-Fi.

When docked, some consoles output 1080p60 and up to 5.1 PCM audio.

Note: the dock for the Switch OLED volition besides beryllium disposable to acquisition separately and is compatible with the older Switch.

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Audio

Although Nintendo hasn't yet provided specifics, the Switch OLED has enhanced dependable output. Its speakers are ported somewhat differently, to present louder and much immersive sound.

While that's good, sadly - and weirdly - the Switch OLED continues the deficiency of Bluetooth connectivity for headphones.

Conclusion

As breathtaking arsenic a caller Switch console sounds, determination are comparatively fewer important improvements. Therefore, unless you are truly aft a much-improved show for handheld gaming, oregon haven't purchased a Switch before, we don't deliberation it's worthy the upgrade for existing Switch owners.

If you don't already ain a Switch though, the OLED exemplary is undoubtedly the champion you'll beryllium capable to get - that glossy bezel aside. You volition person to agelong your fund though, arsenic it's £50 much costly than the modular version.

Writing by Rik Henderson and Mike Lowe. Originally published connected 7 July 2021.