TL; DR
- Nintendo just officially announced an updated version of the Switch known as the Nintendo Switch OLED model.
- It carries some of the rumored “Pro” upgrades, including a bigger OLED display, more storage space, a LAN port in the dock, and more.
- The new Switch will hit the market on October 8 with a suggested retail price of $ 349, but expect it to be incredibly difficult to come by.
Over the past two years we’ve seen a lot of rumors about a “Pro” model of the popular Nintendo Switch hybrid console. The rumors piled so high this year that we were confident it would hit the market before the end of 2021.
Well, it turns out we were both right and wrong with our expectations. Today we learned that Nintendo will be releasing a new Switch model this year, officially known as the Nintendo Switch OLED model. However, this is not the “pro” model many of us had hoped for.
That being said, there is still a lot to love about this updated version of the Switch.
Nintendo Switch OLED model upgrades
The most obvious upgrade for this switch model is the addition of an OLED panel. The original switch has an LCD display that produces objectively inferior images. This OLED panel is also physically larger than the original Switch at 7 inches (the original display is 6.2 inches).
There are a few other notable upgrades, however. The internal storage capacity is now 64 GB, double that of the original switch. It also has a much improved kickstand that extends the entire back of the console and has adjustable hold-up points that release a major pain point for gamers on the go. Nintendo also claims that the audio is superior to the undocked console, but it doesn’t really explain what makes that possible.
Finally, the included dock also contains an integrated Ethernet port. Previously, this feature required you to purchase an accessory, so that’s a nice touch.
When can you buy and how much
The Nintendo Switch OLED model will hit the market on October 8, 2021. It will have a suggested retail price of $ 349. That’s only $ 50 more than the regular Switch and $ 150 more than the Switch Lite.
All current Nintendo Switch games and official accessories (including Joy-Con) are compatible with the Nintendo Switch OLED model.
Be warned though: it will most likely be incredibly difficult to get this to when it starts up. The ongoing global chip scarcity, as well as the incredible popularity of the Switch console, will make it a must-have Christmas present.
