Nintendo Switch – OLED Model

Source

Austin Evans

Key Takeaways

• Features zero internal CPU or GPU upgrades, still chained to the ancient 2015 Tegra X1 chip that chokes on modern releases.
• Bundled Joy-Con controllers still rely on the same fragile potentiometer analog sticks prone to inevitable drift over time.
• TV dock is strictly limited to 1080p output with no 4K upscaling, looking noticeably blurry and jagged on 4K living room panels.
• While the 7-inch OLED panel looks vibrant, the native resolution is still stuck at 720p, showing visible pixel grain up close.

✅ Pros

• Lush 7-inch OLED canvas brings inky deep blacks and stunning vibrancy
• Wide, sturdy adjustable friction kickstand fixes original table wobble
• Significantly upgraded internal speakers sound clearer and punchier

❌ Cons

• Zero CPU/GPU silicon upgrade struggles in new games
• Joy-Con analog stick drift risk left unaddressed
• Dock lacks 4K upscaling for modern TVs
• Handheld resolution remains capped at 720p

📝 Verdict

"Switch OLED is a gorgeous cosmetic refresh trapped on ancient 2015 silicon with zero performance improvements."

Source

• Video: Nintendo Switch OLED Model Review: A Brilliant Display Upgrade - But Is That Enough?
• Channel: Digital Foundry | Type: Professional review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• New materials: a glossy screen and bezel (prone to fingerprints), reinforced rails that hold the Joy-Con more securely and reshaped buttons make the whole unit feel more premium; the cartridge cover is thinner and slightly harder to open
• The kickstand is one of the best changes: the original's was "frankly terrible," and the new Surface-like full-width kickstand is sturdier with a wide range of angles
• The OLED fixes the original LCD's grayish look, backlight bleed and poor contrast, with completely pure blacks, and it also beats the PS Vita's first-generation OLED
• Measured with a colorimeter, peak brightness is similar to the original Switch, but contrast is far better; the 2019 LCD version skews red
• The chip is still the 2019 Mariko, so there's no difference in TV mode; the new dock adds a LAN port

✅ Pros

• Excellent OLED contrast and blacks
• Much-improved kickstand
• More premium build

❌ Cons

• No performance improvement
• Glossy finish attracts fingerprints
• Brightness similar to the original

📝 Verdict

It fixes all of the original's major physical design weaknesses and greatly improves the screen; if you care about handheld image quality, it's a must-have and the best way to play Switch games.

Source

• Video: Nintendo Switch - OLED Model Review
• Channel: IGN | Type: Professional review | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• US$350; a 7-inch 720p OLED (the original is 6.2 inches) with smaller bezels and a body only 3mm longer; internal storage doubles from 32GB to 64GB
• The screen is the biggest highlight: handheld mode visuals are greatly improved, and you can play comfortably in a hammock outdoors, though it's not as bright as the iPhone 13 Pro; sadly it's still 720p
• The extra 3mm means some older grips, docks, stands and cases may not be compatible
• The kickstand is sturdier with more angles; the new dock adds a LAN port (saving a US$30 adapter) and has more room to avoid scratching the screen, but it wobbles a bit when docked
• The internal specs are unchanged, so there's no noticeable improvement when playing on a TV

✅ Pros

• Excellent OLED screen
• Improved kickstand
• LAN port built into the dock
• Double the storage

❌ Cons

• No performance improvement
• Still 720p
• Some accessories incompatible
• Dock wobbles slightly

📝 Verdict

It's an easy recommendation for people who don't have a Switch yet and the best choice for handheld mode; but for existing Switch or even Switch Lite owners, the lack of a performance boost makes the upgrade harder to justify.

Source

• Video: The NEW Nintendo Switch OLED!
• Channel: Austin Evans | Type: Unboxing and teardown | Based on: YouTube transcript

Key points

• Priced at US$350, US$50 more than the original that's still on sale; a 7-inch OLED, 64GB of storage (he thinks you'll still need a microSD card), an Ethernet port built into the dock and an adjustable kickstand
• The body is almost the same size as the original but the screen is bigger, and the front glass feels better; the new kickstand is far better than the original's "garbage" one and is his favorite part; the speakers sound great
• Performance hasn't improved at all, and battery life is about the same; TV output is still only 1080p; personally he still prefers the Switch Lite
• Teardown with Gamers Nexus: fewer screws; the cooling stack of multiple layers of thermal paste and copper isn't very efficient, but after a few minutes of play you can't hear the fan even with your ear against it
• The Joy-Con rails feel the same as the original's

✅ Pros

• Bigger, better OLED screen
• Much-improved kickstand
• Good speakers
• Ethernet port built into the dock

❌ Cons

• No performance improvement
• US$50 more expensive
• Still need a microSD

📝 Verdict

On the surface it's a clear upgrade, with a bigger, better screen and a better kickstand; deeper thermal testing is left to Gamers Nexus.