Nintendo Switch OLED Announcement Trailer Reaction: What Was That?!?
61In this episode, we break down & react to the Nintendo Switch OLED Announcement Trailer.
Rumors have been swirling for years about a follow-up to the original Nintendo Switch. Call up the Switch Pro, the Super Switch, it just seems like rumors of a follow-up to the original will not die. One of the original rumors ended up becoming the Nintendo Switch Lite, but now the newest version has just been announced and is coming October 7th, 2021 for $349.99 USD in the Nintendo Switch OLED.
What Is It:
The Nintendo Switch OLED is a follow-up to the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite. This new system features an upgraded 7-inch OLED display, an increased from the 6.2 inch LCD display from the original models. OLED should look absolutely beautiful, but we are curious what this will mean to battery life. The Switch OLED also includes new enhanced speakers for better sound in handheld mode as well. The Switch OLED also features a completely new kickstand design, similar to what Microsoft has created for the Surface line of tablets, and an updated dock with an integrated ethernet port. On-board storage has been doubled, from 32GB to 64 GB. The audio has been enhanced for handheld mode, however indications are that the CPU, GPU, and battery are unchanged from the original 2017 model. Finally, the output resolutions are also unchanged from the original launch models at 1080p in docked mode and 720p in handheld mode.
What we like:
OLED is a huge improvement over the LCD of the original Nintendo Switch, and the reduction in bezel size to get the display up to 7-inches is terrific. While I connect my Switch to WiFi, having an optional integrated LAN Ethernet Port is something that really should have been there on the original. Finally, the new kickstand design is a total rip off of the Microsoft Surface Tablets, and we love it! The original kickstand was pathetic, and this really helps address a lot of issues for table top mode.
What we aren't impressed with:
64GB of RAM for storage is still not enough, but thankfully you can still use external micro SD Cards to increase your storage. This shouldn't be necessary and having less than 500GB of storage is somewhat unforgiveable. Also, for the way I play my Switch, a majority of these enhancements appear to be geared towards those who play mostly in handheld mode. The OLED, Enhance Audio, the new Kickstand, all cater towards handheld or table top mode. Beyond wired ethernet, what is the appeal for those who would play mostly in docked mode?
What was most disappointing:
Word is that the Switch OLED is no Switch Pro, as it reportedly uses the same nVidia Tegra Processor and GPU as the Switch consoles that launched in March of 2017, over 4 years ago. The battery is also the same, the left Joy Con doesn't have the D-Pad like the Switch Lite does, there's no additional RAM for processing power, and this just feels like more of the same. We also have to say that 1080P in docked and 720P in handheld modes are unforgiveable in 2021.
Who is it for?
If you have a Switch Lite or haven't invested in the ecosystem as of yet, the Switch OLED is the way to go if you have a desire to play docked to a TV. I don't feel this is something that is a necessary update for those who already have a standard Nintendo Switch, there's just not enough here in my opinion. Where the Switch was innovative, and the Switch Lite improved the handheld experience, this really doesn't do enough that is new or unique over the existing hardware.
Many have speculated regarding the next iteration of the Nintendo Switch and what it may have, and I don't think many anticipated that we would basically be getting simply a new dock, OLED display, and more storage. At least initially, I am underwhelmed and disappointed. We shall see if there is yet another new Switch somewhere down the pipeline, but I myself kind of doubt it.
#NintendoSwitchOLED #Reaction #NewSwitch NintendoSwitch2021
The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107
Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.
The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)