There is less and less left for the fifth anniversary of Nintendo Switch to be fulfilled and so far there are two different models that have been distributed in the market, which will be joined in a few months by one more with the name of Nintendo Switch OLED , the new version of Nintendo’s hybrid console that was announced by surprise last month.

The fact that the big N has made a decision like this should not be something that catches us by surprise, since in the past it has followed a similar move with other systems that it has put on sale, such as those corresponding to the Game Boy family. Advance or Nintendo 3DS. The question is, will this new model really be worth it? Has it come to replace the original Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite ?

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In our case we have been able to go to the Nintendo offices to test it first hand , answer these questions and thus be able to tell you below what feelings it has transmitted to us.

A different and clearly superior display: We have tested the Nintendo Switch OLED, an option to take into account that will join the family of the successful Nintendo console

The first thing we have to highlight is that during our gaming session we have tested it at all times in its portable mode, since it is undoubtedly the one that best takes advantage of the new features that have been implemented. In this sense, when we have it in our hands, its most prominent aspect is obvious, such as the OLED screen , the one in charge of naming this new model.

Mainly due to the fact that it is slightly larger when going from 6.2 to 7 inches , so the black borders around it have been reduced in size considerably, so that the image will now cover even more ground. Still, what matters most is the fact that the screen will in this case employ the OLED technology that is now so prevalent in high-end televisions.

Thanks to it, what is achieved is that each pixel is illuminated separately, so that this method makes everything we see look more intense colors, with greater contrast and brightness , something that affects above all the black colors that they look better quality. And the truth is that we can assure you that it is quite appreciated.

We took the opportunity to take a few races at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and complete some of the first temples of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and everything looked so good that it even gave the impression that, except for the size, we were facing a TV.

Undoubtedly those who are used to playing in portable mode with the original Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch Lite will notice a big change. In addition, it is not like the case of New Nintendo 3DS that there were certain titles that were released exclusively for it. In this case, you can continue to enjoy your games catalog without any problem with a better image quality in general.

The other details that make it special: We have tested the Nintendo Switch OLED, an option to take into account that will join the family of the successful Nintendo console

It is indisputable that the OLED screen is the most emblematic aspect of this new model, but the Nintendo Switch OLED has other details that make it different from the others . For example, another one of them we could also appreciate in its portable mode and are the integrated speakers that are located in the lower part of the screen, which this time emit an amazing sound so that everything can be heard from fable .

Of course, if you add to this the fantastic image quality, it makes you get so far into the game that you sometimes forget that you are in front of a portable screen. As for the Joy-Con, they are exactly identical to the existing ones , so here we have not found any notable difference, so you can exchange the ones that come standard with the console for anyone you already own.

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Also, on the sides of the console itself we have not seen anything new, because the Power button is still located at the top with a slot for game cards, a ventilation outlet, another to use headphones and a pair of buttons to control the volume. However, it is in the back a new adjustable support has been added which is undoubtedly another aspect that we liked the most.

With the original Nintendo Switch you can remove a small tab to place the console on a surface, but the truth is that it is not too safe and especially when placing it in transport such as a train or an airplane there was the possibility that it would move or fall, something that personally has been very uncomfortable for me on trips I have made. For its part, the new support that has been designed covers the entire rear part of the console going from side to side, something that is appreciated outrageously at first.

In addition, the support does not have a single position. Each one will be able to regulate it in their own way in the case of preferring that the console is more or less inclined, so that each one can accommodate it to their liking. At the same time, it will be easy to remove and insert it simply by pulling the bottom of the machine, something that will also be necessary to insert the microSD memory cards, since this place has been chosen to use them again.

In another vein, the Nintendo Switch OLED is slightly heavier (426g) than the standard Nintendo Switch (399g) , although the increase is so slight that it is not something we have noticed at all. For the rest, the battery is exactly the same as the renewed model that was launched in 2019, lasting between 4.5 and 9 hours, just like the processor has not been renewed, but the internal memory has been increased from 32 GB to 64 GB, so you can store more titles on the console without the need for external cards.

And if there is something that is also noteworthy, it is the design of the new Dock. Its operation is the same as any that you already have in your house, so you can use any model, removing the Nintendo Switch Lite, in it. What makes it new is its appearance with a more metallic finish through the central slot, which in turn will prevent the screen from scratching , one of the most discussed drawbacks.

On the other hand, the inside of the back finally has a wired LAN port so that you can connect the Dock to the Internet without the need for other types of cables. This area will continue to open as always, although the novelty it has is that the housing plate can be removed without problems so that it is easier to connect the different cables and especially so that the Dock is better aired, which on everything now in summer is something that is not bad at all.

Is the Nintendo Switch OLED worth buying?

The first sensations with the Nintendo Switch OLED in our hands have been very positive. What is a pity is that practically all its news and improvements affect only the portable model , so those who only play with the console in the Dock will not appreciate practically anything that has been discussed so far.

For the same reason, if you are one of those who already have a Nintendo Switch and you like to play on television, we do not recommend that you get it . On the contrary, it will be an excellent purchase and very worth considering if you only play on a laptop or even more so if you want to get hold of a Nintendo Switch for the first time.

In short, Nintendo Switch OLED has not come to replace the other models. It is simply another option that each one can opt for while the Nintendo Switch family grows a little more, but in no case will it be a mandatory console to have because it does not offer any advantage or feature that makes you enjoy best of your video games. They will only be seen and heard better in portable mode.

Nintendo Switch OLED will go on sale in all stores on October 8, 2021 , the same day that Metroid Dread will go on sale , for those who want to release it in style. Its price will be 349.95 euros both in its Neon model with the black Dock and the blue and red Joy-Con and also in its white model with the Joy-Con of the same color. Finally, the new Dock can be purchased separately only through the official Nintendo store , but the white Joy-Con is not planned to be sold separately.