Revealed
WIN-TENDO!
Nintendo Switch OLED unveiled with BETTER screen than your TV ahead of October release
NINTENDO has unveiled a brand new version of its hugely popular Switch console.
The new Nintendo Switch OLED Model launches later this year – just in time for Christmas.
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Nintendo Switch OLED Model revealed – new features and screen
It's the third core version of Nintendo's console, joining the Switch and Switch Lite.
Nintendo says the console is largely the same size as the Nintendo Switch proper.
But it's got a larger 7-inch OLED screen with "vivid colours and high contrast"; – and a 1280x720 pixel resolution.
OLED is a new type of screen technology that most TVs haven't even got yet – but is increasingly common on high-end tellies and smartphones.
When docked to a TV, you'll get up to 1920 x 1080 resolution with 60 frames-per-second.
There's a wide adjustable stand for tabletop gaming.
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The stand flips out from the back of the console, and allows for tilting to get the best view of the screen.
And Nintendo has created a new dock with a wired LAN port for stable online play – meaning it's taking online gaming seriously.
Nintendo Switch OLED Model new design
The new Joy-Cons come in a white colour, which is matched by the dock.
Of course, the classic red-and-blue colourway is still available.
Nintendo has fitted the new Switch OLED Model with 64GB of storage.
That's double the 32GB in the standard Switch, a change that gamers have been calling out for since the original console launched in 2017.
Unlike the Switch Lite (and just like the Switch), Nintendo's new console is suitable for TV gaming and handheld play sessions.
What is OLED?
Here's what you need to know...
On a standard television or smartphone, you'll have an LCD (or liquid-crystal display) screen.
This means your screen contains loads of tiny crystals, which are illuminated by a giant backlight at the back of your telly or phone. When the crystals light up, you see an image – and that's television!
But OLED screens work in a slightly different way.
OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, and it's a way of describing the type of screen on your TV or phone.
It's basically an organic compound that emits light when you pass an electric current through it.
This means your OLED screen doesn't need a big old backlight, because the pixels on your screen light up on their own.
They're much more power-efficient. That's because you're not paying to power a huge backlight that sucks up loads of energy.
But the lack of backlight also means that OLED screens can be much thinner.
The big advantage of OLED is the picture quality improvement.
On a normal TV, you're never really seeing true black, because there's a backlight.
On OLED screens, individual pixels can be turned off completely, or dimmed significantly, so you'll see much more accurate blacks during dark TV or movie scenes.
Generally, this means OLED screens offer a wider range of lights, darks, and colours overall.
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Nintendo Switch OLED release date, specs and price
You'll also be able to pick up an official carrying case and screen protector set, which is handy if you do decide to take it out and about.
The new Nintendo Switch OLED Model release date is set for October 8.
That's the same date that Metroid Dread comes out – the long-awaited sequel to Metroid Fusion.
If you already have a Nintendo Switch, you'll be able to transfer your games and save data to the new console.
The new console costs $349.99 or £309.99, which is up on the $299.99 price tag for the regular model – and far more than the $199 Switch Lite.
UK pricing will be set by retailers.
Nintendo Switch OLED specs revealed
The geeky bits you need to know...
- Dimensions: 102mm x 242mm x 13.9mm
- Weight: 320 grams
- Screen: 7-inch OLED capacitive touchscreen (1280 x 720 pixels)
- CPU/GPU: Nvidia custom Tegra processor
- Storage: 64GB
- Comms: Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11/a/b/g/n/ac) Bluetooth 4.1 + wired LAN while docked
- Maximum resolution output: 1920 x 1080, 60fps to TV (via HDMI)
- Speakers: Stereo
- Charging: USB Type C
- Audio jack: 3.5mm mini
- Sensors: Accelerometer / gyroscope / brightness sensor
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase.
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