In typical Nintendo fashion, a physical upgrade to the Nintendo Switch was quietly announced earlier today. The new model features a more vivid 7-inch OLED screen, a wider and adjustable stand, and a built-in wired Ethernet (LAN) port for better online gaming. It also boasts enhanced audio and 64 GB of internal storage. The OLED model is slated for release on October 8 for $349.99 MSRP.
As reported by The Verge, no changes have been made to the OLED version’s memory or CPU. This means the processing power will be the same as its predecessor, despite rumors that have been circulating about the release of a “Switch Pro” upgrade. Battery power also remains the same as the original Switch model, clocking in at around 9 hours maximum depending on usage and games played. The built-in LAN port appears to replace one of the USB ports, as the OLED model has only two compared to the original’s three. The Switch library of games, as well as all joy-cons and Pro controllers, will be compatible with the new model. The Nintendo Labo hardware, however, “will not cleanly fit” according to Nintendo, due to the new model’s larger size.
The original Nintendo Switch is the company’s second bestselling system in the U.S., and has sold more than 78 million units worldwide as of January 2021. The Switch Lite—a cheaper, non-docked version of the Switch—was released in 2019, and has sold more than 15 million units as of March 2021. The new OLED model will be available in neon red/neon blue or as a white/black version. There is no word yet on possible collector’s editions.
