Alongside the release of Metroid Dread next month, Nintendo will be releasing its brand new Switch OLED model.
This slightly updated system has a new screen, a wider kickstand and a number of other minor enhancements. Although it's been available for pre-order in the west for some time now, Nintendo has only just locked in pre-order dates for the Japanese launch.
Fans within this location will be able to pre-order the new system at video game stores, Nintendo stores and online stores later this month on 24th September for 37,980 yen.
When pre-orders for the new system originally went live in the US, it didn't take long before scalpers were listing the device on sites like eBay for much higher prices. If you're still deciding whether or not to purchase the OLED model on release yourself, be sure to check out our handy Nintendo Life pre-order guide.
The Nintendo Switch OLED model launches in all regions, including Japan, on 8th October 2021.
[source twitter.com, via reddit.com]
Comments 45
Can't wait to get my preorder!
Amazon UK has both the white and neon versions up for pre-order again btw
Getting mine to play shin megami tensei v & metroid dread🥰🥰
Had already forgotten this was a thing
I have a friend who owns a switch and plans on purchasing this one. I asked him why and e said because it’s oled. I pointed out to him you paying extra for the same parts; the difference being a screen.
I told him with that 350 you have now, you could blow it on increasing your game library, saving it for another console, or even apply it to the upcoming steam deck. Essentially, get more bang for your buck.
But he insists that somehow having an oled screen is going to enhance his gaming experience. Ah well, far be it from me to care what one does with their money. The only people laughing at the end of the day are the heads at Nintendo.
@Bratwurst35 at the end of the day, it's true that your friend will have a better gaming experience after all.
Maybe he's just like me who has 3 dozens of games in the backlog. I have zero needs for the Steam Deck and find it ugly, no thanks. Not to mention the thrill of buying new tech. That's the reason people upgrade to the new Iphone/Galaxy every one or two years.
@Dragwhite I noticed that. My Argos pre-order didn't go through, but the Amazon one seems to have worked. Just in time to start commuting again!
@ItsJustAnotherGamer Same. Also just one more month to go
@AndrewR I managed to grab my Argos pre-order back on he 20th of July and thankfully it went through, hopefully all goes well with the amazon order!
I play my switch almost exclusively portable, so naturally this is cool to me. Also there's improved speakers in this OLED thing..
They will obviously make a Switch OLED Lite next just like they did a 2DS XL. New Switch model with improved hardware might come after just like New 3DS did.
@Dragwhite Yours too!
@Bratwurst35 Since when was graphics everything? Computing power is all that the Steam Deck has over the Switch; beyond that, the Switch has more to offer, at least in terms of functionality, not to mention that it has more higher rated exclusives. So the Switch isn't the most powerful thing out there right now, so what, it's older and yet still manages to keep up with the competition in terms of software momentum and sales.
And, you wanna know why I preordered the Switch Oled? I preordered it because it will launch as the best version of the console, and with games like Metroid Dread headed my way, I'm sure I'll be able to make do with the X1 chip until it's successor comes along, which I honestly believe will be soon.
Not getting one myself, but I hope those who have managed to pre-order don’t get cheated by scalper bots.
I ORDERED the oled model and already sold my original Switch. So I'm paying just a bit extra to upgrade to a better dock and nicer looking Switch.
What do you pre-think of that eh?
Crazy that preorders are opening in Japan just 2 weeks before launch vs 2-3 months for the rest of the world.
Still waiting for nintendo uk store to offer pre-order.
@Bratwurst35
Switch Oled seems like a better buy than the Steam Deck. There are cheaper laptops out there than Steam Deck.
So many who slag off the OLED Switch conveniently forget that some of us still have the launch model with the older battery that can sometime struggle to hold 3 hrs of play. Now seems a good a time as any to upgrade if we also get a bigger and better screen out of it.
i'm purchasing this for xmas wether I can keep tin the box till then is a different mater lol
maybe I just open it briefly to test is not faulty , bit for sure Metroid dread will stay sealed , so Nintendo life please try keep spoilers to a minimum if you can help it.
Pre-ordered a white one anyway as I play 90% in handheld mode as it is my vacation console.
So I am absolutely fine with the OLED upgrade and my V2 gets a new owner as soon as the OLED shows up here.
@jrt87
Amen. I find the "need" argument for gaming consoles (or any entertainment) quite weird to begin with. At the end of the day, gaming consoles aren't "needs" but "wants". Not saying at all that it's wrong to want something, but arguing with someone that you don't need this and that in a gaming console doesn't make sense, because it's extremely subjective.
Anyways, I've been thing about it, and I think it's time to replace my 2017 version... that OLED screen looks really attractive
I have mine preordered. I keep wondering why. I've even moved most of my "portable" gaming to Xcloud on my Surface, and it's great, nice big 12" screen, higher end games, full controller. I haven't used my Switch for more than Ace Atty in a month or so. And yet....I can't get myself to cancel. I know when Dread and SMT comes out I'll be playing a lot, and the OG screen is pretty nasty, always has been.
@FX102A Yeah that's a big one. My launch Switch really needs to be plugged into a power bank at all times to realistically play it for more than quick pickup sessions. The battery gets 2-2.5 hours at best for most games. It doesn't feel any more "portable" than my Surface....and that gets 4+ hours of game streaming. And the battery is only a year and a half newer.
I didn't preorder yet. Its got almost the same price as the (out of stock) PS5 digital edition (370 vs 400 euro)
@Pokester99 If they're not a gamer, their eyes will glaze over before you've even finished saying sub 30fps. You wouldn't even get to subnative before they'd stopped listening and started looking for a hasty exit from the conversation.
@Bratwurst35 This sounds like me. OLED is an awesome screen technology and those contrast ratios in portable play will be amazing! For me, it'll make all the difference, even if the performance hasn't changed. I'm perfectly fine with playing games like Fortnite, The Witcher 3, and whatever else runs at 30fps on my sweet new OLED screen. Portability and also knowing that my console uses little to no power to push games as amazing as it does is everything to me. The Switch is wizardry, not to mention eco-friendly.
@Bratwurst35,
So because you do not see any benefits to buying an OLED model, everyone else that does is somehow stupid, not sure that's the best way to look at the situation.
@WiltonRoots,
You are of course totally wrong, the wider mass market is obsessed with graphics and frame rates, and is up in arms over all the major issues that plague people on these niche gaming sites, they just do not bother to tell anybody about it.
@NEStalgia,
You are a Nintendo hardware obsessive just like me, as soon as I saw this I had to have one no matter what, would have loved a Switch Pro, but this is still an awesome upgrade, and looks great quality.
The dock looks better too, have you gone for the white or neon?, I opted for the White, it looks very nice.
@jrt87,
People often forget the fact that once you have transferred all your stuff across you can simply sell the console you are not using, thus making the whole deal much better value.
@johnvboy LOL, yup, it's true! Anyone that owns a Virtual Boy, not as a collector but who actually bought one in the few months they actually sold them at retail, kinda is obligated to buy the OLED. Anything else is hypocritical. Not entirely sure why I'm getting one, but I'm getting one because I have a severe lack of impulse control, apparently.
I went with the white one simply because it's different. The existing Switch(es) have black docks, and I have the gray, neon, and yellow joycons (and multiple of each. Drift......) So white is fun and different even though I prefer splashes of color on my Nintendo hardware (Long live my purple 3DS!). Though it'll blend in with the PS5. But the Joycons are presumably unchanged so I can still just use the neon pairs if I want the color back Or if the white ones start getting too dirty looking. The yellow still looks pretty clean, and that's my most used set, so whatever plastic they make these out of seem very non-porous and very skin oil stain resistant, so the white (which looks kinda gray-white in pictures) might hold up great.
@NEStalgia,
The White one looked pretty awesome, and pretty sure that's why the reveal trailer featured that version, up till that point I always thought that the Animal crossing Switch looked the best, but we now have a new winner imho.
@johnvboy Plus, you know in all the marketing they'll be showing the white one to differentiate it from the other models, so I'd end up seeing the white one in all the Treehouse stuff and ads and and end up wanting it anyway, if I didn't get it.
@NEStalgia,
So true, not had any drift as yet, kind of feel I am missing out
@johnvboy LOL, I will forever be curious about exactly what the difference is between users that get drift and those that don't. I must have something to do with the pressure and angles of the hand grip, etc, etc, but it's one of those curiosity things that I'll always wonder about.
Seems like we can probably say the main issue on Joycon is the stick clicking deforming the base plate over time (or stressed extension against the gate), so the games played probably have a lot to do with it. Splatoon or Doom/Eternal that has you absolutely killing the stick clicking all the time, and while under fast pace/adrenaline situations will cause a heck of a lot more drift problems than ACNL that doesn't even use the stick clicks IIRC. Doesn't explain drift on PS/XB controllers though that have the contact pads on the sides.
I've repaired 4 sets so far. Two of the sets had a lot of Splatoon time one them, so it makes sense. But two of them had barely any "intense" games on them and saw what I'd consider "light" use, as it was on my "secondary" Switch I like to keep more "pickup and play" games like a 3DS. I don't use that one half as much as the primary one, and always for less intense games. It's the strangest phenomenon.
I do find it interesting that (knock wood) my repairs haven't failed yet. Might just be my play habits over the past year, since my focus has been on the new console twins, but it makes me wonder if the 3rd party sticks are a better mfr than the OEM.
@NEStalgia,
It is confusing, there are issues no doubt about it, and to be honest your reply was one of the most refreshing I have ever seen on here, usually when you dare suggest you have no issues personally you are really suggesting such issues do not exist.
My personal view has been that heat, humidity and dust levels will play a part in this, all my joycons are always in a drawer when not in use, I even use a usb-c lead to charge my console when it's in my protective case, I then dock it as needed, usualy without the joycon connected, as I say I use the pro controller most of the time.
My joycons get used when I play in handheld mode, and for family multi/party games etc.
@johnvboy Heat and humidity is an interesting thought. It's hot and humid here in the summer for sure. Dust I don't think is an issue. Mines always on the dock charging, meaning it's always vertical unless I'm using it or is in the case. Dust can't really get into the mechanism that way.
Heat could play into it. Environmental heat plus the heat from friction of use on tiny tiny metal parts.... Add mechanical force... I'm that could surely contribute.
It's such a baffling issue that it happens to most heavy users not not all.
Just placed my pre-order on Amazon. So excited 😁
@johnvboy I'm sorry you can't read. I am even more sorry you are so butthurt. I never stated anyone nor my friend was stupid. You are free to do what you want with your money.
If are going to disagree with me that's fine, but grow up a little, don't take words out of context, and put your hurt feelings into the mix.
@CircuitWrangler3 I never said graphic were everything. I merely pointed out in my story about the alternatives that could have been used vs baying something that imo offers no real improvement worth investing. By all means do what you wish. I was just sharing my viewpoint.
@RasandeRose True, but I didn't just say the steam deck. I mentioned more games, other consoles or as you said a laptop. better bang for your buck.
I am amazed how I mentioned more things on that list in my comments but most seam solely focused on the steam deck.
@depwnz True people do upgrade every two years. I mean fun for them lol. Also it seems everyone is focused on the steam deck. I listed more options than just that.
@Bratwurst35,
You finished your initial comment with the following,
" But he insists that somehow having an oled screen is going to enhance his gaming experience. Ah well, far be it from me to care what one does with their money. The only people laughing at the end of the day are the heads at Nintendo. "
So why would Nintendo be laughing if your friend was not making a silly decision to buy an OLED Switch, at least in your opinion, as I said your comment is based on you not seeing any value in the upgrade, I have read your comment several times and can't see any other deeper meaning to it.
Perhaps you need to grow up and realize that not everybody buys things for the same reasons as you so personally, or indeed sees the same value in certain features etc.
Just waiting for them to drop that Metroid Dread special edition after the initial white version releases and seeing everybody crying.
@Bratwurst35 Just curious, I was wondering what your definition of "everyone" is, me personally I don't give a toss about Steam Deck. I don't play games on computers and don't have a Steam account. Are you referring to the Very Serious Gamer™ community?
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