One of the big changes Nintendo made with the Switch OLED is one you might not realise when you first pick it up: the screen is made of glass and not plastic, as was the case with the original Switch and the Switch Lite.
The reason you might not be aware of this fact when you use the console is that Nintendo has applied a very discreet “anti-scattering adhesive film” over the glass which prevents it from breaking into thousands of dangerous bits if it gets smashed. It also provides protection from scratches.
These pre-applied protective films are quite common on other devices with glass displays – like smartphones and tablets – and Nintendo points out that if you still want to use your own protector, you're perfectly welcome to; it will happily sit on top of the anti-scattering film.
However, Nintendo is adamant that you should never, ever try to remove the film itself, and goes as far as to include a warning about this in the console's user manual.
Will you be adding your own screen protector, or will this pre-installed one be enough? Let us know with a comment.
[source theverge.com]
Comments (39)
If it isn't readily removable and replaceable, then it isn't protecting much.
A protector is meant to be the thing that breaks instead of the thing itself.
@nukatha Exactly as you said. It's not a screen protector if you can't remove it if it gets scratched. It's essentially just the screen at that point.
Thanks for the heads up nintendolife.
Makes me wonder if the default OLED screen as scratch resistant as a tempered glass protector. Maybe I'm nitpicking.
wonder how many children will peel this off
I just hope the glass screen protector we apply doesn’t risk pulling it off if it is ever removed…
@nukatha Or it’s a surface that is more scratch resistant than the base material it covers, or a surface that protects the screen from breaking in the first place by dispersing shock (which seems to be the case here)
I put one on even before switching it on lol.
I hate screen protectors. Never used them because I never needed them, and they tend to obscure the integrity of the image.
I’ll see what the daredevils on YouTube do before I consider peeling mine off though.
EDIT: Ah, yes. I see it now. It also explains why the screen looks slightly cloudy (for lack of a better word), as screen protectors tend to give that appearance.
@nukatha "and Nintendo points out that if you still want to use your own protector, you're perfectly welcome to; it will happily sit on top of the anti-scattering film."
It says right there. Just use your own. Simple.
Lol, this reminds me of the first Samsung folding phone where ppl were ripping off what they thought was a screen protector and screwed up their screen. At least Nintendo is giving ppl a warning!
I'm honestly glad I saw this article, as I would totally be that person who tries to remove the plastic film.
If you can't replace it, it's not exactly a screen protector. Nothing is as satisfying as peeling off a super scratched up 3DS screen protector and seeing the beautifully fresh screen underneith
Good to know. My Switch oled screen protectors have been sitting here for a week, waiting for my Switch oled to be delivered. I'll still be using the screen protector on my oled anyway.
Good thing. I’m worried about the old dock scratching the larger screen, since that dock has put a nick on the old Switch’s bezel and even a tiny bit of my screen over time.
Cool. I don’t want to have to purchase one.
I always use the Zagg Shield ones, so as soon as they have one, I'll be installing that.
Ah here we go again, it’s like the first Samsung Fold fiasco all over…lol when will companies take their time on product releases to actually provide some form of coverage over the sides of these “protective coverings” making it obvious not peel off what appears to be a shipping protector…just take your time Nintendo and give us proper Pro model when it has all the bells and whistles. Unless you have never owned a switch there is literally zero average consumer level reason to get the OLED Switch…cash cow move, Nintendo.
The issue for me would be if you added your own screen protector on top then after years tried to remove it would it pull off or bubble up the already Nintendo applied film.
@AG_Awesome Exactly this! If you put a screen protector on it then wouldn't you end up peeling away the factory-applied protector when you eventually decide to change it.
@Bomberman64 Yeah, I’d like some clarification if that’s actually a concern people should have.
So what do Nintendo suggest you do if your “anti-scattering adhesive film” gets scratched up and needs replacing? Replace with a screen protector!?!
I have the new model and cannot tell there is a screen protector. It is super discreet
This is sorta weird? The whole point of a glass screen is that it's more scratch resistant, but it can shatter. So they put a non-replaceable plastic film over it to protect you from shatters, but this film is probably more likely to get scratched? I would have just preferred a plastic screen that I could put a replaceable glass screen protector onto
Who in their ever-loving right mind removes a preinstalled screen protector?
My OLED screen is a dust and hair magnet...
Nintendo is protecting their own ass. They don't want to get sued by the parents when the broken glass cuts their kids. Known internally in Nintendo office as the ass-protector.
I'm genuinely surprised some people consider this to be an issue. I could be in the minority here, but pre installed protection is always a plus in my books. I'm considering buying one of these to replace my original switch, and with dogs and children in the house, it seems like a good way to prevent anyone getting injured in case of an accident. If I do go with this (or wait for the next iteration), would be putting a tempered glass protector on anyways - I'm accident prone as is 🤣
A lot of people are referring to this as a "screen protector" and mentioning how screen protectors are supposed to be removable. To be clear, this is NOT a screen protector and it's not designed to protect the screen against scratches. The anti-scatter film is designed to keep the glass held together if it's cracked so the broken glass fragments don't fall out and cause injury. It's similar to what some glass windows have as a safety feature.
@Woahfoxy "Unless you have never owned a switch there is literally zero average consumer level reason to get the OLED Switch."
I happen to own one, coming from a V2 Switch, and I must respectfully disagree. When you hold the device in your hand and play through your catalog of games, it soon becomes apparent that, although it may not have more processing might, it provides a genuinely more premium experience that you may not have known the Switch needed, not to mention one that could motivate you to replay through some of the games that you've already beaten. I mean, almost everything (right down to the joy cons actually) have been redesigned and updated to provide a brilliantly premium quality; I mean, that's what it was meant to do, and ever since I got mine, I haven't been able to put it down. The large vivid screen puts you closer to the action, magnifying graphical details and reminding you a little of how it feels to play it on the television and the loud crisp audio is competent enough for you to go without headphones, unless you want super bass. so far, it has been an amazing device, outside of the assessment of more processing power.
People will ignore the warning and peel this off then later complain that their screen got scratches.
I didn't noticed about that screen protector on my oled,but, better checking... is true🤣🤣🤣
I don't see why I would want to remove it in the first place, though I don't really have any intention of getting a Nintendo Switch OLED anytime soon. Only once my current model goes out, would I consider getting a new one. This could be problematic for certain users that like their consoles a certain way.
Reading this through the cracks in my old tablet/laptop's screen (from being dropped by one of the dogs here), and my Switch also recently being dropped by them, well, I'm in no rush for a hardware upgrade that makes it less sturdy. I'd WANT one, but am just fine as it is now. PS Vita's OLED tired my eyes very quickly anyway. Maybe one day... But if I 'need' a new Switch because the old one broke because of the dogs, I'll probably be even more reluctant to get a glass screen...
I think it's tomfoolery calling this an actual screen protector. That's misinformation. It's designed to keep the glass from shattering. The fact that Nintendo sells a screen protector for it is proof this pre-installed film doesn't have the same purpose. I'll be added the AM Film glass protector.
Film protector isn't the same as Glass protector. Those two are not equal and Nintendo knows it. How hard was it for them to make it Glass screen from the start or place a HD impact resistant cover on it?
@Eddy9000 Also likely that the factory applied protector is designed to reduce the chance that the screen undergoes catastrophic failure and shattering... so if it gets dropped, you still have a broken screen but not tiny shards of glass on the floor or all over a child's hands...
@Woahfoxy says the guy who doesn't own one. I am very glad I got one, plus the cost is pocket change to me.
@Dpullam I already have some ugly scratches on this 'screen protector' and now I'm not supposed to remove it? Ffs
@Xeraphis hey bud, congrats on your financial situation, you wanna be less of a jerk?
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