Due for release on October 8, 2021, is the newly upgraded Nintendo Switch OLED Model, which has some fans feeling less than stellar about the Tuesday announcement. It is not anything close to what fans were hoping for in a Switch Pro. To some, the new system does not feel like it’s going to be much of an upgrade at all.
Even the Switch Lite had a pretty good run for those fans who were more interested in a handheld than a console, with the Lite being built specifically for extended handheld play. Then there’s the OLED Editon which feels a bit more like disappointment in a shiny new exterior.
10 It Has Its Own Dock
Both the base Nintendo Switch and the Switch Lite can use the same charging cords, making it so players can have both kinds of systems without needing two chargers. The new Switch will still be able to use the same dock that comes with the old Switch, so there should have been an option to buy one without a dock. At least fans who already own an old Switch will be able to still use that nice in-built LAN dock for smoother internet resources.
9 It’s $50 More For Barely Any New Features
The new Switch OLED model boasts better sound, a bigger screen, more internal storage, and a fancy adjustable built-in stand for tabletop mode. It does not include hardware improvements or resolution improvements for games that already exist.
In short, it will cost a whole $50 USD more than the older counterpart for something that doesn’t fix most issues with the base system. Most fans would have snapped one up if they had just fixed the joycons to combat joycon drift and stop them from breaking so easily. It doesn’t even have improved battery life.
8 OLED Sharpness Doesn’t Improve The Games
OLED screens generally make older games more crisp and vibrant. However, it doesn’t matter if the game itself wasn’t produced in higher quality. This really doesn’t change anything about the games coming out for the system or their performance. Switch OLED doesn’t affect anything about the docked experience either.
7 What 4k Resolution?
Speaking of which, the fancy OLED screen that the system touts is still only going to have a resolution of 1280 x 720, just like its old counterpart. It is not going to have a nice, crisp 4k Resolution.
The screen is going to be .8 inches larger than its previous incarnation while still retaining the same resolution. At least OLED screens are a little easier on the eyes and that .8 inches will go a long way on a screen that small.
6 No Wifi Or Blutooth Interconnectivity
It’s pretty strange that, despite the fact it’s meant to connect to a television, it doesn’t make way for WiFi and Bluetooth compatibility with Smart TVs. There’s Local Wireless so up to eight systems can play together, including the base Switch and the Switch Lite, but that was already a feature. Online multiplayer still completely requires the full-price Nintendo Online subscription, so there are no helpful bonuses or discounts for sinking in extra cash.
5 No Exclusive Games
The Switch OLED isn’t going to be the next generation of Switch consoles. It doesn’t even fix some of the bugs that happened with the old system like the 3DS XL did.
There will be no exclusive games to capitalize on the unique docking port or the fancy new OLED screen either. It’s still just a Switch, albeit with a better screen and sound.
4 Better Sound, But No Microphone
One thing that a fair number of fans were hoping for in the next Switch console was an integrated microphone. If the player wants a microphone, they still have to get the accessory just like they did with their old systems. Even the 3DS had a microphone that could be used to incorporate cool new gameplay features, but they did away with that for the Switch. For something that relies so heavily on the internet and multiplayer games, not having at least a low-quality mic seems a bit of a missed opportunity.
3 Who Needs New Hardware?
The OLED is not an upgrade on hardware or system functions. It doesn’t upgrade the weak connections of the joycons and doesn’t seem to bother to fix any of the hardware issues outside of adding a wired LAN port on the dock. Games that ran poorly on the original Switch will still run poorly on this new one.
2 Online Multiplayer Still Requires An Active Subscription
Online multiplayer will still require an active Nintendo Online subscription. On top of that, despite the changes made to the system, the online infrastructure still hasn’t been improved. Even if players were to pay the subscription fees, the quality of the connection still leaves much to be desired and no new console will help make connectivity better.
1 No Customization Allowed Here
The 3DS allowed players to switch out the SD card and upgrade the amount of storage. The Switch has a little slot for a micro SD card so the player can download more games or take screenshots. However, there are no new physical customization options for it. Many players were looking forward to swapping out joycon shells or even having the main unit in multiple colors instead of just black.
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