Rumors about a Nintendo Switch Pro have been making the rounds for a good while, almost since the original hybrid system was released in 2017. After a while, it seemed inevitable that Nintendo would announce something new to close the gap separating the company's main hardware and the systems offered by Sony and Microsoft, even if the Switch has never been in direct competition with the PlayStation and Xbox brands.

RELATED: Every Pre-E3 Nintendo Switch Pro Rumor So Far

In July 2021, Nintendo confirmed that an upgrade for the Switch is on the way. Entitled the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, the specs, release date, and more have been confirmed for the console. Now, it should be noted that the existence of this system does not mean that Nintendo will not announce another Switch-related console at a later date; in fact, the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro might still be in the pipeline. Nevertheless, let's look at what is known about the Nintendo Switch OLED Model while also going through some rumors relating to the Switch Pro.

Why Is A Nintendo Switch Upgrade Necessary?

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The Nintendo Switch debuted in March 2017, so it has been out on the market for more than four years. While this is a relatively short cycle for a console, the Switch launched with less power than the other main systems available at the time, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Owners Might Want to Start Thinking of the Pro as a Necessary Upgrade

Following the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the Nintendo Switch has fallen well behind the times, greatly reducing its chance of receiving multi-platform AAA games. 2019's Nintendo Switch Lite serves as the pure handheld alternative to the main hybrid system, providing even more portability at the cost of slightly reduced performance.

Even when it comes to first or second-party games, the Nintendo Switch's limitations could hamper the potential of titles such as Bayonetta 3, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, and Metroid Prime 4.

RELATED: If Nintendo Switch Pro Rumors are True, Metroid Prime 4's Reboot May Have a Silver Lining

Nintendo Switch OLED's Release Date

Nintendo Switch OLED Model Controller

After months of speculation that a new console announcement was on the way, including a rumored pre-order date of June 4, 2021, and a proposed reveal date both amounting to nothing, Nintendo announced an upgrade to the Switch. However, the new release is not the Switch Pro but the Nintendo Switch OLED Model. The Switch OLED has a release date of October 8, 2021.

Nintendo Switch OLED Model Announcement Trailer

Nintendo uploaded the announcement trailer for the Nintendo Switch OLED Model on July 6, 2021. Considering the company did not give any hint about this version's existence during E3 2021, it came as quite a surprise.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch OLED Model Release Date, Specs, Price, and More Announced

Nintendo Switch OLED Model's Price

The Nintendo Switch OLED Model will cost $349.99. Recently, Nintendo has sought to provide a price advantage over Sony and Microsoft's systems, with the Switch's launch price being especially competitive.

  • Nintendo Switch – $299
  • PlayStation 4 – $399
  • Xbox One – $499 With Kinect / $399 Without Kinect

The OLED Model's launch price is $50 more than the base model's, which is a better deal than the "Pro" upgrades of other systems. The PS4 Pro and Xbox One X both launched at $499.99, although Microsoft also offered the Xbox One S at an introductory price of $299.

Can You Pre-Order A Switch OLED?

Nintendo Switch OLED Model retail page on Nintendo Website

The console is on the way, which begs the question: is it possible for someone to guarantee they have a Switch OLED on launch day? The answer is "maybe," as Nintendo made the console available to pre-order on July 15, 2021, through Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and Target.

Similar to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the Switch OLED is a highly in-demand system. Consequently, pre-orders are sold out. Anyone who wants a Switch OLED should keep an eye out on Nintendo's website to see if the console becomes available at any retailer.

Is The Nintendo Switch OLED An Upgrade Or New Console?

Nintendo has a long history of upgrading or adapting its handheld systems. Taking the 3Ds' North American releases as an example, Nintendo produced:

  • Nintendo 3DS March 27, 2011
  • Nintendo 3DS XL – August 19, 2012
  • Nintendo 2DS – October 12, 2013
  • New Nintendo 3DS XL – February 13, 2015
  • New Nintendo 3DS – September 25, 2015
  • New Nintendo 2DS XL – July 28, 2017

While not all of these releases felt necessary, they did highlight Nintendo's willingness to stay removed from the traditional console wars and focus on its own products.

RELATED: ‘Switch Pro’ Name-dropped by OLED Display Firm During Investors Call

The Switch's status as both a home and portable system complicates matters, as Nintendo doesn't typically look to extend the former's lifespan for approximately a decade through upgraded releases. Going by the information provided on the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, this system is regarded as a companion piece to the base console, not a replacement. Essentially, it will live alongside the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite, completing the family of consoles.

RELATED: The Nintendo Switch OLED Has People Nostalgic for the PS Vita

Nintendo Switch OLED Model's Specs

Nintendo Switch OLED Model TV model

As suggested by its name, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model's biggest selling point is its screen. The system will have a 7-inch organic light-emitting diode screen, which should translate to better colors and sharper contrast. Many modern TVs and high-end phones use OLED for their screens, and this panel technology tends to be expensive.

Here are the specs confirmed for the Nintendo Switch OLED Model:

  • OLED 7-inch Screen, which translates to 720p resolution
  • 64 GB of internal storage
  • Built-in wired LAN port for TV play
  • Enhanced audio through stereo speakers (5.1 Linear PCM)
  • Nvidia Custom Tegra processor
  • HDMI for TV mode, supporting 1080p video output
  • Battery life of approx 4-9 hours
  • USB Type-C connector
  • Wireless Wi-Fi support
  • Kickstand

Alongside the screen, the 64 GB internal storage is perhaps the most eye-catching enhancement. One of the main criticisms of the base model is that it only offers 32 GB, an underwhelming amount considering the size of modern games. While 64 GB still doesn't provide much wiggle room, it is a welcome change. The Nintendo Switch OLED Model does not have any significant internal changes from the base console, so the CPU and RAM are the same.

In terms of colors, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model will be available in white or the standard neon red/neon blue combo.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch OLED Model Battery Life, Screen Resolution Detailed

The Switch OLED Deck's Ethernet Port

The new screen has hogged the limelight when it comes to the Switch OLED's main selling points, but another crucial feature is the inclusion of an ethernet port on the console's deck. The original Nintendo Switch requires a LAN accessory to have a wired internet connection, and the performance is inconsistent. The OLED's ethernet port should prove a substantial improvement in online play, particularly since Nintendo's servers are peer to peer. The OLED deck will be also compatible with the standard Nintendo Switch.

Joy-Cons, Accessories, And Digital Games For The Switch OLED

Nintendo Switch OLED joy-con

Further stressing that the upcoming release is meant to be a companion system rather than a replacement for the original console, the OLED Model supports the standard Switch's docking station.

Although the Joy-Con controllers have a different color, they are the same models as the ones used by the Nintendo Switch. If someone already owns Joy-Cons, they can use them with the OLED version.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch OLED Model May Still Suffer From Joy-Con Drift

This also extends to Nintendo Switch accessories like the Pro Controller, as these will also be compatible with the OLED Model. Digital games bought for the base console (or Switch Lite) can also be downloaded and played on the OLED Model, permitting they are on the same Nintendo Account and both systems are linked. However, there are some caveats for the latter, so it is recommended to read through Nintendo's instructions.

Will The Nintendo Switch OLED Model Support Bluetooth Audio Pairing?

If this question were asked in August 2021, the answer would have been "no" since the base Switch model, at the time, could not be paired with Bluetooth audio devices. However, that has recently changed.

On September 14, 2021, Nintendo released an update for the Switch that added this feature to the console. This was long overdue considering the device launched in 2017, but it is still a welcome addition at this point in the platform's lifespan. With the Nintendo Switch OLED set to launch in October 2021, this Bluetooth update came out at the perfect time.

Will The Nintendo Switch OLED Model Have Exclusive Games?

Until more information is revealed about the console, one can only speculate on whether the Nintendo Switch OLED Model will have exclusive games. While the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X did not go down this route, Nintendo has previously taken this option. For example, games such as Xenoblade Chronicles and Fire Emblem Warriors are exclusive to the New 3DS.

metroid prime 4 retro studios

At the moment, Nintendo has not announced any exclusive games for the system, only confirming that the OLED Model can run the standard Switch's library. While the upgrades are not unsubstantial, the OLED version's unchanged CPU means there is little to gain from creating games specifically for it.

If Nintendo opts to not have exclusives for the OLED, which seems likely, then an even newer system could very well be announced sooner rather than later. At this point, it seems more likely that the next Nintendo console announcement will be a proper follow-up to the Switch, rather than just a marginal upgrade.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Pro Exclusives Would Be a Double-Edged Sword

Are There Any Interesting Nintendo Switch Games Launching On The Same Day As The OLED Model?

Metroid Dread Return of a classic boss

The Nintendo Switch OLED might not have any exclusive games waiting for it but there is an exciting title coming out on the same day as the console. Metroid Dread will be rolling onto stores on October 8, 2021. Samus Aran is back with her first adventure since 2017's Metroid: Samus Returns, a 3DS remake of the 1991 Game Boy classic, Metroid 2: Return of Samus. When it comes to original 2D side-scrolling games, Metroid Dread is the first entry in the franchise since 2002's Metroid Fusion.

Tetris Effect Connected is also debuting on the Switch on October 8, 2021, providing another option for those who want to pair their OLED with a launch day title.

RELATED: Metroid Dread Overview Trailer Shows New Enemies, Weapons, and Gameplay

Which Games Should Newcomers To The Switch Ecosystem Purchase?

While the majority of people who want a Switch most likely own one by this point, there will be buyers for who the OLED Model will be their first Nintendo system. After so many years on the market, the Switch has amassed a massive library, so a new customer might feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options.

To make the process simpler, here are a few standout games from a range of genres. Their Nintendo Switch U.S. store prices have also been included (discounts not considered).

Genre

Games

Action

  • Bayonetta 2 ($49.99)
  • Dead Cells ($24.99)
  • Hades ($24.99)
  • Monster Hunter Rise ($59.99)
  • Streets of Rage 4 ($24.99)

Adventure

  • A Short Hike ($7.99)
  • Astral Chain ($59.99)
  • Hollow Knight ($15)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild ($59.99)
  • Luigi’s Mansion 3 ($59.99)

Fighting

  • BlazBlue: Central Fiction - Special Edition ($49.99)
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ ($59.99)
  • Mortal Kombat 11 ($49.99)
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ($59.99)
  • Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] ($39.99)

First-Person Shooters

  • DOOM Slayers Collection ($49.99)
  • Metro: Last Light Redux ($24.99)
  • Quake Remastered ($9.99)
  • Superhot ($24.99)
  • Void Bastards ($29.99)

Platformer

  • Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time ($39.99)
  • Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze ($59.99)
  • Sonic Mania Plus ($19.99)
  • Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury ($59.99)
  • Super Mario Odyssey ($59.99)

Racing

  • Burnout Paradise Remastered ($29.99)
  • GRID Autosport ($34.99)
  • Horizon Chase Turbo ($19.99)
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ($59.99)
  • Riptide GP: Renegade ($9.99)

RPG

  • Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling ($24.99)
  • Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition ($49.99)
  • Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition ($49.99)
  • Undertale ($14.99)
  • Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition ($59.99)

Simulation

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons ($59.99)
  • Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator ($14.99)
  • Stardew Valley ($14.99)
  • Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town ($39.99)
  • Two Point Hospital ($39.99)

Strategy

  • Fire Emblem: Three Houses ($59.99)
  • Into the Breach ($14.99)
  • Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle ($59.99)
  • Pikmin 3 Deluxe ($59.99)
  • Valkyria Chronicles 4 ($29.99)

Third-Person Shooters

  • Fortnite (Free)
  • L.A. Noire ($49.99)
  • Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered ($29.99)
  • Splatoon 2 ($59.99)
  • Warframe (Free)

Is The Nintendo Switch OLED Model The Rumored Switch Pro?

nintendo switch logo with possible extra names: pro, super, new, XL

While the OLED Model provides improvements over the base console, it is not much of an upgrade on a technological front. The pre-reveal rumors about a Nintendo Switch Pro could still end up being true, but an announcement any time soon seems unlikely since it would make the OLED version somewhat obsolete.

The Switch OLED does not match the rumored Switch Pro.

RELATED: Switch OLED Doesn't Mean a Switch Pro Won't Still Happen

Typically, Nintendo drops a new console every 5-6 years:

  • Nintendo Entertainment System – July 15, 1983
  • Super Nintendo Entertainment System – November 21, 1990
  • Nintendo 64 – June 23, 1996
  • Nintendo GameCube – November 5, 2001
  • Wii – November 19, 2006
  • Wii U – November 18, 2012
  • Nintendo Switch – March 3, 2017

While the Wii U's lifecycle lasted less than five years, the Nintendo Switch has been far more successful than its predecessor, something that continues to be the case in 2021.

RELATED: Nintendo Super Switch is a Better Name than Switch Pro

Nintendo Switch "Pro" Rumored Specs

The rumors surrounding the Switch Pro's hardware mentioned that the console uses Nvidia's DLSS technology, has a 7-inch Samsung OLED screen, 8GB memory, and supports 4K resolutions while docked. Other rumors stated the Switch Pro will include an ethernet connection and a better kickstand than its predecessor. Naturally, the rumors do not all agree, with some predicting the Switch Pro will have the same Tegra X1+ chipset as the base model, albeit with a superior cooling system.

Some of these rumors, such as the OLED screen and ethernet connection, have proven to be true; however, that is not the case for everything. The Nintendo Switch OLED Model does not support 4K resolution. It should be noted that these rumors could still end up being true, they just aren't relevant for the system coming out on October 8, 2021.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Pro: How It May Compare to PS5, Xbox Series X

Nintendo Switch "Pro" Rumored Price

Early in June 2021, a European retailer leaked a potential price for the Nintendo Switch Pro, with the console being listed for 399 €. If converted into dollars, the price would be just shy of $500, meaning the Switch Pro would have cost roughly the same amount as the Xbox Series X and the disc version of the PlayStation 5. However, these are all just rumored prices and nothing else.

RELATED: The Leaked Price of the Nintendo Switch Pro Makes a Lot of Sense

This price has proven to be inaccurate for the OLED Model, but this reflects that the announced version is not as big of a leap forward as the rumors for the Switch Pro predicted.

How Does The Switch OLED Compare To The Steam Deck?

steam deck and laptop

Shortly after Nintendo announced the Switch OLED, Valve revealed plans to enter the portable market with the Steam Deck. Set to come out in December 2021, the Steam Deck can be seen as a rival to the Switch OLED, although the two consoles have different customer bases, entry fees, and features.

RELATED: Comparing the Steam Deck to the Switch OLED Model

The Steam Deck will play most PC games, providing players with on-the-go access to their Steam libraries. The Switch OLED does feature a better screen than the Steam Deck; on the other hand, the Steam Deck offers more power through its AMD Zen 2 processor, 3.5 GHz CPU, and AMD 8 RDNA graphics card.

The Steam Deck's price varies depending on its storage size, with Valve offering the following options:

  • 64 GB eMMC – $399
  • 256 GB NVMe SSD – $529
  • 512 GB NVMe SSD – $649

The Switch OLED is a decent upgrade over the base model. It will likely become the standard version of the console once it is released, especially since Nintendo is not known for reducing the price of its systems. Conversely, the Steam Deck is more of a game-changer, particularly for PC players.

RELATED: Switch Pro Could Take a Few Features From the Steam Deck

Latest News On The Nintendo Switch OLED Model Or The Rumored Pro

Nintendo Switch consoles

The Nintendo Switch Pro will either prove to be the industry's worst-kept secret, its biggest swerve, or its greatest myth. For months, any discourse was fueled entirely by rumors, speculations, leaks, and predictions; however, Nintendo eventually pulled back the curtain to reveal what is in the works. The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is not the Switch Pro, but it comes with a few notable changes.

As the October 8, 2021 release date for the OLED Model nears, more information will be made available. While unlikely to happen anytime soon, Nintendo could possibly reveal another system sometime next year. However, the Switch's long library of announced games and the OLED Model's reveal suggests that it might be a while before Nintendo reveals something else.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch OLED: Will It Be Worth Upgrading?

The Nintendo Switch Pro/OLED Model has been a hot topic for a while, inspiring plenty of articles to be written discussing its potential. Along with the pieces linked throughout this page, here are some articles to check out:

MORE: Fans Shouldn't Hold Their Breath For a Nintendo Switch 'Pro' For Now