Gaming

Nintendo Switch OLED release date, price, specs and where to buy the new console


Latest: The Nintendo Switch OLED is out today! Stock is currently available at Game, Argos and Smyths. My Nintendo Store is offering a White Switch OLED bundle with a physical copy of Metroid Dread and a Switch OLED case for £359.99 and other various retailers. Game is also offering a variety of bundles including a Nintendo Switch OLED with Metroid Dread bundle for £349.99. We will, of course, continue to update you as soon as units become available.

We’ve been sifting through the rumours for months about a new model but it’s finally been announced: the Nintendo Switch OLED launches today, Friday, 8th October 2021. It isn’t exactly the upgraded Nintendo Switch Pro that we expected to be revealed before E3, but a new iteration of the existing Switch console with an improved OLED screen, superior kickstand, refined dock and internal storage boost.

This list of meagre upgrades may not sound all that exciting for anyone who’s owned a Nintendo Switch for years and was hoping for a performance jump. For those who do not yet own a Switch console, though, this new OLED version is a solid place to start.

Whether you’re going to upgrade anyway or finally take the plunge with the console-handheld hybrid, we’ll do our best to help you secure a Nintendo Switch OLED as soon as they become available right here.

Now, if it’s anything like the recent endeavour for PS5 stock and Xbox Series X stock we could be in for quite a struggle. However, as the Nintendo Switch OLED is only a very minor revision to existing hardware, it might not be as challenging to find where to buy it.

Nevertheless, we’ll be using this page to bring you all the retailers who are stocking the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Where to buy the Nintendo Switch OLED

Nintendo Switch OLED stock is live at a number of stores.

Currently, in the UK, you can buy the new console from Amazon, My Nintendo Store, Game, Currys, Argos, Very and more. Equally, there are a few listings in the US at Best Buy, Gamestop and B&H Photo but are currently out of stock. Lastly, there are a few listings in European stores.

We’ll continue tracking the availability of both the White and Neon Red/Neon Blue models as soon as they are available to buy below.

In the UK:

In the US:

In Europe:

In Canada:

Retailer Switch OLED White Switch OLED Neon Red/Neon Blue
Amazon CA
Walmart Canada

Nintendo Switch OLED accessories

With the release of the Nintendo Switch OLED, a handful of new accessories will follow in support of the new console.

Currently, we’ve spotted a new Nintendo Switch Carrying Case & Screen Protector which comes in the new white colour scheme and includes a pair of screen protectors. One is for the larger screen on the Switch OLED, while the other is for the standard Switch.

You can find it at the retailers below:

Nintendo Switch OLED price and release date

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As of 8th October, the OLED Nintendo Switch is now available to purchase. It will cost £309.99 in the UK, €364.99 in Europe and $349.99 in the US.

That’s still considerably cheaper than a PS5 or Xbox Series X – but a price increase compared to the original Switch does seem believable considering the upgrade to the OLED screen and the small improvements elsewhere. The specifics of that are detailed below.

Nintendo Switch OLED specs

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As the name suggests, the Nintendo Switch OLED will feature a larger 7-inch OLED screen. This will give you a brighter and more vivid image while playing games in handheld mode but still run in 720p resolution – just like the current Switch model.

The new console also includes a wide adjustable kickstand. This is a significant improvement over the flimsy leg you can flick out of the existing Switch model, as it offers much more flexible viewing angles and a more secure stand for the console when undocked and in tabletop mode.

Other new features include a new dock that comes with a wired LAN port to give you a more stable internet connection when playing in TV mode, enhanced onboard speakers for better audio and a bump to 64GB of internal memory for game storage. That can still be upgraded further with a Nintendo Switch SD card as your games library grows.

While it’s not much, this is still more of a considerable upgrade to the existing Switch tech than the last iteration. The biggest difference there was improved battery life and slightly better Joy-Con controllers – though many did still suffer from drift. There’s no word on whether that’s been improved for the OLED Switch, but considering all existing Joy-Con controllers can be used with the console it doesn’t seem likely.

For a more in-depth specification breakdown, you can visit the dedicated OLED Switch page from Nintendo.

For all the rumours still floating around about the other suspected Nintendo hardware upgrade you can browse through our dedicated guide that covers all the rumoured Switch Pro features we’ve heard about so far.

Nintendo Switch OLED vs Switch: the differences

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Based on the announcement from Nintendo, these are the significant differences between the Nintendo Switch OLED and existing models of the console.

The first one is the screen. As explained above, the Switch OLED has a 7-inch OLED screen that outputs at 720p resolution. This is larger than both the 6.2 inch LCD on the current Switch and the 5.5 LCD screen on the Switch Lite, though the resolution remains the same. However, the OLED screen will offer improvements in other areas, such as higher contrast and overall better image quality.

Even though there is a bump in screen size, it won’t increase the size of the overall console. Instead, the bezel (that’s the area between the screen and the edge of the system itself) will be made thinner. That means that all existing Joy-Con controllers will be supported by the OLED Switch console.

That’s about it for the most impactful difference between the Switch models. Of course, the OLED Switch also has a few handy quality of life improvements such as the wider kickstand and 64GB internal memory (that’s double the 32GB in other models). And then there’s the enhanced audio in handheld mode, which is great if you play a lot away from the TV.

Sadly, there’s no sign of the bump to 4K resolution that was rumoured with the Switch Pro model, so maybe it’s still worth holding off of picking up one of the best TVs for gaming until we hear something else about that – if we ever do!

Do existing Nintendo Switch games and accessories work with the OLED Switch?

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Yes, the Switch OLED is compatible with all existing Joy-Con controllers and Switch accessories.

However, Nintendo has stated that “there may be differences in game experience with some of the Toy-Con accessories in the Nintendo Labo series, due to differences in console and screen size between Nintendo Switch (OLED model) and Nintendo Switch”.

Now, this doesn’t mean that those Labo games won’t work with the OLED Switch, but the larger screen could impact your experience with them. Just something to be cautious of if you use Labo a lot or will pick it up in the future..

Will there still be a Nintendo Switch Pro?

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Most likely? Honestly, this OLED Switch announcement has really dulled a lot of the excitement surrounding the rumoured Switch Pro. It seems many who were looking forward to the potential improvements that were supposed to come to the upgraded model are unsure what to make of it.

Many of the features included in reports about the Switch Pro have actually materialised on the OLED Switch – mostly notably the rumoured OLED screen. Apart from, of course, the big one – that is a jump to 4K resolution in TV mode through Nvidia’s DLSS technology.

Where does that leave us, then? A bit lost, actually. There is still a chance that the Nintendo Switch Pro – or whatever it ends up being called – is still coming. Those thoughts have just been muted for the time being. Perhaps it’s being primed for a launch alongside Breath of the Wild 2?

What will happen to the existing Nintendo Switch?

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With the OLED Switch established, it would be reasonable to assume that Nintendo would eventually discontinue the existing Nintendo Switch model. The better screen and increased internal memory could eventually be positioned as the norm, with the Switch Lite fulfilling the role of the budget, handheld-only option.

Still, that might present a good opportunity to nab yourself an incredible Nintendo Switch deal if the old console is also discounted to clear stock. Incredibly, it would be the first time the Nintendo Switch has been given a permanent price cut since launch. Previously, we’ve had to scrabble around for a Nintendo Switch Black Friday deal in order to find any significant savings. That might change in 2021!

Hopefully everything we’ve covered here has got you prepared for when Nintendo Switch OLED! Do keep a close eye on this page for regular updates.

You can also follow Jelly Deals on Twitter for more immediate updates, plus all the best offers on gaming, tech and more from around the net.





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