Announced with great fanfare on July 6, the Nintendo Switch (OLED model) At first glance disappointed many players who were hoping for an in-depth overhaul for their favorite hybrid console. But what about once the Joy-Con in hand? This is what we will try to see during this little preview.
Indeed, we were invited by Nintendo to briefly test this new Switch. It was an opportunity to discover all the changes made by the Japanese manufacturer on this iteration. Of course, since this test only lasted an hour, it is currently impossible for us to judge certain elements such as the battery life or the robustness of the machine over a long period. We'll come back to this in our final test when the console launches in October. We were also forbidden to take a picture of the beast. The visuals were therefore provided to us by Nintendo.
The star is the screen!
As its name suggests, this Nintendo Switch has a brand new OLED panel with a diagonal of 7 inches. The display area is thus larger than that of the 2017 edition (6,2 inches). The difference is even abysmal, if we compare this brand new screen to that of the Nintendo Switch Lite, from the top of its 5,5 inches. Inevitably, it is now possible to place the console at a good distance from our eyes without losing too much readability. During this hands-on, we could see three games running on the OLED edition: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.
While you shouldn't expect finer graphics or better fluidity, the new screen does wonders by making colors more pronounced and contrasts realistic. The definition therefore remains on 720p (in portable mode), but we did not notice any noticeable visual degradation on this panel, which is nevertheless more imposing. Thus, the OLED screen is perfectly managed... But, since the internal components (processor, RAM...) of this Switch have not moved one iota, the visual gain remains minimal.
On The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the ultra-pronounced aliasing observed at launch is still relevant. On the Prelude board level (at the very beginning of the game), the glow of the sun on the horizon made good use of the OLED screen. Obviously, on much more colorful games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Odyssey, the OLED panel of this Switch version 2021 brings a real plus. Nevertheless, overall, we are very far from a revolution.
Immersion and ergonomics guaranteed
Overall, the design has also been altered very little by the Japanese manufacturer, and the good old Joy-Con (and the drift that goes with it) are back. As for the color, it is the white Switch OLED that has passed through our hands. A certain elegance emanates from this copy. Still in the radius of slight modifications, the space devoted to ventilation remains positioned on the upper edge, but the number of holes has been revised upwards. During our hour of testing, the console did not suffer from excessive heating as can sometimes be the case with resource-intensive titles. Which is already a good point! Of course, we will have to confirm this first observation during a longer gaming session.
However, it is essential to recognize it, the Nintendo Switch OLED hid a good surprise from us which could not be noticed on the presentation videos. Indeed, the speakers, placed on the lower part of the screen, benefit from a wider output. This therefore increases the audio power of the machine tenfold. On Breath of the Wild, we could distinctly hear the birds whistling in the distance, and the music of Mario Kart resonated like never before in our ears. This is truly the major positive point that emerges from this first encounter with the console.
As for the support used to tilt the screen to play in "table mode" with friends, it is much more practical than the simple tab behind the original Nintendo Switch. The angle of view thus becomes easily adjustable. This new feature should favor local multiplayer games, but we have a small reservation about the solidity of the support in question. The latter, only made of a relatively thin plastic, seems at first glance quite fragile. Finally, the slot for microSD cards remains accessible on the back of the device.
A review ultimately not so anecdotal?
Finally, let's quickly go over the increase in internal storage, which goes from 32 to 64 GB. If the memory doubles, it remains quite low, however, and users who consume a lot of games all year round will inevitably have to buy a microSD card. .. Regarding the docking station that we could admire, it is essential to remember that the graphics rendering will still not move on an external screen compared to the current Switch.
That being said, access to the various ports has been simplified since the cover on the back of the device can now be completely removed. Also, the hole used to bring out the wires is more ergonomic. As for the famous Ethernet port, it responds well to offer a more stable connection during online games. Finally, the slot in which you have to slide the Switch is surprisingly provided with lacquered finishes. If it will be included in each pack containing a Nintendo Switch OLED, this dock will also be sold separately shortly after the launch of the console. Indeed, this version is compatible with the Switch released in 2017.
JVFR
Nintendo Switch OLED : le premier avis de JVFR
Let's say it from the outset, the Nintendo Switch OLED does not revolutionize anything! It only offers a more pleasant gaming experience via its beautiful screen (OLED therefore) which ideally highlights bright colors and contrasts. For us, the real change is currently being felt in the audio rendering thanks to improved speakers. The rest is more anecdotal, and we could even curse the internal memory, which is still quite sparse.
Thus, the Nintendo Switch OLED marks a meager evolution. It is aimed at a targeted audience, that is to say enthusiasts of the Japanese brand who are ready to (re)go to the checkout to benefit from maximum comfort. Its positioning can therefore be similar to that of a 3DS XL compared to the basic 3DS. But it is true that the 349,99 euros which will be claimed on October 8 to afford the console will be discouraging, because the optimizations are unfortunately very discreet. Despite everything, we would be wrong to bury the Switch OLED too quickly, which remains a magnificent machine.
