There's now roughly two weeks until the release of the Nintendo Switch OLED, the gaming console that was announced in July after months of speculation.

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As speculation swirled, many had been hoping that it would be the still-unconfirmed Nintendo Switch Pro that would be announced, but to no avail.

But we do still have a new and upgraded Switch console on the way, and the Nintendo Switch OLED model is set to be released on 8th October this year.

Some retailers, like Very and Smyths, have pre-orders live already in the UK – see the pre-order links below. Get ready, though, for this new gaming console you're looking at shelling out £309.99 in the UK and $349.99 in the US.

Are you still holding out hope for a 4K Switch? Here is everything we know about the Nintendo Switch Pro release date but for now, back to the shiny new OLED!

And for a full breakdown of what we thought of the new Switch OLED console, head to our Nintendo Switch OLED review.

How to pre-order Nintendo Switch OLED

Nintendo Switch OLED
Nintendo UK

We recommend bookmarking this page as we'll add the new pre-order links as they go live. GAME and Smyths were first to get up their pre-order pages in the UK but are now joined by Very and Amazon. In the US, GameStop and Best Buy lead the way.

As you can see, several major outlets now have the Switch OLED console listed, so if you want it, you had better get it pre-ordered quickly before they all sell out.

A range of bundles, including Minecraft, Animal Crossing, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, are available at Currys PC World. Here are some direct retailer links:

UK Nintendo Switch OLED

US Nintendo Switch OLED

Nintendo Switch VS Nintendo Switch OLED – what's the difference?

So yes, while the Nintendo Switch Pro is not a real thing – yet anyway – we do have the OLED version of the console on the way later in the year. But what's the difference, and should you invest in the new one when it comes out?

If you only really use the Switch docked, then you will likely not have as much need for this. The OLED display will make the handheld screen a lot better and will help if you are out about on a bright sunny day as the screen will no longer be hard to see with the sunbeams shining down on it.

Style-wise, they are almost identical. The joy-con controllers still slip off the sides, and the buttons are all in the same place. The only visually change is the sleek-looking white version, which is new for the OLED model, but if you like the old red and blue design, the new console will also be available in those colours.

The screen is slightly bigger thanks to the reduced borders but, other than that, the OLED looks just like the OG Switch that we know and love. When it comes to the extra and pricier controllers you may own, they will still work on the new console, so you don't have to worry there, and all other accessories will still be usable with it too.

This month, we got a clear glimpse of the upcoming console, its joy-cons and the TV dock, after it went on display inside a Nintendo store in Shibuya City, Tokyo.

If storage is a selling point for you, then this doubles the capacity taking it from 32GB to 64GB – a healthy increase – while the battery is said to be the same as the most recent Switch models. So the main difference here is the screen and its brightness, so if you do play on the go, the Switch OLED could be just what you need.

If you only play handheld, you may also want to consider the cheaper and smaller Nintendo Switch Lite. Coming in under £200, the Switch Lite does not have removable controls but comes in a broader range of colours, including yellow, coral and turquoise. We compare all of the differences in our Nintendo Switch vs Lite guide.

Nintendo OLED specs

Switch OLED Joy-Cons
Nintendo UK

As well as announcing the new model, Nintendo revealed the new features and improvements. The headline feature for the new console is the OLED display, but the new Switch OLED has a few other swanky features. The screen will be 7-inches and have more vibrant colours and higher contrast compared to the existing model.

Here's the top specs of the new gaming machine at a glance:

  • Display: 7-inch OLED screen with a slimmer bezel
  • Stand: Nintendo Switch (OLED model)'s wide adjustable stand can be set to your preferred viewing angle for comfortable gameplay in tabletop mode.
  • Storage: 64 GB of internal storage that you can expand the available space further using a compatible microSD card (sold separately).
  • Speakers: onboard speakers with enhanced audio
  • New dock: Two USB ports, an HDMI port for connecting to a TV and a new wired LAN port, allowing for more stable online play when playing in TV mode.
  • Compatibility: Compatible with all Nintendo Switch games as well as your existing Joy-Con controllers.
  • Three modes: TV mode, tabletop mode and handheld mode.
  • Link up to eight consoles for multiplayer
  • Colours: White, and Blue/Neon Red

The Switch OLED has an adjustable stand for table-top mode and a LAN port. You get 64GB of storage, but you can also purchase an SD card to up that. Improved audio is also a given, too, with the console boasting upgraded speakers.

As well as the Neon red/blue colour scheme, there's a white colour now too, with the Joy-con controllers, a black main unit and a white dock. You can also play on your TV, table-top or handheld too and with up to eight players in multiplayer.

Read more about the Nintendo Switch:

Nintendo Switch deals

If you don't want to watch for the Nintendo Switch OLED release date, here are the best deals we could find on both the standard Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite.

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Visit our video game release schedule for all upcoming games on consoles. For the latest news and reviews, swing by our gaming and technology hubs. Looking for something to watch? Make sure to bookmark our TV Guide.

Authors

Jo-Anne RowneyAudience Growth and Engagement Manager, RadioTimes.com
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