The new Nintendo Switch (organic EL model) will be released on October 8th.
I was able to experience the main body as soon as possible, so I will deliver the report immediately! I would like to check in detail what has changed from the conventional model.
The new model comes in two color variations: white and neon blue/neon red. Neon blue and neon red are the same colors as the conventional model, and white is a new color.
Nintendo hardware has a strong image of white, so it may be a familiar color for long-time Nintendo fans. Personally, there is something that attracts me with this color alone.
The main body size when Joy-Con is attached is 102 mm long x 242 mm wide x 13.9 mm thick, and weighs about 420 g. Compared to the previous model, it is 3 mm wider and weighs about 20 g more, but even if you actually hold it, you can hardly tell the difference.
In addition, 20 g is about the weight of two 500 yen coins, one 100 yen coin, five 50 yen coins, one strawberry, and two mini tomatoes.
By the way, regarding the size and function of Joy-Con, there is no difference from the conventional model.
As introduced on Nintendo's official website, the points that have changed significantly from the previous model are the organic EL display, stand, dock, main memory, and speaker. Let's take a closer look at how each has changed.
The most noticeable difference is that it is equipped with an organic EL display that can produce vivid colors.
The screen size is 7 inches, and the conventional model is a 6.2-inch liquid crystal. In terms of length and width, the new model is 87mm long x 155mm wide, and the conventional model is 77mm long x 137mm wide. The size of the main body is almost the same as the previous model, but the screen is larger, so the edges of the screen are much slimmer.
When you actually compare the game screens, the vividness of the colors is obvious. The black that is a little brighter on a normal LCD due to the backlight is expressed darker on the new model. And as the screen size increases, the power also increases. Especially in table mode, it feels like the game screen is displayed on the entire body, so the power is completely different.
When I arranged the two liquid crystals side by side to match the brightness, I felt the difference between the liquid crystals. In addition to being able to see the letters clearly, parts with strong brightness such as car lights and light bulbs are drawn more clearly.
I also compared the viewing angles, and the viewing angles of the conventional model's liquid crystal were also wide in the first place. However, I felt that it became easier to see even from a distance, probably because the letters became clearly visible as mentioned above.
There is no advantage of the organic EL display when playing in TV mode, but it is a nice point for those who often play in portable mode or tabletop mode.
What I found more useful than I expected was the free-stop wide stand that can be fixed at any angle.
The back stand of the conventional model is about 2 cm wide and the angle cannot be adjusted, but the organic EL model has almost the same width as the main unit, and the angle can be adjusted freely. This makes it more stable when placed on a table, etc., and the screen can be fixed firmly at an easy-to-see angle, so you can play games more comfortably.
When I want to play with two Joy-Cons without connecting to a TV, I inevitably switch to table mode, but to be honest, I sometimes felt that the stand of the previous model was not very convenient.
The stand of the new model can be easily adjusted to your preferred angle by moving it slightly, and the main unit will not tip over, so you can play comfortably. Personally, it was a point I wanted to recommend as an advantage.
The dock attached to the new model has a new wired LAN terminal in addition to two USB terminals and an HDMI terminal for connecting to a TV. You can directly connect a LAN cable without preparing an optional adapter, and enjoy more stable online play in TV mode.
The conventional model dock has an HDMI terminal, an AC adapter terminal, and a USB terminal where the cover is removed, but the new model has a wired LAN terminal instead of a USB terminal.
In addition, the cover of the conventional model opens and closes like a door, but the new model is completely detachable from the main body. When closing, it feels like hooking a claw into the hole at the bottom of the dock and pushing it in.
By the way, this new dock can be used with the conventional model, and the wired LAN terminal can also be used.
The roundness of the white dock stands out, and it gives a soft impression when combined with the color. It is an atmosphere that seems to be familiar with the room as an interior.
The storage memory of the conventional model is 32GB, but the capacity of the new model has increased to 64GB, allowing you to store plenty of data such as games and albums (screen photos and videos).
You can expand the storage capacity by using a microSD card (sold separately), but it seems that there is enough room in the internal storage memory alone.
By the way, the microSD card slot is on the bottom left of the back of the main unit, on the back of the stand, but unlike the previous model, the card is inserted sideways from right to left.
When playing games in handheld mode or tabletop mode, sound comes out of the stereo speakers attached to the bottom edge of the screen. This speaker is also new in the new model, and you can enjoy the game with a clear sound full of presence.
Compared to the conventional model, the hole of the speaker part spreads sideways. When I listened to it, I felt that the sound passed well. It is a change that is difficult to understand outside, but it is said that the sound quality is improving.
Here are the 5 things that changed the most.
Other minor differences include the smaller Nintendo Switch logo printed on the back of the console and the dock, the slightly different design of the buttons on the top of the console, including the power button, and the air intake. Is it attached to the lower part near the bottom of the back of the main unit?
I've been curious about the new model since it was announced, but I was able to fully enjoy its charm after actually experiencing it.
In terms of price, it will be about 5,000 yen higher than the conventional model, but it can be asserted that it is worth more than that. On the other hand, I'm worried that even if it's evolved so much, it's okay to increase it by only 5000 yen (laughs).
About two years ago, I bought a model with improved battery performance as my second model, but I'm really worried about buying a third one. Or rather, if I see a white model at a store, I have a feeling that I might buy it on impulse (laughs).
People who are thinking of purchasing a new Switch console, people who are thinking of using a wired LAN terminal to play more stable, people who often use table mode, people who like new color designs, etc. Why don't you consider "Nintendo Switch (organic EL model)"?
The reservation date for "Nintendo Switch (organic EL model)" is scheduled for September 24th, so please check it out.