What you need to know about the Nintendo Switch OLED Model and where to get it
It's not surprising that the new Nintendo Switch OLED Model is still red hot. With a larger 7-inch OLED screen that offers vivid colors, deeper blacks and better contrast than previous Nintendo Switch models when used in hand-held mode. It also comes with a wider kickstand, a new dock style, twice the storage and improved speakers for an even better gaming experience.
Best of all: After a long period of unavailability, the Nintendo Switch OLED Model made a triumphant return earlier this year. Perhaps miraculously, it's still in stock at Amazon, Best Buy and more.
Top products in this article:
Nintendo Switch OLED Model, $349 (now in stock)
Pokémon Scarlet (pre-order), $60
Pokémon Violet (pre-order), $60
With two new Pokémon games coming in late 2022, there are more compelling reasons to get Nintendo Switch OLED Model. "Pokémon Scarlet" and "Pokémon Violet," both now available for pre-order, will feature three new Gen 9 starter Pokémon, a new region and an open-world experience features borderless towns and stunning wilderness. While details are still scarce on these new games, the teaser trailer seems to suggest they're a natural match for the Nintendo Switch OLED Model.
Luckily, unlike consoles such as the PlayStation 5, you can actually get a Nintendo Switch OLED Model. Now. If you're trying to track one down, the biggest online retailers should have units available for purchase. Best Buy, for example, has the Neon Red/Neon Blue version on hand.
Where to get the Nintendo Switch OLED Model
The Nintendo Switch OLED Model is now the third Switch console in Nintendo's lineup. The OLED Switch retails for about $350, or $50 more than the non-OLED Nintendo Switch model ($299). Nintendo will also continue to offer the colorful Nintendo Switch Lite for $199, a handheld console that plays all the Nintendo Switch games, but does not connect to TVs.
The new Nintendo Switch OLED Model is now available at Best Buy, Amazon and GameStop, though there's no telling if stock will run out again in the near future. If you're hoping to pay the $350 list price (or even a little less) now would be the best time to get one.
What's new with the Nintendo Switch OLED
The first thing you need to know about the Nintendo Switch OLED is that it's not the long-awaited and long-rumored Nintendo Switch Pro. The new console does not support 4K resolution, nor is the hardware any faster than the older Switch model.
But that doesn't mean it's not worth your time. The main upgrade in the Nintendo Switch OLED is screen quality and screen size: It's a 7-inch console, as compared to the older Switch's 6.2-inch screen. It also comes with a wider kickstand, better speakers and twice the internal storage, or 64GB. There's also a new style of dock, with a built-in wired LAN port.
Nintendo Switch OLED Model, $349
What games should you play on the Nintendo Switch OLED?
All current Nintendo Switch games will play on the new Nintendo Switch OLED, so there are no worries about compatibility. And that's on top of newer games that would look terrific on that OLED display.
And if you're a fan of Nintendo's most famous plumber, there are a number of great Mario games for the Nintendo Switch on sale now.
Pokémon Scarlet (pre-order)
Although details are still vague on the differences between the two versions, we know that each will come with version-exclusive Pokemon and trainers. What we do know right now is that the main character in "Pokémon Scarlet" starts with a red-orange tie and red-orange pinstripe shorts, white socks, black shoes and a hat with blue inner rim.
Pokémon Scarlet (pre-order), $60
Pokémon Violet (pre-order)
Meanwhile, the starter outfit in "Pokémon Violet" includes a purple tie, purple shorts, black socks, brown shoes and a hat with a light-gray inner rim. The crest the main character wears on a left shirt sleeve will be also be different from that in "Pokémon Scarlet."
Pokémon Violet (pre-order), $60
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
"Pokémon Legends: Arceus" has cracked Amazon's top 10 game list and topped the best-selling video games list in January 2022. It's a significant departure from typical Pokémon gameplay. Instead of a random-encounter-based RPG experience, "Pokémon Legends: Arceus" has a more open, "Breath of the Wild"-esque feel, where Pokémon can be observed in the wild.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (new DLC available)
Big news for Mario Kart racing fans: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is about to get a major update -- a ton of new DLC courses. In March, we saw the first of six waves of its Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC ($25). The first wave added eight new classic courses (including Coconut Mall), with eight more being added at regular intervals through 2023.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, $51 (regularly $60)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass DLC
A new wave of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC has dropped, with two new cups now live (for a total of eight new courses). And that's just the beginning -- a total of 12 new cups (that's 48 courses in total) will be released in six waves through 2023. One payment of $25 grants you access to all these classic courses, Coconut Mall included.
The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass is not "on sale," but it's hard to deny that $25 is a great price to pay for what adds up to a whole new Mario Kart game's worth of courses.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass, $25
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
"Animal Crossing: New Horizons" is akin to a digital getaway -- perhaps that's why it became so popular during the pandemic. This low-pressure game places you square on your own deserted island, where you collect resources, craft items and build homes to create your own custom world.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons, $57 (reduced from $60)
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
Another Pokémon game on Amazon's best seller list, "Pokemon Brilliant Diamond" is a remake of the 2006 Nintendo DS title, "Pokémon: Diamond." Also set in the Sinnoh region, the game retains the original story and Pokémon lineup, while also including some nice modern upgrades, such as a revamped battle screen. It released alongside its sister title, "Pokémon Shining Pearl," another title Pokémon should check out.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, $54 (reduced from $60)
Metroid Dread
If you are looking for newer titles to play on the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, take a look at Metroid Dread, the first new 2D Metroid game in 19 years. In it, Samus Aran returns to explore the planet ZDR, a world infested with dangerous aliens and deadly robots. NintendoLife calls Metroid Dread "a triumphant return for both for both Samus Aran and developer MercurySteam," further noting the game "plays better than anything we've seen from the series so far."
Metroid Dread for the Nintendo Switch, $57
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
"Kirby and the Forgotten Land" was already one of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games well before its March 2022 release. This 3D platforming adventure will have you exploring a world full of abandoned ruins from a past civilization, using your enemies' abilities against them.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land, $55
Related content from CBS Essentials:
- PS5 restock tracker: Check the status at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Gamestop, Amazon and more
- The best-selling Nintendo Switch games
- Nvidia RTX 3090, RTX 3080, RTX 3070 and more: Where to find the most popular sold-out graphics cards
- Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet are available for pre-order: What you need to know about the new Nintendo games
