In a big surprise, new Nintendo Switch rolled out; here's everything you need to know about the gaming console

Gamers were surprised when the new Nintendo Switch was launched. The new Nintendo Switch adds subtle improvements over the previous model. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Nintendo Switch.

An attendee uses a Nintendo Switch game console while playing a video game at the Paris Games Week (PGW), a trade fair for video games in Paris, France, October 29, 2019. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/Files (REUTERS)

Surprise! Gamers were taken by surprise when a new Nintendo Switch was announced out of the blue. The popular gaming console has been growing in popularity and has fans aplenty. The company was previously expected to announce a new Switch model before or during the Nintendo Direct event at E3, but it looks like it decided to wait a few weeks before rolling out the product. The new Nintendo Switch OLED model will be available from October 8 and will retail for $350, or approximately ₹26,000. 

New Nintendo Switch short of expectations?

The fans' expectations have, however, not really been met. They were expecting a new Nintendo Switch Pro model to come with a new Nvidia chip and advanced graphics features, but this new Switch model can only be considered a refresh of the existing model.

The gaming console packs in an OLED display and support for a wired internet connection, and a new stand for times when the device is in tabletop mode. However, the company isn't retiring the original Switch console – this model will retail for $50 (approximately ₹3700) than the price of the original Switch model that was first introduced in 2017.

Here's everything you need to know about the new Nintendo Switch gaming console:

Nintendo Switch storage

While 32GB may have been a decent amount of internal storage for a gaming console of the Switch's stature in 2017, Nintendo has decided to upgrade the new model with double the storage compared to its predecessor. With 64GB of built-in storage, the console should have more than enough storage for the foreseeable future.

Nintendo Switch OLED display

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screen is far better to look at (and generally brighter) than a traditional LCD panel. The new screen on the refreshed Nintendo Switch model swaps the older display for an OLED screen, which is 6.2 inches – slightly larger than the 6.0 inch screen on the original model. It should technically provide a etter visual experience while gaming, especially if it is being used around bright ambient lighting conditions.

Nintendo Switch net connectivity

Wireless internet connectivity is great for mobility and using portable devices on the go. But when it comes to multiplayer games, there is no doubt that an Ethernet connection is much more stable and reliable than a Wi-Fi connection. Gone are the days of plugging an Ethernet dongle into the USB port, the new Nintendo Switch model comes with a dedicated port for wired connectivity, so playing games in docked mode should be more convenient.

New Nintendo Switch kickstand

While gamers have rarely had major complaints with the performance or specifications of the older Switch model, one commonly heard grievance has been the poor quality of the kickstand for use in tabletop mode. The new Nintendo Switch comes with a new kickstand that adds better stability and looks sturdier than its predecessor.

Nintendo Switch: Rumoured features that didn't arrive

From the rumoured addition of a new Nvidia chip to 4K gaming support and Bluetooth connectivity, there are quite a few features that didn't make it to the new Nintendo Switch model. However, the device has made incremental improvements to a formula that has seen it rise to the top in the same segment so it is not surprising to see these rumoured features missing on the refreshed model. They might make it to a future Nintendo “Pro” model though, which could arrive at a later stage.