What would’ve made the Nintendo Switch OLED “Pro”? | Team Talk

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Gamers across the world thought that the long-rumoured “Switch Pro” was finally here with the recent Nintendo Switch OLED reveal. Instead, the new console brings just a few small improvements instead of a boost to horsepower and 4K image output.

But, what specs would’ve made for a hardware revision worthy of its rumoured “Pro” moniker? What games would make the most of some added power? We’ve answered those very questions, so be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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by James Michael Parry

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@James_Parry

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by Team PTC

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@pass_controller

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James

While playing handheld was more common when the commute wasn’t just trying to make it down the stairs without tripping, an increased screen size – even up to an iPad Mini’s 7.9 inches – with an increased refresh rate and resolution would be a great start.

It was always jarring going from even the most polished parts of Breath of the Wild and Mario+Rabbids in handheld mode to a higher-resolution smartphone screen, and while it shouldn’t really need to compete directly considering the price difference, the reality is that these are the screens we’ll compare the most.

Elsewhere on the wishlist, an integrated bluetooth connection for headsets of any shape or size would be ideal to make both handheld and online experiences far more appealing. As for a game to make all of this shine, perhaps Microsoft’s upcoming Age Of Empires 4 could fit the bill?

While the size of the tiny units could be an issue, the addition of a touchscreen could add an extra level of control to the experience. The detail packed on screen would be a true test for this fictitious machine, and it could certainly make for a good companion on the commute.

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Sam

The Nintendo Switch OLED model is rather underwhelming. It gets rid of those ugly screen bezels, but other than that, there isn’t much to write home about. Existing owners don’t need to rush out and upgrade, though it could’ve been a different story with a few tweaks.

Firstly, the remodel would benefit greatly from an improved graphics chip. Nintendo Switch is weaker than even the last-generation PlayStation and Xbox machines; it needs to close the gap sooner rather than later to keep receiving strong third-party support.

More ergonomic Joy-Con would’ve been nice to see, too. The current Nintendo Switch controllers aren’t all that comfortable, due to the lack of any form-fitting ergonomics. A true “Pro” model should be comfortable as standard, rather than requiring an add-on grip.

Bafflingly, the Nintendo Switch OLED also features the same old internal battery. Giving players more game time per charge would be an obvious win, plus help to offset the increased power consumption accompanying any notable hardware upgrades.

What game would benefit most? Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which debuted at E3 last month. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch as a streaming title, but that tech isn’t quite there yet, so being able to play natively would be a huge benefit.

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Liam

I’m actually a bit relieved the Switch OLED is an underwhelming upgrade, as it means I can continue to use my 2017 Switch without feeling like I’m missing out. A brighter, bezel-less screen (sort of) would be nice to have, but without any extra power lurking within I don’t really see the point, particularly as I mostly use my Switch docked these days.
 
Sam’s covered my main gripe with the Switch – the uncomfortable Joy-Cons – but there’s another aspect of the detachable controllers that I was disappointed not to see addressed in the revamp, the control sticks. I’m not talking about the well-documented drift issues, but rather how cheap and inaccurate they feel when playing games such as Splatoon 2, or any other shooter or platformer that requires precision aiming, for that matter.
 
The tiny sticks just don’t feel up to scratch most of the time, and though I understand their size and functionality is probably limited by the console’s need to be portable, I still think there’s room for a more premium stick without requiring bulkier Joy-Con housing and compromising the handheld nature of the Switch.
 
Hopefully it’s something Nintendo addresses in any future Switch revisions or their next hybrid console.

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What 'pro' feature would you like to have seen added to the Switch OLED?