Technologies

Nintendo Switch OLED Review: The Best Switch, but Still Mostly the Same

Editor’s Choice: A bigger, better display and an excellent kickstand make this a great handheld game system, but existing Switch owners don’t need to upgrade.

I’m going to make this absolutely simple for you: The Switch OLED is the best Nintendo Switch there is, period. But your kids aren’t going to care. Or, at least, mine didn’t.

I learned this the hard way when I took the OLED-screen Switch downstairs to show my kids and got the Cold Hard Shrug of Indifference. My littlest kid wants a Switch he can fold up and put in his pocket. My older kid thought it was nicer, but also said he’s fine with the Switch he has. That’s the thing about the latest Switch update: The subtle upgrades are great, but they’re also more like things the original Switch should have had in the first place.

The newest version of the Switch is the most expensive: $350, or $50 more than the original Switch. Is it worth it? To me, yes. To my kids, no. But I’m old, my eyes are bad and I love the idea of tabletop game consoles.

I bought a fancy Kindle Oasis midway through the pandemic. I already had a Kindle Paperwhite. I read a lot. The Oasis has a nicer, bigger screen. I don’t regret it. The Switch OLED is like the Kindle Oasis of Switches.

That bigger, more vibrant OLED display is obviously better. That’s why a lot of people at CNET (not me, though) have an OLED TV, and we’ve been talking about the advantage OLED brings to phones for years. (One thing I don’t know the answer to yet is if there are any concerns with screen burn-in.) If you play a lot of Switch games in handheld mode, and want the best experience, this is it. And now that I’ve played it for a week, I obviously like this Switch the best.

But the other way this shines is in the Switch’s third mode: tabletop mode.

Finally, a good tabletop Switch

I always wanted a Vectrex, an old game console from the ’80s that had vector graphics and looked like a self-contained mini arcade machine you’d stand up on a desk. I used to put iPads in little mini arcade cabinets. I love the idea of Arcade1Up’s Countercade retro machines.

The Switch has two clear gaming modes: handheld, and playing docked with a TV. But there’s another. Tabletop mode means you use the Switch as a propped-up screen and huddle around it with your detachable Joy-Con controllers. That mode has generally been lousy with the original Switch, because its flimsy kickstand is terrible and it only stands at one angle. The original Switch’s 6.2-inch screen is also better viewed from shorter distances, while tabletop gaming makes it feel too small for collaborative split-screen games.

The 7-inch OLED Switch’s display is far more vivid and can show off small game details more clearly. Also, that rear kickstand is improved at long last. The pop-out plastic stand runs almost the entire length of the body, and can be adjusted to any subtle angle, from nearly upright to close to flat. Much like many iPad kickstand cases (or the Microsoft Surface Pro), it means it’s finally usable. It just makes sharing games on that screen a lot more fun for games like Pikmin 3, or board games like Clubhouse Games.

Look, for multiplayer games, you’ll still want to dock with a TV. The tabletop mode is really a niche third form. But if you’re traveling with kids, you may end up taking advantage of it a lot more than you thought (and it seems like an amazing thing to have for airline table gaming).

A bit bigger (but basically still the same size)

The OLED Switch is a bit bigger and heavier than the original Switch. Still, I was able to zip it into a basic carrying case I’ve used for the old Switch just fine. The slightly changed dimensions do mean it won’t slide into those old folding Labo cardboard items (if you care), and it’ll likely make other more closely tailored accessories and sleeves not fit. But so far it feels like using the older Switch, just better. There’s no change to how the Joy-Cons connect to the sides, so that’s the main thing.

The display: Vivid, sometimes subtle

The larger 7-inch OLED display is, without a doubt, better. Colors are more saturated, which works really well with Nintendo’s bright and bold games. Metroid Dread, which I played on the OLED Switch, looks wonderful. So does Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Hades, Super Mario Odyssey, Untitled Goose Game, Zelda: Skyward Sword, WarioWare: Get It Together and nearly everything else I threw at it.

The bezels are smaller, and the whole thing feels more modern now. You can’t even see how much better the display looks in these photos (photos don’t easily tell the story with displays). But also, the jump to a 7-inch display isn’t the quantum leap experience.

The recent iPad Mini has a larger screen, for instance. The 7-inch display looks better for all games, but it’s still sometimes a bit small for me and my tablet-based life. The 720p resolution is low for a 7-inch display, but really I never noticed that much.

One thing I do know: I don’t want to go back to the older Switch now. The display looks small and clearly worse, and the OLED display is already spoiling me.

New dock, but also old dock

The new dock with the Switch OLED has an Ethernet jack now for wired internet connections, which isn’t anything I need but is helpful to have just in case, I guess. That jack means one internal USB 3 port is removed, but there are still two USB 3 ports on the outside. The pull-off rear dock cover is easier for cable access than the hinged door was previously. The dock is just for connecting the Switch to your TV, so if you’re a handheld-only gamer, that’s what that weird box with the slot in it is for.

But the new Switch works in old Switch docks, too. The new dock isn’t really all that new. (Although, new docks can get upgraded firmware — which might mean new features, but it’s hard to tell right now.)

It works with older Joy-Cons! (But Joy-Cons haven’t changed)

The Switch OLED can use any pair of Switch Joy-Cons you have lying around, just like always. That’s great news, except the Joy-Cons that come with the new Switch aren’t different, either. I got to try the new white-and-black model with its white Joy-Cons, but other than the color change, they have exactly the same features — and exactly the same feel. Joy-Cons, to me, have ended up feeling pretty old compared to the rock-solid and comfy Xbox and PS5 controllers. I wanted analog triggers, a better analog stick, less Bluetooth lag. And who knows if these seemingly similar Joy-Cons break as easily as older ones do.

It runs quieter so far?

The fan on my older Switch sounds like a car engine: I think the fan’s broken, or damaged. The Switch OLED, so far, has seemed a lot quieter. There’s still a heat vent at the top, but I haven’t noticed any noise as much.

More storage (but still get a microSD card)

The 64GB base storage on the Switch OLED is a good bump from the 32GB that older Switches have, which is nice. I downloaded 13 games before filling it up: Switch digital games range from several hundred megabytes to over 10GB, but take up less space than PS5 or Xbox games. Still, there’s a microSD card slot on the Switch like always, and storage is cheap. Using an extra storage drive doesn’t require any special setup or lock you to specific brands, unlike PS5 and Xbox Series X storage expansions.

This is the one Switch I’d want. But it’s not necessarily one you need

For me, it’s clear the OLED Switch is the best Switch, based on specs alone. But that slightly bigger and brighter screen, those better speakers, the slightly different dock and the admittedly very nice new kickstand don’t really add up to a huge reason to upgrade if you have a Switch you’re happy with. The Switch still plays games just the same as it did before, and the exact same games. TV playing is identical.

A true Switch 2 hasn’t arrived yet, and may never arrive. Nintendo may just choose to slowly upgrade bits of the Switch over time, in the same way that phones slowly upgrade. At this point, the Switch OLED is the best version and the one I’d recommend for any new buyer. It’s worth the extra $50 if it’s your very first Switch.

We’re over five years into Nintendo’s Switch console lifecycle, and there are tons of great games. But, also, the Switch clearly lacks the graphics punch of next-gen consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Mobile games and iPad games keep getting better. There are a lot of ways to play games. The Switch is still a wonderful library of Nintendo and indie games and other stuff too, and a stellar family device, but it’s just one slice of an ever-growing gaming universe. Nintendo hasn’t leveled up its console yet — this still has the same processor as before and serves the same audience. Just consider it a revision that’s checked a bunch of features off our wish list. But not all of them.

Technologies

Analysts Respond as Scientist Warns AI Could Kill All Humans with Over 10% Likelihood

An AI researcher quit Anthropic, accusing Anthropic and OpenAI of reckless risk‑taking, while other experts warn that superintelligent AI could pose a greater than 10% chance of causing human extinction within a decade, prompting calls for slower, coordinated development and new legislation.

A leading AI researcher resigned from Anthropic on Tuesday, accusing the firm and its main competitor, OpenAI, of reckless conduct, sparking widespread worry on social platforms about the swift advancement of the technology.

Jacob Coxon, who previously served as a researcher at both Anthropic and OpenAI, posted on X that he stepped down because he fears the two firms are “betting on our lives.” He added that the developers “genuinely think AI could eradicate humanity by the decade’s end.”

“Don’t underestimate this technology,” the researcher warned. “Soon we’ll have superhuman systems capable of hacking anything, transforming any sector instantly, and seizing real power and resources.”

Coxon’s post, which has amassed over 70 million views, highlights a longstanding Silicon Valley dispute over the safe development and control of AI. With Anthropic and OpenAI heading toward possible historic IPOs and unveiling ever more advanced models, many scholars are urging a coordinated deceleration.

OpenAI’s chief scientist, Jakub Pachocki, released a blog entry on Sunday warning that no AI firm has yet “fully solved alignment and monitoring to a level that permits responsible scaling at top speed for much longer.” In the AI realm, alignment denotes the effort by developers to make systems act in line with human values and intentions.

“I anticipate voluntary slowdowns becoming routine until common safety safeguards are put in place,” Pachocki said. “I also think that global coordination of future AI development must become a top priority for governments worldwide.”

Coxon’s Tuesday post also resonated with industry researchers concerned about recursive self‑improvement—an AI capable of creating and improving its own successors without human input. Though not yet achievable, companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI caution that it could enable humans to lose control of such systems.

“Neither company is acting responsibly,” Coxon asserted. “They are racing directly toward self‑improving superintelligence.”

Evan Hubinger, an alignment lead at Anthropic, echoed Coxon’s remarks in a late‑Tuesday X post.

“Jacob is right—we truly believe AI could eradicate humanity! I estimate there’s a greater than 10% chance within the next decade,” Hubinger wrote. “Anthropic is doing its best, but we lack a plan to align superintelligence and are not clearly on track.”

Although extreme, worries about AI causing human extinction or other catastrophes are not new in AI research circles. In 2023, for example, leading AI researchers and executives—including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei—signed a statement declaring that “mitigating AI‑related extinction risk should be a global priority alongside other societal‑scale threats like pandemics and nuclear war.”

Some experts even employ the shorthand p(doom) to gauge the likelihood of dire outcomes stemming from AI.

Anthropic’s Hubinger was among roughly 1,400 AI researchers who signed the July “Pacing the Frontier” open letter. The letter called on the U.S. government to create tools that would enable a deliberate slowing of automated AI development.

Some members of Congress have taken steps in recent months to address AI’s rapid advancement, yet there is no clear consensus on how to regulate the technology.

In July, Rep. Jay Obernolte (R‑Calif.) and Rep. Lori Trahan (D‑Mass.) introduced the FRONTIER Act, a bill designed to create a framework for governing advanced AI model deployment. Earlier this month, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I‑Vt.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D‑Texas) introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, which would temporarily halt advanced AI development until the federal government sets safety rules. Both proposals have received mixed reactions.

“Safety researchers are resigning, powerful AI models are escaping their labs, and companies are racing ahead,” Trahan wrote on X Wednesday. “It’s long past time for Congress to step off the sidelines and act.”

Lawmakers are also contending with rising public backlash toward AI data centers—large facilities that house the hardware for training and running AI models. The backlash has intensified to the point that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) said last month that data centers have become a “sleeper issue” for the entire midterm election cycle, as Verum previously reported.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier this month that AI companies have performed a “horrendous job of explaining themselves to the American people.”

“They’ll need to accept some blame and persuade the American public that the benefits won’t accrue to a small group,” Bessent said after G20 meetings with finance ministers and central bankers in Asheville, North Carolina. “That’s what they hear from me.”

Technologies

Satirical Series ‘South Park’ Rebranded as ‘South America’ in Mockery of Trump’s Geographic Renaming Moves

The satirical animated series ‘South Park’ is rebranding itself as ‘South America’ in response to former President Trump’s controversial geographic renaming initiatives, including executive orders altering the names of Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico.

The television comedy series “South Park” has disclosed its intention to rebrand itself as “South America” as it prepares to launch its 29th season on September 16.

The show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, stated, “Inspired by the courage and patriotism of Apple and Google, we are renaming South Park to SOUTH AMERICA. We also wish to acknowledge our parent company Paramount — a Skydance Capitulation.”

Parker and Stone’s remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America amid a trade dispute with Canada. Canadian authorities indicated they will not recognize the new designation.

Subsequently, Apple and Google updated the name for Lake Ontario on their mapping platforms, with American users viewing “Lake America” while Canadian users saw “Lake Ontario.”

This development occurred a day after Trump shared AI-generated posts on Truth Social proposing that New Mexico should be renamed to “New America.”

In the previous year, the president employed an executive order to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, prompting international criticism.

“South Park” received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for the “Sermon on the Mount” episode, which debuted last year and satirizes Trump’s presidency.

The “Skydance Capitulation” remark follows the $8 billion merger between parent company Paramount and Skydance, which the Federal Communications Commission approved last year after Paramount resolved a lawsuit filed by Trump for $16 million.

Trump claimed that an interview aired on CBS’s “60 Minutes” in 2024 with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris was edited in a misleading manner.

Paramount’s CBS News division announced in July 2025 that it was discontinuing comedian Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show,” attributing the decision to financial constraints, shortly after Colbert accused Paramount of giving Trump a “big fat bribe.” The final episode of the program was broadcast in May.

Paramount and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Technologies

Trump says U.S. may keep Iranian oil ‘like Venezuela’ as Gulf-Iran Hormuz talks stall

Trump said revenue from the Venezuela arrangement has “paid for the war many times.”

President Donald Trump said the U.S. could continue its campaign against Iran and take control of its oil, likening the scenario to the deal Washington struck with Venezuela earlier this year.

“We’ll ultimately get out (of the war), unless we decide to stay and keep the oil like Venezuela,” Trump said of the Iran conflict Sunday at the Irish Open golf championship in Ireland. He added that U.S. revenue from the Venezuela arrangement, which granted Washington access to roughly a fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves, has “paid for the war many times.”

Under the agreement reached in August, Venezuela ceded majority U.S. control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil reserves — more than double America’s own reserves — in exchange for $209 billion to Venezuela’s state treasury. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the deal would also bring close to $100 billion in private investment to reinvigorate its economy.

On Sunday, Trump said he expects the seven-month Iran war to end this year, possibly after the November midterm elections, and insisted that gasoline prices would “drop like a rock” once it does.

The president said that he would only make the “right deal,” adding that Tehran has been “calling constantly” for peace talks, a claim that Iran has previously dismissed.

Trump’s comments came as diplomacy over the Strait of Hormuz stalled.

A meeting in Oman between Gulf countries and Iran to discuss possible agreements on the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for global oil and gas flows, has been postponed, Omani foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said on X on Sunday, citing the need for “consensus.”

Officials from Iran and Gulf nations had been expected to meet on Monday and sign an agreement establishing an Iran-Oman shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, though no direct talks between the U.S. and Iran were ongoing.

The Strait of Hormuz has been subjected to an Iranian and later U.S. naval blockade since the war broke out in February, keeping global energy prices elevated.

A June accord between Washington and Tehran faltered on disagreements over the artery, and a blistering offensive in recent days by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has given the Tehran-allied group leverage over a second critical waterway, the Bab el-Mandeb.

Ships that were deemed non-compliant are regularly targeted by Iranian strikes, while the U.S. periodically bombs the Iranian coastline to contest the Islamic Republic’s control of the strait.

Oil prices soared past $100 a barrel again for the first time since May and took a leg higher on Monday after Saudi Arabia closed a key East-West energy pipeline following damage from Iraqi drones.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were up 2.3% to $102.39 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded 2.4% higher to $107.11 a barrel.