For everyone who missed the red-and-blue Mario Nintendo Switch from a few years back, you’ve got another chance at Mario glory, thanks to a new model launching alongside Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the plumber’s latest adventure. Available now for $350 (the same price as a normal OLED Switch), this new Mario Red variant looks like the perfect treat for any Super Mario fan. Just don’t expect the new Mario game to come with the console — it’s sold separately.
That’s especially true if said Switch gamer is like yours truly and hasn’t upgraded to the Nintendo Switch OLED yet. This improved version of Nintendo’s massively popular console offers several quality-of-life perks that make gaming on the go better.
The latest special-edition Nintendo Switch OLED is emblazoned with Mario’s signature red on its dock, display and Joy-Con controllers. Just note that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is sold separately.
What’s new with the Mario Red Nintendo Switch OLED?
This Mario Red edition OLED Switch differs only in cosmetics, but those upgrades look fantastic. Take, for example, the bright red dock and matching Joy-Con controllers. This red pops, and even sparks a little joy.
Then, on the back of the Switch dock, there are two little touches. First, you’ll notice the silhouette of Mario running in the bottom left corner. Pop open the dock door to see an array of the same golden coins that Mario collects in the classic games. Those 19 coins that Mario appears to be running toward won’t get him a free life, but they still look nice.
What’s staying the same with the Mario Red Nintendo Switch OLED?
Underneath that paint, you still get the same great OLED Nintendo Switch. My personal favorite feature is more function than pizazz: Nintendo upgraded the tablet portion’s kickstand from a stick the size of a piece of gum to one that’s the width of the entire screen. It’s much sturdier, and even easier to use.
Of course, the marquee feature is in the name: This Nintendo Switch ditches the old 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen for a bigger, brighter and more vibrant 7-inch OLED panel. That way, Hyrule will seem even bigger than on an OG Switch in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Also, all of the wild elements of the new two-dimensional side-scroller Super Mario Bros. Wonder will pop just as much as they would on the normal Switch OLED.
As for specs, this model also features the same upgraded internal storage of 64GB (versus the original Switch’s 32GB), which means double the space for downloading digital games. Plus, its dock offers a built-in Ethernet port for more stable online play. Just don’t expect any performance gains on the OLED Switch — it runs on the same processor as the original model.
We expect this Mario Red Nintendo Switch OLED to be a hot item for new and veteran gamers alike this season, so don’t expect the current $24 off sale at Amazon to last. Between Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the new Detective Pikachu and Sonic Superstars, this is yet another fantastic holiday season to own the Nintendo Switch.