Comments 128
I still haven't get OLED edition but i always apply a screen guard for my 3DS and Switch machines.
They wouldn’t bulge on having a scratch resistant screen even after the infamous problem with the dock, they could have at least used a scratch resistant film but then they’d lose out on the sales of screen protectors.
The biggest question I've not heard answered - is the new dock still as screen unfriendly as it was in the original Switch?
In the end, I resorted to putting glad wrap around the front of the screen before docking as I got a nasty scratch (on the outside of the screen area but still crappy nonetheless) on my launch model.
Hopefully tempered glass protectors appear shortly for those as anal about their gadgets as I am.
@arekdougy I don't get it...this dock of mine is supposed to be destroying my Switch, no scratches at all. Also that whole melting thing that's supposed to happen as well...? I dunno, people are crazy. lol
I never understood why people need to be told to take care of their expensive electronic devices.
You pay hundreds of dollars to just carelessly throw things around? Why do you even bother owning them?
I get it. Sometimes accidents happen, but when I go shopping for used games and systems (I’m a collector) I just don’t get how some devices can be so badly damaged.
I’m so scared to scratch or damage my devices I do my best to handle everything with care. I add screen protectors, armor casings, and I even dust and clean my systems after a long play through.
Sorry for the rant, but bottom line is this: treat nice things nicely and you won’t have to worry about 2s out of 10.
@Joeynator3000 Some people get defective systems, but most of the time it’s carelessness that leads to this stuff.
@Classic603 I heard back then that some docks were causing the Switch to "melt", I forget the actual term used there...>.<
Just get a tempered glass screen protector. I put one on all my electronics with a screen and I won’t take the product out of the box without one in hand.
Then again people put their phone in the same pocket as their keys and get mad.
@Joeynator3000 seen people say their micro sd card melts I don't know what they are smoking cause never had that happen on mine most other issues people say about the Switch like the back of it cracking seem to be false cause none of that happens on mine
Wow that's crazy, my switch hasn't even felt hot. Let alone close to melting
@Classic603 I mean, mine gets warm, sometimes warmer than that, but yeah, it never gotten to the point of "warping/melting" or whatever. lol
I won't need it because it'll never leave my room. I only use my Switch in handheld mode while I'm laying down. So my Switch never travels anywhere and never even remotely gets exposed to any scratch hazards.
I had a tempered glass protector on my original Switch but after a couple of years it developed a crack in the corner that grew and grew until it become unsightly. So I removed it and used it without a protector for the last 2 years and no issues. I just lower and raise it out of the dock carefully and place it in its case when not docked and not in use. So when my OLED arrived and definitely after hearing about removal of a screen protector can remove its outer film, I chose not to bother.
Besides, every screen protector I’ve had on my phone has always been damaged at some point requiring it’s removal and replacement.
Lol scrolling trough the comments, did i just read melting switches?
In my head it sounds really creapy 😂
Playing a game suddenly my switch melts in my hands 😂 nintendos responds would be
"we hope you undertand.."
Nah just kidding. Never had any issue with overheating (even if it gets kinda warm) also no problem with scratches (talking about the og switch)
@JustMonika Same. I'm playing on Nintendo Switch only in handheld, and only in my room. But, I'm still thinking about scratches and it's still scaring me.
Shower your bathroom to a mist and put on the protector in there afterwards. The mist will reduce dust in the air.
Same here, my sister has my original launch model, and the screen has no marks at all, the OLED seems as good as long as you are careful with it.
I'd always put a screen protector on the Switch. Whatever "protection" they put on it isn't supposed to be replaced regularly. And when you scratch the screen you'll probably have to send it in to get it officially repaired. On the other hand when your own screen protection gets scratched or damaged you just pick it off the screen and replace it.
Joycon drift is different as I have always felt heat and humidity can play a factor, also if you keep the units in a drawer etc as dust can be another issue, some have lots of issues some none.
But the basic docking and undocking of the console has to be a little more of a uniform process, o.k there may be slight differences in clearance of the inside, but surely we are not suggesting all Switch screens no matter which model, are scratched exclusively by the dock.
@Curator
I bought a Switch on launch day.
I had 3 defects straight out of the box.
It had 3 cracks in the casing, faulty SD card reader and faulty joycons.
Not all of these defects are through careless behaviour.
Mine was brand new, never even used and it was damaged.
Sometimes some of us are just unlucky.
Not saying some people aren't careless with their consoles, just saying not all of us are.
So the moral of this story, do not get a metal object and scratch your screen, how this video is anyway indicative of docking the Switch in the normal manner is beyond me, unless of course we are suggesting people dock their Switch in up and down/side to side motions, and somehow exert pressure whilst doing it.
In other useful information, do not drop your console out of a upstairs window, as it may get some slight marks on it.
Totally different scenario, and who is suggesting that someone who buys a Switch with defects right out of the box, was not being careful with it.
Pretty sure all products will have some issues while being packaged etc.
How are they getting away with people not being careful with their consoles, as I would be amazed after owning four consoles, I have yet to get even the slightest marks on any of them.
Then again I have not found the urge as yet to scratch them with a metal object on purpose, perhaps that is where I am going wrong.
In other news, glass scratches. Maybe, just maybe it pays to take care of your tech. I have a launch day Switch which is still like new.
The only time nintendo scored a 2 out of 10.
Don't say anything about amibo festival
@arekdougy I have always looked after mine but the dock definitely does scratch! I ended up putting electrical tape on the bits that stick out in the dock where you slide the switch in because it has left scratch marks on the back, and you absolutely need a screen protector.
Yep, my OG Switch had a tempered glass screen protector put on it the morning after I got it, and the Animal Crossing edition I replaced it with got one straight out of the box. Same for my mum’s Lite - I popped it on for her as soon as the console came out of the box, before she even turned it on. We look after our electronics well, but scratches can still happen in the dock or in a case, so better safe than sorry.
I have a protector on my Mariko Switch just like on 3DS and PSP... because all those units were bought second-hand.😅 My own attempt to apply one on the first Switch was five bucks going to a literal wastebasket because screen protectors turned out to require application skill as well - even videos don't help when you personally suck at such procedures (I could never consistently match the perfect outline even when filling up sticker albums😅). This fact ironically suggests that much less protection as well (since, if the thing does submit to eventual wear'n'tear, I'd be stuck with its own scratches - again, almost literally - for my ineptitude to replace it), but I also got the aforesaid Switch with a carrying case included, so there's thankfully quite a bit less for the protector to endure anyway.
As usual we deal with pure extremes in comments - the “treat stuff with care and it won’t break” fault deniers - and the - mine blew up in the box unplugged crew…. Clearly Nintendo made some design choices that were poor and yes with care you can get round that but more people need to be balanced- just coz it didn’t happen to you doesnt mean it isn’t a thing. The same people deny joy con drift is a thing and blame the user.
I was expecting to be able to use a hammer and chisel when inputting letters on the screen keyboard, not happy I can tell you.
That isn't good but as someone said the "2 out of 10" rating is misleading even if it should push you to take care. Not a great design choice from Nintendo. I hope the "Switch 2" has better joycons and better screen durability. Do most OLED screen devices have this problem?
World of difference between joycon drift and screen scratching though, joycon drift can be caused by a myriad of factors and circ*mstances etc, some are affected badly while others have no issues.
A screen will not scratch without an external factor coming into play, yes the dock can cause issues in certain cases, but it's a lot more simple, and I and others are not deniers, we are simply stating we personally have not problems.
@johnvboy I see it a lot online - someone will say they’ve had issues with a (insert something) some people back that up with their own issues and others just pile on to say they’ve had no issues and then few weeks later a couple will pop back up to say they’ve had issue and instead of humble pie they seem to ignore they claimed it was a non issue weeks before.
I personally have had little to no noticeable drift and have no scratches on my switch. I have a dock sock on my dock because it was clear that design was bonkers from the start. This screen sounds even more fragile. I think people don’t need to weigh in everytime to tell us all how gentle they are and how they look after their items. You shouldn’t need to be that gentle or have to buy dock socks but it is what it is. Articles like this are useful to make sure everyone knows a screen protector is a good idea.
I genuinely don’t see a difference between the two issues. Yes obviously some people will be careless but also many people that are careful will have issues with both. No need for people to constantly laud it over people they had no issues. Just comes across like first class fanboyism- Nintendo could have done better on both fronts but even if we don’t vilify them for that it’s worth knowing how bad the issues are. Some will be less than others. Sony and Xbox both have had similar issues with their consoles (not screen obviously) but serious faults.
My tempered glass screen protectors arrived days before my Switch oled. I put a screen protector on my Switch oled as soon as I took it out of the box. Did the same thing with my original Switches and Switch lite systems. I mostly play handheld so paying a few dollars to have the piece of mind knowing that my system screens will be protected, is a no brainer. However, my phone is a different story, I've had my Galaxy Note 20 Ultra for about a year now and I've never put a screen protector on it. Mostly because screen protectors are hard to put on curved screens. Gorilla Glass Victus must be durable because I don't have a scratch on it, but I do take really good care of all my electronics, ect...
I just bought a switch oled. My screen should scratch at lv 8 with deeper grooves at lv 9
@d-slice Pretty much the exact same; it showed scratches at hardness level 3 just like the OLED.
Ooooooooops. Even if he's scratching the plastic film, remember that it's non-removeable according to Nintendo. I thought it was a bad idea right from the start. There are better ways. Mobile phones have special glass that resists damage quite well and glass is not as easy to scratch as plastic. It seems that Nintendo chose cheap glass and plastic which is a bad choice for a mobile device.
So, once again Nintendo can't to arsed to add even the level of screen protection that $150 phones (you can get phones with Gorilla Glass 5 for that much) have out of the box? Figures.
@johnvboy Let me just quote @CodyMKW from this very comment section:
"seen people say their micro sd card melts I don't know what they are smoking cause never had that happen on mine most other issues people say about the Switch like the back of it cracking seem to be false cause none of that happens on mine"
Sure seems like denying the problem ever existing because it didn't happen to them to me.
@Stocksy Naah, or happens here all the time too. I like to call them the Nintendo Defence Corps. Or the Holy Army of the One Lord and Saviour, Lord High and Mighty, Deified Spirit Nintendo.
Cya
Raziel-chan
Never had a screen protector on any of my devices and still never had any scratches on any of them ever.
And yes, I had a Gameboy and the like as a child, yes I did cause some damages by letting them fall to the ground accidentally... Still no scratches though.
I kind of wonder if I have always been incredibly lucky in that regard or if others are just that careless.
@oconnoclast because cheaper phones have same type of protection without the film, even the ones that are under €150.
I would put a screen protector on the OLED one anyhow, just like on my OG one.
However it is still sad Nintendo didn't go that route, this is just trying to save the last penny for the sake of it.
Also technically you are now putting a good screen protector on top of a poor one Nintendo tells you not to remove...
@Vyacheslav333 Long as you don't have a porcupine or caffeine ridden cat then you're safe 😅
What is the best screen protector which would fully cover the OLED screen? I don’t want one with rounded edges leaving uncovered spaces at the 4 corners of the screen
@kepsux @Jawessome My old Switch was constantly picking up scuffs when putting it in and out of the dock, but no such issues with the OLED’s new dock. At least, not yet, anyway. I’m super OCD about these things, too!
I'm always surprised to see how many people favour screen protectors in these comments. You're putting extra glass/plastic on a gadget that sits in a dock indoors, or goes in a soft carrying case when you're traveling? Just to add extra thickness to the unit and probably diffuse the screen brightness? Do you also screen protect your computer monitors and televisions?
Maybe I'm the weird one here because I also hate any peripherals on my phone, other than a soft silicone case. I've owned every generation of Nintendo handhelds and never scratched a screen. Just don't throw it loose in a suitcase with coins and keys inside, or play it outdoors during a hailstorm or something
@JRJalapeno
Next time a hammer, if it scores 3/10 😂
Everything scratches with that.
The only thing what didnt scratch was gorilla glass i had on my huawei.
I own a bunch of GBA SP, DS, and 3DS handhelds without screen protectors and those never got scratches on the screen. I wonder why.
@oconnoclast you are not alone! I put a screen protector on a little DAP player I love. It has so many bubbles , it looks like bubble wrap. I only need to hold it up to render my kid helpless laughing at my Gen x fumbling….
Always get a Screen Protector. And don’t skimp, spend on a really good quality one. They pay for themselves. Been a standard thing for me since at least as far back as the PSP.
Always go for the tempered glass screen protector. You never know when something might happen to your Switch.
Anecdotally, me and screen protectors do not have a good run. 2 Ipads with screen protectors - screen cracks.
OG switch with screen protector - screen crack.
Ipad no screen protector - oldest one I have in use and no cracks.
Again this is my experience. But it is hard to want one with my history of screen protectors.
I guess it's a good thing I pre-ordered a tempered glass protector along with the console, though I'm curious as to how this rating compares with other handhelds (not that it'd change things if those reports on the Switch Dock were and still are true).
Dah?
This wasn't a planned "upgrade", the pandemic has caused supply shortages and Nintendo had to buy whatever screens they could find in bulk to meet Switch demand.
Sure, they are OLED which has some benefits, but quality wise they are obviously going to be crap.
My 8 year old iPad Air doesn't have a single scratch on it. No screen protector either.
Do the screen protector buyers wear sandpaper gloves or something?
I'm STILL tempted to remove the out-of-the-box screen protector from my OLED Switch as it's really annoying and causes a softer/slightly blurry appearance which is precisely why I hate them so much.
I'm just waiting for more evidence before I take the plunge. I've spent far too much money on this thing to play the guinea pig.
Got a two pack of protectors, one was OLED and one was original. Good thing there were two, because I pretty quickly ended up crumpling and furiously hurling the first try in the trash. Now my OLED is using an original switch protector and has a bunch of dust and such under the protector. Ugh…
Yea I'll be thowing glass on this right away if I ever get one. Put one on my switch after noticing the dock was lightly scratching the screen bezels. No, it's not a myth. And I'm pretty gentle. Hell, my GBA SP still has a pristine screen.
3DS also had that issue with leaving lines down the screen while closed.
I had never used screen protectors for anything til nintendo switch. Still don't for my phone, since I don't care what it looks like.
@Curator I also don't get it. When I see how beaten up some games and consoles are I really struggle to imagine how people made them that way.
As for screens I haven't scratched a single device, including the ones I've owned as a child. I don't even use any permanent protection (just carrying bags and such).
I have one phone I used back in high school with a scratch on the screen. The cause was lending it to a classmate for five minutes during a break. He wanted to try a game on it.
@CodyMKW Maybe if someone left it charging and on like the person who hit 9999 hours in AC..
@DropDash nah my xioami Mi 11 has Gorilla Glass Victus. Not a chance I will put a screen protector on it. Removed the installed screen protector soon as I removed phone from the box.
@UglyCasanova that person actually said their Switch is fine and had no issues after being on that long
@oconnoclast
You’re spending way to much on screen protectors. Nearly every brand of good quality, well reviewed glass protectors I see typically come in packs of three or four for not much more than $10. Where are you getting these $20 singles?
@johnvboy Dunno, my OG Switch would sometimes get really hot midway across the back playing it in handheld mode, so I can see some lower quality sd cards getting damaged, especially if combined with a faulty fan, another issues some users reported.
Still, you mentioned that nobody here was denying that others might have had problems with the switch, but the person I mentioned clearly is denying that because they themselves have had no problems.
For example, my Switch never had any cracking issues. I don't presume no one else have had any such problems, though.
I did however have every single joycon I bought exhibit drift, often severe, often starting to drift again as soon as a month after repairs. At this point I often have to almost literally flood the analogs with wd40 contact cleaner to stave the drift off for a few weeks. That, and the rail connections are annoyingly loose, causing the 'connect the joycons' dialogue to pop up from time to time in SRIV, for example.
Of course still many people on the Internet and here tell me I'm imagining all this or using it wrong.
Whoah, sudden 'you're holding it wrong' flashbacks.
Cya
Raziel-chan
@oconnoclast I know, but it is a cheap way to do that.
So I standy by the fact it is sad cheap smartphones have better solutions, and Nintendo went for a plastic film instead, if that was their plan they should have kept the full plastic display from the start like the OG model has.
@oconnoclast
If you did buy a single, that still adds up to around 14 USD each compared to the 2.50 USD each I just spent for one of the best reviewed packs I could find.
I treat both my original Switch (which I'm gifting a mate/buddy of mine soon) and the OLED Switch like I treat my phone: they must have a screen protector on them at all times. And for the record, they all have a screen protector on them.
It's got anti shatter film. Of course that's going to be vulnerable to damage.
This is why tempered glass screen protectors are a must. Unless you want to risk damage, it's an absolute necessity.
Tempered glass goes on perfectly, no bubbles, and the oleophobic coating makes your finger glide over the screen like slippery ice. And finger prints and dust wipe off easily.
Basically, if you have any sense at all you're applying tempered glass. And if you're not, well... I await your inevitable forum post about how your Switch got scratched.
@oconnoclast
You can get a 4 pack for less than $10 on Amazon with an alignment frame included.
There's technique you must learn, and once you do, it's not that hard.
- Steam the bathroom with hot shower, and wash hair.
- Wipe screen thoroughly with screen cloth
- Then use scotch tape and dab the screen all over until you're confident not a single dust is left. Look at it from different angles in the light. And every second that passes by increases risk of a dust landing.
- Take glass and dab with scotch tape to ensure no dust is on either side. This prevents dust from falling onto the screen when peeling and applying.
- Give screen one final look and dab with scotch tape with glass in left hand, then once 100% confident it's perfect, quickly peel and throw film on floor (no time for orderliness at this juncture) and align tempered glass at an angle, then view long edge to estimate alignment, and drop down. Immediately run your finger across the middle length of the glass to ensure air works it's way out to the top and btm sides.
- If you see any dust or hair, you can carefully peel it up, then dab screen with scotch tape all over, dab sticky side of screen protector with scotch tape all over, and quickly reapply using exact same technique. I once did this 4 times with same glass. This trick ensures you get to try again if you mess up and don't burn through all your glass.
Should look like this when complete:
The truth is something in between. Joy-con drift does exist but its getting better, Nintendos design revisions of the sticks seems to work.
@Jawessome The new dock seems to have some rubber bumpers at the bottom and overall a smoother internal finish then the original dock, so it seems likely to be safer in this regard.
That being said i have two original docs and have not experienced any pinching or scratching from either. I think the issues that showed up early where either manufacturing errors or docks bent during transportation. (or something else)
@Thelastjedi2007
Not sure what Amiibo Festival is. But im sure it would blow if it existed.
@johnvboy I suppose it depends on how you approach problems that don't affect you. I can walk just fine, but still find a wheelchair ramp that starts with a step a ridiculously bad design.
While you do have to put some effort do damage a screen of a device that doesn't sit flush with any surface you put it on due to physical controls (unless you detach the joycons, then it gets much easier), I still fine it hilarious that a $150 xiaomi phone can come with gorilla glass 5, but a $350 Switch OLED comes with regular, shatter-prone glass and a soft shatter-protection film.
Cya
Raziel-chan
Foil can be scratched, what an insight ... of course you can scratch foil. A 3-pack of tempered glass @Amazon costs 12€ incl. tax. And there been four in the box, so 3€ for a tempered glass
That was the first thing I applied after a function test and before continuing setting up the OLED.
@Razzy I don't think the fact that problem affects few people makes it less serious for them.
It's not supposed to be? It clearly shows that, it's a comparative test of hardness. They do this for myriads of devices, why is it suddenly a problem because the Switch scored low?
Seeing how cheap people are listing retail-bought tampered glass protectors in the comments, it's really ridiculous that Nintendo couldn't splurge on a wholesale-bought one instead of a scratch-happy plastic film for their $350 premium device.
Cya
Raziel-chan
Just get a Hori screen protector. They're hard as nails and super easy to install without all the nonsense of having to subject your Switch to a hot steam room. Wipe the screen carefully with a microfiber cloth, make sure there are no obvious dust particles, and then simply follow the instructions for applying the screen protector. I've used Hori on my original 3DS, New 3DS XL, and now my Switch and have never had a problem. No dust, no bubbles, and perfect alignment every time.
@arekdougy that’s my thought, my launch switch has been abused so much over the 5+ years, I am amazed it has no scratches. Broken air vent guard, kickstand, and cartridge cover are all broken or missing, but the screen and it’s protector keep it looking like new.
My Good Old Day 1 switch has never seen a screen protector, the fan vent guars are broken, there is a bit of a crack in the bottom, but the screen is in perfect condition. Just use proper case to transport it, don't put it as is in your bag, and you will not have any trouble. I've seen more issues with "screen protectors" than without.
And I'm not going easy with the dock either. I mean I don't try to use as a grit 1 sand stone of course!
Uh, guys, it comes with a screen protector on it already. That is probably why Nintendo did it. Still, yikes on the scratch test.
I think you were right to post this article.
I ummed and arred about getting one for mine as I am careful, however, the OG switch even being super careful I ended up getting some very light scratches on so immediately got a protector, I put that down to the plastic screen.
With the OLED partly due to lack of clarity whether it was needed or not (in that was a it a glass screen or not) I didn't until just yesterday (had since release).
While interestingly and annoyingly I cleaned it up for the most part with a cleaning cloth but there was still a coating, so I had to clean a bit more thoroughly, the issue, there must have been a particle on the cloth that I didn't realise as I'd managed to lightly scratch it in two different places (which wouldn't go, in fact the second one came about from trying to get rid of the first). While I couldn't see this particle, the fact that it scratched the 'protective film' so easily meant I was definitely putting on that screen protector right away.
Conclusion, even when you are super careful, you can have accidents or make mistakes, the screens are naturally not good at repelling scratches unfortunately so I urge people to grab one.
The reason I even got an OLED was my launch day Switch was TRASHED. It overheated any time I turned it on, the fan was insanely loud. It got so hot that the whole thing warped and the vent cover got super brittle and snapped off. It was covered in scratches, the top screw fell out as a result of the console overheating and getting warped and brittle. And the screen was super scratched. Also the joy cons wobbled when attached to the switch and would slide off as a result of my little brother forcefully ripping them off instead of holding the button down and gently sliding off. That was in the early days of owning it however and he was like 7.
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