The newest iteration of the Nintendo Switch launched an upgraded OLED display that’s an actual deal with for the eyes, however those that had been hoping for a good greater improve would possibly wish to think about the Orion: a portable Switch dock that offers the hand held an expanded 11.6-inch display.

Nintendo has had little difficulty convincing shoppers to maintain shopping for the Switch in droves, regardless of the console approaching its five-year anniversary. Sales had been boosted through the pandemic as hundreds of thousands of individuals on lockdown flocked to the peerlessly timed launch of Animal Crossing: New Horizons to assist cross the time whereas caught at house, which made the Switch virtually not possible to seek out in shops for months on finish in 2020. To additional rekindle curiosity within the console, Nintendo launched a model with a bigger OLED display final month, however its different upgrades had been minor, leaving some followers wanting extra.

The creators of the Orion assume their accent can ship that “extra“ earlier than Nintendo does with one of many beefiest Switch add-ons we’ve seen thus far. In addition to a pair of stereo audio system on the again that guarantees higher sound than what the Switch’s can muster, the obvious improve the Orion delivers is a a lot bigger 11.6-inch display—though, a minimum of for the launch model, it makes use of an IPS LCD show panel as an alternative of OLED, which may very well be a tricky promote for individuals who’ve laid eyes on and fallen in love with the Switch OLED.

Upgrading a Switch with the Orion seems simple sufficient. You take away the Joy-Cons and fix them to every aspect of the Orion after which insert the Switch itself right into a compartment on the again of the display the place it interfaces by the console’s USB-C port. The method means the Orion is barely appropriate with the Switch consoles that may be docked and performed by a TV—the unique and OLED fashions, not the Switch Lite—however it additionally means the Orion’s 11.6-inch display can run video games at full 1080P whereas performed in hand, whereas the Switch by itself limits resolutions to 720P.

G/O Media might get a fee

Up to 50% off

Sennheiser Headphones

Hear all the things for cheaper
This deal on all method of Sennheiser headphones will get you listening to crisp, clear music for as much as 50% much less!

The very last thing players need is an adjunct that additional reduces the Switch’s already restricted battery life, so the Orion can both be powered by an AC adapter that additionally costs the Switch within the course of, or paired with a transportable battery that may be hooked up to the again with a pair of velcro straps. Further increasing its usefulness is an HDMI port too, permitting the Orion for use as an exterior show for nearly any machine that does video out, together with different consoles.

That expanded performance could be the Orion’s most essential function as a result of it helps justify the accent’s $250 price ticket, which is $50 greater than the Switch Lite prices, and that’s with a reduction for individuals who pre-order the Orion by an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign—the common MSRP is predicted to be nearer to $300. The marketing campaign has already raised all the cash it must get the Orion into shoppers’ palms, and its creators declare to have secured all of the chips wanted earlier than the shortages grew to become a worldwide difficulty, so supply of the accent might doubtlessly nonetheless occur earlier than the vacations. But as with every crowdfunded product, there’s at all times the potential for unexpected delays—particularly throughout a pandemic—so whereas this might make for an excellent reward for a Switch fan, don’t make any guarantees that the state of the world might drive you to interrupt.