At this very moment, many games are being played around the world, and one of the most highly used hardware is probably the Nintendo Switch.
This time last year, there was a shortage of products and lottery sales were the norm for purchasing them, but nowadays they are usually available for purchase.
A new OLED model will be released on October 8, 2021 (Friday), and pre-orders will be accepted from September 24 (Friday), so many people who are going to buy one will probably be aiming for that one.
The latest version of Nintendo Switch , "13.0.0," was released on September 15, 2021 (Wednesday), and various updates were implemented, among which there was one that could be called a " god update!
Finally, the Nintendo Switch supports Bluetooth audio!
Bluetooth audio has never been possible before!
The Nintendo Switch was equipped with Bluetooth functionality itself, but Bluetooth audio could not be used.
There may be various reasons for this, but since Bluetooth is used to connect Joy-Con and other wireless controllers, I think there is a big conflict there.
Therefore, until now, in order to use wireless earphones or headphones with the Nintendo Switch, a dongle was required, which meant that a new device had to be purchased.
However! With this update, Bluetooth-compatible audio devices can now connect to the Nintendo Switch by themselves!
What would we say if we didn't call this a "divine update"!
However, there are some restrictions on the Nintendo-Switch side when connecting a Bluetooth-connected device.
First of all, while using Bluetooth audio, the Up to 2 wireless controllers can be connected and also Cannot be used in conjunction with local communication Bluetooth audio is not supported.
This is probably because the amount of Bluetooth used for the controller connection will be allocated to the audio device connection. No choice!
Then, the Bluetooth audio device Microphone input is not supported The voice chat is not available on the Nintendo Switch. Originally, voice chat was not available on the Nintendo Switch itself, and I don't think this will be a problem.
Some Bluetooth audio devices may have a noticeable audio delay, but since this is a wireless device, there may be some compatibility, so please be aware of this before use.
Please note that the profile is fixed at A2DP and codec is SBC, and other profiles and codecs are not supported.
Let's try connecting!
If Bluetooth audio is now available, it is human nature to want to try it out as soon as possible.
We updated the Nintendo Switch in the Saiga NAK editorial office to version "13.0.0" and tried connecting a Bluetooth audio device!
Since there was no easy device in the editorial office, the author (a band member) decided to try it with his personal SONY full wireless earphone " WF-1000XM4 ".
First, start up the updated Nintendo Switch, go to " Home Screen→Settings→Bluetooth Audio " and select " Register ".
Selecting "Register" will switch to the " Bluetooth audio registration " screen and start searching for Bluetooth-capable devices around the Nintendo Switch.
Set the Bluetooth audio device to pairing mode and wait for it to be detected.
In the case of the "WF-1000XM4", you need to touch and hold the left and right touch sensors at the same time for about 5 seconds to enter pairing mode.
After the search is complete, the list of Bluetooth devices that can be connected is displayed.
Since devices other than the "WF-1000XM4" in the editorial office were also found, they were mosaicked! In this case, "WF-1000XM4" is selected.
Select the device you want to connect and you are connected! From this point on, the sound of the Nintendo Switch will be played from the connected Bluetooth device!
Now you can easily connect your Bluetooth devices without installing new devices!
Just like with smartphones, once you register your Bluetooth device, it will automatically connect when you turn on your Bluetooth device.
I was worried about the delay since the codec is fixed to SBC, but it was not as bad as I thought it would be.
However, the sound is not white noise, but noise is always played along with sounds and sound effects, which is a bit harsh for everyday use, although it may be compatible with the noise canceling mode of the WF-1000XM4.
I wondered if Nintendo would release it in this condition. I tried it with my sub, an overhead SONY WH-1000XM3, and it worked perfectly!
I could experience clear and powerful sound over Bluetooth with no delay! This is good!
It seems that the "WH-1000XM3" has been designed to be used with multiple Bluetooth devices. There may be compatibility issues with devices So if you have multiple Bluetooth devices, it might be a good idea to try connecting them in various ways to find the one with the best sound quality.
Regardless, being able to use Bluetooth devices that couldn't be connected independently before is pretty big!
I suggest you all update soon and give it a try!
For more information on Bluetooth audio and how to connect, check out Nintendo Switch Support!