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Marseille has expanded its lineup of graphic-upscaling gaming accessories with two speciality mClassic dongles. The mClassic Switch Edition is tailored around upscaling the visuals on Switch and other widescreen platforms like Steam Deck. The mClassic Retro Edition, on the other hand, is designed for gamers who want to improve the experience of older games with 4:3 aspect ratio on modern TVs. Both of these newly released gadgets are on sale for $85 (was $100) as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.
The original mClassic Graphics Upscaler is still being manufactured–and it’s also on sale for $85 (was $100)–as it offers a hybrid experience with visual improvements for modern and retro games. The new iterations offer the same marquee enhancement modes while adding two new visual modes each. Let’s take a closer look at all three options below.
mClassic Graphics Upscalers — $85 ($100)
- Original Edition – Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and retro platforms
- Switch Edition – Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, other 16:9 platforms
- Retro Edition – Retro games with 4:3 aspect ratio (N64, PS2, GameCube, SNES, etc.)
$85 (was $100)
The original mClassic Graphics Upscaler offers a combination of the two recently released specialty editions. It has features and modes designed for games that render in 16:9 aspect ratio (widescreen) as well as tech created to enhance the picture quality and performance of retro games developed for 4:3 aspect ratio TVs.
The mClassic offers noticeable visual upgrades–though the degree to which you notice the differences depends on how discerning you are when it comes to graphics. Switch games can be upscaled up to 1440p at 60fps. It has built-in anti-aliasing tech that smooths jagged edges and sharpens the picture. The exact boost in visual fidelity varies based on the game, in our experience.
On consoles with HDMI such as Switch, PS3, and Xbox 360 (besides first-gen 360 consoles), all you need to do is plug it into your console, connect the included power cable, and then reconnect your HDMI cable from your TV into the mClassic dongle.
The mClassic substantially improves the overall picture quality and playability of game consoles from the pre-HD era–Super Nintendo, N64, GameCube, etc.–on modern flat-screen 4K and HD TVs. A CRT TV is still clearly the best option for retro gaming, but the mClassic is a great option for those who don’t want to deal with the bulk of a box TV or the hassle of finding one in general.
There’s a switch on the dongle to flip between modern and retro modes. The third “mode” on the original mClassic simply turns the device’s graphics processor off.
- Enhancement On: Improves the visuals/performance of widescreen platforms, including Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.
- Retro Mode: Allows you to play retro games in 4:3 aspect ratio on modern displays. Markedly improves the picture quality of games originally designed for CRT TVs.
Note: Game consoles without an HDMI port–like the aforementioned retro Nintendo consoles–require the mClassic to be connected to an adapter, such as this $30 model or this one for $20.
$85 (was $100)
The mClassic Switch Edition focuses solely on modern gaming platforms with widescreen aspect ratios (16:9). When it comes to modern HD consoles, Marseille has always geared the mClassic toward the Switch, which is why Nintendo’s console is in the new model’s name. But the mClassic Switch Edition can be used with Steam Deck, PS3, Xbox 360, and other devices with widescreen aspect ratios that lack 1440p and/or 4K resolution.
Once again, performance on Switch varies by game, but the mClassic Switch Edition is capable of upscaling to 1440p at 60fps.
You can toggle between three different visual modes on the mClassic Switch Edition:
- Enhancement On: This mode offers all of the same benefits as the “Enhancement On” mode in the original mClassic.
- Switch Plus: Recreates Switch handheld mode while playing on TV. If you think Switch games look better in handheld mode–and you aren’t alone in thinking that–this mode might be preferred over the original enhancement mode.
- Switch Enhance Mode: This mode aims to offer some of the key benefits of OLED TVs, namely improved contrast and clarity when dark colors are displayed.
$85 (was $100)
The new mClassic Retro Edition has three different modes geared toward consoles that released prior to the high-definition era. If you are buying the mClassic to play games on SNES, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64 or any other console designed for 4:3 aspect ratio, the Retro Edition is the one to pick.
It has three modes you can switch between:
- Retro Mode: Display games in original 4:3 aspect ratio with upscaled resolution.
- Vintage Mode: Replicates CRT TV picture and audio in 4:3 aspect ratio. This mode does not alter the colors, lighting, or sound, as it’s geared toward authenticity.
- Vintage Enhance Mode: A mix of Retro and Vintage Modes, as it balances authenticity with visual fidelity improvements.
Note: Game consoles without an HDMI port–like the aforementioned retro Nintendo consoles–require the mClassic Original or mClassic Retro to be connected to an adapter, such as this $30 model or this one for $20.
Marseille recommends locking your Nintendo Switch to 720p while docked–the resolution for handheld mode–for the best results. Based on our testing, we agree with that recommendation, but don’t forget to turn 1080p back on before you play without the mClassic Original or mClassic Switch.
If you’re worried about an increase in latency due to your HDMI cable passing through the dongle, we’ve never noticed any. Marseille claims the device adds an average of 0.2ms on this front, but you’d probably need to be a cyborg to notice. The mClassic also has lossless audio passthrough.
Keep in mind you also need to be playing on a TV or monitor with support for 1440p or 4K resolution to take full advantage of the mClassic’s features. However, if you are playing on a 1080p panel, the mClassic still offers an improvement in picture quality.
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Kurt Indovina
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