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From the outset, the Nintendo Switch OLED boasts an improved appearance compared to the Nintendo Switch Lite, not to mention a larger size. But despite their obvious differences, the two consoles are quite similar in terms of performance.
If you want to implement one of Nintendo’s consoles in your setup, you have to think about a lot more than just the looks. While the Nintendo Switch OLED offers the same hybrid capabilities as the standard Nintendo Switch console, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a handheld exclusive, which is perfect for gamers on the go, but doesn’t offer the same flexibility.
In addition, price is an important factor to consider when comparing the pair. The OLED is the most recent Nintendo Switch model, so the price tag reflects that, while the Nintendo Switch Lite is slightly cheaper. To make the buying decision a little easier, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before making a purchase.
Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch Lite: price and release date
The Nintendo Switch OLED costs $349.99 / £309 / AU$539 and launched on October 8, 2021. It’s technically the fourth iteration of the Nintendo Switch console, as Nintendo refreshed the original model in 2019 with improved battery life and a more efficient CPU. with the release of the Nintendo Switch Lite.
Speaking of the Switch Lite, Nintendo’s handheld model costs $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329.95 and was released in 2019. This makes the Switch OLED model $150 more expensive than the Switch Lite, which to some is a significant saving.
Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch Lite: Design and Features
The Nintendo Switch OLED looks almost identical to the original Switch console, with removable Joy-Con controllers, the same button layout, and the same neon blue and red color scheme available – although it also has a stylish white option. The biggest difference is the console’s powerful OLED screen, which is 7in compared to the original 6.2in screen, with thinner bezels that give it a more modern look.
The Nintendo Switch OLED stand has also undergone an overhaul. It is wider, more flexible and allows you to position the console at more angles in tabletop mode. The Switch OLED is also equipped with better speakers, along with 64GB of internal storage – double the original. All this while hardly expanding the size and weight of the console.
Those who pick up the Nintendo Switch OLED will gain access to a nicer-looking dock than the original, with rounded corners and a built-in Ethernet port for a sturdier connection when playing online. Here’s what’s in the Nintendo Switch OLED:
- Measure: 9.5 x 0.55 x 4 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: Approx 0.71 lbs / 0.93 lbs with Joy-Con controllers attached
- Screen: Multi-touch capacitive touchscreen / 7-inch OLED screen
- Solution: 1280×720 (720p)
- CPU/GPU: Nvidia Custom Tegra processor
- Storage: 64 GB (expandable with microSDHC or microSDXC cards up to 2 TB)
- Wireless: Wi-Fi (compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
- Video output: Up to 1080p via HDMI in TV mode, 720p in handheld mode
- audio output: 5.1 Linear PCM
- Speakers: Stereo
- USB connection: USB Type-C for charging
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Battery life: about 4.5-9 hours
- Loading time: about 3 hours
The Nintendo Switch Lite is another proposition. It forgoes the hybrid Joy Con detachable nature of the Switch OLED in favor of a handheld-only device, giving it the enviable advantage of being the only Switch with a dedicated D-Pad. However, you cannot display games on a TV, nor can you remove the Joy-Cons.
The portable focus means it’s smaller in size, with a 5.5-inch screen, which is 1.5 inches shorter than the Switch OLED. There’s also a wider selection of case colors to choose from for the new Switch, including grey, turquoise, yellow, coral and blue.
Technically, the Switch Lite corresponds to the Nintendo Switch OLED. However, it doesn’t have that impressive battery life – an average of three to seven hours instead of 4.5 to 9 hours.
Here’s what’s in the Nintendo Switch Lite:
- Measure: 8.2 x 0.55 x 3.6 in (WxDxH)
- Weight: About 0.61 lbs
- Screen: Multi-touch capacitive touch screen / 5.5 inch LCD screen
- Solution: 1280×720 (720p)
- CPU/GPU: Nvidia Custom Tegra processor
- Storage: 32 GB (expandable with microSDHC or microSDXC cards up to 2 TB)
- Wireless: Wi-Fi (compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
- Speakers: Stereo
- USB connection: USB Type-C for charging
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Battery life: about 3-7 hours
- Loading time: about 3 hours
Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch Lite: Games
The good news is that the Switch OLED and Switch Lite can play the best Nintendo Switch games available. Nintendo has noticed that experiences with the Nintendo Labo series Toy-Con accessories may differ due to the larger screen of the Switch OLED, but that seems to be the only problem.
It is important to note that the Nintendo Switch Lite does not allow you to experience games on the big screen as it is strictly a handheld device. You can’t detach the Joy-Con for some multiplayer fun or use motion controls, and the LCD screen doesn’t look as nice as the new OLED screen. However, the Switch Lite is considerably cheaper and still a great way to play the latest Switch games.
Another area where the Nintendo Switch OLED has a clear advantage over the Nintendo Switch Lite when it comes to games is that it has 64GB of internal storage instead of 32GB. That means you have more leeway if you like to download your games digitally from the Nintendo Switch eShop.
That said, you can expand the storage of either Switch console thanks to the microSD card slot, which supports compatible cards up to 2TB. These are usually cheap, especially during events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, so the difference is negligible.
Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch Lite: Verdict
Nintendo’s updated Switch OLED model will no doubt appeal to newcomers who want the best Switch experience available. But the Nintendo Switch Lite is still an attractive proposition due to its cheaper price and more portable form factor.
While you can’t go wrong with either model, the Switch OLED offers more flexibility, as you can play on the go or on the TV when it’s docked. It won’t look any different than the original Switch when playing on the big screen though, as Nintendo opted for a 4K output. Where it does excel, however, is in handheld mode, thanks to its vibrant and larger OLED display.
The choice between the two consoles will mostly come down to how you expect to use your Switch. If you can’t imagine playing any other way than in handheld mode and want a more compact form factor, the Nintendo Switch Lite might be the way to go. If you want to enjoy everything the Switch has to offer, including TV mode, handheld and tabletop mode, we recommend the more expensive Nintendo Switch OLED.