Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch: what’s different?

The Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch OLED is an important conversation for fans of hybrid consoles. Both consoles showcase the home and handheld capabilities, but with the Nintendo Switch starting to show its age, the OLED steps up. But is it worth spending a little extra money for a nicer display?

The launch of the original Nintendo Switch console in 2017 was quite revolutionary, and it still manages to show some pretty impressive graphics in today’s digital climate. While it doesn’t offer much when placed next to a PS5, it does have its quirks. So while the Nintendo Switch’s OLED doesn’t improve performance, instead focusing on graphical fidelity and looks, the pair still have a lot to contend with in comparison.

However, these are not the only two options. The Switch Lite also launched in 2019 as a handheld-only option, without the removable Joy-Con controllers of the regular Switch. For some people who love the original Switch’s hybrid design, that’s a big deal breaker. For those who are only interested in remote or handheld gaming, this is a cheaper option. In 2019, Nintendo also released a refreshed version of the original Nintendo Switch, with improved battery life.

In this guide, we take a look at why the Switch OLED is a better option than the original LCD version, and the other upgrades you get when you go for the Nintendo Switch OLED. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the original Switch isn’t right for you. Read on for more information.

Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch: price

The Nintendo Switch OLED costs $350 / £309 / AU$539, and was released on October 8, 2021. That’s $50 / £30 / AU$90 more than the original Nintendo Switch at launch, which cost $300 instead. / £279 / AU$449 costs . However, since the OLED’s launch, the original model has had a small price cut, now retailing at £259.99 / $259.99 / AU$435.

Given their popularity, we rarely see either model discounted. That’s true for most current-gen consoles these days, but below you’ll find an overview of all Nintendo Switch deals that are live now.

Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch: design

The Nintendo Switch OLED resembles the original Switch after the 2019 refresh. It has removable Joy-Con controllers, the same button layout, and even offers that familiar bright neon blue and red color scheme.

However, the version you’ve probably seen online for the Switch OLED is the new white version. This more sedate, mature color scheme is the kind of garb we expected to see from the rumored Nintendo Switch Pro. The Switch OLED may not be the Switch Pro, but this is the closest thing to it for now. Many of the leaks previously believed to point to the Pro can be found in this redesign.

You will also find some other important design changes. The thick bezels of the original Switch screen have been significantly reduced, and the 6.2-inch LCD panel has been replaced with a vibrant 7-inch OLED panel.

This gives the new Switch a less dated look and means there isn’t a significant size difference to the new model despite using a larger screen. It is 0.1 inch longer, at 9.5 x 0.55 x 4 inches (W x D x H).

Therefore, any Joy-Con controllers you have previously purchased will work fine with the Nintendo Switch OLED. Assuming they didn’t suffer from infamous before Joy-Con drift, that is. The new console uses the same ‘rail’ system for such accessories.

Nintendo has reworked the Switch’s stand to make it much less vulnerable as well. It now spans much of the back of the console, keeping it more firmly upright. The stand is also adjustable, allowing for different viewing angles when playing in tabletop mode.

You wouldn’t tell it at a glance, but Nintendo has also redesigned the Switch OLED’s speakers. They still sit on the bottom of the handheld, one on each side, and provide enhanced audio through the original speakers. They are much more powerful, have more impact and do not distort at maximum volume.

As before, the OLED Switch comes with a dock that lets you play games on your TV. However, it doesn’t offer the 4K output many hoped for in a Nintendo Switch Pro console. Play docked and 1080p remains the maximum output resolution and the screen is 720p when playing in handheld mode.

An Ethernet (LAN) port is the extra we do get. Use a cable from your home internet router and plug it into the dock for a more reliable signal than you’d see from the switch’s own Wi-Fi connection. You can still get a wired internet connection when playing docked on the original Switch, but you’ll need to buy a separate one for this LAN adapter (opens in new tab).

Nintendo has doubled the Switch OLED’s internal storage from 32GB to 64GB. As before, you can also add a microSD card for the Nintendo Switch if you need more space, with support for up to 2TB of additional storage. Battery life remains the same as the refreshed Nintendo Switch at 4.5 to nine hours. This is better than the launch Switch’s 2.5 to 6.5 hours, but the OLED Switch doesn’t bring any real improvement here.

There are plenty of accessories you can get to upgrade your experience with all versions of the Nintendo Switch console, but we especially like the ZenGrip Pro OLED. This adds handles to the console in handheld mode, making it easier and more comfortable to hold as it’s otherwise completely flat.

Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch: Display

Here’s the interesting thing: the new Nintendo Switch has an OLED screen. These display panels have emissive pixels, meaning black areas of the screen image look perfectly inky black, even when you’re playing in perfect darkness under the covers.

With a standard Nintendo Switch, blacks end up looking a bit gray in these conditions. The OLED switch is much better for bedtime gaming than the old model, making Nintendo’s already colorful art style stand out even more. This is also the largest screen ever placed in a Switch console. It measures 7 inches wide, higher than the original Nintendo Switch’s 6.2 inches and the Switch Lite’s 5.5 inches.

Please note that the resolution does not change. The Nintendo Switch OLED remains a 1280 x 720 pixel screen. Many had hoped for an increase to 1080p (and there were even rumors of a 4K offering) in this “next-gen” design, but that never materialized.

Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch: power

While the OLED screen makes games look richer, bolder and more immersive than before, the new Switch console doesn’t improve performance in any way. The Switch OLED has the same Nvidia Custom Tegra processor and RAM as the standard Switch model, so there’s no performance upgrade under the hood.

That means it won’t unlock any new potential for developers to bring more comprehensive games to the new console. As such, it can’t really compare to past mid-generation console upgrades like the New Nintendo 3DS, PS4 Pro, or Xbox One X. What it does mean is that the Switch OLED can play all the same games as the Switch – and vice versa.

Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch: Verdict

If you were hoping for a Nintendo Switch Pro with a 1080p display and 4K output to your living room TV, the Nintendo Switch OLED won’t meet that demand. Games will feel the same, but at least they’ll look nicer when played in handheld mode and tabletop mode, which is the main draw.

So if you play docked most of the time, Switch OLED doesn’t offer much new. The Ethernet port on the dock is welcome, as is the increase in storage to 64GB, but ultimately we’d say the Nintendo Switch OLED is a clear example of evolution over revolution.