New Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch Specs: Comparison Guide

The Switch was an immediate smash success for Nintendo when it launched in March 2017. The ingenious device captured the imagination of console gamers as well as those who love Nintendo's handheld systems. The main perk? Its ability to be played both docked and on the go.

After selling over 90 million Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite units, it was time for Nintendo to make a change. On October 8th, Nintendo dropped the Switch OLED, giving the portable powerhouse a new lease on life.

The new Nintendo Switch OLED features a vastly improved screen, as well as a couple of smaller additions not seen before on prior Switch units. Unfortunately, for Nintendo fans craving a bigger boost in horsepower to compete against the Xbox Series X and Playstation 5, the Switch OLED falls short.

Despite all this, there's a lot to be said for Nintendo's latest release. Eager to learn what's new inside the Switch OLED — and what could make it the hottest gaming console on the market? Or are you still not sure if this investment is worth your while? Keep for a detailed breakdown of the Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch.

New Screen

The original Switch is a solid-looking piece of hardware. That being said, it's beginning to look dated by modern standards. As new iPads and smartphones blow away consumers with OLED screens, it's time for Nintendo to take a page out of Samsung's playbook.

The new star of the show? A fantastic-looking 7-inch OLED screen that's 15 percent larger than the original Switch display. Beyond screen size, all the usual benefits of OLED screen technology are here: rich brightness, vibrant colors, and ultra-dark black levels that make games like Metroid Dread and Zelda: Breath of the Wild look better than ever.

With a newer, larger screen comes a bigger console overall — but Nintendo has done a great job of making the increased dimensions mostly unnoticeable. What will be noticed by most, however, is the screen's decidedly dated pixel count.

With the Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 running games natively at 4K resolutions, it would have been nice for the Switch OLED to get a bump up in pixels as well. Sadly, that is not the case. In docked mode, the Switch OLED tops out at 1920x1080, with handheld mode only seeing a 1280x720 display resolution.

While the Switch OLED can certainly look like a next-generation console at times given the game being played, it just doesn't quite measure up in this department.

Improved Kickstand and Battery Life

Nintendo quietly improved the battery life of the standard Switch back in August 2019, leaving customers scrambling for the SKUs that featured the beefed-up battery. This welcomed improvement has made its way into the Nintendo Switch OLED model, giving gamers the chance to get between 4.5 and 9 hours of life out of their consoles. All this depends, however, on screen brightness, WiFi usage, and several other variables.

Another quality of life enhancement can be found in the new console's redesigned kickstand. The original Switch featured a diminutive stand that, while technically sufficient, left much to be desired. On the new OLED model, this stand is significantly wider and longer, allowing players to adjust the stand in tabletop mode to view the screen from several angles.

While this may not seem like an impressive feature to most Switch owners — and certainly not something that will be highlighted in TV commercials or other marketing materials — hardcore Switch fans used to marathon gaming sessions will no doubt be thrilled with the added versatility afforded by the new kickstand.

New Speakers and Ethernet Port

Surround sound speakers and Bluetooth headphones are always appreciated, especially since most TVs have mediocre built-in speakers. The same can be said about the original Switch, which didn't exactly garner any praise from players with its lackluster speakers.

Despite being in the same bottom position on the unit as the original model, the OLED version sounds markedly better. This is especially noticeable at maximum volume, where the original Switch's speakers would vibrate and sometimes distort sound. Most players will be using a pair of headphones when playing on the go — and docked players won't even use the included speakers — but it's still nice that Nintendo noticed an area in need of improvement and made the change.

WiFi is a must-have for portable gaming, but those who mainly use the Switch like a traditional console have long demanded an Ethernet port. With the Switch OLED model, they finally get their wish. Gone are the days of docked game consoles needing to rely on sometimes spotty WiFi to download large game updates or even new games themselves. Simply plug that trusty Ethernet cord into the new Switch OLED and enjoy lightning-fast game downloads.

Should You Upgrade to Switch OLED?

Nintendo consoles and handhelds have never been about bleeding-edge technology or state-of-the-art graphics. Still, it never hurts to have a gorgeous screen showing you all the action.

Is it worth the extra $50? Yes, but for reasons that may surprise you. If the Switch OLED was the new display panel and nothing else, it would be a hard sell. The improved kickstand and battery life — combined with the great-looking screen — make this an easy recommendation for anyone looking to upgrade from the first-generation Switch console.

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