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The Battle of the Consoles: Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch vs Switch Lite
by
Basmah Qazi
Nintendo
Nintendo Switch is one of many gaming consoles on the market — perfect for those who are looking for something they can play on the go and with others.
But with three different versions of the Switch to choose from, which one do you opt for? The Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch vs Switch Lite debate isn’t exactly a fight, but rather a decision that’s made depending on what you need.
Keep reading to find out the pros and cons of all three models and which one will work for you.
Design
The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch OLED look almost identical. The Switch OLED has been given a tasteful design overhaul and now comes in a plain white model, but otherwise the design is the same: they both have a central touchscreen and two detachable Joy-Con controllers.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is exactly what the name suggests. Compared to its bigger siblings, the Lite is smaller and 30 per cent lighter, but unlike the original, the Joy-Con controllers don’t detach from the console. It also doesn’t come with a dock, so you can’t play games on your TV. Overall, the design of the Switch Lite makes it easier to play on the go but limits your choices when you’re playing at home.
Display
The biggest difference between the three models is the screen. The Switch OLED features a 7-inch screen that’s noticeably brighter and clearer than the LCD screens on the other two models.
The original Switch features a 6.2-inch LCD display — making it smaller than the OLED and a lot less colourful. As expected, the Switch Lite’s display is smaller still at just 5.5-inches.
All three models feature touch screen displays with a 720p resolution.
Games
All three consoles contain the same internal hardware, which means they can all run the same games. But in saying that, the Switch OLED offers a better gaming experience because of its bigger, brighter display.
The original Switch and Switch OLED also let you play with friends, since you can connect the console to a TV and disconnect the Joy-Cons.
Price
Besides the screen, the price is the biggest difference between models. The Switch Lite is the cheapest, currently valued at $329. The original Switch will set you back $449 and the Switch OLED is the most expensive at $539.
Verdict
If your main concern is price, the Nintendo Switch Lite is your best option. You’re sacrificing screen size and quality but it’s much cheaper than either of the full-sized models.
If you’re planning on playing on the go and at home and want an all-in-one console, the Switch OLED is a good choice. Currently, there isn’t a great reason to choose the original Switch, since the OLED model is only $90 more expensive. You’re paying a bit more for a console with an incredible screen that will look great wherever you play. The jump between the 6.2-inch and 7-inch screen size is small but also very noticeable when you’re playing in handheld mode, too.
There’s no bad choice when it comes to choosing a console and each model has its pros and cons, but ultimately you need to toss up when and how you’ll be using it to decide which Nintendo Switch is right for you.
