The Nintendo Switch family has only grown since the original model launched back in 2017, with three distinct models currently available to buy for prospective owners. There’s the Nintendo Switch OLED and its rich, immersive screen; the standard Nintendo Switch with its tried-and-true hybrid design; and the cheaper and smaller Nintendo Switch Lite for those who mainly play on the go. Whether you’re looking to pick up your first Switch to finally dig into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or you’re ready to upgrade to a newer model, here’s how all three Nintendo Switch consoles stack up.
The Nintendo Switch lineup at a glance
The Nintendo Switch OLED is the best overall Switch you can buy, with a gorgeous OLED screen for handheld mode and lots of useful quality-of-life features.
If you don't feel like paying an extra $50 for a fancy OLED screen, the standard Nintendo Switch is still as good as ever for playing both on a TV and on the go.
For folks who are on a tighter budget and are cool with playing exclusively in handheld mode, the Switch Lite is a fantastic portable gaming machine.
You should get the Nintendo Switch OLED if …
You want the best possible display for playing in handheld or tabletop mode
The Nintendo Switch OLED’s biggest upgrade is — you guessed it — the system’s new 7-inch OLED display, which is both bigger and more advanced than the LCD screens on the standard 6.2-inch Nintendo Switch and 5.5-inch Switch Lite.
The newest Switch’s OLED screen has deeper blacks and bolder colors than a typical LCD display, which makes titles like Tetris Effect: Connected and Metroid Dread really pop on this new system. When you combine that with improved onboard speakers as well as a new kickstand that allows for multiple viewing angles, the Switch OLED is the best Switch for getting an impromptu Mario Kart 8 session started on your kitchen counter.
It’s worth noting that while the new Switch display uses OLED, it still carries the same 720p resolution as previous versions, meaning you won’t see much of a bump in overall detail when playing on the go. And it still outputs to 1080p on a TV — the mythical 4K Switch continues to elude us, and for now, many TVs will actually upscale that 1080p input to 4K. The Switch OLED is also powered by the same Nvidia Tegra X1 processor as the existing models, so don’t expect better performance or faster loading times.
You want the Switch with the best ports and most internal storage
There are some other notable perks to the OLED model that go beyond the display, including a built-in Ethernet port and double the internal storage at 64GB. If you’re a big online gamer, the option to connect to wired internet without an adapter for a more solid connection is a nice benefit. This port resides on the Switch OLED’s dock (which you’ll also be able to buy separately for your existing Switch), so you’ll need to be on big-screen mode to take advantage of it. And if you plan on buying most of your games digitally, the Switch OLED’s 64GB of free space can hold a lot more titles than the 32GB Switch and Switch Lite, though you can expand the storage of all three models with a microSD card.
You should get the Nintendo Switch if …
You play most of your games on a TV (and want to save $50)
If you mainly play games in TV mode, you’ll be just fine with the standard Switch — both the OLED and the standard model deliver the same 1080p performance when connected to a display.
You’ll still get access to the same thousands of Switch titles that are currently out there, as well as the ability to play them in handheld mode, on a tabletop or on your big-screen TV. Your games just won’t look quite as snazzy when you’re playing on the go, but you’ll also be paying $50 less for the same exact living room experience.
You should get the Nintendo Switch Lite if …
You play mainly in handheld mode (or just want the most portable, prettiest Switch)
The Nintendo Switch Lite is a dedicated handheld device, meaning you can’t connect it to a dock in order to fight Bowser or beat up your friends in Smash on the big screen. Fortunately, it achieves its singular purpose quite well, with a design that’s comfortable, compact and arguably cooler-looking than its larger siblings.
The Switch Lite has a cohesive design that really pops in turquoise, coral, blue and yellow, and unlike the standard Switch, it can actually fit in some pockets. Plus, the Lite’s built-in directional pad is more precise than the four separate directional buttons on the left Joy-Con, making the smaller Switch ideal for playing platformers and fighting games on the go. The Lite even lets you pair wireless controllers, so if you spring for a dedicated stand, you can still get some tabletop multiplayer sessions going.
You want the cheapest Switch available
At $199, the Switch Lite is significantly more affordable than the $299 Nintendo Switch and $349 Nintendo Switch OLED, making it a great entry point for younger players or anyone on a budget. And since it can play virtually every Switch game out there, you’re really only sacrificing the ability to play on a TV at that lower price.
Should you upgrade to OLED?
Each Switch model has a pretty clear use case, but what about existing Switch or Switch Lite owners who are thinking of upgrading to the OLED model? It’s our favorite version of the Switch by far, but also, pretty skippable for folks who already own the standard Switch.
That larger OLED screen provides a nice visual boost in handheld mode, but many of the Switch OLED’s other perks can be enjoyed without you having to buy an entirely new system. For starters, Nintendo sells the new Nintendo Switch dock separately for $70, for those who want to take advantage of the new built-in Ethernet port or simply love that new white color option.
While the bump to 64GB of storage is nice, you can add much more than that to your Switch for cheap by getting a microSD card. We recommend that any Switch owner who buys a lot of digital games should get at least a 128GB microSD card — like this SanDisk model that currently goes for just $17.
Now, if you’re a Switch Lite owner who’s ready to step up to the full Switch experience, the OLED model makes a lot more sense. Going from a 5.5-inch LCD display to a 7-inch OLED screen is a pretty significant bump, and you’ll get all of the other benefits of the new model (Ethernet port, better speakers, more storage) for just $50 more than the standard Switch.
