Which Nintendo Switch Is Best For Me? Should I Buy A Switch OLED?

In a perfect world, if I was able to trade in my original Switch for full price to only have to pay $50 for the upgrade, then I would go for it.

Should I buy the OLED edition ?
Yes, of course on the next year after I got some budget.
Also, I want to have 2nd island for ACNH because one island is not enough for me.

There’s something here that no one’s talking about: OLED has nearly instant pixel response time. Sounds good doesn’t it? Actually not necessarily, particularly with low FPS (30fps) gaming.

LCD’s slower pixel response subtly ‘blends’ consecutive frames together (in comparison to OLED) to form a slightly smoother frame transition. OLED’s transition is a touch more jarring. I’m not talking about the sample-and-hold nature of modern displays here, which are common to both display types but raw pixel response times.

This is noticeable, albeit subtle depending on how sensitive you are to it - 30fps games definitely look a touch more slideshow-esque.

Couple this with the inevitable lower pixel density of the larger OLED screen (potentially significant due to the comparatively low resolution), and some people might prefer to hold on to their original switches.

The Nintendo life staff don’t have a very deep level of technical knowledge of these things (most notably with retro gaming tech), so will tell you that OLED is automatically better. It is in many respects, but not all.

I'm saving money for a PS5. No point really.

Short answer.
If you play mainly in handheld then OLED Switch is a yes.
If like me you only play docked, then no.

Done.

This journalism thing is easy.
😜

I love the word “bezel” and the OG Switch has a bigger, better bezel, so I’m gonna stick with that one.

If I get fed up with how poorly my current switch is holding up i may jump on this. Love the look of it, though basically all the features are rendered absolutely useless since I play basically 100% docked. Maybe if they sold just the tablet part on its own I would be more tempted to pick it up, since its really that part that is slowly breaking down on me (broken cart slot, broken shell, general noise and heat, etc.). Don't really need another set of joy con (already have 3, and thats only because my base set are broken and I needed two sets for mario party), and the dock is basically the exact same since I got an ethernet adapter a while ago. If not, then I'll probably be stuck with my deteriorating console until the successor/pro/whatever, whenever they decide to do that.

I think I’ll wait until there’s a real need to upgrade, like if my switch breaks or dies. I have the original model, and it’s doing just fine. I’m trying to save up for a PS5 currently, so when they’re readily available I can just go for it. And yes, I expect to wait a while, which is fine.

Thank you for this helpful guide. Initially I thought, no, i don't need this. But i find myself using portable mode more, and i am an older gamer and i bought my switch at launch. Add those together with my love for Nintendo equals starting to save money for this.

At this point, I'm honestly happy to trade off a 4k upscaling "Pro" model for not having to worry about which games aren't compatible with the older model, and an extra $400 in my bank account.
I played my Switch in handheld mode a lot during the first year, but I haven't had much reason to play portable in quite some time.

I'll go ahead and edit the answer for 2017:

If you bought a Switch when they came out and mostly just play on your TV or a TV then you don't need the upgrade. Better battery life doesn't do fuq all for your Switch. I am amazed that NintendoLife would recommend getting this new model if there's nothing wrong with your system. Shame on you NintendoLife. For shame.

Will it still fit in my Satisfye grip? That's all I need to know.

Being a launch console owner who actually uses the Switch as hybrid, I'm definitely in. My lil bro and I both preordered the white variant to avoid the possibility of scalpers. New console version at Christmas time anyone? My current Switch has a fan that is starting to sound like a jet engine when it runs certain games. Plus the white design, bigger better screen and battery life are all a plus.

Just wondering, when was the last time people really used their system handheld? You know, considering we have all been stuck at home for well over a year and will have had very little opportunity to actually go outside with the thing. I can understand if you don't have a TV available, but for a large proportion of the install base I can't imagine they got much use out of handheld mode when stuck at home with (potentially) a screen available to dock to almost all the time.

@Waa-Laa I don't believe it will, since the back of the switch tablet has different vents and stuff that the satisfye grips onto, unfortunately.

The original Switch seemed a bit overpriced so the increase of price of the OLED model that is supposed to replace the current Switch (just like the launch model has been phased out) is surprising. I love OLED screens but the new model is too expensive and also the new screen has a low pixel density.

Although Nintendo didn't promise anything, I understand that people are disappointed with the lack of specifications boost because Switch struggles to run third-party content. Switch belongs to the last generation but it's roughly just a bit more powerful as the generation before it but with mobile technology because it's a portable console. The same low-quality joy-cons is outrageous.

@Matl I use mine 95% in handheld mode, while other members of my family are watching something else on the TV.

Maybe I’m in the minority, but we’re a 1-TV family for now.

And even when the TV is free, it’s quicker for me to pick up and play handheld than to turn the TV on to the right AV mode (yeah, it’s lazy, I know).

Also gaming in bed, in the kitchen, or on the loo.

Which Switch is right for me? The one I already have; I can't afford another one. I'm glad I'm not missing out on a new Metroid/Zelda/Mario game that's only available on an upgraded model. I still think this should have been the version that launched, though.

The white Switch is superior to the dark Switch, same with white PS5 over black PS4 or white Oculus Quest 2 over black Quest. The message hidden in current trend is clear.

@gaga64 Yeah, this is the only situation where I would think handheld is really the primary use case over the last year or so. Absolutely nothing wrong with it, it just seems odd to me that they wanna push a new version of the switch that is an upgrade almost entirely for the handheld demographic when the world is still up in flames, thus leading me to think that not a huge proportion of people would get that much use out of the new model's features. Perhaps its something the nintendolife staff could poll in a later article (wink wink).

@ninelevendo I'm waiting to be transported to the land of OZ (the one with a tin man not australia) where they actually have PS5 in stock. I'm gonna ask the wizard for it.

Surely we can't have this many articles about the same subject, but think of those clicks.

@Slowdive The OLED is looking waaay better imo

@NoTinderLife Black consoles matter

Should I Buy A Switch OLED?

Do you own the original Switch?

No - Buy it.

Yes - Don't buy it.

I only own a Lite right now, and I'm digging to trade it for a regular Switch, cause I wanted to try the TV play.

I was waiting for the infamous Pro model, but since there seems to be a very long time before we eventually see it, I'll go for the OLED model. My good old Vita still looks incredible thanks to that screen, so that's a no brainer decision to me.

I'll trade my Lite for an OLED, and buy Metroid with it. Merry christmas to all.

Have a 2017 Switch. Have not even considered of spending money for this. I can play the same things the same way.

It all sounds very underwhelming, hard pass for me

I'd consider the new model if or when it's available in the Lite version.

OLED is superior, everything else being equal. Colours will have more pop (although it runs the risk of games looking over saturated), but pixel density is much lower than the Switch Lite.

I will buy it since I'm mostly a handheld player. Simple)

I have a launch switch which has given me no problems apart from the casing coming away at the bottom and a small crack in the casing near the volume button so I’m considering buying one as I have quite a lot of switch games but I’m worried as I have 2 ps vitas one of them is perfect but the other one has a patch at the bottom of the screen where it’s really light I’m wondering if this is a problem with oled screens or whether it’s just bad luck anyone have any ideas?

If you game handheld a lot then yes. Otherwise no. That's it.

Slightly more vibrant visuals on a slightly more bigger screen with still the driftcon issue. I am predominantly a handheld game but it ia still a pass for me. If I was buying a new Switch now having not owned one before, I would have bought it for definite. Not now unless it breaks or something

If there's a trade-in option to get money off the OLED, then I might just go for it. Even if it is just £50 off.

@Slowdive Yes, the Vitas screen was very early in the evolution of OLED screens so the Switch’s screen should be better.

Love my OLED Vita.

I really want to see it for myself before I buy, because it's really hard to demonstrate screen quality differences over another screen. But from what I know of OLED screens, it should be a nice upgrade. The audio upgrade should be nice too, the Switch's speakers always felt pretty lackluster to me. Low max volume and only slightly, if at all, better than 3DS. But if this thing still doesn't support Bluetooth audio - and they didn't mention that - that's a frustrating annoyance. The tech is there. People have taken OG Switches apart and stated that it's only software that's not allowing that function.

I don't play in portable as much as I used to because of the pandemic, moving and job change. But I still love having the option to do so whenever I feel like it. Sometimes I'll lay in bed with my Switch, even though my main TV is in the same room.

I think I’m going to stick with my Lite + 2017 Switch combo for now. I was really hoping to move to one Switch, but this upgrade hasn’t convinced me. For me, improved Joy-Con would’ve been the deciding factor over improved internals. I play about 95% of the time in handheld mode, and personally, the Switch Lite is the most comfortable way to play in handheld mode. I owned an original Vita and eventually sold it for the Vita Slim because, while the OLED screen was incredible, the Vita Slim was a much more comfortable. I’ll take comfort over a better screen.

Probably not gonna upgrade unless my 2017 Switch suddenly craps out on me. OLED is cool, but not enough for me to splash $350.

@AndrewR Not necessarily superior for everyone. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, using OLED results in a slightly more jarring frame transition which impacts lower fps games (30fps for example).

Colours aren’t inherently more saturated on OLED, only if a specific manufacturer opts to drive their panels that way. In fact OLEDs can look very natural.

Even if I were only playing in handheld mode I would only buy the new model if my old one would be broken. I never ever had any problems in handheld mode or thought that the display should have proper black. I always and still find the display sharp as hell. But that's only me.

I got a switch launch day and it’s barely seen it’s dock so as a 99% handheld user i’m definitely upgrading to this but as they seem to be focussing on improving the experience for the handheld users let’s hope that they fixed the issues around cracks etc - ive got a new back on mine , pieces missing and the right rail is broken so can’t play without detached joy ons or my pro controller which is doable but i don’t want this one to fall apart too!!!

From a parents perspective:

Should I buy the Switch OLED?

If you have 1 kid, yes.
If you have 2 kids, buy 2 Lites instead, $400 vs $700.

Only b/c this Switch OLED is obviously geared towards handheld w/ that screen, but I haven't seen anyone mention it's nearly double the price of the Lite, $200 vs $350. If you ONLY ever play in handheld that's the comparison price. Is OLED worth $150 for handheld only?

I’ll probably buy the new dock for ethernet and looks, but I’m disappointed they didn’t add wifi 6 to the OLED model. Could’ve fixed all the poor wifi problems with comparable latency to a wired connection.

@drewtoo26 I don't have small hands at all but I also find the Switch Lite more comfortable than Switch unlike Gavin Lane. Plus, the D-pad. If the Switch Lite had an OLED screen, that would be nice because Switch Lite is light and comfortable for handheld use. Another problem with Switch OLED is the low pixel density and that they haven't updated the WiFi chip as mentioned by NateM94.

@Mips I was about to say the same thing about colour saturation to AndrewR. On OLED panels the colours look more natural but it's the contrast what is infinitely better on OLED panels and that means that shadows and dark scenes look significantly better. The transition between colours is more natural. For instance, Samsung's TVs look bright but more artificial and saturated than LG OLED TVs. The skies of Horza Horizon 4 and the dark scenes of the Resident Evil games look strikingly good on OLED TVs.

its really tempting, because it just looks so nice. no doubt it will be the best version of the switch. that said, i cannot justify buying a brand new switch(that will almost certainly be marked up because of scalping), when i have a kid on the way and a perfectly fine vanilla switch.

The more I read about it the more I think it is a solid value for just 50 bucks more, getting all the stuff included seperately would easily cost you more than 50 bucks. Still don't want one at the moment but if my current Switch ever quits I would definitely go for this upgrade.

This is annoying. Oled model will eventually replace the original one, accordingly, consider to buy it only if your original one is KO. Be responsable for the sake of our planet.

For current docked players with a perfectly fine working Switch it should be a no.
But anyone who's Switch is looking old or plays mostly handheld yes why not upgrade...
Each to their own really. For me I'm pleased as for docked play (the only way I play) every Switch game will work and play at it's best going forwards on my current original Switch.

I'm grateful I can afford any console out right now, but I'm even more grateful I have what I want. So no thanks Nintendo you can keep your Wii U on steroids 😄

Really shouldn't cost $70-$114 AUD more than the current Switch. It's got the Pro cost without the performance upgrade.

@victordamazio You have covered perfectly......not sure we needed a full article trying to justify a worthless upgrade for people that already have one.

Funny how many people are talking about upgrading simply because of the white dock.

Bezels can be a great thing if you make it a great thing. Looking at the Pokemon Gameboy Colors...

If you are big on table top mode than yes.
If you don't have a switch or want a 2nd one than yes.

Other than that, nope

@Matl
As well as the reasons gaga64 gave,
I also find that I prefer playing some games in handheld mode. As an example, I feel much more in control when playing stuff like Undertale and Ori in handheld. With everything so crowded and hectic on screen at some points, I find I play better with the screen closer to my face and the controllers either side of the action. Don't know if anyone else would feel the same, might just be wierd old me.

In short: buy if:

1- Never owned a Switch before.

2- You play on handheld mode more often than TV mode.

3- Your Switch is not working, which is a rare case.

4- Fancy for OLED and bigger screen.

Other than that, definitely not worth it.

@gaga64 Just wait until they drop the Switch XS - same form factor but uses a leftover GBA screen. Just imagine the bezels on that thing!

As mentioned before, I think Nintendo is putting their cards more on the mobile side of gaming.
Will I get one... probably yes, sense we like to have another Switch in our household. I would actually get standard special edition Switch like the Monster Hunter or Animal Crossing.
But as scalping and COVID goes, they are hard to come by or cost more then 350 bucks.

So yes.

I am not worry about the hardware side from Nintendo has no-one should be, but more on the upcoming content.

@BlueOcean Totally agree on an OLED Switch Lite. And maybe an ambient light sensor? Seriously, that’s actually what I miss most on my Switch Lite. It baffles me they left that off of a handheld only device… Even the New 3DS’s have that!

Yes this is definitely for me as my work requires me to travel a lot so to be able to play my triple A favorites on the go on one of the best screen ever made for a home console is a blessing in my book. Will probably be buying two this time.

@Mips

I have an iPhone 12 and I concur with this. It’s a very natural looking panel.

It’s all about how it’s tuned. Samsung by comparison tends to have a lot of over saturation, but some people prefer that look.

What's the view on OLED, I heard there's bigger chance of screen burn.

I believe the Vita is OLED and burning doesn't seem to be a problem there. There are some static screens on Switch menus.

I’ll certainly pass on this one. It’s rather disappointing from my perspective. I have the ACNH Switch and a Switch Lite that satiates any cravings I have for playing those games, which isn’t often these days. Mostly due to the fact that I have both a PS5 and an Xbox Series X, which are also starting to collect a bit dust. What’s more, they’re usually docked and the novelty of playing handheld wore off a couple months after I originally bought the first. The Lite hasn’t seen the light of day outside its case in almost a year now.

@drewtoo26 That's right, New 3DS has automatic brightness and also deals with light reflections much better than Switch and Switch Lite. At this rate, I expect Nintendo to release a Switch Lite OLED model and also a more powerful Nintendo Switch.

Don’t throw away money on this falsely advertised system that is no big difference other than that they put in a new screen and that’s it

nope. I hardly play in handheld mode.

This is a useful article, but the burning question for me is how easy is it to transfer all my stuff to the new SwitchOLED. With the cloud this should be pretty easy, but what about games that don't support cloud save backup?

When I break this one I'll upgrade if you wanna call it that. I do mainly.play in handheld so it would make some sense but this is the newer battery model and it works just fine with the exception of the fan noise.

for those on the fence, i'd just wait a little longer: there was a claim a few months ago that the x1 mariko might end production this year which might mean we'll see a refresh for all models sometime in the first half of next year, it might not be 4k 60fps good but will probably be a noticeable improvement. another possibility is that an oled model with a stronger chip is happening anyway, the current oled is just for those who want a better handheld experience without a stronger chip to reduce cost, kinda like the ps5 with or without the blu ray player.

idk could just be in denial lol

Do we know the price between these models?
Switch Lite still has a role with it's smaller form factor, price, and handheld only design.

But if you're in the market for a new/another full Switch, price will be the only saving grace to warrant the LCD Switch's existence on shelves. If there isn't a significant difference, I'll be stunned it and its dock aren't phased out.

@Rect_Pola The new model is 50 more expensive.

@robe That is useful information that should be covered and how to upgrade if you're not subscribed to Nintendo Online.

@ModdedInkling You can kind of do that. Switches get sold on ebay for near full price.

Lots of articles this week on a very basic premise: Do you want a pretty screen for an extra 50 bucks? That's really it.
Much like the impending Skyward Sword reissue, this release is Nintendo putting in minimal effort and expecting us to throw money at something.
I say this with love, but it's why I also see other video game companies.

If you're going to play mostly handheld I really recommend the lite, this tiny thing just feels so comfortable for long play sessions. I got the blue one and it has become my main switch since I play mostly handheld, my og switch only sees docked play when I have friends over for smash bros or mario kart.

@Rect_Pola Here's the pricing comparison.
Switch original = $299.99 (this model is actually the one with the better battery life as Nintendo already discontinued the original launch model)
Switch Lite = $199.99
Switch OLED = $349.99

Just remember that Switch original used a LCD screen, smaller kickstand, only had 32gb of storage and original speaker. Switch OLED had new Oled screen, probably bigger louder speaker, 64gb of storage, bigger more steady kickstand and is backwards compatible with all Switch games. Switch Lite can only be play tabletop and handheld mode only, almost same feature as original Switch but with smaller screen and dock support, no joycon attachment meaning you can use joycons but you can't charge em through the Switch Lite, had full true d-pad and is not very ideal for most games especially those awful cloud version of no name games like Hitman 3 and Control.

Was hoping for a Pro with more power. I don't care for 4K, but would prefer a bit more eyecandy on certain titles and higher framerates. I'm perfectly happy with my 2nd gen LCD Switch.

@Ccc1985
I will getting OLED edition next year.

@HamatoYoshi
White is a pretty color for me and for some peoples.

@Brummieendo90 For 23 years, I've been dying to tell you what I thought of scalpers, and now... well, being a Christian woman, I can't say it!

@xxx128 Not sure why some people have this impression - it may be because they’ve seen OLED panels in shops where they’re typically overdriven. OLEDs can look very natural and are much less susceptible to burn in these days.

There’s no indication that OLEDs will have less input lag. Some LCDs are sub 1ms - lag is much more dependent on how the panel
Is driven.

I thought improvements like this would be slipped in over time without much fanfare or a price hike. Kind of like Apple drip feeds improvements into their laptops so they can justify keeping the prices constant while the features slowly improve.

@TheFox If it's just minor improvement such as a better lit screen (like the GBA SP2), more comfortable design (like the Game Boy Pocket) or a longer battery life (like the second Switch model) then the price probably won't change much but this model had major improvements like more storage, a new dock, better kickstand, a new advance screen, and new speaker so those justify that $50 raise. If all they did was make the screen 7" (LCD instead of OLED) then I'm sure it'll still remain at $300 and Nintendo probably wouldn't make a big deal out of it like how they did the GBA SP2 (a system some people still believe was a myth cause they thought the Game Boy Micro was the only backlit one).

@ModdedInkling If it's a first gen Switch you can sell it for more than the price of a new Switch (not to a game store, but on ebay or similar). The first version sells for more because it's easier to hack.

Even though I have an OG model I don't use handheld mode enough to justify an upgrade from day 1.

If you genuinely need this much help buying a games console, please, stop voting.

@sleepinglion I agree. This is the most minimal possible. Not even Bluetooth….

That said, I got mine in 2017 and it is showing its age. Back panel is warped and the ventilation grill broke off. Fan sometimes makes a little noise. But I am going to stretch it out as long as I can. Definitely won’t pay a dime over retail.

I've had the Switch since July 2017 and mine is still in good condition. It has the odd scratches on the screen from playing in docked mode and drifting issues on the left joycon. But besides that I don't see a reason for me to upgrade since I barely play in portable mode. Plus the console is pricey in Canada going for $449 CAD. At that price point I'm better off waiting until Nintendo releases new Gen hardware.

@Ghost_of_Hasashi Yeah, $150 is a fine enough difference between a notable reduction of features. The Lite's small screen can be a pain for games designed to impress, but a decent slice of the eshop has simpler looks that work fine on portable scale.

As for the base model, I'm not seeing anything to warrant saving a mere $50. I expect it will either quietly phase out like the launch version, or get a price cut and continue as a mid tier option, but not for a while. Right now, Nintendo wants the OLED model to make a big splash. The small difference will only help steer people to the OLED.

I play pretty much solely handheld and I don't see this as anything worthwhile. As a few others have chimed I'm about, something like fixed joy con or them selling the actual unit itself(no joy con, dock, or anything else) might've grabbed my attention; alas...

@Matl Fortunately I have not been stuck at home, but even on the odd lazy day at home I can't remember the last time I've played my Switch docked, tbh with you. I'll play it during a commercial before I connect it to the TV.

It's kinda hilarious when you consider the fact that the Lite doesn't appeal to me since I do like the option of being able to dock it, even if I virtually never use it(and I have one of those portable docks since my og dock stopped working).

@rockodoodle My back panel came all the way off(was flimsy anyways, so I replaced it with a transparent orange one which I love), the og cheap kickstand is missing, and I'm pretty sure my left slider rail is broken, but like you I'm just going to stick with my og standard for the foreseeable future. Keep holdin' on, yo.

@GrailUK Love it! Although everything’s so much more more complicated tech wise these days. Back in the day you’d just buy a good TV (preferably a Sony trinitron), plug it in, adjust brightness & contrast & you’re good to go.

Now it’s a minefield - the TV buying process is a bloody research marathon.

The real question is if it fits my current switch case.

As someone who never takes their switch outside of their home, this version is not for me. The only time I play in handheld mode is when I’m in bed but that’s it. Can’t justify this purchase BUT if you are someone who a) doesn’t have a switch yet or b) plays on the go majority of time (especially with other people) then it’s fine

@rockodoodle Amen, bro. Bluetooth headphone connectivity would have been welcome. But again, effort. You make a good point about aging consoles, though, and this could be a great replacement for folks.

Here's another reason buying it now won't do anything upgrading.

Switch OLED won't offer any performance improvements over the base model, then.

If it did that would be different. The current v2 is still being sold so to say you can get a OLED is misleading buyers here.

If you ain't got a switch, i feel like 50€ more for the new one is a no brainer. If your switch is still working, it doesnt feel even remotely smart to buy a new one, unless you can sell your old one for a decent price

I own a launch Switch but play docked most of the time so it's a no from me. I've more been looking at getting a Lite as a secondary system I can take on the go that's a bit easier to carry around and less likely to get damaged

Big article to answer a super simple question.

If you dont have one and use it in handheld a lot then sure, its not much more for a better screen.

If you already have one then its virtually pointless and a waste of money for all but the die hard Nintendo fans that think they can do no wrong. Less than an extra inch on the screen and slightly better colours and brighter screen is just a waste of money.

I have a 2017 Switch and it hasn't had any sort of problems. Sticking with it until a true upgrade is released or it stops working.

You might just wanna wait for the switch pro. I bet the oled model will replace the regular switch and then they'll come out with the real switch pro.

Basically this is a short answer - if you only play handheld then get the OLED model. If you play docked then it is not worth a second glance.
As for a Switch Pro. I doubt there will be such a thing.

@zapswitch Switch Pro? This is it folks. Nintendo might, and I say might, bring out a dock which allows 4K to the TV but other than that I would be surprised if a more powerful Switch is seen in the next 2 years if ever.

@Frobodobo it doesnt feel even remotely smart to buy a new one, unless you can sell your old one for a decent price
If my GS gives me $200 credit I consider it but if only $150usd forget it.

I worry if the new bigger OLED screen will only make more apparent the Switch's limitations. for example, I found games like DOOM Eternal or Mortal Kombat 11 to be only a good experience in portable mode, while Docked mode really show all their flaws compared to other versions (I own the Xbox Series X Versions of both so really have no need to play either of those in docked mode).

I wonder if the new screen will only make the flaws more apparent.

Should I buy, or Should I invest my money in a PS5.

It's affordable.
The screen is bigger.
If a game looks rubbish on the existing Switch, it will still look rubbish on the new one.
I don't like the black Switch it looks like my old one, and I think the Panda look, looks naff?

DANMARK!!! DANMARK!!!

(ok, I'll let myself out)

OLED is small screen not Docked TV or anything else so people are making it out for nothing here. I can play and the game looks great on my v2 Switch how someone can say otherwise is just plain dumb here. This isn't a upgrade in GPU but only display and anything worse will be worse on OLED. A GPU upgrade would improve the gaming but since that isn't included OLED is just a pricy upgrade with NO EyeCandy to show for it. So go ahead and toss your 350 away and then if they said a year later a 4K model comes out for the same price then I wonder whom got the better deal. They can still put a 4K unit out this year it's been since 2017 since the original GPU was there so why would you think they wouldn't by now have a 4k Development unit hiding of which they most likely have but developer are probably tight lip about it.

No point in buying a console with a processor that was aging horribly back when it came out in 2017.

It has trouble achieving 30fps @ 1080p. Low frame rate is a huge glaring issue that Nintendo seems to have glossed right over.

Switch OLED is a hard pass for me. They need to release the Switch Pro with a new Nvidia SoC that supports DLSS 2.0 so it can keep up with current gen 4K TV's when docked. Even 1440p 60fps would have been a worthy improvement. Sadly we'll have to wait even longer to have a crisp clean image and decent frames.

@Wavey84 Does the screen look nice? Ofc. Lemme clarify though... is it worth the upgrade -price- to me? Heck nah. I'm not shelling out full price + $50 extra just for a more colorful screen, when things look perfectly fine on my og Switch and it functions exactly the same.

Like I said, if they actually improved on the things(ie joy con) that actually needed fixing, I would probably think to jump on the OLED model as a bundle, or even if they sold the unit itself by itself(like they do every other component - dock, joy con).

@Mips

There are different numbers being thrown out there. Usually when you see 1 ms for LCD it's in relation to grey to grey pixel response time. OLEDs are definitely faster with pixel transitions than LCD. The whole panel for OLED usually refreshes in 2 ms versus LCD which will usually take at least 4-5 ms with all colors. This is different than display lag which is the time for a display to take the image. A gaming LCD should be comparable to OLED in display lag and this is usually around 10 ms for good monitors.

@Mips you made me create an account here just to thank you for this response!

@ModdedInkling It wouldn’t be fair to get full retail value for a Switch that I have used for many, many hours over the last 3.5 years, but yes, a trade in option would be nice.

Congrats England

I'll be upgrading myself, as I did with the 3DS XL. The bigger the screen the better. Not to mention OLED is awesome, one of the few things I liked about the Vita.

@Matl Today
We only have one TV…

@jarvismp
Now that you mention it yeah I could just see them doing a 4k dock with no other improvements for awhile

I have the original 2017 model, but I don't plan on getting the OLED model. I play mine in docked mode, and if I have to play it in handheld mode, like when I'm on the road or taking a trip somewhere, I have it plugged in at all times.

I don't plan on getting the new dock, either, because even though it has a LAN port built in, I don't have an ethernet port in my bedroom, and I know for a fact my parents are not willing to spend the money or effort to put in an ethernet port into the wall just so I can play via a wired connection.

Simply put, Nintendo is going to have to do a lot more to sell me on the idea of upgrading to a new Switch model. If they ever do come out with a more powerful model (more powerful processor and graphics card, more RAM, upscale to 4K, etc.), I'll get a new one then. But for now, it's a hard pass for me.

@Tandy255
Yeah, that's what I mean. There's no option where you could ACTUALLY pay $50 to upgrade.

@Wilforce
Depends on the place you sell it to. The only place I can think of is eBay and other indie retail sites.

@ModdedInkling But you can’t expect Nintendo to credit you $300 for your used Switch. Maybe $150.

@zapswitch It just seems an obvious and relatively cheap way of getting a pro out there and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see that sooner rather than later but this is Nintendo and they could so something totally left field yet!

@Wavey84 Good one - I keep my G60 Panasonic plasma for those reasons and more. Plus a load of CRTs but that’s another story.

@Tandy255
Like I said, that's exactly the problem.

@ModdedInkling Good luck asking the car dealership to give you all of your money back for trading in your four year old used car.

@Tandy255
Yeah, exactly (again).

@ModdedInkling Gotcha! 😂. I thought we disagreed.

@Wavey84 I won’t use BFI on my LG - too dark. Interesting re the Sony though.

The prize would be a new or low use ZT65, the best plasma ever made according to most reviewers. There’s a used one on UK eBay for a grand. A new one went for 3 grand a while back. That would be my dream TV - and no brightness loss from years of use.

@Waa-Laa It has the same dimensions, should be fine

Nintendo what are doing?... This is not an upgrade {facepalm}

Even if I get the OLED model, HOW AM I GOING TO TRANSFER MY SAVE DATA FOR SPATOON 2 ON THAT CONSOLE!?

So basicly a revision update like the 2019 battery update version, and the switch lite.

If you use the switch primarly for on the go, i would say, yes buy it. Because amoled (same as Oled) has better contrast (check samsung phones) then lcd-led tech and definetly better colors and black levels.

But for people who ay mainly on tv, it is a huge dissapointment, en definetly for those who where expecting a total new nintendo switch.

I'll stick to my 2017 version. If it works don't update i always say.

@Wavey84
Amoled has too many benefits over any other screen format.

It has better responce time, better colors, sharpness, and no you don't get burnins.
If you like games to look better in the go, i would advise to but it.

Problem is 50/50 and those portable will use a Dock and then how benefit was the OLED? Also portable needs to be on-charge otherwise your battery will run out eventually. And some games are harder to see on smaller screen. Take BOTW or MHS2 some details are left out for display stability and on Docked you see more details. That's the problem with just a OLED upgrade but not GPU upgrade to compensate for that. And MHS2 shows that when portable mode.

@Matl For me, it's the other way around. Why would you buy a Switch if you just want to play docked? It's inferior to both PC and other not just current but also previous generation consoles. For the exclusives? Sure, that's completely fair, but not all of us are super interested in those. I personally did buy a couple, but I haven't actually played any of them yet.

So not saying there's anything wrong with people playing docked, but I very much think portability is the Switch's selling point just as much, if not more than its exclusives.

@Mips The pixel density doesn't really matter to much. The optimal viewing distance for normal switch is 16 inches and it is 15 inches for the new OLED.