Which Nintendo Switch is best for you? Switch, Switch Lite or Switch OLED

3 years ago 316

(Pocket-lint) - The Nintendo Switch has proven hugely palmy since its instauration successful 2017. Worldwide income apical 85 cardinal conscionable 4 years aboriginal and the Japanese gaming elephantine seems to person recovered its feet again.

There's conscionable 1 problem: which of the 3 Switch consoles should you buy?

The modular Nintendo Switch was joined by the handheld-only Switch Lite successful 2019, with the upgraded exemplary - Switch OLED - present officially successful the wild, too.

In this guide, we'll beryllium providing a little overview of each console successful bid to assistance you abstracted them much intelligibly and observe which is the close 1 for you.

squirrel_widget_5717898

Which Nintendo Switch? Switch v Switch Lite v Switch OLED

No substance which Nintendo Switch you choose, you volition beryllium capable to play the immense majority, if not all, of existent oregon aboriginal Switch games. The lone caveat is that, arsenic a handheld-only console, the Switch Lite is not susceptible of playing games designed for question gameplay utilizing idiosyncratic Joy-Cons. The different 2 consoles tin play each Switch games without exception.

The Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED models are susceptible of playing successful handheld and TV modes. You tin besides usage either to play multiplayer games by utilizing their respective screen's tabletop basal and each removable Joy-Con arsenic an idiosyncratic controller.

They some travel with a dock that offers a HDMI output, positive USB ports for transportation to outer gamepads and different accessories. When plugged into a dock, Switch games are presented successful up to 1080p (Full HD) and 60 frames-per-second. When utilized successful handheld mode, they tally astatine 720p and 60fps.

The Switch Lite is not compatible with a dock, nor tin it plug into a TV. However, its surface is susceptible of 720p and 60fps too.

Read connected to find retired what each exemplary is each about, and besides see our dedicated Switch v Switch OLED and Switch v Switch Lite comparisons.

Pocket-lint

Which Nintendo Switch is champion for you? photograph 6

Nintendo Switch OLED

squirrel_widget_5717928

Dimensions: 102mm x 242mm x 13.9mm (with Joy-Cons attached)
Weight: 320g
Display: 7-inch OLED, 720p60
Storage: 64GB
TV mode: Yes, 1080p60
Battery life: Up to 9 hours (claimed)

Now officially available, the Nintendo Switch OLED is the latest variation to the family.

Consider it a flimsy upgrade to the archetypal Switch, but not possibly arsenic antithetic arsenic immoderate mightiness person hoped.

It is identical successful galore ways to the Switch, including size and signifier factor, but has a 7-inch 720p OLED display, instead. This provides a wider viewing angle, much punchy colours and greater contrast. Also, arsenic determination is nary backlight (OLED pixels are self-illuminating) the bezel is smaller. This allows for the larger surface to acceptable the aforesaid dimensions arsenic the modular version.

The Joy-Cons are the aforesaid arsenic the original, but determination is present a importantly larger kickstand connected the backmost of the show portion to marque for much dependable two-player enactment erstwhile utilized connected a tabletop.

Processing, RAM and the remainder of the interior spec are identical to different Switch models, but you bash get treble the interior storage: 64GB this time. It's astir apt inactive not capable for most, who volition privation to adhd a Switch microSD card, but it tin acceptable much games natively.

The caller included dock has been precise somewhat restyled, too, with a curvier borderline and a caller LAN larboard for those who similar to link to their net router by cable.

Other than that, there's small other antithetic astir the Switch OLED. That improved show mightiness good beryllium capable for many, though, and justifies the small other you person to wage for the privilege.

Read our afloat Nintendo Switch OLED review

Nintendo Switch

squirrel_widget_140007

Dimensions: 102mm x 239mm x 13.9mm (with Joy-Cons attached)
Weight: 297g
Display: 6.2-inch LCD, 720p60
Storage: 32GB
TV mode: Yes, 1080p60
Battery life: Up to 9 hours (claimed)

The Nintendo Switch you tin bargain present is not technically the archetypal - it was upgraded a mates of years ago, with a tweaked processor and amended artillery life. You tin marque definite you're not buying the older exemplary successful our useful usher here: How to archer if you're buying the caller Nintendo Switch oregon the aged one.

Apart from those insignificant updates, the premise is identical - it is simply a games console that works arsenic efficaciously erstwhile plugged into a TV arsenic it does erstwhile utilized arsenic a handheld, either determination other successful the location oregon connected your travels.

Games tin beryllium downloaded oregon plugged into a cartridge slot connected the top, though you volition apt request to bargain a microSD paper separately, arsenic the interior 32GB of retention volition capable quickly. It mightiness not adjacent beryllium capable for conscionable 1 of the astir fashionable titles.

The Switch is simply a 2-in-1 console - it comprises a handheld portion with a 6.2-inch 720p LCD touchscreen, positive 2 detachable Joy-Con controllers. These tin beryllium utilized erstwhile clipped to either broadside of the screen, for solo portable gaming, arsenic abstracted controllers for two-players oregon more, oregon arsenic question controllers for definite games.

The surface tin besides treble arsenic a portable display, with a tiny kickstand enabling you to spot it astatine an space connected a tabletop.

The Switch besides doubles arsenic a TV console, erstwhile slotted into an included charging dock. As good arsenic complaint your device, it has an HDMI output truthful you tin play the aforesaid games connected a TV successful 1080p. Both the surface and TV output are susceptible of up to 60fps.

Essentially, this mentation of the Switch is inactive large for those who privation to play some astatine location and erstwhile retired and about. The OLED exemplary is the amended console wide - peculiarly if you'll usage it successful handheld mode a batch - but, with the modular Switch present coming successful astatine a lesser price, this continues to beryllium a precise viable option.

Read our afloat Nintendo Switch review

Nintendo Switch Lite

squirrel_widget_160842

Dimensions: 91.1mm x 208mm x 13.9mm
Weight: 275g
Display: 5.5-inch LCD, 720p60
Storage: 32GB
TV mode: No
Battery life: Up to 7 hours (claimed)

The Nintendo Switch Lite is simply a spot antithetic to its larger stablemates. It is simply a handheld-only console, truthful does not travel with detachable Joy-Con controllers oregon dock. It cannot beryllium plugged into a TV, either.

Instead, it is lighter, arsenic its sanction suggests, and adjacent much portable. The controls are built into the instrumentality and the surface is much compact. It has a 5.5-inch 720p LCD touchscreen that is susceptible of up to 60fps gaming.

The processing portion is identical to the remainder of the family, however, truthful it is not little capable. It tin besides play nigh-on each Switch crippled disposable present oregon coming soon. The lone objection are galore of those that necessitate question - arsenic you don't person detachable question controllers. There is inactive a question sensor wrong the Switch Lite, truthful immoderate enactment but not all.

Like the Nintendo Switch above, you lone get 32GB of retention wrong the Switch Lite, truthful you should see a microSD paper for expanding that. A cartridge slot is besides contiguous for boxed Switch games.

Essentially, the Switch Lite is an perfect enactment for those who don't request to plug their instrumentality into a TV and conscionable privation thing smaller and easier to chuck into a bag.