2024's top Nintendo Switch console: OLED, Lite, or Original?
Which Nintendo Switch system is the greatest fit for you, according to you? Based on our own hours of gaming and in-person testing, this guide will suggest the best Switch for your requirements and budget. The Nintendo Switch, Lite, and OLED are the three available varieties of the system that run the same games and have comparable hardware and software.Each device's pricing, size, controls, and screen varies from one another. While the Switch Lite is the least priced variant, it can only be used for portable gaming instead of TV docking. The OLED model, on the other hand, is the most expensive, with a 7-inch display and 65GB of internal storage for games.
Regardless of your final decision, the Switch continues to be one of the greatest portable gaming systems available, with an ever-growing library of new Switch games. It's difficult to choose poorly!
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At SmartRead, our experts spend days testing games, phones, tech, and services. We always share honest opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
Nintendo Switch
The best Nintendo Switch for most
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| Memory capacity | 32GB |
| Touch screen | 6.2-inch LCD |
| Total ports | 3 USB ports, 1 HDMI port, 1 AC adapter port |
| Playable docked? | Yes |
| Detachable Joy-Cons | Two |
- Reasonably priced
- Can be played handheld or docked
- No LAN port
- Memory capacity on the smaller side
The original Nintendo Switch lets you play both on your TV and on the go. It’s on the big side, but that’s where Switch carry cases come in, and it’s still easy enough to carry around with you.
The Nintendo Switch comes with 32 GB of internal storage capacity, compared to 64 GB on the Switch OLED. If you plan on downloading all of the best new Switch games, you might find it filling up quite quickly. However, a microSD card will soon solve that problem.
With the packaged-in Joy-Cons, you and a friend can play on the same screen. While this is a very viable option, the larger, clearer screen of the Switch OLED might be preferential to you if this is going to be a major part of your Switch usage.
Many gamers fall into the category of either exclusively playing their Switch through the television, or exclusively playing it in handheld mode. The standard model is great at doing both of these things, isn’t overly expensive, and doesn’t have any major problems – that’s why we recommend it as the best Nintendo Switch overall.
Read our Nintendo Switch review here for a full breakdown.
Nintendo Switch Lite
The most affordable Nintendo Switch
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| Memory capacity | 32GB |
| Touch screen | 5.5-inch |
| Total ports | No dock, so no ports |
| Playable docked? | No |
| Detachable Joy-Cons | None |
- Cheapest Nintendo Switch you can get
- Small and convenient for handheld play
- Cannot be played on a TV
- No detachable Joy-Con controllers
This smaller model is specifically designed to be an affordable option for gaming on the go, making it ideal for children or anyone working with a tighter budget. If you’re someone who doesn’t foresee themselves playing their Switch on the TV, then you have very little to lose by going for the Switch Lite.
While it is not compatible with Switch docks (so can’t be played on the big screen), its smaller size makes it ideal for handheld gaming, as unlike other models, it could actually fit inside your pocket. While some gamers won’t care about this at all, the Switch Lite just looks a lot nicer than the standard and the OLED models. It comes in a number of bright, vibrant color schemes. It’ll look great in a gamer bedroom and is just generally a good-looking bit of gaming hardware.
If you’re a big fan of multiplayer games, however, it’s best to stick to the original Switch or an OLED, as the Lite does not have detachable Joy-Cons. You can still use extra controllers with it to play with others, but keep this in mind if you play games with friends and family often.
You can read our Nintendo Switch Lite review for more information, here.
Nintendo Switch OLED
The best Nintendo Switch screen
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| Memory capacity | 64GB |
| Touch screen | 7-inch OLED |
| Total ports | 2 USB ports, 1 Lan port, 1 HDMI port, 1 AC adapter port |
| Playable docked? | Yes |
| Detachable Joy-Cons | 2 |
- Largest OLED screen of all Switch models
- Best memory capacity
- Improved dock with added LAN
- Few benefits for those who play docked
- The most expensive option
Based on the specs alone, the Nintendo Switch OLED is the best version of the Switch. However, we didn’t feel we could give it the number one spot as it has a substantially bigger price tag, for upgrades that won’t appeal to all users. If you plan to play this at home on your TV exclusively, you’ll barely benefit from the improvements at all and will be better off with the standard version.
If you prefer playing in handheld mode, the best way to do so is through the Switch OLED. The 7-inch screen makes your games look better than ever, and there’s even an option in the game’s settings to adjust the console screen colors to make them as vivid as possible. If this ever looks too saturated to you, you can just set it to appear as normal – you might want to adjust the color settings on a case-by-case basis.
The OLED has 64GB memory – double the size of the standard model – although, you could buy a micro SD card for Switch and expand the capacity. Another benefit of the OLED is the LAN port, which allows you to use a wired internet connection for smoother online gaming.
There are also changes to the design of the dock. It’s a little more spacious than the earlier model, so it’s a bit easier to get cables plugged in. We have a full Nintendo Switch OLED review for you to consider, here.
The greatest Nintendo Switch: A guide
Although the Nintendo Switch OLED and Lite both offer their special advantages, the regular model will be the best option for the majority of users. When you're looking to buy a new Switch, keep the following in mind:
- Play modes – The Nintendo Switch Lite only supports a handheld gaming mode. The Original and OLED offer Tabletop and TV modes, so you can play without having to hold them and plug them into a TV. They both come with a Nintendo Switch dock and HDMI cable.
- Size – If you enjoy handheld gameplay, the dimensions of the Switch might be important. As the Switch Lite is the smallest, it’s best for young players and those with small hands. While all three models are 0.55 inches deep, both the OLED and original Switch are longer and higher. They’re best suited to docked gameplay or larger hands.
- Price – Do you have a tight budget? If so, the Switch Lite is the cheapest, followed by the Original and then the OLED.
- Battery – If you want to play predominantly while you’re traveling, battery life might be an important consideration. The Nintendo Switch Lite has a lower life of 3-7 hours, while both the Original and OLED give you around 4.5 – 9 hours. Of course, how much juice you actually get will vary between games.
- Design – Do you want to show off your unique personality with a bold and bright Nintendo Switch? Maybe you’d rather have a sleek white version. The Switch Lite comes in a wider range of fun hues, including turquoise, yellow, and coral.
To learn more about how we compile these lists, see our how we test website. See the following FAQs if you have any further questions:
Which Nintendo Switch version is the best?
We still believe that the normal version is a good middle-of-the-road option that will be the best decision for the majority of users, particularly anybody who likes to play a lot of games on their TV screen, even if the Lite and OLED each offer some distinct perks.
Get the OLED instead if you want to use handheld mode more often and money is of no concern. However, the Lite is the greatest option if you're trying to save costs and don't mind being confined to a mobile device.
Which is superior, OLED or the Nintendo Switch?
Though not much, the OLED has superior specifications. The OLED has a much superior screen than the other console, although both are essentially identical inside. For those who only play on the TV, the screen has little effect; but, if you're a portable player, the OLED will provide a much better visual quality.
2024: Is the Nintendo Switch still worth it?
Yes, the Nintendo Switch is still worthwhile in 2024, in our view . Despite the impending release of a new Nintendo system, the Switch still has a massive game catalog. Knowing Nintendo, the Switch will still be the only option to play many of its most pleasant exclusives when the next system launches, making it worthwhile to own if you're a gamer, particularly considering how large its catalog is.With any luck, this will enable you to choose the ideal Switch for you. You'll be curling up with all of the finest Switch games very soon. To get the most out of your Switch system, check out our guide on the best Nintendo Switch accessories, which is updated often.Read our guide on the top Switch games for kids if you're buying for a young child; it will help you get ideas for games they could like.