Nintendo Switch OLED vs Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite

Updated: November 2024

The Nintendo Switch OLED came out in October 2021, but what exactly differentiates it from the Standard Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite?

At first glance, the most notable differences between the devices are the prices, with the Nintendo Switch Lite being the cheapest of the consoles available from £199.99, the Standard Nintendo Switch starting at £259.99, and the Nintendo Switch OLED coming in at the highest cost, from £299.99 (down from £309.99 in many places, as it's on offer in the run up to Black Friday and Christmas). But what features make the price points so different between the consoles?

It must be stated that no matter which Switch you purchase, you’ll be able to navigate the same interface, and play in handheld mode, however not all the same games can be played across all the consoles. This is due to the Switch Lite being designed to be played in handheld mode only, which will restrict you from playing games such as Nintendo Switch Sports, Super Mario Party and Ring Fit Adventure, just to name a few. The Standard and OLED models allow you to play in handheld or docked mode (connected to the TV) with the included Joy-Cons and dock.

The biggest difference between the three devices, at first glance, will be the screen sizes, although the screen resolution is the same across the board, along with both the standard and OLED consoles having a multi-touch screen, while the Lite model has a capacitive touch screen. 

The Nintendo Switch Lite is the smallest of the three devices, having a 5.5-inch LCD screen, with the Standard Switch next in line with a 6.2-inch LCD screen, and the OLED model is the biggest, with an upgraded OLED screen with a size of 7-inches. The Nintendo Switch Lite also lacks a brightness sensor which is present with the other two consoles.

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A huge selling point for a lot of customers when purchasing a gaming console is the internal storage. The Nintendo Switch Lite and Standard Nintendo Switch both have an internal storage size of 32GB whereas the new Nintendo Switch OLED model has a 64GB capacity, twice the size of the other two consoles. 

It’s worth noting that all three models give you the option to increase the storage space up to 2TB using microSDHC or microSDXC cards (sold separately). The average cost of a 256GB microSDXC card is £35.

A small feature that consumers are loving on the OLED version is the bigger kickstand that runs the length of the entire console. This makes it more stable while playing a game using the Joy-Cons. The standard version has a comparatively flimsy and unstable kickstand that is only a couple of inches wide, so it might be a little less steady. 

The most attractive feature of the OLED model is the crisper display, with improved photographic contrast and more vivid colours, thanks to the OLED screen. As mentioned previously; the resolution specifications are the same across all versions, however, the Lite and Standard models only have an LCD screen so the colours aren’t quite as clean and crisp. 

The first thing to keep in mind when comparing all three consoles is that they all have the same operating system and can play the same games, minus the Nintendo Switch Lite which can play handheld games only.

If you want a bigger screen and a crisper picture when playing, then the OLED model could be the best option for you, but if you don’t mind a smaller screen (which still offers great picture quality) the Standard or Lite versions could be a better choice. 

You might be enticed by the internal storage size of the OLED model, which is double the size of the Lite and Standard consoles, however, as mentioned, you can upgrade the storage dramatically on all versions, so it shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. 

If you’re looking to use a Nintendo Switch exclusively for handheld games, such as; Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Pokémon Legends: Arceus, then your best option might be the Nintendo Switch Lite. 

However, if you’re after a console for those family game nights playing games such as; Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, 1-2 Switch or Mario Party Superstars, then the Standard Nintendo Switch or OLED models will be your best option as you can use the Joy-Cons and Dock to host the best game night imaginable.

One other thing to consider is that the Nintendo Switch 2 is likely to be announced in the near future. Details are scarce and Nintendo haven't officially announced the new handheld console, but we do expect an announcement sometime in 2025.

There are also more options on the market for consoles now, with Sony having recently released the upgraded PS5 Pro. While the PS5 has historically been extremely expensive, there's more likelihood of flash deals and discounts around key times of year like Black Friday and in the run up to Christmas, so you may stumble across deals with bring the price closer in line with the Switch.