Nintendo Switch Models Comparison: Original, Lite & OLED

Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles of recent times, along with Microsoft’s Xbox and PlayStation. Many gamers love to play video games on these gaming consoles. 

This Nintendo Switch console has a huge gaming library, and in this library, you will get several types of games. Moreover, if we compare the other console’s price with this one, we will find it very cheap.  

Different Nintendo Switch models exist, such as Nintendo Switch Original, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED. I love to play games on this console, and when I was planning to buy this console, I had one common doubt which Nintendo Switch model should I Buy? 

Usually, there are 3 Nintendo Switch models and these models are not similar based on their screen size, screen type, internal storage, and dockable feature.  So, in this article, I will guide you about these different Nintendo Switch models. 

Before jumping into the features, pros, and cons of these different Nintendo Switch models, it is better to learn the basic differences between these consoles. So, I created a comparison table below-  

FeatureNintendo Switch OriginalNintendo Switch LiteNintendo Switch OLED
Screen Size6.2 Inches5.5 Inches7 Inches
Screen TypeLCDLCDOLED
Resolution1280×7201280×7201280×720
Battery Life4.5-9 hours3-7 hours4.5-9 hours
Internal Storage32 GB32 GB64 GB
DockableYesNoYes
Joy-Con ControllersIncludedNot IncludedIncluded
Weight0.66 lbs0.61 lbs0.92 lbs
Dimensions4.02×9.21×0.55 inches3.93×8.22×0.53 inches4.8×9.2×0.63 inches

Now, we will check out the features, pros, and cons of these different Nintendo Switch models one by one, and at the end, we will come to a conclusion about which one is suitable for you. So, read this article till the end.   

#1 – Nintendo Switch Original

Nintendo Switch Original

The Nintendo Switch original is a hybrid gaming console that Nintendo released in 2017, and it is a kind of tablet that you can use as a portable device, or it can also be docked for home console use. Let’s explore the features, pros, cons, and specifications of this gaming console. 

Features:

This Nintendo Switch original gaming console version is very popular, and several people buy this to play games. Here are some of the important features of this Nintendo Switch gaming console. 

  • Portability & Display: This original version of the Nintendo Switch has an LCD-type screen with a 6.2-inch screen size and 1280×720 screen resolution. Moreover, this gaming console is portable because of its hybrid feature. 
  • Gaming Experience: There are different types of games you can play on this console, such as action games, adventure games, and role-playing games. The battery lifespan of this console is really higher, around 6.5 hours, so you can enjoy HD gaming for a long period. 

Pros:

After talking about the features of this gaming console, we will now check out some of the major pros or advantages of why people buy this gaming console and whether it is worth your money or not. 

  • Joy-Con Controllers: This original version of the Nintendo Switch console comes with Joy-Con controllers, and this is really useful for those gamers who want to play games with friends & family. Moreover, gamers who want to use motion controls must get benefits from these controllers.  
  • Affordability: The original version of the Nintendo Switch gaming console is available at 299$, and this price is far cheaper in comparison to other gaming consoles. Moreover, this price is also lower compared to the Nintendo Switch OLED version. 

Cons:

Those who purchased this original Nintendo Switch gaming console faced some issues when playing games on it, and here we will check out what are some of those issues and whether they will affect your gameplay or not. 

  • No Backwards Compatibility: This Nintendo Switch doesn’t have any backward compatibility with previous Nintendo Switch consoles. This means you can’t play games from Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii U, and Nintendo DS.
  • Price of The Games: It is true that you will find different games on the Nintendo eShop, but these games are not free, and you have to pay a higher price to get these games.  Most games are listed for 59$ on the Nintendo e-shop.

#2 – Nintendo Switch Lite

Nintendo Switch Lite

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a great option for those who want to play games only in handheld mode. This version of Nintendo Switch is lighter and smaller compared to the original Nintendo Switch version. Let’s find out the features, pros, and cons of this version of Nintendo Switch. 

Features:

This is the lite version of the original Nintendo Switch gaming console, and many gamers love to play games on it instead of the original one. Here are some of the important features of this Nintendo Switch Lite gaming console-

  • Display: The screen of this Nintendo Switch Lite console is an LCD-type screen, and the size of the screen is around 5.5 inches. You can play HD games on this console because its screen resolution is around 1280×720. 
  • Colors & Battery Life: The battery lifespan of this gaming console is between 3-7 hours, depending on what type of games you are playing on it. Moreover, this gaming console comes in a variety of colors, including- yellow, gray, and blue. 

Pros:

As we learn about the features of this console, we will dive deeper into why people buy this Nintendo Switch model instead of the original one and whether it is worth your money or not. So, Let’s check the pros of this console- 

  • Affordable: The Nintendo Switch Lite gaming console is cheaper compared to the other Nintendo Switch models. You will get this console at 199$ which is almost 100$ less than the original Nintendo Switch version. 
  • Compatible With Nintendo Switch Games: This Lite version will support all the Nintendo Switch games that are compatible with handheld mode. Some of those gamers are- Super Mario Odyssey and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. 

Cons:

You will get this gaming console at a low price, but there are some downsides that you will face while playing games, and here I have mentioned some of those cons that most gamers face when playing games on this console-  

  • Smaller Screen: Compared to all the Nintendo Switch models, the screen size of this console is small, and it is a disadvantage for those gamers who love to play games on larger screens. 
  • Cannot Be Played on TV: The Nintendo Switch has a dock, but the Nintendo Switch Lite does not have this dock, and therefore you cannot play games on TV with this console, which is a huge disadvantage for some people.

#3 – Nintendo Switch OLED

Nintendo Switch Oled

This Nintendo Switch OLED is the newer version of the Nintendo Switch gaming console, and it was released in 2021. In comparison to the other Nintendo Switch models, this was big and had higher storage. Let’s discuss the features, pros, and cons of this model.

Features:

The Nintendo Switch OLED version launched recently and has some additional features compared to the other two Nintendo Switch models. So, let’s check out some of the features of this console. 

  • Display & Storage: The Nintendo Switch OLED version has a 7-inch display screen, which is bigger than the other Nintendo Switch models. Moreover, this console has 64GB internal storage, which is also higher than the other Nintendo Switch models. 
  • Wide Adjustable Stand: This Nintendo Switch OLED version has a wider adjustable stand. It is an advantage because now you will easily find a comfortable view while playing games on tabletop mode. 

Pros:-

After knowing the features of this console, we will now dive deeper into the facts about why people buy this console and whether buying this console is worth your money or not. So, let’s learn about some of its pros.

  • LAN Port: If you want to play online games on your console, then this Nintendo Switch model is made for you because it has a LAN port in the dock, so you can play online games even if you have a poor Wi-Fi connection. 
  • Audio & New Joy-Con Controllers: This Nintendo Switch OLED model comes with new Joy-Con controllers, which are larger. Moreover, this console has enhanced audio that will give you a better sound experience while gaming. 

Cons:

Some people get a better gaming experience on this console, but some people face some issues with it. So, here I have mentioned some of the cons that people are facing on this console.

  • Expensive: This Nintendo Switch OLED gaming console has a larger screen but a higher price. Its price is around 349$, whereas the original Nintendo Switch model is available at 299$. 
  • Heavier: Because of the larger screen and new dock design, this Nintendo Switch OLED model is heavier compared to the other Nintendo Switch models. Its weight is around 0.78 pounds, whereas the original model weighs around 0.67 pounds.

Conclusion: Which Nintendo Switch Model Is Suitable For You? 

This article explains that the Nintendo Switch console has three different models- Nintendo Switch Original, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED. All these models have some advantages & disadvantages. Here we will come to a conclusion about which model is suitable for you. 

If you want a versatile gaming console, then the original Nintendo Switch is the best choice because it can be played on TV, in handheld mode, and in tabletop mode. However, if you are looking for an affordable gaming console, then the Nintendo Switch Lite is a suitable choice. 

But, if you are looking for a console with a larger screen, then the Nintendo Switch OLED is the perfect choice for you. Ultimately I would recommend you buy a model that fulfills your specific needs. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):-

I know you have some questions regarding this topic, so I have mentioned some of the important questions that will clear your doubts regarding this topic. So, let’s explore the FAQs one by one. 

Q1. Which Nintendo Switch Model Has a Larger Screen?

Ans. Of the three Nintendo Switch models, the Nintendo Switch OLED version has a larger screen, around 7 inches. After the OLED model, the original Nintendo Switch has a larger screen, around 6.2 inches. The Nintendo Switch Lite model has a smaller screen, around 5.5 inches. 

Q2. Which Nintendo Switch Model Has Higher Storage?

Ans. Among the three Nintendo Switch models, the Nintendo Switch OLED model has a higher internal storage capacity, around 64 GB. On the other hand, the original Nintendo Switch model and Nintendo Switch Lite model have a storage capacity of 32 GB. 

Q3. Which Nintendo Switch Model is Available At a Cheap Price?

Ans. Between three Nintendo Switch models, the Nintendo Switch Lite model is available at a cheaper price of around 199$. Whereas the original Nintendo Switch model is available at 299$, and the Nintendo Switch model is available at 349$.

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