Nintendo Switch OLED Model vs Nintendo Switch 2
Get the Switch 2. Unless it's for a young child who'll only play the existing Switch games: then the OLED costs less.
Nintendo Switch OLED Model
The first Switch at its best, with a lovely 7-inch OLED screen, but the same old chip, and the Switch 2 costs only a little more.
Nintendo Switch 2
The console for families and for playing on the go: a bigger, sharper screen than the Switch and Nintendo's own games. Battery life is short in handheld mode.
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For about $100 more, the Switch 2 is much faster, with a bigger 1080p screen, sharper games on the TV and the new games, and it plays most Switch games too. The OLED has the nicer OLED screen but the 2017 chip.
- —It's for a young child.
- —You only want the existing Switch games.
- —Your budget stops at $400.
- —You want the new Nintendo games.
- —You want it to last for years.
- —You play on the TV a lot.
What verified owners report
Only reviews from checked buyers count, and every 1–3 star review is read by us. How we do this
Owners love the bigger, brighter screen and playing on the TV or on the go, and it's a popular present. The main complaint is Joy-Con that wobble, drift or stop working.
- ✓A hit as a present
- ✓Bigger, brighter screen
- ✓Easy to set up and use
- −Joy-Con wobble, drift or stopped working
Owners love the bigger, sharper screen and playing on the TV or on the go. Complaints are Joy-Con faults, pricey games and short battery life.
- ✓A big upgrade on the first Switch
- ✓Sharper graphics
- ✓Play on the TV or handheld
- −Joy-Con stopped working, wouldn't pair or ran down fast
- −Games are expensive, or few are worth buying
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Bright 7-inch OLED screen
- +Plays on the TV or handheld
- +A huge library of Switch games
- −Same chip as the 2017 Switch: 720p handheld and 1080p on the TV.
- −The Joy-Con can drift, wobble or stop working.
- −Handheld battery lasts about five hours in demanding games.
- −The Switch 2 costs only about $100 more.
- +Plays on the TV or in your hands
- +Bigger, sharper 120Hz screen
- +Runs most Switch games
- −Handheld battery life is short, about three to five hours.
- −Some games come on cards that only unlock a download.
- −Older microSD cards don't work; it needs microSD Express cards.
- −Some owners had Joy-Con that stopped working or wouldn't pair.
- Is the Switch OLED worth it?
- Is the Switch 2 worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Push Square (PS5 Pro reviews), manufacturer specifications.
Owner reports for the Switch OLED: 2,004 verified buyer ratings at Currys and Target (US), read October 2026.
Owner reports for the Switch 2: 290 verified buyer ratings at Currys and Target (US), read October 2026.