The ultimate Nintendo Switch OLED review

What to expect from this article

We have taken a closer look at the Nintendo Switch OLED to show you all the relevant features you should know about before deciding to buy.

In this article you will learn:

• Who the Nintendo Switch OLED is suitable for.

• The differences between the Nintendo Switch OLED and the Switch Lite and classic Switch.

• Which games are particularly worth buying a Switch for.

• What alternatives there are to the Nintendo Switch OLED.

Who should buy the Nintendo Switch OLED?

The classic Nintendo Switch was released in 2017 and is fundamentally different from conventional consoles such as the PlayStation or Xbox. While conventional consoles try to outdo each other with their graphics and exclusive game titles, the Switch scores with new creative ideas and the ability to play games from anywhere. 

Since the introduction of the NES in the 1980s, Nintendo has been known as a leading supplier of consoles.  Consoles primarily aimed at families and groups of friends who want to play together on one console. 

The best-known Nintendo classics such as Super Mario, Pokémon and Zelda are aimed at both adults and children, unlike the most popular PlayStation and Xbox games, which tend to be more suited to serious adult gamers.

These famous fame franchises still work wonderfully today, combining new innovation with a nostalgia for people who grew up with these games.

For newcomers, it is important to know that the user interface of the Nintendo Switch OLED is extremely simple. The Switch is the perfect family console and can be fully set up in just a few minutes. 

Navigation within the console works via a tile system for the installed games and via icons that can be used to navigate through the various settings. A user profile icon allows access to the user's individual settings, archives and data. And of course it is possible to create multiple profiles for multiple users on the same console.

It is important to know that all Switch models are equipped with the same chip and RAM and therefore do not differ in terms of game selection, speed and graphics performance. However, there are some improvements to the Switch OLED, which we will now discuss in detail.

How does the Switch OLED differ from the classic Switch/Switch Lite?

The screen

The Nintendo Switch OLED bears its name because the biggest change is the screen! The OLED display has a significantly larger screen of 7 inches (17.78 cm) in contrast to the classic Switch and the Switch Lite, which both have a smaller screen - Switch 6.2 inches (15.75 cm), Switch Lite 5.5 inches (13.97 cm).

OLED technology

The display of the Switch OLED is not only larger, but also has an improved colour scheme than the LCD displays of the older models. As with smartphones with OLED displays, the colour space is larger and the colours appear much more vibrant. We also found in our review that the Switch OLED is much easier to read, especially in sunlight, than the two previous models of the Switch family.

The sound

The speakers on the sides of the Switch OLED console are larger than on the classic version, adding to the more powerful and clearer sounds.

Even if the sound has improved, the small speakers of the Switch cannot produce the same level of bass even with a good pair of headphones. You can find cheap refurbished headphones at Back Market too!  

The battery life

The battery life of the Switch OLED has also improved compared to the two previous models. The battery life stated by Nintendo is 9 hours. In our review, the Switch OLED lasted 5:35 hours when continuously playing Zelda Breath of the Wild. This is still not enough for long journeys without a power outlet, but for most everyday situations, this battery life should be sufficient for most users.

Another advantage of the Switch OLED's improved chip is that it generates less heat, which bothered some gamers with the two previous models. The Switch OLED still gets warmer when gaming, but we never found the temperature uncomfortable to hold.

Appearance

The OLED version comes in a white, plain, elegant design plus matching white dock, as well as white Joy-Cons. In contrast to the classic Switch which is normally available in a black dock and colourful Joy-Cons.

The display-to-housing ratio in particular has improved significantly. Despite the larger display, the Switch OLED with its 7 inches (17.78 cm) has almost the same dimensions as the classic Switch and weighs only 22 grams more. 

Improvement to the tabletop feature

A practical improvement is the stand on the back of the screen, which you can now fold out to several angles so that you can tilt the console on a table as you like. This is very practical when travelling, for example, if you sit close to the Switch and want to play a round of Mario Kart against someone with the Joy-Cons. The Switch can now be set up at different angles.

👉 For more details on how the 3 Switch models differ from each other, read our in-depth article of Nintendo Switch vs Switch Lite vs Switch OLED.

Note: Both Joy-Cons are identical to those of the original Switch, apart from the colour.

Storage space

Lastly, the storage capacity has also been increased. While the Switch and Switch Lite both have 32 GB of internal memory, the Switch OLED now has 64 GB. This is still relatively small, but you can expand the memory up to 2 TB with a separate SD card.

Gaming Innovation instead of cutting-edge graphics

If you are interested in the latest graphics, you should go for the Xbox X or PS5. For games that run on both the Switch and Xbox/PlayStation, the Switch generally performs worse in the graphics department. The Switch's hardware cannot keep up with these high-end consoles.

However, the decisive factor for most Switch players is not the graphics, but the games and the innovation from this hybrid console, which leads to more gaming fun. It is simply more fun to play with a controller that recognises your movements and with which you can steer a car, swing a sword or box by moving parts of your body.

Unlike the other mentioned consoles, the Switch not only allows you to play via a TV or monitor, but also via the display of the device itself. This allows it to be used not only as a high-tech Gameboy in handheld mode, but also as a portable console in tabletop mode, where the console is placed on the table and several players can play on it with the Joy-Cons.

The Switch OLED is therefore especially designed for multiplayer games such as Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart, where you can play against your friends anywhere and anytime thanks to the console's portability. 

You can visit the Nintendo e-shop, download games, DLCs, big hits and small indie games. You can also subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online to play old vintage games from the NES, Nintendo 64 and even Sega Mega Drive.

Ultimately, it is your preference for where your favourite games are hosted on that are relevant to the decision for a particular console. Even if some may think that the selection is smaller on the Switch, it still offers some of the best exclusive games of all time that Sony and Microsoft gamers wish they had!

👉 Read our Nintendo Switch Online review here.

Here are some of the best games available for the Switch:

Is the Nintendo Switch OLED worth it?

Since the Nintendo Switch OLED is a lot more expensive than the original Switch, the question is whether it is really worth paying the higher price. After all, the game selection, graphics performance and speed are pretty much the same. 

One criticism we have of the Switch OLED is that there is still no access to platforms like YouTube or Netflix. We think that with the large 7-inch screen, the Switch would already be big enough to approach the user experience of a tablet.

A good alternative can be to buy a refurbished Nintendo Switch OLED, this way you save money and still have the latest Switch console. And if you don't want to play on the TV anyway and the display is less important to you, you can buy a second hand Switch Lite but (certified refurbished still) from us for as little as £165.

With our refurbished consoles, all models have been checked by certified professionals and repaired and renewed if necessary. This way, the risk of a defect is much lower than with a normal second hand Nintendo Switch. We therefore offer a 12-month warranty to put any worries at ease.

Plus, by buying a refurbished Switch OLED, you're supporting a sustainable business model that reduces e-waste and saves resources for the production of new consoles, which means saving our planet.

What are the alternatives to the Nintendo Switch OLED?

The other two major console platforms are from Sony (PlayStation) and Microsoft (Xbox). 

While in the early days Nintendo was ahead in terms of graphics and performance, Nintendo has changed course in the last console generations and focuses more on group and family gaming and innovative fun.

The latest consoles from Sony (PS5) and Microsoft (Xbox X), on the other hand, are real high-end consoles that can produce ultra-realistic graphics thanks to their enormous power in terms of processor, RAM and graphics card.

In terms of price-performance ratio, the Xbox X is clearly ahead of the PS5, as the hardware is even minimally better at a significantly lower price. However, it should be noted that the PlayStation has more popular exclusive titles. 

So if you're wavering between a PlayStation or Xbox, it's worth finding out what games you want to play first.