Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Nintendo Switch OLED

Regardless of the Switch you opt for, it’s champion to marque the determination soon. The 90-day tariff intermission lifts successful July, and there’s nary telling what prices volition look similar erstwhile they spell through. Xbox has already raised prices crossed its hardware and accessories, with the Xbox Series X present astatine $599 compared to its $499 motorboat price. Nintendo Switch 2 accessories similar the caller Joy-Con and Pro Controllers besides saw $5 terms increases “due to changes successful marketplace conditions” according to Nintendo. It’s perfectly imaginable that immoderate and each Switch models volition endure akin hikes. Still, based solely connected a dollar-amount value, the Switch OLED pulls up here.

Winner: Nintendo Switch OLED

Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Nintendo Switch OLED: Specs and Performance

Nintendo Switch 2’s authoritative specs were confirmed successful mid-May, truthful we tin straight comparison those to its predecessor’s. Its Nvidia T239 SoC utilizes Ampere architecture for its GPU, which was featured successful Nvidia’s RTX 30-series graphics cards. Its 1,536 CUDA cores puts it beneath adjacent the weakest RTX 30-series GPU (RTX 3050 Mobile), but it’s inactive importantly much almighty than the archetypal Switch. It’s besides rated for 3.07 TFLOPs successful docked mode, portion a handheld gaming PC similar the Asus ROG Ally X is rated for up to 8.6 TFLOP, making the Switch 2 acold weaker connected paper. However, optimization goes a agelong mode for a console, and we’re inactive expecting fantabulous show passim Switch 2 titles.

The Nintendo Switch OLED features a Nvidia Tegra X1 SoC and utilizes Maxwell architecture for its GPU. Its 256 CUDA cores puts it acold beneath the Switch 2 successful power. Considering the console is 4 years old, it’s nary astonishment that the architecture lags down modern machines, arsenic it’s recovered successful GPUs from 2014 (like the GTX 750 and 980).

The Switch 2’s RAM has besides been buffed to 12GB done 2 6GB sticks – 3GB are dedicated to the operating strategy itself, portion 9GB are disposable for developers to utilize successful games. Its velocity is likewise improved, coming successful astatine 102GB/s docked and 68GB/s successful handheld mode. The Switch OLED has 4GB of RAM: 0.8GB is reserved for the operating strategy and 3.2GB for games. Its velocity of 25.6GB/s docked and 21.3GB/s handheld is importantly slower than the Switch 2.

Switch OLED pushes up successful 1 avenue, which is close determination successful the name: OLED exertion is typically coupled with dimmer panels, but paves the mode for much vibrant screens with inkier, deeper blacks. A Switch 2 OLED exemplary is apt wrong Nintendo’s aboriginal plans for the console, but arsenic it stands, those going for the motorboat exemplary of the Switch 2 are stuck without it.

Switch 2’s 7.9-inch LCD astatine 1080p is an betterment successful size and resolution, though. It’s by acold the largest Switch yet, and the leap to HD is much than welcome. On the different hand, the Switch OLED’s 7-inch 720p surface is smaller and little crisp. Other improvements see 256GB of retention (versus OLED’s 64GB) and 2 USB Type-C ports, whereas the archetypal lone had one.

Nintendo Switch 2 is simply a newer instrumentality with improved hardware, truthful the victor present is clear. Switch OLED users volition rapidly find themselves near down successful power.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Nintendo Switch OLED: Software and Features

Switch 2 and Switch OLED are mostly akin successful features, including their versatile ergonomic modes going from tabletop to handheld to docked, brought to beingness by detachable Joy-Con and a kickstand to prop the console up.

Switch 2 is taking those existing features a fewer steps further: The kickstand is present a U-shaped bar, whereas the OLED exemplary was akin to a integrative plate. Switch 2 has upgraded to Magnetic Joy-Con controllers that are pushed into oregon pulled distant from the sides of the console, alternatively than the OG Switch’s method of sliding the Joy-Con into place. Switch 2 besides benefits from backward compatibility, meaning astir Switch games tin beryllium played connected the caller instrumentality (and immoderate volition get spec bumps and add-ons for Switch 2 – for a price, of course).

Plenty of caller features are coming to Switch 2 arsenic well: The Joy-Con relation arsenic mice and tin beryllium utilized arsenic an alternate mode to play games similar Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. By dragging the Joy-Con against a aboveground – including your ain manus oregon pants, according to Nintendo shaper Kouichi Kawamoto – players tin purpose Samus’ weapons arsenic if playing connected PC. But it’s much than conscionable an optional feature: Some games, similar Drag X Drive, necessitate it.

Switch 2 is trying retired a newfound absorption connected assemblage done its GameChat feature. The recently added “C” fastener opens up the GameChat paper to execute dependable calls, video chats, and surface sharing straight done the console (whereas the archetypal Switch required a mobile exertion for online communication). This is imaginable done a microphone built into the Switch 2, and a camera peripheral is sold separately for those funny successful video chat. Unfortunately, GameChat volition lone beryllium escaped up until March 31, 2026, which is erstwhile Nintendo Switch Online memberships volition beryllium indispensable to usage it.

The Switch 2’s further features crush the archetypal Switch without a question. Mouse functionality, GameChat, and magnetic Joy-Con connected apical of everything other the archetypal Switch got close makes this successor soar.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

The Winner Is… the Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 is an tremendous betterment successful performance, hardware, and features. Switch OLED pulls up successful affordability with its gorgeous OLED panel, but players volition rapidly find themselves locked retired of exclusives similar Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Kirby Air Riders. After all, the Switch OLED is simply a 4-year-old console, and investing this precocious into the crippled is simply a discarded of money.

Besides, the Switch OLED isn’t that overmuch cheaper than the Switch 2. It’s 1 happening if you’re funny successful the Switch Lite, which is lone $199, but if you’re going to walk arsenic overmuch arsenic $350, you mightiness arsenic good wage a small other for the $450 console that tin play the aged and new.

Claire finds joyousness successful impassioned ramblings astir her closeness to video games. She has a bachelor’s grade successful Journalism & Media Studies from Brooklyn College and 7 years of acquisition successful amusement journalism. Claire is simply a stalwart defender of games arsenic an artform and spends astir days overwhelmed with excitement for its past, contiguous and future. When she isn't penning oregon playing Dark Souls, she tin beryllium recovered eating chickenhearted fettuccine alfredo and gushing astir handheld gaming PCs.

Originally posted:

Jun 4, 2025 6:13 pm