Comparison: Nintendo Switch OLED vs Standard vs Lite version

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Earlier this week, Nintendo made a surprise announcement regarding the Nintendo Switch. If you weren't aware, there are pieces of rumoured news about a potential Switch Pro console over the past few months. Dubbed as the Nintendo Switch OLED, it is scheduled to be released on 8 October 2021 for $349.99 (~RM1455) RM1699. 

Of course, Switch fans have also gotten into a debate of whether the OLED variant is worth upgrading to. And for those who plan on purchasing a Switch during the pandemic, is it worth getting the new variant over the standard or Lite one? To give you a clearer picture, let's compare the three of them.

 

Nintendo Switch OLED vs Standard Switch

In the video promo, the first thing that Nintendo highlighted was the enlarged OLED display measuring 7-inches. In comparison, the Standard Switch is just 6.2-inches, and it uses an LCD panel. It should be noted that the Switch OLED isn't actually that much larger. As listed on the official webpage, the dimensions haven't really changed. In fact, it's just a 0.1-inch longer with Joy-Cons attached. In other words, the Switch OLED is still the same size but with smaller bezels.

As for the rest of its specs, the Switch OLED's internal storage got bumped up to 64GB (from 32GB). It also has a much wider adjustable stand, and the audio quality has been upgraded. Furthermore, the dock now has an extra Ethernet LAN port for those who want the fastest Internet speed possible. By the way, the old dock and Joy-Cons are still compatible with the new Switch OLED.

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But what about the rest of the internal tech specs? Unfortunately, the Switch OLED's CPU and RAM remain the same as the Standard Switch model (even the battery life). We can't really compare pricing yet because there's no local price tag for it. But if we have to assume, it should be around ~RM1455 or a lot more. For reference, the Standard Switch's starting price is at least RM1299. The official local price is RM1699 but since you're only getting a minimal upgrade in specs, we don't think it is worth upgrading to if you already have a Standard Switch.

 

Nintendo Switch OLED vs Switch Lite

Next, let's compare the Switch OLED with the Switch Lite. In this case, the choice to upgrade or not is an easier one. Since the OLED variant is a slightly better version of the standard variant, the OLED is by far the superior choice. That being said, what is the purpose of the Switch Lite then?

The answer is simple - some people play on the dock while others don't. Hooking up the Nintendo Switch dock to a TV or monitor would give you a more enjoyable console playing experience. But if you don't have one, then the Switch Lite should be more than enough for you. To add on, it's also important to note that some Switch games that require Joy-Con motion controls won't be compatible with the Lite variant. Of course, you can still connect compatible wireless controllers to the Lite variant.

However, if you are short on budget, then the Switch Lite is obviously the one to get. In Malaysia, the standard price is RM949. Compared with the Switch OLED, that's a potential difference of RM500, which is a lot for most Malaysians. Enough said.

Before we conclude, let's recap on the features of the Switch Lite. It sports a 5.5-inch LCD touch screen, 32GB of internal storage, and its battery life can last up to 7 hours (depending on playing time).

 

Conclusion - Switch OLED is for new users

Upon analysing the pro and cons of the Switch OLED, you can almost say that it's the baby of the Standard Switch and Switch Lite. The Switch OLED will definitely have a better handheld gaming experience thanks to the 7-inch OLED display, adjustable stand, and better audio quality. On the other hand, if you play with the console docked most of the time, you're better off sticking to the standard Switch.

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I have a mixed feeling about the Switch OLED, mainly because it doesn't have a CPU and RAM upgrade. It's definitely not pointless, though, because people who want a new Switch can just get the OLED variant and enjoy the aforementioned updated features. Well, the choice is yours.

But what do you all think about the Switch OLED? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned for more tech reviews at TechNave.com.