The Switch OLED gave the original a bit of polish: nicer screen, better speakers, a kickstand you won’t want to rip off. But under the hood it’s the same old 2017 hardware. Now the Switch 2 is finally here, and this time it’s not just a glow-up. We’re talking upgraded internals, smoother gameplay, and power that actually matches modern titles. If you’ve been riding your OG Switch till the wheels fall off, this is the showdown you've been waiting for. Let’s dig in and see if the Switch 2 truly levels up, or if the OLED still holds its ground.
Table of Contents
- Should You Upgrade from the Switch OLED to the Nintendo Switch 2?
- Nintendo Switch 2 vs Switch OLED: What’s Actually Different?
Should You Upgrade from the Switch OLED to the Nintendo Switch 2?
If you’re thinking about upgrading from the Switch OLED to the Switch 2, here’s what I can tell you after some early hands-on time. It’s clearly faster. Games load quicker, frame rates are smoother, and everything just runs better. The screen still looks great, but what stood out more was how responsive the whole system feels. It’s not a small bump. The real question is whether that difference matters for the way you play.
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Go for the Switch 2 if… |
Stick with the Switch OLED (for now) if… |
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From the CPU and GPU to the RAM and storage, this new handheld is built to handle bigger games with less fuss. Titles like Mario Kart 9 and the next Zelda are expected to be Switch 2 exclusives, and from the footage we’ve seen, they’re clearly designed to take advantage of the hardware. If you mostly game docked and want smoother frame rates, shorter load times, and richer game worlds, it’s hard not to get excited.
Still, it’s not all perfect. The Switch 2 swaps out the OLED panel for a high-res LCD, and while it adds HDR and 120Hz refresh, you do lose the deep blacks and punchy contrast that make the OLED so special. I’ve seen plenty of fans online, Reddit especially, say they’re holding out for a potential Switch 2 OLED model. I get that. If you play almost exclusively in handheld mode, the OLED still holds its ground in terms of pure visual pop. But if you’re after next-gen power and a longer lifespan, the Switch 2 feels like the right move.
Nintendo Switch 2 vs Switch OLED: What’s Actually Different?
Here’s a quick head-to-head comparison of the key factors between Switch 2 and Switch OLED.
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Feature |
Switch 2 |
Switch OLED |
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Display Size & Resolution |
7.9-inch, 1080p |
7-inch, 720p |
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Display Tech (Contrast) |
LCD, HDR10 support |
OLED panel |
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Refresh Rate (Handheld) |
Up to 120 Hz w/ VRR |
60 Hz standard |
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CPU/GPU Performance |
Next-gen Nvidia chip, ~4K60 capable |
2017-era Nvidia Tegra X1 |
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RAM (Memory) |
12 GB |
4 GB |
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Internal Storage |
256 GB |
64 GB |
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Backward Compatibility |
Plays Switch 1 games |
N/A – it is a Switch 1 |
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Weight |
0.40 kg (0.54kg with joycons attached) |
0.44 kg |
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Battery Life |
~2–6.5 hours use |
~4.5–9 hours use |
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Game Performance |
support for HDR, frame rates up to 120fps, and 4K resolution in compatible games |
The console still runs games at 720p in handheld and 1080p in docked mode, with frame rates generally capped at 60fps |
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New Gameplay Features |
Mouse Sensor in each Joy-Con 2 |
Standard Switch features only |
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Online & Ecosystem |
Enhanced NSO features, GameChat |
Basic online, phone-app chat |
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Price |
~$449 |
$349 |
Display: OLED Beauty vs. LCD Upgrades
The screen’s where things start to get interesting. The Switch OLED flaunts a 7-inch OLED panel at 720p that still turns heads: true blacks, deep contrast, and colors that pop in games like Metroid Dread. The Switch 2 moves to a bigger 7.9-inch 1080p LCD.
That higher resolution makes text, UI, and fine details sharper, which you’ll notice immediately in games like Tears of the Kingdom. Yes, it ditches the OLED, but this isn’t a basic LCD. It features HDR10 support and a 120Hz refresh rate with VRR. This means smoother animations, better brightness, and zero screen tearing when games support it.
Side-by-side, the OLED still wins on black levels and color punch. But unless you’re pixel-peeping, the Switch 2’s panel holds its own with better clarity and motion.
Performance: New Nvidia Chip vs Old Tegra X1 Chip
Performance is where the Switch 2 pulls far ahead of the OLED. The OLED still uses the same 2017-era Tegra X1 chip and 4GB of RAM, which means the same hiccups we’ve seen for years: choppy framerates in Pokémon Scarlet, long load times in Xenoblade, and sluggish UI performance.
The Switch 2 ditches that aging setup for a new custom Nvidia chip based on the Ampere architecture, paired with 12GB of RAM. That’s a huge leap. You’re looking at 1080p up to 120Hz in handheld mode and 4K60 when docked. That doesn’t just sound better—it feels better.
Games load faster, textures pop quicker, and framerate dips are far less common. And while not every title will hit 4K, even older games like Tears of the Kingdom should run smoother with patches. You won’t get PS5 levels of fidelity, but for Nintendo’s style of games and the hybrid format, it’s finally where it needs to be. In short: the Switch 2 runs circles around the OLED.
Storage & Memory: 256 GB vs 64 GB
Storage and memory don’t get flashy headlines, but they make a huge difference in everyday use. The Switch OLED gives you 64GB of internal storage, which is a step up from the original’s 32GB, sure, but still feels pretty cramped. A few digital games like Smash Ultimate, Fortnite, and Pokémon Unite, and you’re already out of space. Most players end up tossing in a microSD card early on. And with a RAM of only 4GB, is partly why the OLED sometimes stutters when switching apps or navigating menus.
The Switch 2 fixes both problems in a big way. Internal storage jumps to 256GB, which is roughly four times more than the OLED. That gives you room for several AAA games, indie downloads, updates, and media before needing a memory card. Better still, the storage itself is faster with read speeds hitting 900MB/s. For reference, the Switch OLED’s eMMC storage struggles to break 100 MB/s. This means with the new Nintendo Switch you get much faster load times, smoother asset streaming, and fewer hiccups when transitioning between game areas.
RAM sees an equally massive leap: 12GB on Switch 2 compared to the embarrassing 4GB on OLED. That extra headroom keeps more of the game world in memory, which helps reduce texture pop-in and performance dips. It also makes multitasking more viable. For example, you can chat or record gameplay without sacrificing performance. Loading into games like Breath of the Wild shrinks from 10 seconds to 3, and city traversal in The Witcher 3 feels smooth instead of choppy.
Portability & Design: 542g vs 420g
One thing that jumps out the moment you pick up the Switch 2 is just how much bigger it feels compared to the Switch OLED. Nintendo’s made room for a larger 7.9-inch screen and beefier internals, which means a wider and taller device overall: 272mm across compared to the OLED’s 242mm. It’s also heavier, weighing 542g with Joy-Cons attached versus the OLED’s 420g. That’s a noticeable jump, especially if you play handheld for long stretches. If you have smaller hands or already found the OG Switch a stretch, this one might take some getting used to. But for most players, the added weight feels like a sturdy upgrade, not a burden.
Design-wise, Nintendo kept the familiar silhouette but refined the details. The Switch 2 has a matte finish that feels grippier and more premium, with a slightly tweaked kickstand built around new vent placements. The display is now protected by a glass cover instead of plastic, giving it better scratch resistance out of the box. And the new Joy-Con 2 controllers? They snap on with a magnetic locking system that feels smoother and more secure, cutting down on the wobble that plagued older units.
It’s true that the Switch 2 is less compact than the OLED, and you won’t be sliding it into cargo shorts anytime soon. And with the added size and weight, longer handheld sessions can leave your hands cramped or worn out—especially if the original already pushed your comfort zone. Don’t worry, though. Attack Vector grip fixes the issue.It’s a modular case with three swappable grips, so you can switch between light, balanced, or full anchor support depending on how you play. The textured surface keeps your hands steady, the slim shell docks without removal, and everything snaps on magnetically—including optional battery packs.
Battery Life and Cooling System: 6.5 hours vs 9 hours
The Switch 2 has a larger battery than the OLED model (5220mAh vs 4310mAh), but don’t expect longer sessions out of it. With a more powerful CPU, GPU, and a 120Hz display to feed, battery life actually takes a hit. Nintendo says you’ll get anywhere from 2 to 6.5 hours depending on what you’re playing, which is a drop from the OLED’s 4.5 to 9-hour range. Heavier games like Tears of the Kingdom run about 3 hours on the Switch 2, compared to 5 on the OLED. Smaller titles like Stardew Valley hold up better, but you’re still coming in under what the older model could manage.
If you play on the go a lot, the drop is noticeable—unless you’ve got Energy Pack in your kit. It’s a magnetic battery that snaps onto the back of the Switch 2 and adds up to 10,000mAh of extra power, enough to nearly double your playtime. It charges while you play, and there’s even a screen that shows how much juice is left and how warm it’s getting, so you’re never guessing.
As for heat, the Switch 2 does run a little warmer under load. You’ll feel it near the vents during longer sessions, but it stays in check. Nintendo’s added a new cooling system inside and even put a fan in the dock for when the console’s pushing 4K. Charging speed is roughly the same as before—about three hours to full—thanks to the upgraded 60W dock power supply.
Backward Compatibility on the Switch 2
The Switch 2 is designed to be largely backward compatible with Nintendo Switch games, supporting both physical and digital formats. Nintendo confirmed that almost all existing titles will run on the new system. Even though the Switch 2 uses a different chip, it translates older game code internally.
Most users won’t notice this happening at all. Backward compatibility also extends to accessories. Old Joy-Cons, Pro Controllers, and even niche items like the GameCube adapter all work with Switch 2. Some features tied to specific hardware, like the IR sensor on the original Joy-Con, might not be supported.
Nintendo Labo VR, for example, won’t work because the Switch 2 doesn’t fit into the old cardboard headset. Game saves carry over easily. If your game supports cloud saves, you just sign in and download. For titles that don’t, there’s a manual transfer option between consoles.
New Add-Ons and Upgrades on the Switch 2
Nintendo isn’t starting from scratch with the Switch 2. Most of your old gear still works, but now there’s more to plug into, more to play with, and a smarter online setup to back it all up. From new docks to GameCube classics and real voice chat, this is what expanding the Switch world really looks like.
- Accessory Compatibility: Old Pro Controllers, docks, and Joy-Cons (wirelessly) all work. Physical Joy-Con rails are new, so older Joy-Cons won’t slide on but still connect.
- Upgraded Dock: The new dock outputs 4K, has better cooling, extra USB-C ports, and includes built-in Ethernet.
- New Accessories: Nintendo is launching a Switch 2 camera for video chats and AR games. Joy-Con 2 supports new input styles like tabletop “mouse mode.”
- GameChat & Built-in Mic: Voice chat is now native. No more smartphone apps—just plug in and talk.
- Online Upgrades: Switch 2 supports faster downloads, better eShop performance, and seamless NSO cloud save syncing.
- NSO Expansion: As of today, the library of classic Nintendo GameCube games within the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2.
- Sharing & Connectivity: Uploading screenshots and clips is faster and easier, with direct cloud or device sync on the Switch 2.
Conclusion
With the Switch 2, Nintendo is finally catching up to what handheld gaming should feel like in 2025. Faster load times, better graphics, more storage, and modern features make it the smarter pick for most gamers these days. While the OLED still shines for handheld purists, its time in the spotlight is fading. If you want to stay current and enjoy Nintendo’s next-gen experiences, the Switch 2 is where the magic’s headed.
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