Should You Upgrade to the Nintendo Switch OLED Model? An In-Depth Analysis

For gamers considering purchasing a new Nintendo Switch, the clear choice right now is the Switch OLED model over the regular version. With noticeable improvements to the handheld display and audio, along with increased storage and a LAN port in the dock, the OLED Switch represents an upgrade that‘s absolutely worth the modest $50 price premium for most buyers.

Especially if you tend to play Switch games portably and care about having the best possible visuals and features, the OLED model is clearly the superior pick and very much worth it over the standard model. I‘ll thoroughly compare every aspect of these two Switch consoles so you can decide if upgrading to OLED is right for you.

Display Technology – OLED Screen Offers a Better Portable Experience

The main difference between the two models lies in the display technology. Here‘s a detailed breakdown of how the 7-inch OLED screen on the new Switch stacks up against the 6.2-inch LCD on the original:

• OLED has infinite contrast ratios – With self-illuminating pixels that can individually turn off to create true blacks, OLED displays achieve essentially infinite contrast ratios. This results in incredibly vivid images with depth and dimension. The LCD Switch screen has a lower contrast ratio of 1200:1.

• Wider color gamut – The OLED panel can reproduce colors across a wider gamut covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color space compared to just 72% on the regular Switch‘s LCD. This allows for more accurate, life-like color reproduction.

• Faster response time – The OLED screen has a 0.1 ms response time, enabling smoother fast motion and eliminating ghosting or blurring effects that the LCD‘s 5 ms response time can exhibit.

• Better off-angle viewing – OLED maintains its color accuracy and contrast at wider viewing angles compared to LCDs which can appear washed out or distorted when viewed off-center.

• Sharper image – The slightly larger 7-inch OLED display combined with the 720p resolution provides around 15% higher pixel density than the original 6.2-inch LCD screen. This results in a visibly crisper and sharper picture.

• Brighter display – With a max brightness over 400 nits, the OLED Switch screen is brighter than the typical 280-320 nits on the regular model‘s LCD panel. This improves visibility in daylight.

When you add up all these OLED advantages, the display on the new Switch model simply blows away the standard Switch screen in every metric that matters for gaming – contrast, color, response times, viewing angles and sharpness. For anyone who spends a lot of time playing Switch games in handheld mode, the improvements are very noticeable and absolutely worth paying extra for.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Feature	Nintendo Switch OLED	Nintendo Switch (original)
Display	7-inch OLED, 1280 x 720 resolution (15% higher pixel density than original)	6.2-inch LCD, 1280 x 720 resolution
Contrast Ratio	Infinite (true blacks)	1200:1
Color Gamut Support	100% DCI-P3	72% DCI-P3
Response Time	0.1 ms	5 ms
Brightness	Over 400 nits	280-320 nits (typical)
Audio	Enhanced stereo speakers	Downward-firing mono speaker
Storage	64GB internal	32GB internal
Dock	Wired LAN port included	No LAN port
Battery Life	4.5 to 9 hours	4.5 to 9 hours
Performance	Same Nvidia Custom Tegra processor	Same Nvidia Custom Tegra processor
Price	$349.99	$299.99

Game Visuals – Identical Docked, Improved Handheld

When docked and connected to a TV, both Switch models output video at up to 1080p resolution. So there is no difference in graphical power or fidelity when playing on a big screen TV.

The benefits of the OLED display are only realized in handheld/tabletop mode when gaming directly on the Switch‘s built-in screen. If you predominantly play Switch games docked on a television, you won‘t see any extra visual perks from the OLED model.

However, for gamers who favor handheld play, the OLED Switch provides tangibly better colors, sharpness, contrast and motion clarity that make games feel more immersive compared to the regular LCD screen. The larger 7-inch size also fills more of your field of view for a truly premium portable gaming experience.

Audio Enhancements – Much Better Sound from Speakers

While the original Switch has bottom-firing mono speakers, the OLED model‘s speakers point towards you and provide a wider stereo soundstage with noticeably better audio quality overall.

Maximum volume is around 80% louder than on the old Switch model. This allows you to better hear game sound effects and music in noisy environments. The speakers have less distortion at high volumes too.

For a more engaging handheld gaming experience, the improved immersion you get from the combined visual and audio upgrades on the OLED Switch are tremendous.

Wired LAN Support – No MoreWireless Woes During Online Play

The redesigned dock on the OLED Switch model has an ethernet LAN port built right into it. This allows you to easily connect directly to your home router for the most stable, lag-free online gaming possible.

No more dealing with inconsistent Wi-Fi signals resulting in high ping and latency issues during online matches in games like Smash Bros, Mario Kart 8, and Splatoon 2. A wired LAN connection virtually eliminates lag and disruptions so you can game online competitively.

If you play a lot of Switch games online, having wired LAN capability right out of the box is an underrated feature that alone could justify upgrading to the OLED dock.

Twice the Internal Storage – Downloading More Digital Games

While not exciting, getting double the internal storage on the OLED Switch to 64GB compared to 32GB on the original model is great for gamers who prefer downloading titles digitally versus buying physical game cartridges.

32GB feels quite constrained today and can fill up fast if you download a few of the larger AAA games from the eShop, along with all their updates and DLC packs. Having 64GB of storage provides ample breathing room to maintain a digital library of indie hits and major first-party franchises like Zelda and Mario.

Less need to worry about storage and rush out to buy a separate microSD card (though that‘s still easy to augment later).

Battery Life – On Par with Newer Switch Models

Nintendo says the OLED Switch will last between 4.5 to 9 hours per charge, which is the same battery life as the revised Switch models released in 2019 with improved efficiency.

Both offer around 40-80% better battery versus launch Switch consoles. So in terms of raw portable play time, the OLED Switch ties the latest regular Switch models and lasts just as long on a single charge.

For comparison, here are the approximate battery life estimates:

• Switch OLED & Newer Switch: 4.5 to 9 hours
• Launch Switch (pre-2019): 2.5 to 6.5 hours

No worries about reduced battery life if opting for the fancier OLED screen. Any concerns about OLED using more power appear to be alleviated through processor and display optimization.

Build Quality – More Scratch Resistant But Still Durable

A common concern with OLED screens is fragility and scratches compared to LCDs. But while the plastic screen on the original Switch is far more prone to surface scratches, Nintendo designed the OLED Switch to be just as durable overall based on drop and stress testing.

The OLED panel is coated Gorilla Glass which better resists scratches, while the rest of the hardware appears to have the same tough, well-built construction as past Switch iterations.

Multiple drop tests from up to four feet high onto concrete showed no physical or performance damage. The OLED Switch seems able to withstand reasonable bumps or drops without issue.

But like any electronics, the OLED screen would likely crack from larger impacts onto hard surfaces, so a carrying case is still a good idea for portable protection.

Burn-In Concerns – Unlikely with Normal Use

Burn-in remains a potential downside when using OLED displays for gaming, but the risk appears minimal under regular usage conditions.

Since OLED pixels slowly degrade over time, static screen elements that remain fixed in games (like health bars, scores, or maps) can get permanently burned into the display after many hundreds to thousands of hours of play.

But extensive hands-on testing found no evidence of burn-in even after 200-300 hours of cumulative use across various games. Only individuals who play the exact same game excessively are likely to ever experience OLED burn-in on the Switch.

For perspective, you‘d have to play Super Smash Bros eight hours a day for over three years before any hints of burn-in supposedly manifest. So occasional or average users should see no display deterioration during the Switch‘s normal lifespan when playing moderately.

Pricing – A Fair $50 Premium for the Upgrades

The MSRP of the Switch OLED is $349.99 compared to $299.99 for the baseline model – a difference of $50. For everything you‘re getting, I believe the OLED premium is very fair:

• Significantly better 7-inch OLED screen
• Enhanced speakers with stereo sound
• Double the internal storage space
• Dock with integrated wired LAN port
• Wide adjustable kickstand

Given Nintendo‘s products rarely see discounts, that $50 spread will likely persist between the two models. But for the improvements, paying 17% more feels justified.

Sony charges a larger $100 premium for the PS5 with its Blu-ray drive versus the base digital-only model. By comparison, the upgrades on the OLED Switch seem well worth the slight price bump.

The Verdict – Well Worth It for Handheld Players

Now that we‘ve thoroughly compared every aspect between standard Switch and OLED Switch models, the verdict is clear:

For gamers who favor handheld play, the OLED Switch is absolutely worth the upgrade. The noticeably better display, audio, stand, and extra onboard storage combine to provide a meaningfully enhanced mobile gaming experience.

If you mostly play docked on a TV, the upgrade is harder to justify since the OLED screen and speakers don‘t benefit the big-screen experience. But the extra storage and LAN port are still nice additions.

For first-time Switch buyers, the OLED model is 100% recommended if you can afford the modest $50 price increase. There‘s no reason to consider the inferior handheld experience of the outdated regular Switch today.

Even existing Switch owners who game portably may appreciate the OLED model enough to sell or trade in their older unit. But it‘s not an essential upgrade otherwise.

In closing, the Switch OLED convincingly demonstrates the visual and immersive benefits of OLED screens for gaming. This impressive handheld deserves to be the default Nintendo Switch going forward. If you game on the go frequently, the richer colors, sharper clarity and enhanced audio easily justify the upgrade.