Switch OLED specs compared: New model vs Lite vs 2017 launch Switch

Here's a side-by-side comparison that shows how the new Nintendo Switch OLED compares against other consoles in the Switch family.

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Nintendo recently announced specs for its new Switch OLED console...and they're practically the same as existing Switches.

Switch OLED specs compared: New model vs Lite vs 2017 launch Switch 5

The new $349 Switch OLED isn't what everyone expected. It's not a 4K-ready console that uses a new fancy Orin Tegra chip with Tensor cores for DLSS upscaling. There's no mention of 4K gaming. In fact, the Switch OLED's internal components are the same as the current Switch models--game CPU, RAM, battery, etc. Nintendo has confirmed the Switch OLED doesn't have internal hardware upgrades.

Switch OLED specs compared: New model vs Lite vs 2017 launch Switch 1

So why buy the Switch OLED? This is a more premium console that's aimed at creature comforts and higher immersion rather than performance. It features an OLED panel with a wider bezel to give you 6.9 inches of visible game display, complete with crisper colors and more vibrant visuals. There's a new enhanced stereo speaker system include as well as a fancy support for Tabletop Mode; if the Switch had a kickstand, this one has a entire spine to lean on.

Another big upgrade is doubled internal storage. The Switch OLED has 64GB of onboard flash memory to give players more space to actually download games.

The Switch OLED also features a brand new dock with a dedicated ethernet port. This LAN port comes at a price, though. Nintendo removed the Switch dock's USB 3.1 port to make room for the ethernet cable.

Since the Switch OLED is advertised to only support native 1080p gaming--rightly so given the comparatively weaker Tegra X1+ chip--the dock's internal Megachips STDP2550 Mobility DisplayPort (MyDP) to HDMI Converter. There's literally no reason to change it to a newer 4K-ready switch.

The Switch OLED is a bit heavier, a bit wider, but everything else is the same. The Switch OLED has the same 4310mAh battery, the same Tegra SoC, the same 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM clocked at 1333MHz.

The $50 premium is charged for the new OLED panel, the kickstand, the doubled memory, and the new dock. That's really it.

The Switch OLED releases October 8, 2021 for $349.

Derek joined the TweakTown team in 2015 and has since reviewed and played 1000s of hours of new games. Derek is absorbed with the intersection of technology and gaming, and is always looking forward to new advancements. With over six years in games journalism under his belt, Derek aims to further engage the gaming sector while taking a peek under the tech that powers it. He hopes to one day explore the stars in No Man's Sky with the magic of VR.

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