What is the best Nintendo Switch? There are four models of Nintendo Switch to choose from - the classic, Lite, OLED, and Switch 2. Each has different things going for it and can fill different purposes depending on where and how you like to play your games and, of course, your budget.
Whichever Switch you ultimately decide to pick up, Nintendo is still going strong with an ever-expanding library of new Switch games, and all four are among the best portable gaming consoles, with some really fun Nintendo Switch accessories and Nintendo Switch 2 accessories available.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At Pocket Tactics, our experts spend days testing games, phones, tech, and services. We always share honest opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
Today's best deals
| Memory capacity | 256GB |
| Touch screen | 1 HDMI port, 1 AC adapter port |
| Total ports | 2 USB-C ports, 2 USB-A ports, |
| Playable docked? | Yes |
| Detachable Joy-Cons | Two |
- Top-tier performance
- Magnetic Joy-Cons
- Bigger screen
- Worse battery than OLED
- No OLED display
After years of anticipation, the Nintendo Switch 2 arrived in June 2025, and it's an absolutely fantastic console. In terms of upgrades on the original, it's got a bigger 1080p screen, offers noticeably improved performance, and refined Joy-Con 2 controllers that attach magnetically.
There are also some new features exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, most notably mouse controls for the Joy-Con 2 controllers in certain games. Or, if you're a social gamer, there's GameChat, which allows you to jump in voice chats with your friends, and if you all have Nintendo Switch 2 cameras, you can see each other, too.
The only real downside to the Nintendo Switch 2 is that its battery life is notably worse than the OLED version, so if you're coming from that console, you might be using the charger more than you had originally anticipated. Outside of that, it's a fantastic device, well worth the 9/10 score from our Nintendo Switch 2 review.
Today's best deals
| Memory capacity | 32GB |
| Touch screen | 6.2-inch LCD |
| Total ports | 3 USB ports, 1 HDMI port, 1 AC adapter port |
| Playable docked? | Yes |
| Detachable Joy-Cons | Two |
- Reasonably priced
- Can be played handheld or docked
- No LAN port
- Memory capacity on the smaller side
The original Nintendo Switch lets you play both on your TV and on the go. It's on the big side, but that's where Switch carry cases come in, and it's still easy enough to carry around with you.
The Nintendo Switch comes with 32 GB of internal storage capacity, compared to 64 GB on the Switch OLED. If you plan on downloading all of the best new Switch games, you might find it filling up quite quickly. However, a microSD card will soon solve that problem.
With the packaged-in Joy-Cons, you and a friend can play on the same screen. While this is a very viable option, the larger, clearer screen of the Switch OLED might be preferential to you if this is going to be a major part of your Switch usage.
Many gamers fall into the category of either exclusively playing their Switch through the television, or exclusively playing it in handheld mode. The standard model is great at doing both of these things, isn't overly expensive, and doesn't have any major problems - that's why we recommend it as the best Nintendo Switch overall.
Read our Nintendo Switch review here for a full breakdown.
Today's best deals
| Memory capacity | 32GB |
| Touch screen | 5.5-inch |
| Total ports | No dock, so no ports |
| Playable docked? | No |
| Detachable Joy-Cons | None |
- Cheapest Nintendo Switch you can get
- Small and convenient for handheld play
- Cannot be played on a TV
- No detachable Joy-Con controllers
This smaller model is specifically designed to be an affordable option for gaming on the go, making it ideal for children or anyone working with a tighter budget. If you're someone who doesn't foresee themselves playing their Switch on the TV, then you have very little to lose by going for the Switch Lite.
While it is not compatible with Switch docks (so can't be played on the big screen), its smaller size makes it ideal for handheld gaming, as unlike other models, it could actually fit inside your pocket. While some gamers won't care about this at all, the Switch Lite just looks a lot nicer than the standard and the OLED models. It comes in a number of bright, vibrant color schemes. It'll look great in a gamer bedroom and is just generally a good-looking bit of gaming hardware.
If you're a big fan of multiplayer games, however, it's best to stick to the original Switch or an OLED, as the Lite does not have detachable Joy-Cons. You can still use extra controllers with it to play with others, but keep this in mind if you play games with friends and family often.
You can read our Nintendo Switch Lite review for more information, here.
Today's best deals
| Memory capacity | 64GB |
| Touch screen | 7-inch OLED |
| Total ports | 2 USB ports, 1 Lan port, 1 HDMI port, 1 AC adapter port |
| Playable docked? | Yes |
| Detachable Joy-Cons | 2 |
- Largest OLED screen of all Switch models
- Best memory capacity
- Improved dock with added LAN
- Few benefits for those who play docked
- The most expensive option
Based on the specs alone, the Nintendo Switch OLED is the best version of the Switch. However, we didn't feel we could give it the number one spot as it has a substantially bigger price tag, for upgrades that won't appeal to all users. If you plan to play this at home on your TV exclusively, you'll barely benefit from the improvements at all and will be better off with the standard version.
If you prefer playing in handheld mode, the best way to do so is through the Switch OLED. The 7-inch screen makes your games look better than ever, and there's even an option in the game's settings to adjust the console screen colors to make them as vivid as possible. If this ever looks too saturated to you, you can just set it to appear as normal - you might want to adjust the color settings on a case-by-case basis.
The OLED has 64GB memory - double the size of the standard model - although, you could buy a micro SD card for Switch and expand the capacity. Another benefit of the OLED is the LAN port, which allows you to use a wired internet connection for smoother online gaming.
There are also changes to the design of the dock. It's a little more spacious than the earlier model, so it's a bit easier to get cables plugged in. We have a full Nintendo Switch OLED review for you to consider, here.
How we chose the best Nintendo Switch
For many players, the Nintendo Switch 2 is likely going to be the preferred choice following its big launch, but the Switch OLED, original Switch, and Lite each have certain benefits that could sway your decision.
Here are some things to consider when you're ready to pick up a new Switch:
- Play modes
- The Nintendo Switch Lite only supports a handheld gaming mode. The original, OLED, and Switch 2 all offer tabletop and TV modes, so you can play without having to hold them and plug them into a TV. All three of those options come with a Nintendo Switch dock and an HDMI cable.
- Size
- If you enjoy handheld gameplay, the dimensions of the Switch might be important. As the Switch Lite is the smallest, it's best for young players and those with small hands. While all three models are 0.55 inches deep, both the OLED and original Switch are longer and taller, with the Nintendo Switch 2 going one better with its 7.9-inch screen.
- Price
- Do you have a tight budget? If so, the Switch Lite is the cheapest, followed by the original, the OLED, and then the significantly more expensive Nintendo Switch 2.
- Battery
- If you're playing on the go, battery life is an important factor to consider. The Nintendo Switch Lite has a lower battery life of 3-7 hours, while both the original and OLED give you around 4.5-9 hours. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a bit of an outlier, with 2.5-6.5 hours of battery. Of course, how much juice you actually get will vary between games.
- Design
- Looking for a specific colorway or want to show off your personality with a bold, bright Nintendo Switch? The Switch Lite has loads of colors to use, but the OLED model is also available in a very sleek white version. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a little bit less adventurous, with a matte black design that features orange and blue highlights.
Which is the best version of the Nintendo Switch?
We love each iteration of the Switch, but when it comes to all-around versatility, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the best option. It offers a level of performance that the original, Lite, and OLED models aren't capable of, and it's got that bigger screen and improved Joy-Con 2 controllers. It is significantly more expensive than the other options, though, so that's worth keeping in mind if you've got a specific budget.
If you're determined to pick up a device with an OLED screen, then the Nintendo Switch OLED is your only option. While the Nintendo Switch 2's screen is fantastic, it's an LCD panel, so you're not going to get the same sort of inky black colors you do on the OLED console.
Is the Nintendo Switch or OLED better?
Going purely by specs, the OLED is better, but only by a margin. The two consoles are pretty much the same, but the OLED has a much better and bigger screen, hence the price bump. The screen doesn't make any difference for those who play exclusively on the TV, but if you're a handheld player, you'll see a huge step up in picture quality on the OLED.
Is Nintendo Switch worth it in 2025?
In our opinion, yes, the Nintendo Switch is still worth it in 2025, even after the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2. The library of games is bigger than ever, there are countless accessories to enhance your Switch-playing experience, and we've had confirmation surrounding backward compatibility for Nintendo's next console. With all that in mind, we still heartily recommend picking up the device.
Is the Nintendo Switch 2 worth it?
This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but yes, we think that the Nintendo Switch 2 is worth it. While it's an expensive console, it's much more powerful than the original, and its LCD display is the best screen we've seen on a non-OLED console. The only issue at the minute is a lack of exclusive games, but that's a problem Nintendo should solve within the first year of launch, which will likely increase demand even further.
Is the Nintendo Switch 2 more powerful?
Yes, the Switch 2 is significantly more powerful than the existing Nintendo Switch models. We've got a full rundown of the specs in our Nintendo Switch 2 guide.
Historically, the Nintendo Switch has struggled to keep up with the likes of PlayStation and Xbox, failing to run the more graphically demanding triple-A games, which led to numerous big titles forgoing the console.
Soon you'll be sitting down to enjoy all the best Switch games. If you're shopping for a young person, read our guide on the best Switch games for kids, which will give you some idea of what they might like to play.