Nintendo Switch OLED vs. all the others: Which one is best for you? – CNET [CNET]

The Nintendo Switch OLED is the third version of the Nintendo Switch since 2017. It sits alongside the Switch Lite and the original Switch, which had two generations of devices. The question is not only whether you should buy a Switch — now you need to ask which one suits you. Or, even trickier: Which should you buy if you already own one of the others? But if you definitely have your heart set on the new Nintendo Switch OLED, CNET’s restock tracker can help you find one. 

While the newest Switch looks like the best version, it’s not necessarily the right pick for everyone. Here’s my advice, after testing and reviewing each model.

Making the upgrade call: Solo vs. group; TV vs. handheld; budget vs. splurge

The biggest factors to weigh out involve how you’re planning to use the Switch. This is how you’ll know Switch makes most sense for you, and they’re more important than any single spec. 

Playing solo vs. friends and family: If you’re a solo gamer, you might be fine with a Switch Lite, especially if you’re playing in a cramped dorm room or at your cubicle. If you’re a little more liquid, the OLED Switch with the bigger screen is a luxury choice, and a must for TV-docking. But for families playing games, make sure you get a Switch that docks to a TV (sorry, Lite).

Almost always playing on a TV: If this is you, don’t get a Switch Lite. But also, if it’s all happening on the big screen, maybe you don’t need the OLED Switch either. Stick with the original. 

Mainly handheld gaming: The Lite is portable and cheap, but handheld-only. The OLED model has a great screen, but it’s bigger and more expensive. Deciding whether you need that better screen could come down to whether you’re 70% handheld or 90% handheld. 

Money’s no object: Then get the OLED Switch, obviously. (It’s not that expensive at $350, all things considered.) 

Will there be a new Switch this year? Nintendo can’t seem to help coming up with new models of its handheld game hardware every other year or so. Reports of a graphics-upgraded 4K Switch still loom, maybe called the Switch Pro, or the Switch 2. Just a reminder that the OLED Switch almost certainly won’t be the final Switch. You could always just wait it out and be happy with the Switch you have (if you have one).