PlatformsNintendoNintendo SwitchIf the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t have an OLED screen at launch, I’m waiting for its follow upWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
PlatformsNintendoNintendo SwitchIf the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t have an OLED screen at launch, I’m waiting for its follow upWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future)
Just about every Nintendo fan, and their mom, is gearing up for the official reveal of the Nintendo Switch follow-up, and I’m no different. Every stern warning from Nintendo that there ‘will be no mention of the Switch successor’ in its most recent sea of Direct presentations has only made my anticipation grow. The never-ending rumors and leaks surrounding its suspected hardware upgrades, which have been circling for what feels like an eternity, have only made things worse.
Even the idea that we could see double the RAM at 8GB for theSwitch 2is enough to make me salivate at the mouth. However, it’s the upcoming console’s display that has me excited more than anything else. It’s highly likely we’ll see a bigger screen this time around. As someone who mostly plays the Switch in handheld mode, that’s an exciting prospect. Putting out a bigger screen has also been a common practice with every newgaming handheldNintendo has released. But if that bigger screen isn’t an OLED display at launch, I may just hold out for something greater.
Don’t get me wrong, I adored my original Switch and its stunning 6.2-inch LCD panel. It made games like Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2 look as vivid and saturated as Nintendo games are known for. The original LCD display is so lovely, it was enough to turn me into a handheld convert. Unless I was ruining friendships in Super Mario Party, I always had the LCD Switch in the palm of my hands.
Once you go OLED you can’t go back
Tears of the Kingdom looks great regardless of whatever Switch you own, but that’s more a testament to director Hidemaro Fujibayashi’s development team than anything else. Once you pop the cart into the OLED, the green hues of Link’s new default outfit pop, as do the Ghibli-inspired aesthetics of Hyrule and its NPC-dense environments.
Even the Switch HUD and Nintendo Switch Online game libraries stand out on the OLED screen. It wasn’t just Tears of the Kingdom that cemented my love of the Switch’s OLED upgrade either. Playing through the then-new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC stages, popped on the highly saturated display, making the racing experience truly electric during that first OLED test drive.
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(Image credit: Future)
The best tech always comes at a price
The Nintendo 3DS, for example, launched a 800×240 TNS LCD display, way back in 2011. This was impressive tech for its time, especially with the added 3D slider, but the top screen suffered greatly from awkward viewing angles. The introduction of the IPS LCD displays found on some later 3DS models, like that of the New Nintendo 3DS XL, fixed that problem and brought with it better contrast and colors to boot. If I ever want to dive back into a session of Game Freak’s 3DS-exclusive HarmoKnight again, the extra clarity of the IPS screen of my New 3DS XL will make it my 3DS of choice every single time.
(Image credit: Future)
Since the original Switch launched in 2017, other handhelds have embraced OLED upgrades of their own. TheSteam Deck,which was released with an LCD screen in 2022 got an OLED upgrade only a year later. TheSteam Deck OLEDis a major improvement over its predecessor, just like the Switch. However, as is the case with any hardware upgrades, this made the OLED models more expensive than its LCD counterpart, and much pricier than both Switch models.
I grew up as not just a Nintendo fan, but one who had to stick to a budget, so I appreciate the hardware always being more affordable than its current-gen counterparts. That being said, if the Switch 2 forgoes the OLED screen just for something bigger, I may wait for the inevitable upgrade years into the upcoming handheld’s lifespan to get the inevitable best Switch 2 experience.
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Check out our list of thebest Nintendo Switch accessoriesif you’re already experiencing the joys of having a Nintendo Switch OLED. Picking up thebest Nintendo Switch chargerwill also ensure your Switch has plenty of juice. Keep an eye on thebest Black Friday Nintendo Switch dealsif you want to find your next favorite Switch game too.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
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Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3
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4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4
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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”