If the Switch 2 Screen Isn't an OLED, That's Actually Fine!
LCD panels today have better color, contrast, refresh rates than when the original Switch launched.
Keep your OLED Switch for certain games.
A new generation of Nintendo console is releasing in 2025, and speculation is rife about this device, which has only a few confirmed details. A big question on everyone's lips is whether the new Switch will debut with an OLED screen, but if it doesn't that's not a big deal!
You'll see plenty of folks online talk about the Switch 2 screen being an LCD model as if it's a done deal. The truth, however, is that as I write this, no one knows what screen technology will be in the launch model of the Switch 2. Nintendo has said nothing to confirm or deny the speculation and its all based on leaks.
I'm not going to comment on whether these "leaks" or rumors have any merit to them, but if it happens that the new Switch has an LCD and not an OLED panel, I really don't think it's a reason to skip it.
I think one of the big reasons people may not be happy with the idea that the Switch 2 isn't packing an OLED comes down to how awful the LCD is on the original Switch. It's not just a bad LCD with poor color and viewing angles today, it was a bad LCD panel when the Switch launched. Of course, Nintendo had to keep the price of the console reasonable, and it did the job, but it was not pleasant to look at. I still have my launch Switch, which I passed down to my wife when I got my OLED model, and the stark difference in quality between the two is shocking.
The thing is, even "bad" LCD panels today are far better than what we saw in the original Switch, and modern IPS panels look legitimately amazing.
Putting the IPS panel in my Lenovo Legion Go next to my Switch OLED, the OLED definitely has the edge in color and contrast, but the gap isn't significant and I'd certainly fail to notice any issues if they weren't side-by-side. The photograph doesn't do it justice either, in-person that LCD looks great.
The color, contrast, and responsiveness advantages of OLED technology is real, but LCD panels can be imbued with plenty of tricks too. If Nintendo implemented VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) technology in the Switch 2's display, it would be a massive boon to playability. Likewise, I would be shocked if it wasn't at least a 120Hz panel. We also don't know yet what the resolution of the panel will be, but if it is a 1080p panel, then it's still a notable upgrade compared to the 720p panel in the OLED Switch.
If I had to trade my OLED Switch for a modern LCD model with VRR, high refresh rates, and a higher resolution, I think that would be an overall upgrade and one worth having.
Assuming I can actually get one, I plan on buying a Switch 2, but I do not plan on selling my OLED Switch if the Switch 2 is an LCD model. There are some games, such as Cuphead and Ori and the Blind Forest that won't run any better on a more powerful handheld, and benefit from OLED technology thanks to their lush 2D graphics.
So, for me, there's room for my OLED Switch and Switch 2 to co-exist. Some game would still be better to play on the original machine. Besides, we do know that the Switch 2 will be quite a bit larger than the OLED Switch and big handhelds are certainly the trend now. So I think the smaller Switch OLED might end up travelling with me while the Switch 2 stays at home, more often than not.
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I recorded myself speaking into the mic without anything playing in the background, and I sound clear in the clip above, with every word easily discernible. I then put an episode of Schitt's Creek in the background and recorded myself speaking once again, to see if the headset isolated my voice. Bear in mind that the episode was playing at 75% volume on my smartphone, which I was holding in my hand. As you can hear in the clip above, the noise-canceling mic has done a good job of reducing the episode's sound, and you can still hear me loud and clear — ideal! There isn't much wrong with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless, but multipoint connectivity comes with a caveat, and the build feels too plasticky. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless features multipoint connectivity… with a caveat. If you're using the included 2.4GHz dongle plugged into your console, you can connect the headset to your smartphone via Bluetooth and listen to both sources simultaneously. However, this isn't true in the case of the Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch 2, probably due to limitations of the hardware. It worked fine with my PS5 Slim but not with Nintendo's handheld consoles. You can't connect to two Bluetooth devices at once, either, so this is just something to keep in mind. While I like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless' minimalist design, I wish it didn't feel so plasticky. I wouldn't have had a massive issue with this if the headset didn't cost $109 / £99 at Amazon. The all-plastic build looks and feels cheap and not what you'd expect from a headset that costs nearly (or upwards of) $100. The Cherry XTRFY H3, for instance, costs the same, but it never felt or looked like it wasn't a premium headset. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless is one of the best gaming headsets I've had the pleasure of using. Firstly, it's extremely comfortable, enabling you to play games for hours on end. Its memory foam earcups are super breathable. 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