What is the best Nintendo Switch? Lite, original or OLED?

As a 90s kid, my gaming roots trace back to handheld consoles and the endless hours I spent levelling up my Pokémon teams. From the original Gameboy to the Nintendo 3DS, I’ve owned and played on every Nintendo console that’s been released since. 

Now, as a parent, of course I want to be able to share my love for gaming in an appropriate way. And the Nintendo Switch is the perfect console for it. Plus, unlike in the 90s, we folks are better educated about the advice surrounding gaming and with sophisticated parental controls available from Nintendo, it’s much easier to set boundaries for our kids. 

With games suitable for children as young as three years old up, there’s something for everyone with a Nintendo Switch. There’s a huge catalogue of games, with more incoming for 2025, that are all at different price points. 

Not forgetting that the Nintendo Switch is home to the characters you’ve likely grown up with yourself, including Mario, Zelda, Kirby, Pokémon and the world of Animal Crossing, which you won’t find on other consoles. Players can also find independent games and free downloads and choose from a variety of single player and multiplayer game options. Whether you want some quiet time to play alone or family fun on a Friday night, it’s the most versatile console you’ll find in my opinion.

Which Nintendo Switch is the right one for you?

There are three Nintendo Switch consoles available to buy: the original Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite and the Nintendo Switch OLED. I’ve personally played on all three models - all vary in pricing and while they all seem similar, each one has their own pros and cons to consider. 

The original, released in 2017, shook Nintendo fans - including myself - with its groundbreaking hybrid design. A console that you could play on your own and with others? In your hands or on your big TV? Never! 

Since its release, what the Nintendo Switch has managed to do that no other console can, in my opinion, is change the narrative that gaming is only a solo hobby. 

Sure, the Nintendo Switch Lite that was released in 2019 still adheres to this rule as it has been specifically designed for solo and online gaming - making it a good option for a first personal console for kids these days. But for families in search of something that can do it all, the Switch and OLED models are for you.

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Its hybrid design makes it a superb family games console - offering handheld gaming for when you or your DC do want to play solo, but can still be enjoyed with family members when it’s connected to a TV for multiplayer fun.

The design of the Nintendo Switch OLED in white is rather swish, and looks good on my cabinet

I particularly love the built-in kickstand that allows you to prop your screen on a surface wherever you are, too.

On all Nintendo Switch devices, the fact you can create several user profiles makes it a lot easier to share your console with others in your household. After all, there’s no way I’m letting my DC have a go at my currently saved Pokémon Violet game…

How I’ve tested the Nintendo Switch

• Owned the Nintendo Switch Lite since 2020 after being gifted it at Christmas

• My family have had the original Nintendo Switch since 2023 as my DC reached a suitable age to start participating in family game nights (we love Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Nintendo Switch Sports)

• Given the opportunity to test the Nintendo Switch OLED for the last couple of weeks

As I've said, I've been a gamer since childhood and still enjoy playing in my thirties. Of course, as a parent, I'm more conscious about my own gaming habits and how this looks to my children. But the Nintendo Switch has become a bridge between my own passion and family entertainment for all of us to enjoy together. 

By owning multiple Switch models—the Lite, original Switch, and now testing the OLED—I’d argue that I’m in the unique position to be able to experience how these consoles can serve a family’s different gaming needs. 

Parental controls on the Nintendo Switch

Now, the good thing about the Nintendo Switch is that no matter what device you go for, the parental control features are identical across all models. 

As a parent, it’s not always easy to keep an eye on how much time our DC spends on their devices - I’m guilty of this, for sure. 

With the help of the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, parents can:

• implement comprehensive parental controls easily

• set play time limits and monitor their gameplay time overall

• Monitor what your DC is playing (and receive a monthly play report)

• apply content and age restrictions

• restrict their DC’s communication with other users

• restrict the ability of posting screenshots to the social network services

• prevent their DC from making unauthorised purchases on the Switch 

You can set parental controls on your device directly, as well as via the free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app

The ‘Suspend Software’ feature is most definitely my favourite control, which gives a warning when time is almost up, after which it then locks the Switch while my eldest DC is playing so they know that their time is up. This way, it avoids them losing their gameplay and it’s an easy way to teach my DC that it’s time to stop - preventing tantrums when I try to take it off them myself. 

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The app itself can be installed on both Android and iOS devices, and you must be 18 years old or over to use it. 

Don’t worry, though, if you don’t have a smart device to install the app on, you can also set certain restrictions on the Nintendo Switch directly.

Best Nintendo Switch for families: Nintendo Switch OLED, £309.99 at My Nintendo Store

The newest version of the Nintendo Switch (released in 2021), the Nintendo Switch OLED boasts a larger seven inch OLED display that has a bigger, better screen and has enhanced speakers. Which, when you put it next to an original Nintendo Switch, I think is very obvious. 

With it having an OLED display though, I would recommend getting a carry case if you or your DC intend to take it out of the home for portable play. A screen protector would likely come in handy, too. 

Like the original version, the OLED model offers local multiplayer capabilities with the included dock for TV gaming and tabletop mode with an improved kickstand. Its battery, when fully charged, lasts up to nine hours and the device has an improved dock with a LAN port (so you can connect to the internet without relying on Wifi). There’s also 64GB of internal storage on the device, which is double the internal storage of the original. 

Now, in terms of pricing, yes the OLED model is the dearest of the three options. But having personally played on all, I believe the OLED certainly justifies its higher price tag (£309.99 at My Nintendo Store) for families thanks to its design features that enhance both solo and shared gaming experiences. 

Best Nintendo Switch for the core experience: Nintendo Switch, £249.99 from My Nintendo Store

Since its release, the flagship Nintendo Switch model provides families with a versatile gaming experience, making it an excellent choice for shared gameplay. 

With its 6.2-inch LCD display, it is slightly smaller than its OLED successor, but that shouldn’t be offputting. Regardless of the screen size, the original model is a great choice if you’re just wanting the core Nintendo Switch experience - TV, handheld mode and shared family gameplay. 

If you're purchasing the console, consider buying additional Joy-Con controllers, as the base package includes just two (although this is true of all models, not just the original). 

The Nintendo Switch offers built-in WiFi connectivity that works well for most users but for individuals with specific networking needs, additional accessories like a LAN adapter are available or go for the OLED, which has a LAN port already built in. 

Storage is limited to 32GB of internal memory, but gamers have the option to expand their game library with a micro SD card.

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Best Nintendo Switch for individual play: Nintendo Lite, £199.99  at My Nintendo Store

This handheld-only console provides an experience that’s much closer to devices like the Nintendo DS and Gameboy from years gone by. Which, if you or your child likes to have their own handheld device, may be the better choice for you. I would recommend buying a carry case for this one from the get-go, though, so you can rest assured that it’s protected both in and out of the home.

The Lite version cannot connect to the TV and is less suitable for group play, although once connected to the internet, there are still multiplayer capabilities online if your child is of a suitable age and has a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. 

The battery life lasts between four and seven hours, a little less than the main Switch itself but still a respectable amount of time between charges. I’ve personally had the Lite since 2020, and I like to take it when I’m travelling individually to enjoy some gameplay without interruption. 

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Nintendo Switch devices, at a glance

*The battery life will depend on the game you play.

About Nintendo

At Nintendo, the mission is to bring a smile to everyone’s face by creating new surprises that can help connect people from around the world. The company first started in Kyoto, Japan back in 1889 with hanafuda playing cards and now shares their exciting visions through the world of entertainment and video games.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts is a writer, editor, and content marketing expert hailing from Leeds. Here at Mumsnet, she commissions, writes, and edits to bring parents content that is designed to make life easier. After birthing and breastfeeding two babies in two years, Rebecca knows first-hand how tricky it can be to select a device that’s suitable for individual family members and shared family fun.

Beyond her role as an editor here at Mumsnet, Rebecca can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a local playgroup, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking the dog up and down country lanes.

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