Nintendo Switch OLED
Nintendo · Released Oct 2021 · OLED Model
Nintendo's hybrid console with a beautiful 7-inch OLED — the best way to play Switch exclusives and a curated library of official retro classics.
Pros
- +Unmatched first-party exclusive library
- +Gorgeous 7" OLED screen
- +Effortless plug-and-play, docks to a TV
- +Official retro classics via Switch Online
Cons
- −Ageing hardware is weak by modern standards
- −Joy-Con stick drift is a known issue
- −Locked-down: no open emulation on stock firmware
What can it play?
Emulation performance by platform, based on real-world testing.
Full specifications
Hardware
- Chipset (SoC)
- NVIDIA Tegra X1+ (custom)
- CPU
- Quad-core ARM Cortex-A57
- GPU
- NVIDIA Maxwell, 256 cores
- RAM
- 4GB LPDDR4
- Storage
- 64GB internal (eMMC)
- Weight
- 420 g
- Dimensions
- 242 x 102 x 14 mm
- Cooling
- Active (fan)
Display
- Size
- 7″
- Resolution
- 1280x720
- Panel
- OLED
- Refresh rate
- 60 Hz
- Touchscreen
- Yes
Battery & Connectivity
- Battery
- 4310 mAh
- Real-world life
- ~5.5 hours
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 5
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 4.1
- Ports
- USB-C, 3.5mm headphone, microSD, Dock (HDMI)
- Expandable storage
- Yes (microSD)
Controls
- Analog sticks
- 2
- D-pad
- Yes
- Face buttons
- Yes
- Analog triggers
- No
- Gyroscope
- Yes
- Hall effect sticks
- No
Software & custom firmware
Ships with: Nintendo Switch OS
Also plays natively: Nintendo Switch games, Nintendo Switch Online classics
No third-party custom firmware tracked for this device.
Our verdict
The Switch OLED is less an emulation machine and more the definitive way to enjoy Nintendo's first-party catalogue, from Zelda to Mario, on a lovely 7-inch OLED screen that also docks to a television. Through Nintendo Switch Online it offers official, full-speed NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy and Genesis libraries. The hardware is dated and the platform is closed, but for polish, exclusives, and a no-fuss experience it remains essential.