Nintendo Swap vs Swap OLED: What is the Distinction?

• Nintendo Swap

  Execs

  • Cheaper than OLED
  • Efficiency equal to the OLED model
  • A bit lighter

  Cons

  • Common LCD show
  • Half storage capability

• Nintendo Swap OLED

  Execs

  • Considerably higher show with OLED panel
  • Twice the storage capability
  • Comes with a LAN Port

  Cons

  • No enchancment on the within
  • Prices $50 extra

The Nintendo Swap surpassed the 120 million consumer base mark in 2024 and, regardless of being an entry-level retro gaming handheld console, the Swap has offered greater than 139 million items total, making it the “important enterprise” for the corporate. These gross sales stats, nevertheless, aren’t only for the unique Swap model launched in 2017, however a very good chunk of them are for the OLED version as effectively.

So, why is it that customers are switching to the OLED version? Additionally, what makes the unique Swap nonetheless related sufficient to be the second best-selling Swap console after the OLED model? On this information, we are going to evaluate the unique Nintendo Swap and the Swap OLED intimately, analyzing the {hardware}, performance, connectivity, show, and ease of utilization of each consoles.

Specs

Earlier than delving into the precise efficiency, it is essential to grasp what makes each the Swap and the OLED version completely different from one another. Though each of them are pretty similar in specs, there are nonetheless minor and main variations in just a few areas that will or will not be a deal-breaker for customers.

Nintendo Swap

The Nintendo Swap was launched in March 2017, that includes a 6.2-inch LCD display with a decision of 1280×720. The show is a multi-touch, capacitive panel and has thick bezels on all sides. The dimensions of this authentic console is kind of giant at 9.4 inches in size, however it’s nonetheless pretty compact with solely 0.55 inches of thickness even with the Pleasure-Cons hooked up.

Weighing roughly 0.66 lbs, or 0.88 lbs with Pleasure-Con controllers hooked up, the Swap is a light-weight handheld machine, simply transportable in a backpack. The Nintendo Swap is powered by a customized Nvidia Tegra X1 processor, that includes 4 ARM CPU cores and 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, which makes it potential to play video games like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Odyssey-like titles with ease.

Regardless that the Swap has been changed by many trendy handheld consoles like Steam Deck and ROG Ally, it makes use of Nintendo’s proprietary OS that has its personal sport assortment not obtainable on different working methods. Because of this the console continues to be a giant success to today, regardless of having inferior and outdated {hardware} in comparison with the most recent handheld gadgets.

The swap is supplied with a 32GB of inside storage, however customers can add a microSDHC or a microSDXC card to extend its capability by as much as 2TB. A USB Kind-C is offered for charging or for connecting to the Swap dock, which helps in connecting the Swap to a TV for an even bigger and extra immersive gameplay expertise. By default, the Swap has a 720p decision, however can assist as much as 1080p decision by way of HDMI within the TV mode.

Customers also can use its Wi-Fi 5 adapter to rapidly obtain the video games or use Bluetooth 4.1 to connect with any exterior Nintendo Swap-specific gaming controllers to boost their gameplay. Whereas the console offers built-in stereo audio system, a 3.5mm audio jack can also be offered for customers who like a greater encompass sound gaming expertise.

Nintendo Swap OLED

The Swap OLED model was launched in October 2021, roughly 4 years after the unique version and two years after the Lite version. It was as soon as anticipated that the Swap OLED wouldn’t solely carry a greater OLED panel, however would additionally carry enhanced specs. Nevertheless, the CPU wasn’t upgraded and the OLED version nonetheless makes use of the identical Nvidia Tegra X1 chip because the common version.

Subsequently, theoretically, efficiency needs to be similar. Nevertheless, the OLED panel does carry some further upgrades that enhance its worth for each greenback spent, together with twice the storage capability. Whereas the Swap has solely 32GB of inside storage capability, the OLED one comes with 64GB, making it splendid for storing extra video games on the default storage drive. Nevertheless, most customers nonetheless really feel the necessity to go together with an exterior microSD or SDHC card as they’d need to maintain many video games completely put in.

One other welcome boost to the Swap OLED is the devoted Ethernet port. Regardless that the console already has a Wi-Fi adapter to obtain and play video games wirelessly, there isn’t any debate about how good a easy LAN port is. It brings an nearly lag-free expertise and is extra constant in pace. Therefore, customers who’re sitting on the sofa of their properties can merely plug in an ethernet cable or use the Wi-Fi when outdoors.

The Swap OLED additionally brings a considerably improved kickstand in comparison with the Swap. This does not have an effect on the efficiency of the OLED model, however helps it retain stability when placed on the desk.

Other than these variations, every thing appears to be similar to the unique Swap model, together with the battery, sensor, connectivity, and compatibility. Now let’s get to the first issue that distinguishes the OLED one from the unique Swap version.

Show

The OLED version was particularly designed to supply higher image high quality because the OLED panel is much better than a daily LCD. It boasts nearly an infinite distinction ratio as every pixel on an OLED panel acts as a light-weight supply by itself. This leads to more true blacks, which seem like excellent even when utilized in a very darkish room with all of the lights off.

The OLED panel additionally offers higher coloration replica and extremely correct colours to make the gaming world extra vibrant. Therefore, the OLED panel-equipped gaming screens are a lot costlier than the IPS or VA panel ones. Nevertheless, the Swap OLED is simply $50 dearer than the common Swap version, which is a giant improve to the system’s total look.

Other than upgrading the show panel on the OLED model, the precise display measurement can also be affected. Now the display measurement is 7 inches in comparison with 6.2 inches on the Swap. That is, nevertheless, with none addition to the scale of the console itself. The console nonetheless measures 4 inches in top and 9.5 inches in size, however now the bezels are thinner, making extra space for the precise OLED panel.

The decision continues to be the identical and the output may be as much as 1080p on a TV. Most customers hoped that the OLED version would carry an improve to the video output by supporting as much as 4K or at the very least 1440p decision, however sadly, this is not the case. Nonetheless, the onboard show is way superior to most common TVs customers discover available on the market.

Efficiency

The precise efficiency of each the Swap and the Swap OLED are similar, nevertheless, the audio system on the OLED are punchier. Additionally, resulting from a 0.8-inch bigger display, gaming is rather more nice particularly as a result of the colours are extremely vibrant on the OLED version.

The Nintendo Swap is considerably equal to Wii U in efficiency and, sadly, it would not even match the PS4 or Xbox One efficiency, though the latter consoles are considerably older and have been changed by newer consoles constructed for contemporary titles. Whereas it is true that Nintendo would not want a high-end configuration since Nintendo-specific video games aren’t too graphically intensive, contemplating the price of the current-gen consoles such because the Xbox Collection S is identical as the usual Swap, the Swap might have been improved within the {hardware} space too with the launch of the OLED version.

Not solely is the OLED version criticized for not supporting 1440p or 4K output on the TV, but additionally as a result of it would not characteristic the extra well-liked 1080p decision on the machine natively. Because the show grew noticeably larger, it ought to have been upgraded in its show high quality too.

Now the great half is that Nintendo Swap On-line has confirmed itself to be an inexpensive subscription for avid gamers, permitting customers to avoid wasting their sport information on the cloud and entry some free unique video games. Customers on each the Swap and the Swap OLED can profit from this low cost $3.99 subscription and have entry to on-line multiplayer sport mode.

In the case of multiplayer gaming, the OLED does have a slight benefit over the unique Swap. Whereas the Wi-Fi adapter stays the identical, the extra LAN port helps in chopping the enter lag, making the web multiplayer expertise superior.

Battery Life

On paper, each editions carry an similar battery life by their 4310mAh Lithium-ion battery. Based on Nintendo, the battery can function between 4.5 to 9 hours on a single cost and relies on the sport customers are taking part in. Nintendo claims that intensive video games reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can discharge the battery of each editions in round 5.5 hours, however in actuality, the console’s battery depletes in simply 2.5 hours.

Clearly, first-party claims are by no means correct, however the marketed battery life appears to be too removed from the marketed quantity. One small distinction between the Swap and OLED editions is how a lot energy they devour on the TV Mode. As per the corporate, the Swap OLED consumes round 6W taking part in a sport and 5W when watching a video.

Alternatively, the Swap consumes1W extra in each instances. It is unknown as to what is the motive behind this distinction, however it’s slight sufficient to not get observed in real-life situations. Each the Swap and the Swap OLED take round three hours of charging for a 100% battery, which is equal to the time it takes to discharge totally when customers play video games on them repeatedly.

Pricing

Right here comes essentially the most fascinating half. One of many important explanation why a whole lot of customers seek for Nintendo Swap vs Swap OLED is due to the adjustments they introduce for a $50 worth hole. On paper, the OLED appears to be offering no further efficiency advantages, making the Swap a better option with regards to {dollars} spent per fps, however the performance of the OLED makes it a worthy selection for its worth.

The Nintendo Swap was launched for a worth of $299.99 USD whereas the OLED launched for $349.99. Throughout some gross sales, the Swap can get cheaper than its MSRP, however the OLED one would not appear to budge from its MSRP. Based on the corporate’s newest gross sales information, the OLED version offered greater than twice the amount in comparison with the usual version(8.17 million in opposition to 3.4 million).

This means that customers are happier with the OLED model, as nowadays OLED panels typically are getting extra consideration from fanatics. Nevertheless, in contrast to the common screens, the value distinction right here is barely $50 whereas an OLED gaming monitor prices twice or greater than an IPS or VA mannequin, regardless of matching almost each different metric.

Conclusion

Regardless of a plethora of gaming handhelds obtainable with extra gamers getting into the hand held market yearly, the Nintendo Swap appears to supply a passable gaming expertise to its customers. Whereas deciding between the Nintendo Swap and the Swap Lite is way simpler, it will get difficult when the newer OLED model comes into play.

Contemplating that customers have gotten extra conscious of upper high quality show panels reminiscent of OLED, Q-LED, and different types of contemporary know-how screens, it is no shock that the OLED panel is promoting greater than the usual version. It brings higher coloration replica, extremely larger distinction, and a barely bigger display to supply a a lot better gaming expertise. On high of that, an even bigger kickstand retains the console at completely different angles, improved stereo audio system, and a LAN port for on-line gaming appear so as to add a whole lot of worth to the Swap OLED.

Plus, with the addition of 64GB inside storage, customers can now retailer extra video games on the Swap OLED, making it a implausible selection for customers who need a pocket-friendly handheld console that’s unparalleled in its show. Evaluating it with the Steam Deck vs Deck OLED, Steam’s extremely well-liked console could appear to be too costly.

So far as the usual Swap goes, there’s a motive why it’s nonetheless promoting like hotcakes nowadays. Even after seven years of launch, the Nintendo Swap is without doubt one of the most cheap handhelds current available on the market that provides avid gamers the ability to play on the go. In fact, the OLED one is presently a better option, however the authentic Swap has the identical {hardware} and nearly comparable connectivity options to supply a passable expertise.

It is anticipated that the usual Swap gross sales could drop additional as we come near the launch of the anticipated Swap 2, which is meant to launch within the first quarter of 2025. Until then, the Swap and the Swap OLED will proceed to dominate within the finances handheld console phase, notably those that are hardcore Nintendo followers.

FAQ

Q: Is Swap OLED higher than Swap?

Sure, the Swap OLED is best than the Swap when it comes to show, connectivity, and ease of use. Nevertheless, each have similar {hardware} on the within.

Q: Is Nintendo Swap OLED 4K?

No. The Swap OLED boasts the identical 720p decision as the usual version. Nevertheless, each consoles can produce a 1080p output on a TV.

Q: Do all Swap video games work on OLED?

Sure, all Swap-compatible video games additionally work on OLED, as there isn’t any change within the {hardware} or app compatibility.