Nintendo Decided to Go From OLED to LCD for Switch 2 ‘After a Lot of Consideration’

Nintendo has responded to questions around its decision to go with an LCD screen for the Switch 2 rather than an OLED screen, as it used for the OLED version of the OG Switch. Is it a "downgrade?"

[Neonridr]

I mean I'd have to assume an OLED screen that does 120Hz wouldn't be cheap. The fact that is HDR is a nice bonus though.

[Cacabunga]

They did this only to provide an OLED model at some point, that’s it.. i don’t believe all the other garbage PR talk to justify it. OLED have been around for a long time

[VenomUK]

OLED looks better but is more expensive. Whilst the hardcore would be happy to pay that the mass market isn't. People have complained about the Switch 2's price for being too high, so Nintendo has made the right choice to keep costs down.

[FACTUAL evidence]

Agreed! There was no purpose to leaving out OLED! The switch is already the price of current gen consoles and weaker to say the least!

It’s a money grab for Nintendo at the end of the day because if they really wanted to, just launch 2 SKUs like every other console did…..well, I’m just preparing to be an emulator guy next gen at this rate. I’ll end up missing on so much, gaming is starting to become high tier luxury. Pretty soon we’ll all have to become a top tier streamer to afford the hobby.

[Bathyj]

Bingo.
OLED is Nintendo's idea of mid gem refresh.

[MontyeKristo]

Exactly. They'll just release an OLED model later to get people to jump back in and buy more hardware.

[TheEroica]

Agreed.... Nintendo is just a money grubbing Corp like everyone else.

[andy85]

Keep costs down...it probably doesn't cost more than a couple hundred to make it given the power of it. They've done it to sell an OLED model in a year or two.

[FACTUAL evidence]

Man, I mess with Nintendo heavy, but I haven’t bought a Nintendo console since the gamecube. My mom bought us the wii and we barely supported the software due to how expensive it got during those times. Nintendo hasn’t been a good budget gaming console since the gamecube.

I’m really disappointed because I enjoy Nintendo and I always had PS/Nintendo consoles. Nintendo was a joy N64/Gamecube days. They had affordable titles that everyone knew and love that you could depend on being around 20$ or less after a while.

Now the best buy for Nintendo would be retail, or you’ll end up spending an extra 40$ trying to get a title from a reseller. Basically the only thing keeping me from Nintendo is the crazy pricing that MS and Sony don’t even do! It’s crazy that a 200 million dollar budget game like TLOU would be cheaper than a Mario cart game.

I just can’t get with Nintendo until they have price reasonability(made up word). It sucks that I haven’t properly played Nintendo since the cube, all because the product just isn’t an affordable investment for me. Especially when there’s superior hardware out there, with better support with third party.

If Nintendo finds a way to get their software to normal pricing, and value pricing over time I’m all game. The whole 79.99 thing, and never having price drops is a no for me. Until then, so long Nintendo. 😢

[TheCaptainKuchiki]

Oh PLEASE. OLED displays are cheap. They're not cutting edge technology anymore.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I wouldn't say they're cheap, but a screen that fits the Switch 2 probably won't add that much to the price.

[Remad7]

my Odin Portal 2 was £320 and has 120hz OLED.

[darthv72]

I got a feeling and OLED version will come out later.

[Vits]

The consideration was that they can sell a OLED version latter down the line for $100 extra.

[Rainbowcookie]

They don't really drop console prices , but they have to if the bring out a $100 more Oled then $550 dollars is a tough sell.

[Vits]

I think they only did for the 3DS when it failed. But if the Switch 2's sales go well, they will definitely ask $550 for the OLED. They might even be nice and add a slightly larger battery to it as well as a bonus.

[repsahj]

I'm very happy with my LCD PS portal right now, so LCD for switch 2 is fine by me.

[darthv72]

Very good point. The portal screen is rather crisp and vibrant. Maybe SW2 is using the same panel?

[Rainbowcookie]

Check out GvG on youtube for some gameplay.

[Tacoboto]

Portal display is 60hz

[Neonridr]

does Portal do HDR?

[FIELDMARSHALL_P]

I'm from the commodore 64 nes days all of it looks good to me lol. I don't really play my switch handheld so it doesn't matter to me at all.

[FACTUAL evidence]

Maybe a stretch, but the portal is a streaming device though. We’re talking about a full blown console you’re paying over 400$ for. Don’t think you should settle for less at that equation.

[Goodguy01]

Lcds are still good depending on quality. 1080p should make it look great. Oled would've increased the price further.

[Lionsguard]

If you think that would have stopped people from buying it, you're crazy. The ONLY reason is so they can double dip 2 years later.

[Phoenix029]

I wonder if OLED VRR flicker would’ve been a consideration. Am I right in thinking it would’ve been a big problem for the games which will likely benefit in the high 40’s to 50’s fps?

[jznrpg]

After a lot of consideration how to charge more for giving less then charge even more for OLED later. They got really greedy after having one good generation. They appear not to realize that they were the cheaper option before with console 300 range and Switch Lite 199$. Now they are competing with Sony Xbox prices with more expensive games. We will see if it goes well but I expect it is going to hurt them that they are charging so much for a product mainly aimed for kids.

[Jingsing]

No way a Switch 2 is selling 150 million like the first one. I think just having the same name is enough to curtail maximum sales potential.

[Popsicle]

Couldn’t agree more. I do not foresee as many parents willing to drop $450. Especially if there isn’t much differentiation in upgrading from an OG Switch to a Switch 2.

[Grilla]

Is it aimed at kids? Switch 2 looks like something aimed at adults. Most of their revenue most likely comes from adults.

[anast]

They want you to double dip and buy their "pro" version.

[Duke19]

Im shocked how unimpressive this launch is. Overpriced hardware and weak launch lineup... good reason to just hold out for the inevitable OLED model

[Chryzz23]

OLED coming later so they can rake in more money......its all greed

[andy85]

I mean it depends on the screen quality really. The portal screen isn't OLED and it's really vibrant and bright

[northpaws]

I am ok with it, having HDR more important than it being OLED, of course would be awesome to have both.

60Hz HDR OLED would be perfect, I don't see most games would have the headroom to go 120hz with the limited power anyways.

[fsfsxii]

dead on arrival. nintendo does a homerun one turn and then fumbles hard every gen, hopeflly this time they'll fumble so hard they'll never recover.

[andy85]

It's obviously going to sell bucket loads. Even with the price.

[Notsofast]

nintendo switch 2 OLED 2027 when the new xbox and PS6 release they will drop it

[PRIMORDUS]

And then in true Nintendo fashion release the OLED model in about a year. 😑

[Good-Smurf]

It's not rocket science lol they're just simply want people to double dip on a model people knew that they cut corners everywhere at launch.
That decision alone made it a no buy for me and that was way before I learned about all the ridiculous prices and fees surrounding this thing.

[HyperMoused]

Then mid gen they will go OLED

[Lexreborn2]

Just remember… PS Vita had OLED…. Switch 2 still peddling LCD is only to send out an OLED 4 years from now after they released a revision of current switch 2 with better battery life. Then a year after that switch 2 pocket, then OLED.

Can we stop pretending like we don’t understand how Nintendo works?

[Doge]

One thing people are leaving out is Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). If Nintendo can’t source an OLED panel that does everything the LCD panel they went with does (1080p120, HDR with high brightness and VRR) either due to availability or cost being too high then it makes sense as to why they didn’t now and probably will later.

And in terms of brightness for HDR, it’s only properly effective at a minimum of 600 nits of brightness. The only PC handheld I know that rocks an OLED that is brighter than that is the Steam Deck OLED, but that’s 1280x800 and doesn’t do VRR and it’s limited to 90hz.

[Lexreborn2]

Having 120htz on a OLED or even the LCD it’s not like Cyberpunk is going to hit that target or even any of the third parties they announced.

the 120 would really only be best for the external display docked. They could’ve gone the route of OLED 60htz VRR undocked and that would’ve been just fine.

[Doge]

The whole ethos behind the Switch was to have the same experience both docked and undocked (outside of random cases like Labo). If they limit features to either working on docked mode but not working on handheld mode or tabletop mode, it would defeat the whole purpose.

Even if 3rd party games can't or don't target 120 fps, it gives them options. Options that they can comfortably do both docked and undocked.

[Lionsguard]

I'll wait for the inevitable OLED along with the sales on games.

[Lamusiqa]

Lets not kid ourselves. We all saw how sales spiked heavily when they introduced the OLED Switch. Anybody who has been gaming for more than 20 years can tell you that Nintendo will definitely release a new model with OLED screen down the line with some other minor hardware improvements (better battery, faster clockspeed, etc.).

[RhinoGamer88]

FAIL! FAIL ON PRICE FOR UNIT AND GAMES!

[spoonard]

They did that because there is no upgrade from OLED. And they have to be able to release several versions of the Switch so people keep buying it over and over again to stack it's sales numbers. Expect there to be a OLED upgrade later. A Switch Light version of course. And what ever other versions they can think up to keep people buying.

[blanka4545]

Using my oled tv docked

[blanka4545]

I got a 55 inch oled tv to play my switch 2 on :)

[lucasnooker]

Probably realised they wouldn’t quite get away with charging 600 for the thing lol, you can bet there will be a mid gen oled refresh again

[TheCaptainKuchiki]

"After a lot of considerations, we decided to increase our margins and give y'all a lower quality display"

[Remad7]

my Odin Portal 2 was £320 and has 120hz OLED

[Hedstrom]

This way they can sell a Oled version later.

[LoveSpuds]

Ordinarily, I may have given Nintendo the benefit of the doubt over their decision in regards to the screen, especially seeing as the screen still seems pretty great (120fps, HDR etc).

However, with their pretty transparent greed that has been demonstrated throughout the announcements over the last couple of days, it is hard not to suspect this decision was taken purely to offer an avenue to explore in 4 years time when they try and sell us all an OLED version.

I am so disappointed, I love Nintendo products but they are making it very difficult to get excited currently.