You’re staring at a shelf or scrolling through a listing, and it hits you. They all look basically the same, but the prices are all over the place. If you're wondering about the Nintendo Switch how big is the screen, you aren't just asking for a diagonal measurement. You’re asking if your eyes are going to hurt after an hour of Zelda or if the text in Fire Emblem is going to be legible without a magnifying glass.
I’ve held every single one of these. From the original 2017 "OG" model to the massive 2025 Switch 2. The difference isn't just "a little bit." It's the difference between squinting at a smartphone and feeling like you've got a mini-home theater in your hands.
The Quick Numbers You Came For
If you’re just looking for the raw stats to settle a bet or make a quick buy, here’s how the lineup shakes out right now:
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- Nintendo Switch Lite: 5.5 inches (LCD)
- Original Nintendo Switch: 6.2 inches (LCD)
- Nintendo Switch OLED: 7.0 inches (OLED)
- Nintendo Switch 2 (2025): 7.9 inches (LCD)
Now, don't let those decimals fool you. Going from 6.2 to 7.0 inches sounds like nothing. In reality? The OLED model has about 13% more screen real estate than the standard one. But the real shocker is the new Switch 2. That 7.9-inch panel makes the original Switch look like a toy. It's nearly 60% larger in total area than the first model we all bought back in the day.
Why the Nintendo Switch Lite Feels So Small
The Switch Lite is the "baby" of the family. With a 5.5-inch screen, it’s actually smaller than most modern smartphones. If you have an iPhone Pro Max or a Galaxy Ultra, your phone screen is technically bigger than a Switch Lite.
Kinda wild, right?
But there’s a trade-off. Because the resolution is the same ($1280 \times 720$) across the first three models, the Lite actually looks the "sharpest." It has a higher pixel density. 267 pixels per inch (PPI) to be exact. This makes 2D games like Hollow Knight or Stardew Valley look incredibly crisp.
The downside? Text. Honestly, if you’re playing a CRPG or something with tiny UI elements, you’re going to feel the strain. I’ve seen people on Reddit complaining about hand cramps because they have to hold the device so close to their face just to read the quest logs.
The OLED vs. The Original: Is 0.8 Inches Worth It?
When the OLED model launched, a lot of people were skeptical. "It's only 0.8 inches bigger," they said. They were wrong.
By shrinking the "bezels"—those annoying black borders around the edge—Nintendo managed to fit a 7-inch screen into a body that is almost the exact same size as the original. It’s like magic. Or just better engineering.
When you play on the OLED, the colors don't just "pop." They explode. Since OLED pixels can turn completely off, the "black" parts of the screen are actually black, not a muddy gray.
The Screen Real Estate Reality
- Original (6.2"): You’ve got those thick plastic borders. It feels like 2017 tech.
- OLED (7"): The screen goes almost edge-to-edge. It feels modern. It feels premium.
If you play mostly in handheld mode, this is the gold standard. Period.
The New Heavyweight: Nintendo Switch 2 Screen Size
Released in June 2025, the Switch 2 changed the game again. It moved to a 7.9-inch LCD.
Wait, LCD?
Yeah, Nintendo went back to LCD for the base model of the Switch 2 to keep costs down (it launched at $450). But don't let the "LCD" tag scare you off. It’s a "Vivid LCD" with HDR10 support. It’s much brighter than the old 2017 screens, hitting around 500 nits.
But the real story is the size. At nearly 8 inches, this thing is a beast. It’s the size of a small tablet. Because it also bumped the resolution to 1080p in handheld mode, everything looks incredibly smooth. No more jagged edges on Mario’s hat.
Does Size Actually Matter for Performance?
Here is a common misconception: a bigger screen means the game runs better.
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Nope.
In fact, on the older models, the internal hardware is identical. Whether you’re on the 5.5-inch Lite or the 7-inch OLED, the game is being rendered at the same $720p$ resolution. The only difference is how big those pixels look to your eyes.
On the Switch 2, the bigger screen is paired with much beefier internals (the Nvidia Ampere-based chip), so it can actually fill that 7.9-inch space with 1080p detail and even hit 120Hz refresh rates in some games. If you’re playing Mario Kart World on a Switch 2, the fluidity is on another level compared to the older systems.
Practical Advice: Which One Should You Buy?
If you're still torn on which screen size fits your life, think about how you actually play:
- The Commuter: Get the Switch Lite. It fits in a jacket pocket. The 5.5-inch screen is plenty for a 20-minute bus ride.
- The "Bedtime" Gamer: Go for the OLED. The 7-inch screen is the perfect balance of weight and visibility. Plus, the perfect blacks are easier on the eyes in a dark room.
- The Power User: If you want the biggest and best, it's the Switch 2. Just be prepared for the weight. It’s over 500 grams with the controllers attached. Your wrists will feel it after an hour.
Moving Forward With Your Switch
If you already own a model and feel like the screen is too small, check your settings for the "Zoom" feature. You can double-tap the Home button to zoom in on any part of the screen—it's a lifesaver for small text.
Before you pull the trigger on a new console, head to a local retail store and actually hold them. The jump from a 6.2-inch original to a 7.9-inch Switch 2 is something you have to feel to understand. If you decide to upgrade to the Switch 2, remember that your old Joy-Cons won't magnetically attach to the new rails, but they will still connect via Bluetooth for multiplayer.
Next Steps for You:
Check your current Switch's system settings to see if you have the "Console Information" section—this will confirm exactly which version you have before you look into trade-in values. If you're eyeing the Switch 2, make sure your MicroSD card is at least U3 rated to handle the faster load times the larger screen and higher resolution demand.