Switch 2 doesn't have an OLED screen, but its 1080p 120fps LCD with "approximately double the pixels" of Switch 1 might be worth the trade-off

Today's Nintendo Switch 2 news included some details on the handheld screen, sadly confirming that it's an LCD screen rather than an OLED. But it's bigger and features higher-resolution visuals, alongside 120fps support.

The Switch 2 screen is a 1080p 120fps LCD with HDR support, and it's 7.9 inches rather than the 6.2 of the original console. As Nintendo notes, 1080p will mean you're getting "approximately double the pixels" over the original Switch display.

YouTube

Watch On

Getting 120fps support on a portable screen like this is very nice. If you're not extremely hardcore about competitive play, you might not find the difference especially tangible, but that kind of uber-high refresh rate makes games look absolutely smooth as silk. Hopefully that also means developers will be targeting higher performance standards on Switch 2. In docked mode, the console can output up to 4K, but only at 60fps, so there are a variety of options here.

Of course, the big disappointment here is that this is an LCD screen rather than an OLED, and after spending some time with a Steam Deck featuring the latter display technology over the past few months, I'm not looking forward to going back. OLED's chief advantage over LCD tech is its deep black levels and excellent contrast. Nintendo says the new screen supports HDR for "compatible games," which should make it a bit more vibrant, but that tech often struggles to show its best on LCD screens. Here's hoping it works well on Switch 2.

For details on all the upcoming Switch 2 games, you know where to click.