Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
“Inside the Nintendo Switch” can mean the components that make the console work—or the items included when you buy one. This guide covers both for the original Nintendo Switch family: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, and Nintendo Switch Lite. It does not cover Nintendo Switch 2.
The short answer
A dockable Nintendo Switch is a compact handheld computer built around a custom NVIDIA Tegra processor. Its other core parts include system memory, internal flash storage, a rechargeable battery, a touchscreen, wireless hardware, speakers, cooling components, and separate slots for game cards and microSD cards. The Joy-Con add their own batteries, motion sensors, rumble hardware, and controls. The dock supplies power and routes video to a TV; it is not a second console or an external graphics processor.
The three original models share the same broad idea but differ in screen, storage, controls, and play modes. The standard Switch and OLED Model can connect to a TV; Switch Lite cannot.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHow the parts work together
A game can run from a physical game card or from internal or microSD storage. The processor and system memory handle the game and system software. The console then sends picture and sound to its built-in screen and speakers in handheld or tabletop play, or sends video and audio through the dock to a TV in TV mode.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
Nintendo identifies the CPU/GPU as a custom NVIDIA Tegra processor, but does not publish every chip implementation detail or clock behavior in its consumer specifications. Exact chip markings, board layouts, and component placement can vary by model and hardware revision; teardown photos are useful for seeing those details, not for defining every Switch as identical. Nintendo’s technical specifications list the public-facing features, while iFixit’s teardown archive shows internal layouts.
A tour of the console’s hardware
Processor and system memory
The Tegra system-on-chip combines CPU and graphics-processing functions in one package. System memory, often called RAM, holds information the processor needs while games and the operating system are running. It is different from storage: adding a microSD card gives the console more room for files, not more working memory. Nintendo’s public specifications identify the processor family but do not list a universal RAM capacity; avoid treating revision-specific teardown findings as a specification for every model.
Internal storage and microSD expansion
The standard Switch and Switch Lite have 32 GB of nominal internal storage; the OLED Model has 64 GB. The system reserves some space, so the full advertised capacity is not available for games and other user files. Internal storage can hold downloaded games, updates, screenshots, video captures, and save data. Nintendo supports microSDHC and microSDXC cards up to 2 TB, sold separately. A card is useful if downloaded games and updates are filling the console, but it is not a necessary purchase for every player. See Nintendo’s storage specifications.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
The game-card slot and microSD slot are separate. A physical game card does not guarantee that a title will never need a download: updates or other downloadable content may still be required.
Battery and cooling
Each model has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Battery life depends on the game, screen brightness, wireless use, sound level, battery condition, and hardware revision, so a single runtime does not apply to the whole family. Nintendo estimates approximately 4.5–9 hours for the OLED Model and gives about 5.5 hours playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as a representative example. That is an estimate, not a guarantee. Details are in Nintendo’s Switch FAQ.
The dockable Switch models use active cooling, including a fan and heat-transfer hardware, to manage heat in a thin enclosure. The precise arrangement differs among models and revisions. Do not assume that a fan noise or a particular internal layout applies identically to every Switch.
Rank #3
- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001( 01)
Screen, touch, and sound
All three models have a 1280 × 720 capacitive touchscreen. The standard Switch uses a 6.2-inch LCD; the OLED Model uses a 7-inch OLED; and the Lite uses a 5.5-inch LCD. OLED changes the display technology and size, not the listed resolution or the console’s underlying game-processing tier.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Stereo speakers are built into the console, and each model has a 3.5 mm audio jack. In TV mode, audio can travel through HDMI to a television or connected audio system. Headset and microphone behavior can depend on the game and software, so the presence of a jack alone does not promise that every voice-chat setup will work the same way.
Wireless, slots, and ports
The Switch family supports Wi-Fi and wireless controller connections. Compatible amiibo can use NFC on supported models and controllers. The dockable models’ right Joy-Con also includes an IR Motion Camera; feature availability varies by model. Nintendo’s compatibility FAQ distinguishes features such as motion controls, NFC, HD Rumble, and IR across the family.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
The console has a USB Type-C connector, a game-card slot, a microSD slot, and a headphone jack. On a standard or OLED Switch, the dock provides HDMI output and USB connectivity. The OLED Model’s dock also has a wired LAN port. The Lite’s USB-C connector is for charging; it does not provide TV output through a dock.
What changes in handheld, tabletop, and TV play?
- Handheld: The screen, speakers, and controls are part of the console experience. The standard Switch and OLED Model have detachable Joy-Con attached to their sides; Lite has integrated controls.
- Tabletop: The standard Switch and OLED Model have built-in stands and can use detached Joy-Con wirelessly. Lite can be used with an external stand and separately connected controllers, but has no built-in stand.
- TV: The standard Switch and OLED Model sit in a dock that supplies power and sends video and audio to a TV over HDMI. The dock also offers USB connectivity, and the OLED dock adds wired LAN. Switch Lite has no TV mode and cannot be made dockable by buying a dock.
The dock is an interface and power accessory, not a graphics expansion box. The console itself contains the main processor and game storage. Docked use lets the system operate in a different power and output mode; the dock does not contain a separate GPU.
What is inside a Joy-Con?
Each Joy-Con is a small wireless controller with a control board, battery, motion-sensing hardware, rumble hardware, buttons, an analog stick, and attachment contacts and rails. The left Joy-Con has the capture and minus controls. The right has the plus and HOME controls, as well as NFC and the IR Motion Camera. Nintendo’s feature compatibility guide documents which functions are available across models.
Best Value
- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Switch Lite does not include detachable Joy-Con, but separately purchased Joy-Con can connect wirelessly. Lite owners who use them need a separate way to charge them, such as a compatible charging grip or another supported charging setup. A Joy-Con control-stick drift problem concerns the controller’s stick input; it does not by itself mean the console’s main processor or screen is failing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What comes in the retail box?
These are the standard configurations listed by Nintendo. Contents can differ by region, special edition, bundle, or retailer, so check the specific listing if you are buying a particular package.
Standard Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch console
- Nintendo Switch dock
- Left and right Joy-Con
- Two Joy-Con wrist straps
- Joy-Con grip
- AC adapter
- HDMI cable
Nintendo Switch – OLED Model
- OLED console
- Dock with a wired LAN port
- Left and right Joy-Con
- Two Joy-Con wrist straps
- Joy-Con grip
- AC adapter
- HDMI cable
Nintendo Switch Lite
- Nintendo Switch Lite console
- AC adapter
- Documentation or important-information material
The Lite package does not include a dock, detachable Joy-Con, Joy-Con grip, or HDMI cable. For Nintendo’s standard and OLED package details, see the Switch FAQ; Nintendo’s Switch family guide describes the Lite package.
Original Switch, OLED Model, and Lite compared
| Feature | Nintendo Switch | Switch OLED Model | Switch Lite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.2-inch LCD | 7-inch OLED | 5.5-inch LCD |
| Resolution | 1280 × 720 | 1280 × 720 | 1280 × 720 |
| Internal storage | 32 GB | 64 GB | 32 GB |
| TV mode | Yes | Yes | No |
| Handheld mode | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tabletop play | Built-in stand | Built-in stand | External stand needed |
| Detachable Joy-Con included | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dock included | Yes | Yes | No |
| Wired LAN in included dock | No | Yes | Not applicable |
| Battery estimate | Revision-dependent | Approximately 4.5–9 hours | Model/revision-dependent |
Specifications and mode compatibility are documented on Nintendo’s technical-specifications page and model comparison page. The OLED Model is chiefly a display and design refinement, not a more powerful Switch. The Lite is a smaller handheld-only option, not a dockable standard Switch in a smaller shell.
Which model fits your use?
- Choose the standard Switch if you need handheld, tabletop, and TV play and find it meaningfully less expensive than the OLED Model. It has the same listed 720p resolution and 32 GB storage as Lite, but includes detachable controllers and a dock.
- Choose the OLED Model if you play handheld often and value the larger OLED display, 64 GB storage, improved stand, or wired LAN in the included dock. It retains the original Switch family’s software ecosystem and TV mode.
- Choose Switch Lite if handheld-only use suits you and smaller size or cost matters more than TV play or detachable controls. Check game compatibility first: Lite supports software that supports handheld mode, but not every game’s full control options are available in that mode.
All Switch games do not necessarily support all play modes. Some titles require detached or separately connected controllers, and OLED compatibility with some Nintendo Labo accessories differs because of its larger screen. Check the game’s packaging or Nintendo’s compatibility FAQ before relying on a particular control setup.
What can you upgrade or repair?
- Expandable: microSD storage is the straightforward way to add space. It does not increase RAM or replace the system’s internal components.
- Replaceable with disassembly: Batteries and Joy-Con sticks can be replaced, but the work involves delicate connectors and components. Replaceable does not mean easy, risk-free, or economical for every owner.
- Not practical user upgrades: The processor and system RAM are not consumer-upgrade parts. Internal flash storage is also not a normal user-facing upgrade.
Opening a console can expose fragile flex cables, shielding, connectors, and battery components. A swollen battery, liquid damage, damaged USB-C port, or recurring overheating should be treated as a repair issue rather than an invitation to experiment. Use model-specific repair guidance or a qualified repair service; assemblies and procedures are not interchangeable across every Switch model and revision. Teardown material at iFixit is useful for understanding the construction, but does not make a repair beginner-safe.
Quick Recap
Common misconceptions
- “OLED is faster.” The OLED Model has a larger OLED screen and more internal storage, but it is not a new processing-performance tier.
- “The dock is an external GPU.” The main processor is in the console. The dock handles power, TV video, USB, and—in the OLED dock—wired networking.
- “A Lite can be docked if I buy the dock.” Lite does not support TV output; its USB-C port is for charging.
- “32 GB or 64 GB is all available for my games.” Those are nominal capacities, and system use reduces user-available space.
- “A game card means no downloads.” A physical card is separate from the microSD slot, but a game may still need updates or downloadable content.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
