One Switch, Two Switch, Red Switch, Blue Switch

 As the semester is winding down and the holiday breaks are upon us, you might be looking for a new way to take your mind off of the business of the day to day. Plus, if you are a Pokemon fan who is looking to get back into the series with the upcoming releases of Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, or Legends Arceus, you might be in need of a system that can play these games. As of the time of writing, the Nintendo Switch is the only way that you will be able to enjoy these games, and possibly relive some nostalgia if you grew up playing these games. If you are like me, and have been too busy to consider playing video games, but want to acquire a Switch, choosing a specific model to pick might be a little difficult. With the release of the new Switch OLED, you might be stuck in decision paralysis trying to decide which would be the better deal for you. 

    Currently, there are three models of Nintendo Switch on the market, each with their own special editions (purely cosmetic). The first is the Nintendo Switch with an MSRP of $299.99. The Switch was first released in 2017 to great critical success. It is a device that has a touch screen that can have special controllers, called Joy-Cons, attach to the side for a handheld mode. You can also use the kickstand on the switch and set up on a table and detach the controllers for a "table mode." If you want a larger screen to see better, the Switch also includes a dock to connect it to your TV. In 2019, Nintendo released the Switch (V2). It is functionally similar to the 2017 version, only with some minor hardware tweaks (battery life, and a new bluetooth chipset). Currently, if you purchase a new in box device, you will be getting the V2 with all of the upgrades.

    In 2019, shortly after the V2 was released, Nintendo launched the Switch Lite (MSRP $199.99). The switch lite is an all in one device that has the controllers molded into the body. It was designed as a budget, travel option for people who want to use the device in only the handheld mode. It can play most of the games in the switch library, just as long as they do not need table or dock mode.

    Most recently, in 2021, Nintendo released the Switch OLED. With an MSRP of 349.99, it is the most expensive option. The OLED model has a 7in OLED display that has a higher quality than the LED screen in the V2. It also comes with 64gb of internal storage (compared to the 32GB in the V2), a larger kickstand, and the updated dock that has a wired LAN port for anyone who prefers a wired internet connection over WiFi.

    Each device comes with its own pros and cons for each user. Here is a link to Nintendo's website so you can compare the devices and find the best one for you. Though, with the popularity of the console, it may be difficult to find one this holiday season. Compare - Nintendo Switch - Nintendo - Official Site