Best Nintendo Switch for Tears of the Kingdom in 2023 – which console should you choose?

If you’re looking for the best Nintendo Switch for Tears of the Kingdom, we’ve got you covered with our top picks.

Zelda Tears of the Kingdom is looking set to be one of the biggest games for the Nintendo Switch ever, and we don’t just mean in terms of file size! As a Nintendo Switch exclusive game, those hoping to play it will need to make sure they have their hands on a Switch console. You’ll quickly find out that you have 3 options, the Nintendo Switch, the Switch OLED, or the Switch Lite.

Each of these three has slightly different attributes and strengths, while all will be compatible with Tears of the Kingdom. We’ve broken down exactly what makes each one tick and how that relates to Tears of the Kingdom itself, so you can know which version to go for. Let’s get into it.

Best overall Nintendo Switch for Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch OLED Tears of the Kingdom Edition

Nintendo Switch OLED – Tears of the Kingdom Edition

Screen size

7 inches

Resolution

1280 x 720p

Storage

64GB

CPU

NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor

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Pros

• OLED display
• Large storage

Cons

• More expensive

If you’re looking for the very best Switch to play Tears of the Kingdom on, this one is a no-brainer. Not only does the OLED version of the handheld console have the best specs, but Nintendo customised this edition for the release of the new Zelda game.

The Hylian Crest on the dock will be familiar to Zelda fans and the joy-cons are nicely themed too. As for the OLED model itself, this special limited edition has the same underlying specs. That means you’re getting twice the storage as a normal Switch out the box, with 64GB, as well as a larger 7 inch display.

This display is the real selling point, being not only bigger but higher quality too. The OLED technology it uses allows for incredible colour accuracy and superior contrast. This means that you can be confident the graphics for Tears of the Kingdom will pop.

Best portable Nintendo Switch for Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch

Screen size

6.2 inches

Resolution

1280 x 720p

Storage

32 GB

CPU

NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor

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Pros

• Removable Joy Cons
• Greta performance

Cons

• Only 32GB of storage

Even with the pros of the OLED edition, the classic Nintendo Switch strikes a brilliant balance between price and performance. You get access to one of the main selling points of the Switch system – seamless switching between handheld, tabletop, and TV game play.

It’s also a touch cheaper than the OLED edition. As a result, you’ll have money left over to go for one of the best monitors for the Switch. This in turn opens up the possibility to get one of the best pro controllers for the Nintendo Switch. While you can use these controllers while the Switch is in table top mode, the precise and customizable inputs they offer pair best with TV or monitor gameplay. This ability to customise the button layout will also be great for playing Tears of the Kingdom itself.

The smaller screen size will be seen as a disadvantage for some but does make the classic Switch more portable than its OLED brother. The battery performance is almost identical to the Switch OLED so that doesn’t need to be a factor in your choice.

Best affordable Nintendo Switch for Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch Lite

Nintendo Switch Lite

Screen size

5.5 inch

Resolution

1280 x 720

Storage

32GB

CPU

NVIDIA customised Tegra processor

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Pros

• Reasonable price
• Powerful CPU

Cons

• No TV mode

The Nintendo Switch Lite brings the entire library of Switch games down to an impressively affordable level. For these savings, the handheld experience is left essentially uncompromised. The screen is a bit smaller at 5.5 inches compared to 6 inches for the classic Switch. However, the resolution and CPU are the same, meaning you will get the same performance in Tears of the Kingdom.

The limitation of the Switch Lite is that you cannot remove the Joy Cons and there is no display port. As a result, TV mode is not possible on the device, and tabletop mode is limited. You can use the best racing wheels for Nintendo Switch, though only with the console itself as the screen.

If you intended to play your Switch inside as well as on the go, we would recommend going for another model. However, if it is only the handheld mode that interests you, the Switch Lite is a great way to save some cash and get access to this new Zelda game.

It has less storage than the OLED edition, and this might be a worry, considering that Tears of the Kingdom is set to be the largest Switch game, in terms of file size, that we’ve seen so far. Fear not, however, because the storage capacity is easily extendable by getting one of the best SD cards for Nintendo Switch.

Frequently asked questions

We’ve tried to make the process of buying the best Nintendo Switch for Tears of the Kingdom as simple as possible. To this end, we’ve answered some common questions we’ve seen coming up.

What console is Tears of the Kingdom on?

Tears of the Kingdom is a Switch exclusive. As a result, you can only play the game on the Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, or Switch Lite console.

Is Tears of the Kingdom a Nintendo Switch exclusive?

Yes, Tears of the Kingdom is a Nintendo Switch Exclusive. This means you will need to buy either the Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED, or Switch Lite in order to play the game.