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Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) — Controller · 2017
Nintendo

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black)

Controller · 2017

78
/ 100
From $79
VS
Nintendo Switch OLED wins by 8
Nintendo Switch OLED — 2021
Nintendo

Nintendo Switch OLED

2021

86
/ 100
From $349
Specdex verdict

Nintendo Switch OLED takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) lands at 78 and Nintendo Switch OLED at 86. That puts Nintendo Switch OLED ahead by 8 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) if…

  • ✓Hall-effect sticks (select SKUs)
  • ✓Hot-swap triggers (elite tier)
  • ✓Cross-platform compatibility

Pick Nintendo Switch OLED if…

  • ✓Exclusive titles (brand-dependent)
  • ✓Store ecosystem
  • ✓Cross-gen compatibility
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Games

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black)

Compared on the games sub-score

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) leads on games (86 vs 84).

Performance

Nintendo Switch OLED

Compared on the performance sub-score

Nintendo Switch OLED leads on performance (86 vs 78).

Features

Nintendo Switch OLED

Compared on the features sub-score

Nintendo Switch OLED leads on features (84 vs 76).

Value for money

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black)

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) more score per dollar ($79 vs $349).

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) 78
vs
86 Nintendo Switch OLED

Score breakdown

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black)
78
performance 78
games 86
features 76
value 82
Nintendo Switch OLED
86
performance 86
games 84
features 84
value 82

Specs side-by-side

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) versus Nintendo Switch OLED — full spec comparison
Spec Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) Nintendo Switch OLED
Type
Controller
—
Color
Black
—
Release year
2017
2021

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black)

Pros
  • +Hall-effect sticks (select SKUs)
  • +Hot-swap triggers (elite tier)
  • +Cross-platform compatibility
Cons
  • −Battery replacement paid on some
  • −Software dependency
  • −Stick drift still possible (non-Hall)

Nintendo Switch OLED

Pros
  • +Exclusive titles (brand-dependent)
  • +Store ecosystem
  • +Cross-gen compatibility
Cons
  • −Storage expansion pricey
  • −Dashboard UX ages
  • −Subscription required for online

FAQ: Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) vs Nintendo Switch OLED

Which is better, Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) or Nintendo Switch OLED? +

Nintendo Switch OLED scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 8. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) worth the price? +

At $79, Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) delivers a Specdex score of 78 — strongest in games.

Is Nintendo Switch OLED worth the price? +

At $349, Nintendo Switch OLED delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in performance.

Does Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) or Nintendo Switch OLED last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for games, Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) or Nintendo Switch OLED? +

Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) — leads on games (86 vs 84). Compared on the games sub-score.

Which is better for performance, Nintendo Joy-Con Pair (Black) or Nintendo Switch OLED? +

Nintendo Switch OLED — leads on performance (86 vs 78). Compared on the performance sub-score.