Since 2024, the operational operation of most new-generation weather radars in China has adopted three observation modes: precipitation mode 1 (VCP11D), precipitation mode 2 (VCP21D), and clear-air mode (VCP31D). However, a systematic evaluation of their specific data quality differences and the scientific validity of the automatic switching strategy is still lacking. This study uses 11,965 sets of observation data from 117 dual-polarization operational radars nationwide, collected before and after mode switching from April to July 2024, to compare and analyze the performance of the three observation modes in terms of ground clutter suppression capability, sensitivity, and measurement accuracy. Furthermore, by statistically calculating the proportion of effective precipitation echoes in newly added/missing elevation layers before and after mode switching, the study quantitatively evaluates the rationality of the current automatic switching strategy, which is based on thresholds of composite reflectivity (CR), echo top (ET), and vertically integrated liquid water content (VIL). The results show that: (1) In terms of data quality, the three modes exhibit comparable ground clutter suppression capabilities, but the clear-air mode significantly increases the area of ground clutter identification due to its longer pulse width. The clear-air mode has the highest sensitivity, followed by the precipitation modes; however, differences in radar models and refined modifications can reduce sensitivity. The number of pulse accumulations in different observation modes primarily affects the measurement accuracy of differential reflectivity (ZDR) and correlation coefficient (ρhv); fewer accumulations lead to greater dispersion of these two parameters. (2) Regarding switching strategies, the current fixed-threshold strategy fails to effectively capture the vertical structural changes in precipitation, resulting in low utilization of elevation resources. Taking the CINRAD/SAD radar as an example, the switching threshold between the two precipitation modes is set too low, resulting in a median effective precipitation echo proportion of only 27.13% in the newly added elevation layers of VCP11 (5.2°, 7.5°, 8.7°, 12°, and 16.7°), thus failing to fully leverage the advantages of vertical dense observations. Conversely, the threshold for switching from precipitation to clear-air mode is set too high, resulting in a median of 15.66% of precipitation echoes remaining in the missing elevation layers (6.0°, 9.9°, 14.6°, 19.5°) of VCP31 after switching. (3) To address the above issues, considering the limited computational capacity of the Radar Data Acquisition (RDA) subsystem, this paper proposes a simple switching indicator based on the spatial proportion of echoes in common elevation layers. Comparative verification shows that this indicator significantly improves the accuracy of mode switching and the utilization of elevation resources. This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the observation strategies of China’s new-generation weather radars and enhancing the capability of severe weather monitoring and early warning.