The Nintendo Switch is a fantastic piece of technology. With the Joy-Con controllers attached to the sides, it can be used as a gaming handheld while remaining in your hands, or it can be used as a home console while docked and connected to your television, and it can switch between the two modes in a matter of seconds.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is responsible for half of the task at hand. Given that it is solely a portable system, it is possible that the “Switch” component of its name is not relevant. It’s still a fantastic device that provides the same portable gaming experience as the Switch, but in a more compact package with a conventional direction pad instead of buttons and a smaller footprint. It’s also $100 less expensive than the Switch, which costs $199.99.
The Switch Lite is a fantastic alternative to the Switch in terms of price and functionality. It’s a fantastic portable device, and it’s $100 less expensive than the Switch, but it comes with a few drawbacks as a result. The most significant drawback is the lack of a kickstand, which means you can’t prop it up on your desk or table while you play.
It also does not support motion controls, which means that games such as 1-2-Switch will not function properly on the Switch Lite. However, if all you want is a portable gaming device with touchscreen controls that can be used both docked and handheld, this is the device for you.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- A smaller, lighter design with a 5.5-inch display that is more convenient to use in handheld mode is available.
- Affordably priced at $199.99, as opposed to the Switch’s $299.99 asking price.
Cons
- There is no kickstand.
- Does not support the use of motion controls.
- Design
Slim and dependable
It is much smaller and lighter than the Switch, which makes it a good choice for travelling. 6.3 inches wide by 3.4 inches long and 0.55 inches thick, making it roughly half the size of a Nintendo Switch in terms of physical dimensions. It weighs only 10 ounces, which is less than a third of the 13 ounces that the Switch weighs in comparison.
It’s also significantly thinner, which makes it easier to hold in handheld mode and more portable in general. Because it doesn’t have to be as wide as the Switch in order to accommodate a kickstand, it can be made even thinner than its predecessor, which makes carrying it around a lot more convenient than it was previously.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is entirely made of plastic, with the exception of a few metal buttons on its top and bottom edges, which are located near the device’s docking port and headphone jack and are used to connect and charge the device’s Joy-Con controllers while they are attached to each side of the device when playing in docked mode. The Nintendo Switch Lite is available in two colours: black and white.
It has a smooth matte finish all over, with the exception of one glossy section on each side, where you’ll find the Nintendo logo and some symbols indicating the different modes you can use this device in, such as handheld or docked with Joy-Con controllers attached, or charging while docked with their own USB Type-C port at their base.
It has a smooth matte finish all over, with the exception of one glossy section on each side, where you’ll find the Nintendo logo and some symbols indicating the different (which also acts as their sync button).
An on/off button and two indicator lights are located on the top of the device, with a volume rocker on either side and a power button below it. The front-facing camera is housed in an oval-shaped cutout in the centre of the device, while a single USB Type-C connector for charging is located on the device’s bottom edge, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The device’s rear-facing camera is housed in a rectangular cutout in the middle of the device.
Although there is no kickstand, you can lay this device down on a flat surface to use it in tabletop mode if you so desire if you so desire. Given that the Switch Lite has precisely the same proportions as the Nintendo 2DS XL, if you’re already familiar with that handheld gaming system, you’ll be able to use it just as easily with this one.
Because of its plastic construction and light weight, the Switch Lite feels sturdy in your hands and does not appear to be susceptible to breakage.
Screen and Electrical Power
The Switch Lite has a 6.2-inch 720p HD display, which has the same resolution as the 2DS XL’s screen, but with a smaller screen and a lower pixel density of 167 pixels per inch (ppi), as opposed to the 2DS XL’s 216 pixels per inch (ppi). The Switch Lite has a 6.2-inch 720p HD display, which has the same resolution as the 2DS XL’s screen, but with a
In spite of the fact that it is still an HD display, it does not appear to have the same sharpness as that on the Nintendo Switch, or other higher-end gaming devices such as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One S.
The Switch Lite’s screen also has a faint yellowish tinge to it, which makes it appear slightly washed out, especially when compared to its predecessor, but it isn’t too horrible in terms of overall appearance.
In addition to being able to be used in handheld mode, the Switch Lite can also be docked with Joy-Con controllers attached in order to play games on your television. When in handheld mode, you’ll need to make use of the device’s built-in 720p front-facing camera for video chat applications and snapping images using the device’s built-in camera application.
For those who prefer to play games on a flat surface rather than holding the device in their hands, you may use it in tabletop mode on a flat surface. The Switch Lite charges its battery while docked at up to 15W via USB Power Delivery (PD) charging over USB Type-C at 5V/3A @ 5V/3A (5V/3A + 5V/2A). Because of this standard, it is also possible to charge the device while it is connected to its AC adapter or other USB Type-C power sources.
You can charge the Switch Lite wirelessly using the charging dock that comes with it, however it will only charge at a rate of 5V/1A. The Switch Lite is equipped with a 3,020mAh battery, which Nintendo says can provide up to 7 hours of playing when used with the included battery.
During our testing, we discovered that it can last around 6 hours of continuous gameplay at 50% brightness with the Wi-Fi turned on and the volume set to 50%.
Changing the Channel
The Switch Lite is not intended to be a direct replacement for the original Nintendo Switch. Even though it’s the same device as before, it has a smaller screen and some minor internal hardware modifications. In order to utilise this device instead of the original Switch, you must create a new account.
In the event that you already own an original Switch, there isn’t much need to purchase the Switch Lite unless you’re looking for a handheld-only device that is lighter and more compact than the original Switch.
The Switch Lite will not receive any new games in the future, according to Nintendo. If you’re interested in playing new Nintendo games, we recommend delaying your purchase of this handheld gaming system until Nintendo releases a console with more advanced features that is better suited for home gaming, such as the Switch Pro.
Only for use with a handheld device
For those who already own a Nintendo Switch and are searching for a smaller, lighter version of the device to use while on the move without the need for additional gaming peripherals, the Switch Lite may be a nice alternative for you.
When it comes to playing new Nintendo games, however, we recommend delaying your purchase of this handheld gaming system until Nintendo releases another console with more sophisticated capabilities that are better suited for home gaming environments.
The Switch Lite charges its battery while docked at up to 15W via USB Power Delivery (PD) charging over USB Type-C at 5V/3A @ 5V/3A (5V/3A + 5V/2A). Because of this standard, it is also possible to charge the device while it is connected to its AC adapter or other USB Type-C power sources.
You can charge the Switch Lite wirelessly using the charging dock that comes with it, however it will only charge at a rate of 5V/1A. The Switch Lite is equipped with a 3,020mAh battery, which Nintendo says can provide up to 7 hours of playing when used with the included battery. During our testing, we discovered that it can last around 6 hours of continuous gameplay at 50% brightness with the Wi-Fi turned on and the volume set to 50%.
A Near-Perfect Traveling Companion
For those who already own a Nintendo Switch and are searching for a smaller, lighter version of the device to use while on the move without the need for additional gaming peripherals, the Switch Lite may be a nice alternative for you.
When it comes to playing new Nintendo games, however, we recommend delaying your purchase of this handheld gaming system until Nintendo releases another console with more sophisticated capabilities that are better suited for home gaming environments.
Conclusion
The Nintendo Switch Lite is a fantastic portable gaming system that is lightweight and easy to transport. However, the most significant drawback is that it will not play games that were originally intended for the Switch, so if you want to get this handheld-only version of the device, you’ll be limited to playing older Nintendo titles alone.
For those who already possess a Switch and simply want a more portable version of the gadget for gaming on the road, this is an excellent alternative. You should consider purchasing one of these consoles if you simply want to play new Nintendo games while out and about and don’t want to spend the money on another full-size system with more sophisticated capabilities.