Nintendo Switch Lite Avec Animal Crossing

TechRadar Verdict

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a great, compact device for those who aren't a fan of (or simply never use) the original Switch's docked mode. The design is more than comfortable for portable gaming than the Switch, while boasting the aforementioned performance.

Pros

+
Lighter and smaller
+
More portable
+
Nice pick of colors
+
Comfortable pattern

Cons

-
Express to handheld games
-
Still non as comfy as 3DS

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a redesign in classic Nintendo fashion. The portable hybrid has been raking in money for the House of Mario – but two years on, the company decided to modify things upwards and provide a compact alternative to the hybrid console.

The Switch Light is the smaller, lighter sibling of the Nintendo Switch, stepping into the shoes of the Nintendo 3DS every bit Nintendo'southward handheld dedicated device. If you're someone who enjoys the flexibility of playing the Switch on either the TV or as a handheld, then immediately the Switch Low-cal isn't for you – docked is not an option hither.

Simply, if y'all find yourself solely using the hybrid console's handheld mode, or notice the Switch a bit clunky for on-the-go gaming, then the Switch Lite could be the lightweight alternative for yous. Only, every bit with whatever new device, at that place are some pros and cons you should weigh upwardly before making the switch to the Nintendo Switch Low-cal.

Nintendo Switch Lite: cut to the chase

What is it? A more meaty, handheld-simply version of the Nintendo Switch
When does information technology come out? Out at present
What does it cost? $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329.95

Nintendo Switch Lite: cost and release date

Nintendo Switch Lite launched over two years on from the original Switch model. Arriving on September twenty, 2019, the Light may have ditched the ability to dock your Switch to a Idiot box, but it came with a significant cost cut too.

Dissimilar the normal Switch, which these days retails for £259.99 / $259.99 / AU$435, the Nintendo Switch Calorie-free comes in at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329.95. So, if you can take this trade-off in the long-term, there'due south a substantial saving to exist made by opting for the handheld-only model.

Fortunately, Nintendo has advised that there won't be a cost hike just yet for the Nintendo Switch Lite, different the contempo ones for Oculus Quest 2 and PS5 that was blamed on global inflation. Then, if y'all've not yet picked up a Switch Low-cal, at that place's no need to blitz.

Nintendo Switch Lite: design

Nintendo Switch Lite review — (Image credit: TechRadar)

The major difference between the Nintendo Switch Lite and the original Nintendo Switch is that the Switch Lite is solely a handheld device. Therefore, the Switch Light is much more than compact, and lighter, than its predecessor. That comparison likewise applies to the Nintendo Switch OLED, which is slightly larger than the original Switch.

The Switch Lite measures 91.1mm x 208mm 10 13.9mm and weighs 275g, compared to the 102mm x 239mm x 13.9mm dimensions and 297g weight of the original Switch. This means the device comes with a smaller LCD impact screen too, measuring just five.5 inches but still providing 1280 x 720 pixels.

In other words, it'due south a smaller screen than the original Switch'south 6.ii inches, but with the same resolution – so you're not losing anything in terms of pic quality. In fact, this gives the Switch Lite a pixel density of 267 pixels per inch (ppi), a flake sharper than the original Switch's 236 ppi.

Nonetheless, the trade-off is that information technology tin can sometimes be difficult to read small in-game writing on the smaller screen. We found ourselves having to hold the console closer to our face to read some text. Information technology's a small issue, merely slightly odd for onlookers on a morning commute.

Only where the Switch Lite truly shines is that it feels more than comfortable equally a handheld device. Due to its smaller size, it'due south more than portable and convenient to utilize on-the-go than the original Switch: you lot demand less elbow room, and it could probably fit in quite a large pocket.

As someone with small hands, this writer is aware that the original Switch tin be uncomfortable to apply in handheld mode; while relatively compact, it'southward even so big by handheld standards. Past contrast, the Lite is considerably more than portable, and fits snugly in your hands. However, it is still quite wide, and doesn't feel quite equally comfortable as, say, the 3DS did.

In addition, the Switch Lite comes with integrated controls rather than Joy-Cons. While you can connect up to four separate Joy-Cons wirelessly, you won't become an additional pair out of the box with the Light.

Despite the controllers being fixed, they offering mostly the aforementioned buttons as the original Switch – except the left, right, upwardly, down buttons, which take been replaced by a D-Pad, or Plus Command Pad, equally Nintendo calls it. The D-Pad replacement feels natural, like it's always been in that location – and is certainly more suited to handheld play.

The ZL and ZR triggers feel the perfect size and help cement that snug fit. Nevertheless, the L and R buttons are a bit thinner than on the original Switch. Arguably a bit likewise sparse, as we sometimes found our fingers slipping off them.

Both models also allow for wireless connectivity, Bluetooth (though not for wireless headphones) and the apply of MicroSD cards to increase the 32GB of internal storage, and so you aren't actually losing out on many features aside from docked mode – which means no playing on the Goggle box.

Due to the Switch Lite only being a handheld device, the console doesn't come with a dock, HDMI cablevision or kickstand. All you go in the box is the device itself and a charger – elementary. The Switch Lite isn't meant to connect to a TV – and while we tested it out with our own HDMI cable anyway, the console simply doesn't support the feature.

The Switch Lite as well comes in turquoise, coral, blueish, and yellow models – shaking up the greyness and neon Switch models we've been eyeballing for the past two years. For anyone afterwards something a trivial more special, Nintendo's too put out various special editions over the years, like the Dialga and Palkia variant for Pokemon fans.

Nintendo Switch Calorie-free: performance

The Nintendo Switch Lite has essentially the same performance as the Switch, except that the Light has a slightly longer battery life of three-7 hours, about 30 minutes more than the original Switch, and 1-ii hours less than the upgraded Switch model entering stores (although Nintendo warns that this depends on the games you lot play).

However, it is definitely worth noting that the Switch Lite does not come with Hd Rumble or an IR Motion Photographic camera. The device is made to solely play handheld games, and will therefore just play Nintendo Switch games that support handheld way.

That'southward not to say you can't play games which don't support handheld fashion, but you would have to wirelessly connect Joy-Cons for this to work (and purchase them plus their charging grip separately). Nosotros found that connecting Joy-Cons allows you to use Hd Rumble.

At a hands-on preview event, a Nintendo representative explained that the console will be compatible with more devices than simply the Joy-Cons, simply what exactly would not be revealed until a later date.

The following games are unsuitable for the Switch Calorie-free: i-ii Switch, Super Mario Party, and Nintendo Labo accessory kits. While games which crave Rumble could be played with Joy-Cons attached, we found that trying to play with more than one person on the Lite'southward small screen isn't exactly practical - so nosotros wouldn't advise trying to accept on political party games every bit the device wasn't congenital for this.

Despite missing these two features, the Switch Calorie-free notwithstanding has an accelerometer, gyroscope, and effulgence sensor. That means that you can still use gyro controls in games like Breath of the Wild – tilting the console to aim the bow for instance – and the screen's brightness adjusts depending on your surrounding.

Wireless online play all the same means you can play with friends (just not necessarily couch co-op) as we were able to play Mario Kart eight Deluxe online with ease. If annihilation, all the games nosotros played felt less clunky due to the compact nature of the device.

Nintendo Switch Lite: verdict

Nintendo Switch Lite on top of a regular Nintendo Switch — (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Nintendo Switch Calorie-free is the perfect console for those who adopt comfortable handheld gaming and accept never been sold by the Nintendo Switch's docked style.

The meaty and lighter device feels considerably amend than its predecessor and is much less clunky. When it comes to portable gaming, the Switch Lite is easier to send, takes up less elbow space on commutes and fits in your hands much more snugly. It'due south not quite every bit comfortable every bit the 3DS, but packing in the aforementioned functioning as the Switch ways we tin can let that slide.

However, anyone thinking about picking up the Switch Lite needs to focus on the fact that information technology is intended to focus on solo, portable play and the number of games which are uniform with the device is slightly less than the original Switch. It is not simply a smaller Switch model.

But if you're looking for a more comfortable, lighter and overall ameliorate looking handheld device (and a range of snazzy colors), and don't especially care well-nigh losing the few games we've listed, and so the Switch Lite is probable for you.

Nintendo Switch Lite: recent updates

Nintendo's continued building upon the Switch since the Lite's launch. Alongside the launch of the Nintendo Switch OLED, it's likewise seen continued system updates.

Between reminding us to utilise our Nintendo Switch reward points and adding Nintendo Switch software folders to better organize our library of games, a Nintendo Switch Online achievements system also went live. Elsewhere, you can now add friends through the Nintendo Switch Online companion app, available on iOS and Android mobiles. It means adding friends is easier than always on Nintendo Switch.

In that location's no end of upcoming games in 2022 to wait forward to, merely if you lot're besides seeking out the older classics, fearfulness non. Cheers to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service, there's a continually growing library of NES and SNES games to play. If you've opted for the Expansion Pack, there's Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and more than N64 games are coming, also.

Looking for advice on how to connect Nintendo Switch to your TV? Later some recommendations for Nintendo Switch SD cards? We've got you covered.

Thinking of picking up the Switch Calorie-free? You'll demand the best Switch games

Vic is TechRadar Gaming's Acquaintance Editor. An award-winning games announcer, Vic brings experience from IGN, Eurogamer and more to the TechRadar tabular array. You may take even heard her on the radio or speaking on a panel. Not only is Vic passionate well-nigh games, but she'southward besides an avid mental health advocate who has appeared on both panels and podcasts to discuss mental health awareness. Make sure to follow her on Twitter for more.