Nintendo Switch Lite review – the ultimate console for gamers on the go (and on a budget)
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GAMERS can now buy the Nintendo Switch Lite, a cheaper and more portable version of the original console.
I've spent two weeks testing Nintendo’s latest gaming pad, and it’s bloody brilliant. But it’s not for everyone…
Nintendo Switch Lite – what is it?
The Nintendo Switch Lite is a cheap new version of the Switch proper.
It was announced back in July and went on sale in September, so it’s pretty new as far as gaming gear goes.
It’s handheld only, so you can’t connect it to a TV like the original Switch.
But it only costs £199, which is far less than the full Switch’s £279.99 price tag.
That means it’s a portable console, more like a Nintendo DS than a PS4 or Xbox One.
It’s a great move by Nintendo for gamers who want to play Switch games on the go, and don’t care about plugging it into a telly.
Nintendo Switch Lite design – does it look good?
The original Nintendo Switch design is great, so it’s good that the Switch Lite is hardly different.
Nintendo has stuck to the same overall look – a small oblong gadget with a large central screen.
However, the new model is also a little thinner and lighter.
On the full-size version, the buttons and joysticks clip onto the side of the screen – and can be detached for wireless use.
With the Switch Lite, all of the buttons and joysticks are built directly onto the body and can’t be removed.
That’s not a huge issue of course, as you’ll only be using the Switch Lite as a handheld gadget anyway.
Nintendo has also done away with the charging dock too, as its primary use was for connecting the Switch to a telly.
There are three launch colours: grey, blue and yellow – all safe and all attractive.
However, a limited edition Nintendo Switch Lite Zacian & Zamazenta console is also in the works, coming November 8.
It will feature “stylish cyan and magenta buttons” (Nintendo isn’t wrong), plus illustrations of the two new Legendary Pokémon from the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield games.
Overall, Nintendo has produced an attractive console that you won’t feel awkward pulling out on public transport.
Nintendo Switch Lite specs, features and performance
The Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite have largely identical specs.
They use similar Nvidia Tegra processors paired with 4GB of RAM, for smooth and sharp graphics.
There’s also a USB-C port for charging – a fairly common cable by today’s standards.
And storage is the same: a relatively paltry 32GB that will only hold two or three blockbuster games.
You can expand this storage with an SD card (quadrupling it for around £20), but it’s a disappointing added expense.
There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack on the Switch Lite, and wireless headphones are also supported via Bluetooth.
The screen is large at 5.5 inches (around the size of an average smartphone), but around 0.7 inches smaller than the Switch proper.
That’s not a huge difference, but it might irk some who are fanatic about screen size.
The screen resolution is the same at 720p HD anyway, so the smaller size actually makes the display look a tad sharper.
After all, you’ve got the same number of pixels crammed into a smaller space.
Overall, it’s a decent bit of kit given the price.
Nintendo Switch Lite games – what can you play?
Any game that works on the Nintendo Switch will work on the Switch Lite.
And just like the Switch proper, you can use cartridges or download games directly from Nintendo’s online store.
What’s important to remember is that when you buy a Nintendo console, you’re not paying for a graphical powerhouse.
What you’re actually buying is access to Nintendo’s unique and impressive library of games.
Almost nowhere else can you get access to games from hit franchises like Mario, Zelda and Pokémon.
The Switch already has some massive hits, perhaps most notably The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
We’re also expecting a proper Pokémon game later this year, which will definitely help flog some Switch units – and keep you busy over the festive season.
Only you know whether the Nintendo gaming juice is worth your squeeze.
For me, it definitely is.
Nintendo Switch Lite review verdict – should you buy it?
Nintendo has made it very easy for you to decide which Switch to buy.
If you want a great portable Nintendo console, you’ll pay £199.
And if you want to also plug it into your TV, you’ll need to pay an additional £70.
There’s not much more to it: this is complete personal preference.
I think the extra £70 is probably worth having a TV-friendly Switch for the fun social aspect, but some buyers just won’t care about that.
In any case, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a fantastic portable console – and definitely the best option on the market, smartphones aside.
And the whole point of buying a Nintendo console is gaining access to Nintendo games.
So if you’re a Nintendo fan, buying a Switch is pretty much a no-brainer.
The Sun says: Nintendo has given fans a cheaper and more portable buy-in to its ludicrously enjoyable and popular suite of games. The console lacks storage space, and third-party blockbusters often come late to the platform – but they’re minor niggles. This is a smash-hit console that any Nintendo fan will love. And it's the best portable console around. (4.5/5)
- Nintendo Switch Lite at Amazon for £194 –
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