New Nintendo Switch Lite Announced

By: Noah Friscopp

If the current Nintendo Switch is just a tad too expensive, good news as Nintendo has announced the Nintendo Switch Lite, a new handheld only version of the Switch.

The Upgrades

Despite having fewer features than the standard Nintendo Switch, the new version has a few upgrades. The battery life, which is notorious for not being the best with the standard Switch, is upgraded, allowing for 3-7 hours of gameplay depending on the game. The Normal Switch can be as short as 2 and a half hours while playing intense games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The Nintendo Switch is also both smaller and lighter, making it easier to take great gaming on the go. Rather than having detachable Joy-Con controllers, the Lite is all one handheld console. Perhaps the most exciting addition to the Lite version is the inclusion of an actual D-pad, making side-scrolling platformers even better to play on the Switch Lite. And, all of the games and saves you have on a current Switch model can be transferred over to the Lite, so all your progress travels with you to the new console.

The Drawbacks

Even though there are some great features about the Switch Lite, the smaller size and lower price mean there are some drawbacks to consider as well. The Lite is strictly a handheld console, so no docked TV play or tabletop mode with a kickstand. As said before, the Lite does not have removable Joy-Cons so the normal Switch will remain the best option for multiplayer games. The Switch Lite also doesn’t contain the Switch’s HD rumble feature, either. Some games that allow you to play with all these different modes like Super Mario Odyssey will restrict you to only allowing handheld mode or playing with a connected controller. Every Switch game will still be fully playable though, minus strictly Joy-Con ones like 1-2-Switch.

Available Colors and Special Edition

There are three colors available at launch, blue, yellow, and a lighter grey than the standard model. For Pokémon fans, there is also a special edition version featuring the two new legendary Pokémon from Sword and Shield Zacian and Zamazenta on the back of the console in a light grey, blue, and pink mish-mashed color scheme. Unfortunately, this special edition will not include either of the games Sword or Shield as it releases a little bit before the games’ launch on November 15^th, 2019 with the console coming out November 8^th, 2019 just in time for the holidays. The regular blue, yellow, and grey versions are launching September 20^th, 2019. If you have been waiting for a cheaper way to join in on the Switch fun, or just really want to play Pokémon Sword and Shield this fall, there is no better way to jump on board with a cheaper price at $199.99, extra battery life, and more portable size and feel. From Zelda to Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and beyond, there is no better time to join in the fun Nintendo is cooking up.

Share Your Thoughts

What do you think of the Nintendo Switch Lite? Are the upgrades worth not having docked mode or detachable Joy-Cons? Let us know that and your favorite Switch games below.