Soapbox: Nintendo Switch Lite Might Not Be For You, But It Will Be A Smash Hit With My Family

This system is a genius move, especially with Pokémon and Animal Crossing on the way. Switch sales are going to explode this holiday. I personally have no interest in a Switch with fewer features, but it’s an awesome idea for those who only intend to play portably.

The 3DS died ages ago, and we knew this was going to happen. The Switch is already super portable, why bother making a new handheld? That would cannibalize Switch sales.

So making a Switch that's portable only was a no-brainer.

I don't think I can deal with the battery life if I can't just dock it.

It’s not a Switch model I’m going to buy, but I have zero qualms about it, nope. I know a friend or two who will really appreciate this!

This is perfect for me as I already have a Switch and would like a second one for some multiplayer with the family away from the TV and so the kids can play without interrupting my play time 😉. As I can already play on the TV I have no need for that on another and have plenty of controllers already, so this being cheaper is just a bonus and ready for the next Pokemon games to be played together

Yeah. Dad gamer here. This may be the first new console I get my wee one . She has my old 3Ds and AC .

I want one as well. I love handheld gaming but the switch has always been a bit too big and spenny for me to hawk around Nyc. This thing looks perfect.

I just need to be able to download all my existing digital games and I’m a happy chappy. The old switch will stay on the dock for those big epic sessions.

I’m happy there’s new hardware from Nintendo despite some drawbacks. I agree t v out wouldn’t have killed them but meh. I’m good.

Also I WISH there was a navy blue but hey ho

Yeah, the moaners are missing the point of it. It's just an option for those not wanting the regular model, for those that favour handheld gaming and for families with kids. I think it's great! And I'm tempted at getting one, even if I already have a Switch.

@Kalmaro honestly I was originally unsure about a Switch Lite before it announced but the more I mull it over the more it makes total sense.

With the nature of the Switch, it more than succeeded at it's job of replacing the WiiU which means that ever since every sales have been just a plain bonus. But the 3DS line still needed an appropriate successor and honestly the Switch Lite is genius in that regard because it's both a perfect successor to the 3DS and remains entirely compatible with the Switch software environment which can means a lot in term of online/wireless/etc multiplayer by truly unifying home and portable console even when they're exclusively handheld because ultimately they remain exactly the same console.

And in a way the day it was announced the Lite would be smaller than the Switch regular it was clear it wouldn't be TV compatible because part of the thing with TV mode is that the Switch actually overclock itself for some of the TV games(it's why when there's no in-game sounds the Switch vent will be more audible when docked, in fact). The dock is important there in how it helps shape and apparently enhance airflow that's critical to be able to run at this performance.

A smaller Switch just wouldn't fit in the dock properly and not only that, but the console itself needed a newer more energy/heat efficient processor to be able to have the smaller cooling vents that would allow to make the smaller(and slightly more portable) size possible at all. Which in itself meant a smaller screen which probably plays a lot in the new console being more energy efficient than the original Switch in handheld mode.

One of the biggest factors for me is the weight. I love that weight reduction. I can play in a lying down position with the Switch overhead and not get tired as quick holding it.

I think it's gonna overtake the original and sale more

An HDMI port included would have been my preferred choice, but without it, I'm sticking to the standard model. I'm pretty hooked on the hybrid play aspect at this point, and couldn't go without. But I know a few people personally who were either holding out for something cheaper or more portable, which is a much larger consumer market than I think a lot of people give it credit for.

I mostly like it. I wish it had circle pads to make it more compact for travel. Also, it's not really a Switch anymore: they should have called it the Switcheroo.

I have a og switch from launch for me. I got one this year for my son. I plan on getting the Lite for my 8 year old daughter. Hoping a fancy AC one comes out. My only issue is of we are going to be able to share digital games across 3 consoles.

I do it with my son, his is primary, and he had his own online account. So curious how I can get it to work on all 3 at once

Granted I've not held the thing, but I really doubt it's much more pocketable.

@Aerona tbh I don't think this is meant to be a replacement to primary Switch console in anyways but rather I believe it's primarily aimed at household with multiple kids, especially if they already have a traditional Switch.

The fact it's cheaper, handheld only(and likely less vulnerable with the controls afixed to the console rather than joycons slided into rails) and release while kids will have just returned to the rough and tumble school(where a sturdier option for handheld play might be most welcome) and just two months before Pokemon releases is likely no coincidence as to who the target market is.

If anything the fact it can't use a dock sound like it was unavoidable the day they confirmed/hinted it would be smaller than a conventional Switch. It wouldn't fit in the dock itself and apparently a big deal of the dock is how it somehow apparently help airflow with the console helping it remain at safer temperature for when it overclock itself in docked mode. Even if it had been compatible with some third party docks the overclocking feature mean it might not have been the safest thing to do anyhow.

Especially as it sounds like that new processor/chip that was teased a while back was truly for this console in the end rather than a regular Switch revision, since a big deal about it is that it's more efficient nature made the Switch Lite's smaller heat vents possible in the first place.

Otherwise it might not have been possible to make the console any smaller than a conventional Switch without being able to reduce the size of that vent, I suspect. It's still a bit hefty compared to a 3DS but at the very least it looks like it might fits in coat/jacket pockets this time around even if it might not fit in pants pocket yet.

Regarding the durability mentionned earlier, this said, one thing I'm very curious about is the joystick as they look somewhat similar to those on a joycon but also a bit different?
So I wonder if something might have been made to make them more durable or at least much easier to self-maintain/clean than regular joycons(I mention cleaning because it sounds like a major culprit of "joycon drift" is apparently just how easy it is for any sort of crud or slightest of dust to get into the joystick and mess up contacts/etc thus leading to drifting until cleaned out in a lot of scenarios).

If they do end up being more durable(which I hope for those getting this), it could be very interesting as what could have been done there could mean a new iterations of new joycons proper that could be more durable than what we got with the original Switch and be one ways the OG Switch's own handheld potential could be bolstered(by not having to be as afraid of using those joycons in the first place).

I might buy one if you can easily download all the eshop games I already bought without any hassle(like having to remove the game from my original switch to install it on the lite). I want it to be as easy as switching to a new phone, where it automatically downloads all the apps that are linked to your account. And sync the save games and use the same Nintendo online account.

I'm pretty sure Nintendo will screw this up though.

@gcunit Not a whole lot but I could see this easily fitting in coat/jacket pockets even if pants pockets are another matter.

Either way to get the console to fit in pants pocket would mean such a sacrifice to screen sizes most games would become unplayable. People are already worrying about text size just with the minor screen decrease of this one as it is.

I’m totally on board with what they’re trying to achieve here. They need to fill that 3DS gap without creating a completely new handheld console. However, do you really think this is going to do that at £200? Isn’t the 2DS like £80 these days with a game? I feel it needed to be even cheaper. I wouldn’t want to give an 8 year old child a £200 Switch Lite. Maybe it’s just me.

@Desrever Honestly I came to the realization.

I just realized the timing is also perfect for other reasons. September is when pretty much every kids out there will have returned to the rough and tumble of school so a version of the console that get rid of the structural weakness that joycons slided into rails represents and is 100$USD cheaper is auspiciously well-timed in such a context.

And it come just two months before Pokemon releases and you know there's a lot of chances people might buy that game and this console for their kids to play at school rather than expose the family's more regular(and not as cheap to replace) Switch to the rough and tumble of that fore mentioned school life.

That could mean the Switch could become the console primarily aimed at young adults/families as the "family" console they can play both on the family TV and in tabletop multiplayer mode on family/friends groups outings(like camping/etc) whereas the Switch Lite become marketed as more of a dedicated handheld console for individual kids and extremely mobile people who rarely get the time to sit down at a TV at all or in the larger groups that would benefit from splitscreen MP.

Heck, in a family context where there's already a Switch for the whole family and one of the kids is gifted a Switch Lite of their own, some might even consider it the perfect excuse to get both versions of Pokemon. One for the kid's Switch Lite and one for the family Switch.

@HumanDog You can just deactivate your current switch as primary and sign into the eShop on a Lite and it will be marked primary - then you can re-download your games by going to your account page in the eShop.

Or if you want to keep your big Switch your primary you can have your account on both machines, and do the same, downloading your games from the account page in the eShop.

Whichever one is marked Primary, can play the games without an internet connection, and any user on the console can play the games. Whichever one is marked non-primary needs an internet connection to play the game, and other users on the machine can't play it (this is the same as PS4 and X1.)

Great article. The negativity of the web is on ridiculous levels. There is a definite market for the Lite, and I'm one that will buy it. Dad gamers unite. 😁

@Ludovsky exactly. I'm all for the Switch lite. It doesn't distract from the regular switch and it gives people options.

My biggest beef with the 3Ds near the end of its life was how I would hear about these great games that... were being put on the 3Ds, while the Switch was just right there, begging for more games.

Obviously, if a game was in development before the Switch was announced then it's understandable that they couldn't port that fast but nothing is stopping them now!

@GravyThief I dunno what's the regular price for a Switch in the UK, but in Canada last I recalled the original Switch was something like 350-400 pre-tax(I think it was even something closer to 400 because of currency value) whereas the Switch Lite is being marketed with a pricetag of 250$ which is still, well, 100 to 150$ cheaper than a conventional Switch.

And with whatever consoles Microsoft and Sony have cooking, and especially the fact their intent was to basically overengineer said new consoles to "future proof" them, something tells me the next console generation from these two will come with a pricetag that will make even the regular Switch's price look like "budget" pricing in comparison. And I feel that'll be the case even if they price the new consoles at a loss, unlike the Switch(es).

So honestly a release day price of 250$CAD might not be that expensive in comparison to what might still be coming compared to the older console that had almost a decade for it's price to decrease.

If anything I think it just show how much the hardware race has made this hobby expensive in the long run I feel.

It is not for me. Initially, I was really disappointed with this version, but now I can see how it can be for others. If it brings more players to Switch, then I am all for it. Besides the original Wii and now Switch, I have not owned any other Nintendo console. Why is Nintendo dragging their feet in bringing SNES, Gamecube, 3DS, etc to Switch. Would love to try playing those games on my Switch. The online store (for Switch) could have 3DS corners, etc.

@Ludovsky For me it's clear. This remodel only exists for one reason. Pokémon. It's even "confirmed" by the fact that it's getting a special edition for Pokémon.

The Let's Go games were meant to be played docked, and handheld mode was a simple afterthought. (luckily they still added it) Pokémon Sword and Shield are meant to be played handheld, including battling, trading with friends, etc. That's why they want a handheld only Switch, because Pokémon (one of their biggest franchises) is commonly a handheld game.

Seee. You don't just kill a console. You replace it. Now, it's likely sales of 3DS will nose dive and Nintendo can then act on the signals it ge-zzzzzzzzzzz (I am boring myself. No idea how arm chair analysts do it!)

@Kalmaro Oh gosh, that "new 3DS games while the shiny new Switch would be also perfect for them" phase was so frustrating so I totally hear you.

I mean, I know why it happened. Nobody believed the Switch would work(even the Pokemon folks thought it was doomed to failure which is partly why Ultra Sun/Moon was made without any consideration for Switch support) so nobody wanted to commit to something they thought would fail.

And then the Switch did succeed and everybody's plans got completely derailed leading us to that situation where these 3DS games were still releasing in the Switch's lifespan because they were too far along to even undergo the process of converting to Switch standards.

Which is basically why 2017 and 2018 both turned out so weird with the 3DS still getting so many titles even if it was utterly dying sales wise which kind of doomed many of these games, whereas the Switch well... "didn't" get those games yet was still continuing to sell a lot.

To be honest I think it's a testaments of how phenomenal the 2017 first-party games were because 2018 could have gone a complete other way even with Smash Bros if it hadn't been for how Zelda/Mario Odyssey/Splatoon 2/Mario Kart Deluxe managed to become such evergreen titles that they most likely not only assured 2017's success but managed to have people buying these as their first Switch games alongside the console even as far as 2018.

In comparison... 2019 might have had a slow start but now it's such a flurry of releases clearly showing that gears have shifted in studios' development pipelines that I can only imagine what 2020 will bring. And by all accounts 2020 might very much be as promising as this second half of 2019 is proving to be.

Just in September four of my wishlisted titles will be landing all at the same time(DaemonXmachina, Dragon Quest 11S, Ni No Kuni, Link's Awakening) that I'm guenuinely conflicted which I'll even get first because I know I can only afford two of them if I want to be responsible with my money.

And on top of big impact hitters for 2020, there's a lot that make me suspect "Breath of the Wild 2" will be a 2020 releases rather than come any later... not the least that development must have started in early 2018(if not earlier) judging at the history of job listings and how development processes go**, but the fact they get to recycle so much from the original BotW to boot in terms of assets(such as the entire base world).

**there was a "reveal" of listing for jobs offering at their studios last month but I checked history of listing and the same studios had public openings for the very same roles at the very same locations as far back as November 2018.
What's interesting is those roles fit perfectly with the type of works you'd see a studio shift to when entering the "last" third of development, rather than when they're just about to start working on a game at all.
Which means they'd likely started the sequel project much earlier than a lot of people might think.

Just the fact the trailer featured such developped ingame-style models supposedly so "early" in the development makes me feel this is much farther ahead than we think, that I wouldn't be surprised by a surprise reveal of a 2020 release date come December.
Nintendo likely learned from their Metroid Prime 4's reveal mistakes and really don't want to reproduce the same hurdles so they wouldn't have released this teaser trailer unless this was coming sooner than most people think.

This should’ve been called the Light Switch

its basically a Pokemon/Animal Crossing machine for the youngins. This is brilliant for the Xmas rush when families of 2+ kids all want their own individual machines

@Ludovsky right now, Astral chains, the daemon game and MAYBE fire emblem (if it stops being a waifu simulator) have my eye. You're right though, so many games now and I know I can't afford all of them D:

Reads like propaganda.

Not for me, I'm fine with my og switch but I think it will sell absolute gangbusters!!! Its going to fly off the shelves at Christmas for kids aged 6-13 with pokemon and animal crossing.

@graysoncharles That's an interesting point. This said I think it was confirmed in the reveals that it's indeed using the new, smaller, chip.

Though I can't find sources right away so you might be right. This said searching around, it sounds like it was confirmed the original Switch might be upgraded.

Though rather than a fullblown Switch Pro it sounds like what they're planning is more of a "Switch(2.0)" where the "upgrade" is a more subtle under-the-hood thing that would continue being sold as the primary product retaining the original name as well.

Iirc there was even some stuff with them directly contacting the patent office so that the patent of the original Switch could be modified to represent this change rather than introducing a 'new' patent.

https://www.engadget.com/2019/07/11/nintendo-switch-fcc-processor-upgrade/

"As The Verge notes, some FCC filings suggest that Nintendo is refreshing the original Switch with a new processor and flash storage. The specifics are vague (one document literally says "change of SoC type")*** but it's safe to assume they'll be small upgrades that don't require a special model name. Sony, for comparison, took a similar approach with its quieter PS4 Pro last year."

***it sounds like that might be what the new processor bit is about. It it's the one I think of it's something that won't feature major boost but will be apparently be more energy efficient(consuming less battery) and apparently "moderately" more powerful which will likely not neccessarily mean a stronger Switch but perhaps one reaching docked performance with less strain/heat produced. Or perhaps attaining these performances with less need to overclock in the first place which could mean less need for cooling and a quieter running as a result?

@Kalmaro Honestly I'm surprised.
2018 and early 2019 had conditioned me to such a slower pace(I mean, even 2017 at least felt it had at least one thing "major" ever months) that I'm startled by just how much is coming all at once.

I mean on one hand not all of it will cater to every player types with many people more able to choose and pick specifically the "one" thing that interest them at all in a month.

But September is especially bad for me because I am such a rabid fans of both mechas, jRPGs and Zelda all at once XD

I mean, the adorable Link's Awakening? A mecha game by the Armored Core crowd? TWO massive quality and really beautiful jRPGs at once?

I don't know what to pick XD

Honestly I might focus on getting Dragon Quest 11S first because I wanted this on my Switch(and I mean... I'm picking up Dragon Quest Builders 2 as soon as I can tomorrow) since the console exists even if I beat it on my PS4 already, and then get Link's Awakening.

But I know that, bar horrid reviews, I'll eventually get the other two as well later. Maybe as october purchases instead but I'll see.

Honestly "too much choice" is a not a bad thing to complain about for once I'd say. After all I can still buy the other one later and it won't be until Pokemon in november that I'll likely have a "must" get title of the same grade.

And by then whatever else might interest me in term of future releases might not be until 2020.

Though I'm starting to suspect that BotW2 sequel will be among those 2020 titles. There's too much making me feel this is farther along than most people think for me to believe it would somehow release later than December 2020. And Dec2020 is definitely the very latest I see it releasing because I believe it'll be even sooner.

Heck, I'm 95% expecting a Nintendo Direct in December 2019 giving us that "2020" number in a complete and utter surprise reveal that will make the internet go wild all over again for months to come.

Good piece. I see too many gamers have this "I don't like it so it shouldn't exist" mindset. Its terribly close minded and people need to realize everything can't be geared towards themselves.

@GrailUK it has been tapering off anyway.... Guessing they cease production by late 2020 or q1 2021.

@graysoncharles I think it's definitely aimed at the later. For example Switch Lite -has- longer battery life... but actually sports a smaller battery than the OG Switch.

I wouldn't even be surprised if it actually sold at a small profit like the OG Switch as well, unlike other consoles that ate traditionally sold at a loss to be affordable at all for consumers.

There seem to be some very smart cost management in both the Switch and Lite that I'm suspecting, especially with Sony/Msoft over engineering these to future proof them, even the full priced Switch will feel like budget pricing when the next Playstation and Xbox rolls around. As even their "at loss" pricing might be at a level I suspect might end up to the benefit of the Switch no matter the power differences.

Stuff like Switch Lite might just further cinch the deal for those on a budget.

SwitchTV will be the "Pro" 1080p and only plays on tv.

Hopefully this will get us some 3ds ports. Want Samus Returns and the Zelda 3ds games.

I can't imagine paying $200 to downgrade.

“Might not be for you but it will be a smash hit with my family”
Awesome! Bet Nintendo are looking forward to their next profits meeting if all your family is getting one

The RYZEN 3000 launch this week is a massive hit ($325 3700X sold out in day)

People opted to upgrade to Play in VR, 4K, RayTracing and so on. Same thing will happen when Next GEN consoles hit.

They will have their main Hardware, it is done. Easier to sell that group a $199 Switch LITE as a 2nd device later on.

Not an Upgrade or Downgrade, it is a 2nd chance to make a sale.

3DS and Switch are two completely different products.
I still need another New 3DS XL PAL version just for playing Dillon's Dead Heat Breakers in physical and other exclusive PAL 3DS games.

The Switch Lite is everything I thought it would be, but not everything I hoped it would be. I hoped it would be an upgrade to the 3ds with a slot to take Switch cards.

If Nintendo wanted a stripped back version of the Switch, that's what they have achieved. It is ideal for smaller hands, and those who don't want all the bells and whistles of the big Switch. It's back to the game boy and 2ds days, put a card in and play. And while it is a third less, cost wise it is still to expensive for the market it is most suitable for. Nintendo would recoup its lower profit with the sale from its expensive games. That said there will be a market for it, a big one but not a great one.

With the stylus and 3d game play and double screen in a compact form factor gone, we now have a back to basic handheld device.

Does Nintendo now realise that gaming is just a screen and a controller. Plastic toys, cardboard cutouts and rumbles, stylus and 3d are just gimmicks. Or has the Lite given Nintendo a blank screen to start again?

Now if it would have had optional 3D like the 3DS I would have been happy and the price point is still a little high, personally for what you get and keep in mind Switch is not new at this point I think 159.00 to 169.00 would be a better much better price point.

Who cares that child will play without tv...? There’s normal swtch connected. And we’ll be able to local coop instead of split screen.

I have no idea why this article exists. I have no idea why anyone would be upset by the Switch lite. I'm not buying it, but I certainly don't care if someone else likes it, and if anyone actually does, that's their problem, not the people buying a Switch lite. This is a defense for something that requires none, but some people just like to play the victim card, even for a video game system.

I personally do not see the point of the switch lite. Was the original switch really expensive enough to discourage a family from buying one for each kid when they are still going to shell out $200 for a lite? Now that most households have a > 50" TV per member of the family, are you really going to buy the inferior model and have the kids fight over who gets the one docked to the TV? The lite really isn't much smaller or much more portable, does the minor size difference really make a difference to anybody - especially considering you're also getting a smaller screen?

Personally I've held off on buying the switch because the original had obvious room for improvement with regard to size and battery life and I don't play games enough to be missing it yet. The concept is cool, but the available models haven't realized it yet. Overall this seems like a failed opportunity for Nintendo to accelerate momentum on attracting third party devs, keeping market share (yeah the switch is doing good, but their traditional handheld line is pretty much dead), and building a lasting advantage against competitors by releasing a model that actually improved on the older one.

People complaining about it not living up to the Switch moniker have a point. But at the end of the day it does not matter. Nintendo made the Switch brand so strong that having a portable only option will not phase it. Switch now means so much more. Switch off from the console arms race. Switch between playing alone or with friends anytime, anywhere. Switch the way we think about the gaming community as a whole. The inclusive nature of the Switch mimics that of the Wii. Nintendo hit the home run they needed.

@electrolite77 Again, their problem. No one should care if someone else doesn't like a product they love. If you enjoy it, that's good enough, no justification needed. Besides, it's not like Nintendo changes their stance just because of a few idiots on the internet, or we'd have a Vita port of Smash Bros. 4 right now.

"BUT ITZ A SWITCH DAT DOEZNT SWITCH!!! WHY DOEZ IT EXIHST?!?"

@Ludovsky

Nice analysis of the size and form factor vs heat output... very insightful!

It's still large and not pocketable, though. They should have gone with a clamshell design if they really wanted to attract the portable crowd and kid audience.

@NinChocolate right on!

Can we note here that Nintendo has NOT removed the ability to Dock a Switch Console to the TV - you can buy a Standard Switch t o do that- so nothing has changed other than there is now MORE choice for Gamers and Parents - The lower price point is crucial to get Volumes of units out and remember this is likely to be super accessible for China when it is released there. Nintendo also don't mind releasing a lot of Used Switch Consoles back into the market - as Gamer spend per console is way higher than PS4 or Xbox.

Btw - I'm looking forward to Mcdonalds in Akihabara, Tokyo - filling up with Monster Hunter and God eater 3 players like in the good old days of the 3ds. .

So many experts in here lol, the Lite will work out extremely well for me and my kids based on how they play. They're are super excited to each have their own switches as am I. Really wish people could wrap their heads around the fact that not everything has to appeal to them... And that's OK!

@electrolite77 I am not disagreeing that there will be a market for this, I just wonder how big of one and if it was the right one to invest their resources into at the time. It just seems like this is trying to address problems that nobody has complained about.

Yes I am stating what I would like, but at the same time I am wondering if this is really necessary at all.

Our opinions differ on some matters, such as this being 'smaller and more portable' on a practical level or that someone might wait nearly 3 years to buy a reduced feature model that doesn't retain half the originals functionality for $100 less because they felt the original model was too expensive.

The market share argument is debatable... if families waited for a switch lite to buy more than one switch they probably aren't going to spend a whole lot on software and will be swapping game cards with each other instead. Nintendo really needs to continue increasing their number of third party developers and giving them a reason to stick around.

Switch Lite (even with lower specs) is what 3DS should be in the first place, instead of this terrible mess!

How does this even qualify as a "soapbox" ? It feels to me more like a self glorified comment, no offense, but not a sentiment that resounds above the rest. I am a little disappointed to see that the praises towards the system boil down to: I like it because yes and all the subtracted elements of the system are some how moot or it's a beneficial paring down.

For me the design elements of this system come very close to the spec that I was hoping for, however something needs to be added for it to be competitive! The unfortunate nail in the coffin for me is a lack of connectivity to the television in any way or format, it's just a lot of deductions to an excellent device. And I'm perplexed at how this model even presents a compelling option to customers, thusly neutered.

The isn't for me but I'm glad others will want it...

...SUCKERS! jk jk

In all seriousness, I can't help but think how this model was hobbled. Sure, you can connect Joy-Con to it to play Super Mario Party...but there's no kickstand. And for the price you pay just to get a set of Joy-Cons to supplement the Lite, why not just go all the way and get the real deal in the first place?

How many people will know this? I can just picture frazzled GameStop employees having to answer questions and settle issues for the nth time.

@USWITCH64 well I mean once it's downloaded it's on there. I mean for the cloud save data, usually less than a minute. In your case you'd want the lite to be your primary since it doesn't have to connect to the internet to check if the game can be played

Another ‘dadgamer’ here. And, all I want to say is that the Switch Lite is the Switch that I have been craving since inception. I personally hated the form factor and design of the original Switch. I found the device to be too ‘fiddly’, fragile, and simply too big to be considered for my day-to-day travels. I hardly ever used the dock. And, I am completely indifferent to it’s ability to connect to a television set at this juncture considering how low-spec this device is. If a ‘Switch Pro’ should ever materialize, then yes that device should be outputting 4k or atleast 1k to my television. But, I fully expect my Nintendo devices to be handheld devices. As they have been for me for the last 30+ years or so. I’m......old. And , I do vividly recall the joy my monochromed and very thic white Gameboy used to bring me.

Tldr:
The Switch Lite was made for me and for users like me.
I am counting the days....

And, thank you Nintendo.
I am a fan for life.

Joke's on you, Darren. I'm actually reading this article and replying to it on my 3DS There are countless games available that I'm still playing (not to mention the homebrew), whereas the Switch has four games that interest me, and only one of them has been released yet.

I will definitely need to get a Switch Phat before BotW2 hits, though. Maybe the rumored "Pro" version will be out by then.

Couldn't agree more. The ridiculous moaning of people who need to get a life has been ridiculous. I dont need a Switch Lite but my kids are gonna beg and beg. Might as well complain that toys and kids TV exists.

I honestly have nothing to groan about, the console is the perfect solution for a mobile lifestyle and cheaper gaming. I already have a Switch, and I'm half tempted to buy this, too!

@graysoncharles i meant 3ds ia a mess. I got both 3ds and PS Vita. And i would prefer 3DS to be more like PS Vita (and Lite)

Does seem odd to me to make a Switch dedicated to handheld play, and not make to control sticks more compact.

Will sell regardless, but I'll wait to see for any revisions.

What is all this about dropping consoles and throwing them across the room. When I was a child I always took care of my Gameboys and cleaned them if they got dirty. I know accidents happen, but it’s important for children to learn to respect and cherish the things they use. If I was a child than I would care for the Switch probably more than I do now.

@graysoncharles

I prefer it to the joycons for Smash Bros.

Yep not for me

@NobodyImportant Yes, $100 cheaper does make a big difference, especially if you're talking about families with more than one child. With two kids here, it would be a real struggle to find $600 to get them both Switches of their own, but I could probably swing $400. And if I did have $600 to spare, I could certainly use that $200 savings to buy four or five more Switch games, maybe one for each child and a couple more for us all to share.

As for "fighting over the TV", both my kids tend to play the Switch in handheld mode anyway. My eldest almost never plays docked. The number of TVs per household is actually falling in the US as more and more families are using tablets, laptops and phones for their entertainment. The difference in the number of TVs per household is sharpest in younger households, as younger people are more likely to value portable devices over TVs.

I know I'm getting two of these sooner or later. It's not the perfect device for me for a number of reasons, but it is perfect for my kids.

Heck yeah, maybe wouldn't buy this year though...

RIP 3ds? 3ds still has more good games than the switch. Especially if you count the ds titles as well.

@ReaperExTenebris Exactly. And the reason why I'm interested in the Switch is because it was possible to play on big screen as well. I had a choice and that's why it sold well. Now only handheld mode... it takes away the experience. And the 5.5inch screen isn't helping either. 7 inch should've been the new standard. But I guess battery life is not enough as it is now. So no buy for me

@Onkel_Laser yes but 3DS games are all zoomed in games which give a very light gaming experience. It's 240p and the quality shows as well. I bet some games are great, but the limited hardware specs doesn't really help

Have absolutely no interest in purchasing a Switch Lite but couldn't be happier about the announcement, while it's always seemed inevitable that the Switch was designed to replace both the Wii U and the 3DS, Nintendo have dropped several hints in the past that this might not be the case: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/06/nintendo_is_considering_a_successor_to_the_3ds_according_to_its_new_president

Personally, I always lamented having to buy a portable system in addition to a home console order to play every Nintendo release that interested me, especially when it came to the huge droughts in quality releases that we saw during extended periods in both the Wii and Wii U eras. One of the biggest draws of the Switch therefore was the possibility of the consolidation of both Nintendo's home and handheld console division's gaming output all being released onto a single system. Nintendo have previously positioned the Switch as a home console https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/20/13347910/nintendo-switch-home-gaming-system and therefore a direct replacement for the Wii U but the Lite version can only be a replacement 3DS finally, making this dream of a single system for both console and handheld titles into a reality.

I think it's clear that upcoming titles such as Link's Awakening and Pokemon Sword & Shield would have been released for a handheld system if Nintendo were continuing with their two system approach.

Maybe now that Nintendo are starting to run out of Wii U titles to port to Switch we might start seeing 3DS titles ported over as well? I certainly wouldn't balk at a HD port of Samus Returns or Kid Icarus: Uprising turning up on Switch at some point in future.

The dpad and smaller size are nice for certain people but given it is a handheld only console there is no logical reason to not have improved battery life.

I'd love to buy a Switch Lite but it's not a practical purchase if you've already got a regular Switch. I still want the ability to play these games at home, but I absolutely love the super portable form factor of this Switch. The smaller size, the slightly better battery, the lack of removable parts.

If I could have both and use my original Switch as my at home Switch then I'd buy this in a heartbeat but the operating system isn't built for this type of setup.

Can I log-in to two Switches at the same time? Could I play the game at home on the original Switch, then "switch" to the Lite when I'm at work or travelling? What about games that don't support cloud saves? It might be doable for games that do support cloud saves albeit a pain in the ass to have to keep uploading and downloading saves, but for Pokemon or Animal Crossing, it's just not going to work.

It's a shame that I'm not going to be buying a piece of Nintendo hardware at launch for the first time in 27 years.

@ReaperExTenebris I kind of do like the idea of a console only if they're going to release the Lite for handheld only. Makes sense, even if it also contradicts the original idea behind the Switch. With a console only, Nintendo can focus on a more robust experience — more storage, better performance, etc — and still allow it to hook up to the Switch / Switch Lite via Nintendo Accounts for on the go gaming.

While I'm not going to buy this as I'm perfectly happy with my fully-featured OG Switch, I can see the appeal of this, especially as a 3DS replacement. This thing is gonna FLY off the shelves in Japan! (R.I.P. Vita).

But does Karen approve?

This has to die before it cannibalizes sales of the switch!!!

@thesilverbrick People like me. This is the Switch I've been waiting for: better portability, sturdier-looking design, and a much cheaper price point. The lack of HD Rumble is kind of a bummer, but I like everything else about it. I think Nintendo is going to sell a ton of Switch Lites as we approach the holiday season.

If I was still a student this is the first console is buy when thinking about gaming at Uni.

I had to lug my GameCube and assorted paraphernalia between Essex and Derbyshire (and back again) on the train (via London) during trips home in the holidays. A GBA did solve some of these issues once the SP came out but I still wanted the GC with me at home.

I'd have loved a console like the Switch Mini that I can just play anywhere and still get the 'full fat' gaming experience. I wouldn't bother with a TV as I'd probably watch everything on a laptop so it would be perfect.