Poll: Do You Play Your Switch More In Docked Or Handheld Mode?

I personally use the handheld more when playing individually, because I guess I'm used to doing so from the DS and 3Ds. But playing docked is ABSOLUTELY necessary for multiplayer in my opinion, so I don't understand how anyone could argue we should get rid of that feature. Plus, when a game has really good graphics it's amazing to see them on a bigger screen!

We have 3 Switch units in my house (soon to be 4, but the newest addition will be a Switch Lite).

I play about 90% handheld, 10% docked
My 10 yr old son plays about 50/50
My 8 yr old son plays about 60/40 in handheld

Mostly Handheld, but also on TV for party games and when I feel like it

I would say 30% Docked | 70% Handheld

Handheld.

If I was strictly someone looking for a full fledged console for my TV I would've probably skipped the Switch and just stuck with my PS4. Especially for the genres I like such as RPGs and fighting games, being able to have access to them on the go has led to me investing more time into them when I don't have either my PC or my PS4 around anywhere

The only time I play docked is for multiplayer stuff like Smash or Splatoon 2, and Xenoblade 2 as well because the game looks like ass in handheld mode and battery life goes down way quicker when playing that game in particular

Eh, I have both a Switch AND a Switch Lite so I find myself using the former as a home console and the latter as a handheld.

That said, I DO find myself using my regular Switch in Tabletop mode when I’m playing a game that’s not on (or lacks a cloud-compatible save file) my Lite...

@realityxaidan I feel exactly the same way. Mario Kart or Arms with friends HAS to be on the TV.

Plus some games like XBC2 can be a bit muddled in handheld, so those exceptions need the big screen too.

I play tv for multiplayer for the bigger screen and its easier to play splatoon 2 but other then that i don't use it a lot

Handheld 90% of the time.

In our living room we have both Switch and Switch Lite, and the former is basically a home console, about 90% docked.

More like 99% docked or higher, but not a pure 100%. I took a handheld Animal Crossing break in the middle of upgrading my TV a week ago...but that's the ONLY handheld time I've had in months. It was more common when I hurt my back earlier this year and had long car rides to physical therapy though.

100% docked. The joycons are drifting anyway, and I don't trust myself (or anyone else) to take a $350 machine out to play. That's what the handhelds are for.

Like 99% docked mode. Only really play handheld when a screen isn't available, I played Mario Kart for about 30 mins the other day and that was the first time in months I used handheld mode.

99.999% handheld here. I think I've docked my Switch 3 times ever for less than an hour total, and I've got to be well over 1000 hours of handheld time by now. Probably closer to 2000 hours.

Interesting that it's swinging more towards docked than handheld at the moment... Goes to show just how wrong Pachter can be!

Estimatedly 90% handheld, 9% docked and 1% tabletop so far - and even I would rank Switch's hybrid nature high above a handheld console any day. Pachter's logic (or pretence thereof) is not entirely unlike telling Microsoft to discontinue Office because a lot of people "mostly just play, browse and watch stuff on their PCs".

It all depends on the current situation (that's what makes the Switch so awesome).

NHL Off Season: 80% Docked 20% Handheld

NHL Season: 60% Docked 40% Handheld (these numbers can fluctuate depending on what team(s) I'm watching)

It's real simple and convenient!

Handheld 80% >>> Table top 15% > TV 5%

To be honest I use it more handheld my wife watches the TV while I'm talking to strange nonsensical creatures on animal crossing, but when I have my day off and she's at work it's docked all the way,best of both worlds don't see the logic in having it any other way, it's called a switch for a reason!!!

50/50 for me.

TV for big and social games (Mario Party, Xenoblade etc)
Handheld for Indy & puzzle games and for games that need connected controllers (tetris, mario 35)

Almost entirely docked play, Patcher is an idiot and frankly I don't even know how he has a job in this industry when saying things that are so utterly stupid. The Lite doesn't even come close to the sales of the standard Switch, so how can anyone suggest the standard version should be scrapped when the market is so clearly saying the opposite is beyond me

More like 95% docked and 5% handheld.

Always prefer the TV, but sometimes I'm interested to see what it's like on the small screen.

I love my Switch Lite

Back when my Joycon was working: 50/50
Now that my Joycon is drifting: 100% Docked.

Thanks, Nintendo. -_-

Switch lite for me xx

Since I bought a Lite, my OG Switch is in the dock most of the time, probably 80-90%.

I play about 80/20, although I do suspect it's more like 85/15. In any case, Pachter is a fool and I'm just as big an idiot for clicking on that article with his foolish "analysis" in it.

Pre-Covid, it was probably more of a 70-30 split with handheld, but now that people are always home (with only one TV) and I'm not going to people's houses to play party games, it's more like 90% of the time. The Switch's small size, even with the dock, makes it great for bringing to places that may want to play. :3

I put 50:50 as my habits have changed during lockdown. I was mostly handled due to lockdown, but WFH had me move my Switch into the study providing a welcome distraction!

It used to be 80% hand held but I’ve developed drift and was forced into using the pro controller and an oled tv... you can’t seem to buy single joy cons anymore!

100% handheld.

I only have 1 TV that's usable for video games and it's also the TV watching TV so I do handheld and the wife can watch TV.

That and for some reason I like handheld more. Partly the way the living room is set up the TV has wicked glare most of teh day and it's sometimes hard to read stuff on the TV since it's only 52" and I sit something like 8-10 ft away.

But having the ability to dock is a good thing imo even though I don't make use of it.

I couldn't say myself and alot depends on the game aka ACNM this game can be played either way. But BOTW bigger screen is better enjoyment.

99.9% of the time, it’s docked.

I'd say I play 60/40, but It used to be 50/50. I love my Switch for its versatility.

Before the pandemic I was ~70% docked, 30% handheld. I use the docked when playing at home, handheld while traveling for work. That's why I LOVE my Switch! I really like my games on my TV, but I don't want to leave them at home. Now I'm 99% docked, and play handheld when my wife or kids are watching something on TV. For me, this analyst is a bunch of hot air. The hybrid nature of the console is THE reason I bought it.

I'm 90% docked, my son is probably 70% docked, my other son who just got his in August to take to campus left his dock here at home, so I'm pretty sure he's 100% handheld. 😉 He wanted the full fledged Switch, not the Lite, so he can play on a dock when he's able. His holiday break is Nov 23 - Jan 25 so he'll probably play in our dock when he's home. Pikmin 3 and HW: AoC.

It's too expensive and big to really be portable like the 3DS was, and even if it were more portable as a dinky adult I don't really feel the need to have a game system wherever I go anyways.

Sometimes I bring my Switch when I do laundry at my Mom's house, but I don't really feel comfortable bringing it to work. I live alone right now, so I'm never fighting for the tv either.

I'd say it's docked about 90% of the time.

Never docked mine since I got it on launch day

Yeah it was silly for him to suggest that Nintendo go with the Switch Lite only. Even if it was a case of the majority playing 80% handheld and 20% docked, or even more, the biggest appeal (other than first-party games) is the ability to take it with you but still have the option to play on the big screen. Playing multiplayer Mario Kart on the Switch handheld screen is fine on a plane or something. But no one is going to prefer that way with friends and family at home.

Love the concept, but if I wanted a handheld, I would just buy a handheld.

Docked all the time for me.

Almost exclusively handheld, unless my kids want to watch me play. In which case I pop it in the dock.

Only play handheld for plane or train journeys. Or when I go on holiday. Otherwise I treat it like any other home console. The analyst saying to remove docked mode has obviously been smoking something...

I have a Switch Lite, so 100% handheld for me.

Majority of the time, handheld for me and TV will be occasionally if I'm in the mood. The option to have TV is paramount for the games that can't be played on Xbox One or for traveling.

If Nintendo adds a Shield TV-like device, that'll be added to my home theater rig and that's how I will play my Switch games on TV.

50-50 for, i love that option.
But to enjoy the beauty of some games like zelda, i play docked.

95% dock. The only time I play handheld is when I'm not at home and I brought my Switch somewhere,which is not very often

Handheld, I have it set up on my desk and I'll just pull out my pro controller to play on it sometimes.

Mostly docked, but I like the flexibility of being able to go handheld. I've used that option with certain games that I take to bed or the sofa, mostly slow-burn titles like Three Houses, Into the Breach, or Baba is You, which are more about carefully planning movements and less about reflexes or being on the edge of your seat. Now, stuff like Hollow Knight or Celeste I play docked all the time, because I need to be sitting upright and attentive (or even standing up, with Celeste) to be any good at them. I guess some exploration in Hollow Knight you can do lying in bed, but the tougher battles require a different body posture altogether.

So going by this poll, it seems Pachter is a fool who doesn't know what he's talking about.

But we knew that already...

As for me, when I'm in Thailand I play 100% docked. When I'm The Netherlands, I play 90% tabletop mode, 10% docked. When I'm in Scotland, I play 75% docked and 25% tabletop /handheld. Since I'm in Thailand for the majority of the year, I'd say overall I play docked 90% of the time but I love the flexibility of the console and I'd be gutted if they dropped the hybrid concept.

It depends on the game.

He is correct. What people need to realize is that the entire reason the switch is as popular as it is, aside from breath of the wild, is due to the portable nature of it.

Nintendo themselves saw this which is why we have the switch lite as well.

Honestly it depends on the game

I only play handheld when my Switch leaves the house. When I’m home it’s always docked. I’d much rather look at a TV than a tiny screen, plus craning your neck to look down at a handheld like that for long periods of time is bad for one’s posture.

I played the Switch on the TV for about 20 minutes on day of release, but then have played it in Handheld mode ever since.

70% docked. I already play a lot of handheld consoles (DS, 3DS, PSP), so I prefer to use Switch as a home console. In addition, the first game I played on it was Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee, whose catching system strongly encouraged docked mode.

I play it 100% docked. The only time I take it out of the dock is to take it closer to my wireless router to download games faster.

100% Handheld.Its my most used system.
I save my tv for my more powerful consoles.

I play docked, but with the rest of my family using the TV, I still use handheld a fair bit. I think it depends on the game. 90% of the games I play I play in docked. But some games like pokemon feel weird to me in docked. So that's an exception, I play pokemon strictly handheld most of the time. But yeah, I use docked most of the time, 80/20

TV more but also sorta in handheld mode when l can't use the TV.

@Slowdive Am waiting for a TV-dedicated one.
Keep dreaming...not going to happen. This is why people have no Outside the Box Thinking for Innovations.

I'd say 95% docked for me, but I love having the flexibility to undock and play elsewhere when I wish (even if I need reading glasses to do so). The hybrid portability of the Switch is a huge appeal for me. Following Pachter's advice to go handheld only would be a devastating mistake.

I voted for 70% docked, 30% undocked, and that is typically my weekly basis. I love being able to enjoy both ways!

Handheld.... But play ringfit some. Might play docked more, but I share a tv and really can't play much docked anyway.

I used to play mostly docked, but recently I've gone closer to 50/50 I think. In the past there have been times where it's been mostly undocked. That's the real power of the Switch, it plays in the mode I most need it to when I need it to. It's not all or nothing. I don't ever want to go back to all or nothing.

98% docked, so I rounded to 100 for the poll. I need tv for Rocket League, and prefer the bigger screen for immersion.

To answer Gavin's article question, No, the poll results don't surprise me.

I only play handheld when im out at lunch, or when I can't get the TV. Otherwise id do docked mode 100% of the time.

Pretty obvious just by skimming the poll results that Pachter's bird-brained take was hilariously terrible, must like the rest of his video-game "analyses".

I've been playing alot more handheld recently, due to renovations. But at my friends place, its always docked for Mario Party & Jackbox. But even then, this has been more of a "handheld" year than past.

I knew this poll was coming. Bloody patcher

I can’t believe people play docked that much. When I first got my switch I tried it out on a tv screen for about 1 hr out of my 110 in Zelda and occasionally docked it. I still rarely dock it, but more than I did in the beginning

I will NEVER understand the people who scoff at using this in docked mode. The games look and play SO MUCH BETTER in docked mode, and the available controllers, though I genuinely love the joy-cons, are at least 50% better, analog-wise. I adore being able to take it with me or use it when the TV is occupied, but sweet mercy, the docked version of games almost across the board just puts the handheld versions, while not fully to shame, but at least to something considerably less impressive. To each their own, but it staggers me how often I see people say they've never played in docked mode, and I think of games like Xenoblade Chronicles that are such massive leaps from their handheld playback... Just blows me away. Even as I typed this, I saw a new comment come in saying they can't believe people play docked. Haha... just amazing.

Handheld when I'm playing on my own. Docked when playing with other people. There are some exceptions like Splatoon 2 which I prefer to play docked and Ring Fit Adventure which I obviously play in front of TV.

Anyone that plays handheld only just made the ignored list!
(🤪)
(The zany face means I'm kidding)

voted 80% docked. Would be 80% handheld (and I would use it more) if all my joycons didn't drift ...I have 4 , I'm not investing in more .. got a pro controller, and will have to use it on the TV now ..

Battery life is actually garbage which is why I don't use it as a handheld much. ...well, that and I just prefer to play on television more than on a small screen. When I do play handheld, it's either to play a game that's just better (or solely) for handheld play, like VOEZ, when I'm not around my television and I wanna play, or when I'm in bed and wanna relax a bit with a game like Animal Crossing or one of the NES/SNES games.

90% docked to 10% handheld for me.

90% handheld (more like 99%)

I knew it! That Pachter person needs to shut up and mind his own business. Lots of up play docked more than handheld.

@Keldorek I'm with you there, docked play all the way. Playing Breath of the Wild in handheld mode and without a pro controller just doesn't do the game justice. I find handheld is better for indie games.

Bit of a split between my girlfriend and I; she usually plays our Switch in handheld mode while I tend to prefer playing on the TV.

Handheld is naturally more accessible, but when possible I boot up the ol' TV to play on the big screen with friends. 70 handheld-30 docked sounds about right.

90% docked. I have a TV and also a soundbar, and it's all in individually switched plug adapters, so switching everything on is a bit tedious even with a Harmony remote if all I want to do is play a few minutes on Animal Crossing. So that's when I play handheld. Out of laziness

Ooh those are interesting results so far. The largest majority is 90/10 favoring docked. I can’t really say 100% which I do more of I lean docked though so 60/40 sounded good.

100% handheld. I use the dock solely for charging. My multiplayer games and friends, are all on other consoles. I gave my multiplayer games, smash and mario kart, to my nephews to enjoy with their lil homies. I have a few, but they work great on the small screen/1 or 2p, spinmasters and metal slug x.

I've always been a handheld enthusiast so I play more that way, but some games like LM3 and BOTW are so beautiful on the big screen I prefer to play those that way. Other than that, it's mostly multiplayer and few other games I play on the TV.

I've maybe docked my Switch 3 times since I got it, and I've burned through around 4 pairs of Joy-Con by now. I've always been a handheld gamer, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

These days I play docked 100%, I used to play handheld as well, however since my left joycon started drifting, I use a pro controller now.

I can't be comfortable gaming in a handheld position for more than a few minutes, so I'm docked all the way. But I have a friend who doesn't have a tv and wants to play retro games, and we can BOTH play the same stuff, so I appreciate that Nintendo gives us the option. Also there are some fantastic games that likely would've stayed on handhelds if Nintendo hadn't tied the two playstyles together.

I'd say about 70-30 docked to handheld. All depends on the game. More casual, 5-10 minute here and there titles like Animal Crossing are great in handheld, but for lengthier play sessions and heavier games like RPGs and such I prefer on the TV.

Wow 90% docked, 10% handheld is in the lead! I never would have thought!

@andywinter same situation here for me

100% docked because it's awful to use any other way

80-90% docked. I have a second dock at work to play on my monitor, so even though I take it on the go almost every day I still dock it. Handheld is reserved for movie night when the kids pick something awful!

All 4 of my joy-cons drift, so I pretty much can't play handheld mode. On the rare occasion I play it off the dock, I'm basically holding a controller with the switch on my lap. It's not very comfortable or practical, but there's not much else I can do.

80% docked and 20% handheld for me. The 20% is me playing on my bed and playing on holiday.

I only dock when it rains and when i have friends over

Handheld majority of the time. Tabletop when I'm out and about (though I no longer dine in now that they want your details). Docked only for Ring Fit Adventure, when taking the console to a friend's place, and/or when entertaining at home.

I love that it doubles as a home console, and I would never want to forfeit that functionality, but my use of it is quite rare.

Oh shoot I voted backwards, I think. Reading comprehension....

But the percentage divide is not consistent for me, in any event. I go in phases where I favor one or the other mode (one of the beauties of Switch is affording me that luxury). It also depends a lot on the game, for me — Breath of the Wild was almost entirely played in docked mode, Captain Toad almost all handheld, Steamworld Dig 2 a healthy mix, etc.

90% docked I find the graphical downgrade to much and playing on a TV with a pro controller is so much more comfortable

Mostly Docked due to the joy con drift and i have a pro controller

If anything, they would be better served by doing the opposite and creating a premium console only version as the next model to complement what they already have.

Usually I travel a lot with my job (not at the moment like!), So I used Handheld 80% of the time! Usually play Handheld in bed with YouTube on in the background. Love it!

When you're a parent, handheld mode is a godsend. Sometimes you gotta give your kid the big screen if you want to enjoy your game.

100% handheld
my 2yr old dock still smell brand new 😁

I would play more in handheld mode, but my left Joy-Con stick drifts and I'm too autistic to bug Nintendo Support about it. I use the Pro Controller and an SN30 Pro Plus in docked mode about 70% of the time, undocked I play games that don't use the left stick or I use a wireless controller. Not ideal, but eh.

Well known cretin more like.

He might have a point if the cheaper Switch Lite was outselling its more expensive older brother but it is in fact the opposite so he is talking absolute rubbish as usual.

Like reading Lawro's reasoning behind his match predictions on BBC Sport, makes no sense.

Before corona, when I traveled a lot:

70% handheld, 30% docked

Today:

70% docked, 30% handheld

Why would ever play on handheld when you have a dock...

100% docked. I only ever play at home and I have my own place so no need to strain my eyes when I can use the big screen whenever.

Nearly always docked. I usually play at home (even before the pandemic), so I may as well have it on the big screen.

I pretty much never undock it.
I don't like small screens to play, they gives me headache.

Hope next switch end up being some kind of Switch "heavy" just like the Lite is handheld-only, but dock-only and with a Pro controller.

Handheld mostly. There are a few Nintendo Only games that I’ll play docked; but I prefer to use it as my handheld device. Otherwise it doesn’t make much sense for me.

Nearly 100% docked for me. Not only because I feed my YT channel with the latest/greatest Nintendo Switch releases, but because I am flying solo this generation, the Switch IS the de facto single current gen console in my home. Olus I have a giant middle-age crisis LCD screen so its kinda hard to justify taking the Switch anywhere away from the dock. Plus unlike the 3DS it does not fit in my pants pockets.

I prefer handheld lately but docked is fun too for late night Smash sessions.

Pretty healthy spread, with a small spike at 90 docked, 10 handheld.

why can't I pick two options I have a switch lite and a switch.

Pachter is dead to me.

@Snatcher I'd say you're 50/50 option then. Or if you play your switch lite more or less, then adjust your vote, but I think these options still apply to people who have both.

@Slowdive It is just a matter of time. TV unit + Pro Controller will sell pretty well.
Not likely....the Hybrid Switch is doing just fine. They aren't going to go backwards. You might but they won't. They already found winning formula. That's what NintenDoomed fandom wants to hear but it won't be coming. They be foolish to think so since they already had two previous one Wii, WiiU.

@Makina We can dream! Haha (It’ll never happen, not until a new hybrid system is launched and doesn’t sell... then MAYBE the generation following that.)

When kid or wife are not using the tv, absolutely docked. Otherwise portable. Pacther’s take is nonsense

Voted 50/50 for me. Used to be 90/10 at launch. I'll play slower, casual games like Animal Crossing in portable mode, while I'll prefer hardcore games like SOR4, BOTW and Smash docked.

@Aerona agreed. It's portable, not ultra portable like a Vita or 3ds

10% docked 90% handheld. Godsend for a dadgamer with my lifestyle

I am pleasantly surprised by how even the pole is. 60/40 TV/docked for me. But this pole suggests there's a huge range of people with different preferences.

Maybe now people will understand that different opinions exist and that's okay?

Naw, who am I kidding.

@Heavyarms55 agreed

Used to play purely handheld but I have found a guilty enjoyment of docked within the last couple months. Now it’s 50-50

I think the real takeaway here is that 3% of users have a Switch Lite? That seems seriously low.

It looks almost 50/50 between more docked vs. more handheld. Seriously, the flexibility is what makes it so appealing.

Isn't the regular Switch selling way more? So what dumb idiot would suggest to drop it and only sell the Lite version? 🙄

TV. Although for some reason I prefer handheld for Animal Crossing. Maybe because I got used too much on the 3DS.

It does look like Nintendo is loosing its grip on the home console market.

I cant get used to playing in the bus for example but switch has saved many boring shifts at work. I still play like 80% docked though

Docked 100%. I'm not much of a mobile gamer.

Once again I am in favor of ditching the dock in favor of cross saves. I already have a PC and Xbox. I can't imagine playing the switch other than handheld. Also iirc nintendo sold regular Switches without docks in Japan before the Lite so maybe the next model will continue this trend (I'd rather have bluetooth, smaller bezzles and better handheld performances).

Used to be more of a docked person, until I bought into the PlayStation world. That's just a better docked experience. It relegated the strength of the switch to either couch multiplayer in docked, or, well... Handheld.

99% handheld for me. I used to play docked a bit more (but always play led handheld a lot more than docked) but then slowly started docking it less and less. Now I can recall the last time I docked it.

I play long sessions and my hands tend to cramp up when I play in handheld mode. So, docked + pro controller.

Never gonna happen, but I would prefer Nintendo made a small home console. The savings on the portable casing, integrated controllers, battery and the display could go to better performance. Imagine a small console with a Tegra chip based on Ampere with DLSS 2.0 support and 8GB of GDDR5 for €/$ 300 or less

I traded my original Switch for a turquoise Lite because I never played the former other than in handheld & I'm very happy with the Lite
But I certainly don't think they should stop selling the hybrid version since plenty do like the option, even those who don't often use the dock

Kind of surprised by this actually I play mostly docked and from the comments section it felt like I was the minority.

I don't like how this poll is built.
Even if I'd use only 1% of the time as docked mode (supposing I spend at lot of time outside and in public transport and only have a few hours playing on the tv during the weekend). That would still make the docked mode 100% legit.

The poll should be simplified to "Do you use the docked mode of the switch? Yes, No"

Not to mention the "table" mode, that I sometimes use in the train to play in co-op with my child. If you were to strictly compare to the switch lite.

So from the moment I post this comment,

• 93% of Nintendolifes' Switch (full version) voters DO use the docked mode.
• only 3% of all voters only possess a lite.

Yeah sure, Nintendo are 'not that smart', they should sell only switch lite -__-"

I bought Switch mainly for TV usage, and yet i use it as a portable 90% of the time.

95% Handheld
5% Docked

with two young boys it is just easier to pick up and play when I have the free time

Also, generally like having sports on in the background on tv too

Seeing many of these comments, the switch is a great system. It allows both hand held and tv mode. People have preferences, but they CAN because of dual play modes.

Unless we're playing a MP game like smash, Kart, Towerfall etc we only play handheld. Probably an 80/20 split if I had to put a number to it.

It was almost an even split until quarantine hit, so... yeah. With no incentive to go places now, I play almost entirely on my TV. Wonder how that might impact sales, with the release of new consoles this holiday, since the Switch's main selling point can't really be fully utilized right now.

When I had mine, I mainly played it in Handheld Mode. I only played it like 5 times in Docked Mode throughout these 3 years in the Switch's lifetime.

I'm usually playing handheld individually but the ability to have it on the TV for multiplayer or even if my kids just want to watch me play something is very important. Plus if I am alone in the house and have some free time I will go on the TV as well. The idea that Nintendo should just focus on the Switch Lite seems like a terrible strategy.

If this poll has anything to do with what Patcher said, the guy is a complete idiot.

I think it's interesting to see that 100% docked and 100% handheld are pretty much the same amount and that there are quite a lot of people who like to "switch" between both modes, including myself.

I usually play docked but when the TV is in use and I want to carry on a game I do it handheld. Probably about 80/20 split. Which is weird because my wiiU was probably 60/40 with games that I could play on the game pad.

I play games almost wholly docked, but I create Smash stages handheld.

Lately 100% docked, but back when I commuted on the subway, it was more split, but certainly the main selling point is the dual nature of the console, that it is great on the go AND in the living room.

Well, 100% handheld is lower than I expected. I guess I'm in that low 7%

Who in their right mind cares?

Love playing in handheld mode. But that's not the only reason I chose 80% handheld and 20% docked. We only have 1 TV in the house and don't feel the need for a second one.

@thesilverbrick that is what my parents say. So when at home I am mostly docked or in a recliner/bed playing handheld so my neck is supported. I used my 3D printer to print out 2 rails for the sides of my switch and it hangs on the visor when in the front seat of car. I have a headrest clamp for when I am in the back seat keeping it eye level.

60% dock
40% handheld
Cause for me switch is quite heavy, it make me feels uncomfortable to holding it for long time.

I misread the options and voted for the inverse. I am 90%+ handheld.

I'd say 99% handheld 1% docked. I've always been a handheld fan because I don't like being tethered to a tv. I only play in docked mode when I want to show someone something cool. 🤷🏾‍♂️

I mostly play handheld, but there are few games like Smash Bros that I play docked. Same goes for the Neo Geo games when I use my arcade stick.

90% docked and 10 percent tabletop. I don't play handheld except for one game which I played handheld all the way and that was the world ends with you because I heard it was better to play it that way. I use docked for all sorts of reasons mainly because games just look better that way. Xenoblade as some people here mentioned is basically unplayable in handheld mode or tabletop mode to me. It looks like crap on handheld mode. That being said I play handheld mode only when I am going somewhere for a while or someone is using the tv. I have a system in place where I play games on handheld when they are games with bad or retro graphics like the Nintendo and Super Nintendo online app or grandia which I am playing now and any game that's from the ps1 or n64 era. Games that are graphically intense or games that I want to watch cutscenes on are always docked like xenoblade, BOTW, dragon quest xis, and fire emblem(because the text is hard to read in handheld mode). I will use handheld for jrpg grinding at times. But that's it. I am more of a docked guy. Lol

Well, I misread the options and picked the opposite on in the poll, but I meant to choose 90% handheld. I prefer playing portable systems, but I sometimes use the docked mode if I'm watching YouTube or playing with other people. I've moved in with my brother recently so he'll occasionally play in docked mode as well.

90% docked.
The wuhan flu has made it hard to stay out for very long, but even before that, having BotW and others on the big screen at home just feels more natural.
It helps that docked performance is generally better anyways, but I still appreciate the hybrid nature of it.

@graysoncharles
Because the hybrid nature is something even dock-only people can see themselves appreciating, if they're ever forced into any sort of long outing/move/trip.

@SpaceKaren No he is wrong and you are wrong. What you need to realize is that the entire reason the switch is as popular as it is, is due to the dual nature of it, not just portable, not just a console on a furniture at home.

I play mostly docked because my partner usually watches TV while I play.

I started off playing with the dock at launch. Slowly I migrated to almost exclusively handheld. Of the 900+ hours in BotW I’d say it was 85% handheld. That’s days when I do play, it’s usually handheld with the few exceptions of a Mario party or monopoly game here and there. Speaking of MP, I really wish they’d come out with a definitive collection of maps from the old games. Man I miss those so much. I’d even settle for some old school modes.

When I play my switch, it's 99% of the time in docked mode, especially since that time is almost entirely co-op with my 4-year-old. However, she can't figure out how to turn on the TV and set it to the correct input yet, so she plays almost exclusively handheld when she plays games on her own.

90% handheld over here.

I can count the minutes I play on TV. Normally I play in handheld with no sound and something else is on TV and I'm listening that

I don't get the TV enough times in my house. The thing that keeps me away from using the dock is having to bring the charger everywhere I bring my Switch, and I don't want to keep reaching around my other consoles to plug in the damn charger, not to mention having to switch the HDMI cable from another console.

When I'm at home, it sits in my dock, and that's how I play it. I only play it in handheld mode if I am going on a trip somewhere, which isn't very often (maybe only once or twice a year).

I voted 60/40.

I work from home now, so I play my Switch docked much more often now, only taking it off when I'm feeling generous enough to relinquish my big TV for someone else. But the reason I bought the Switch in the first place was the hybrid appeal. I tend to gravitate toward handhelds more than consoles, but the Switch offering the capabilities of both just seemed too good to be true when I first discovered it.

I'm old — I need the big screen for my failing eyes. 100% Docked for me.

Docked. Almost all the time unless I want to just lie down on my sofa or bed while playing.

Nintendo: finds novel idea to stay relevant competing against companies with additional revenue streams outside gaming and the ability to sell products for less the profit
Some guy : "that's stupid"

I'd say unless I take it on holiday which hasn't happened this year for obvious reasons then I'm probably 99% docked.

The ability to take it on the go is a great feature but I bought it with the intention of using it as a home console primarily

I play mostly handheld, maybe even over 90% of the time. But I love that it can be docked. It is great for playing games with my wife and kids. Also for the occasional gaming session on the big screen when I am home alone relaxing by myself.

After having the ability to play docked when I want to, it would be a great dissappointment to not have that ability anymore

I play games like Tetris 99, Super Mario Bros 35, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, etc. almost exclusively in handheld mode, whereas games like DQXI S, Super Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild, and Astral Chain are almost exclusively played on the dock. Other games, like Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Splatoon 2, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses see an almost equal share of docked and handheld play. So I can't really measure how much I play each mode. It just depends on the game, and whether it feels better being played on a TV or in handheld mode.

With that said, between the pandemic keeping me inside so much and having just purchased a Pro Controller, I'm playing in docked mode a LOT more than I used to.

60/40 maybe? when I'm at home unless im lazy docked, this year im mostly at home but sometimes I prefer undocked... I don't actually know though.

honestly unless you dont have a tv or have a lite only then I can't see how in 2020 TV mode isnt your main lol.

unless im playing online with a lan adapter, i find it much more cozy to use the switch in my room than living room. lets me watch and do stuff on my laptop while i play games

Handheld is for pooping. Best thing about the switch is you can take it way farther away from the tv than the Wii U pad. I’m old, and it seems dumb to play on a small screen when you have the option not to. Handy, yes. For pooping. Ideal? Nah. I don’t commute like that anymore.

60 handheld 40 docked for me. Almost equal depending on what I'm playing, but docked shares time with other consoles, and only switch can go outside

@ralizah liar. You make it sound like you went outside before the pandemic.

Not this poll is of much use as only a small number of core people are voting, but would it not have been much easier to simply ask people what they played more, handheld or docked?,

This is what idiots like Pachter crave, more attention from their silly predictions, or advice.

@zool Nintendo lost its grip on the home console market in 1996. Their numbers have been mediocre at best and continuously downward with the sole exception of the Wii which was arguably a different contraption than a home console, and existed explicitly because they were pretty much at an impasse in that market. And wii failed to create a new market for them as was intended. Meanwhile they built a handheld monopoly even MS didn't feel confident enough to challenge.

Switch is the perfect result. But I fear the effect of streaming on Nintendo's niche... They're going to have to think outside the box again and without Iwata, that'll be harder.

I’d play handheld more if the joycons weren’t so loose feeling. If they felt more like the tight pro controller.

@NEStalgia Admittedly, left to my own devices, I'd be a shut-in 24/7. When I was away from my family at college, I hid in my dorm room literally every moment when I wasn't required to be physically present in class or work. But I'm blessed with a family who wants me to be involved with the world, so, grudgingly, I oblige.

Before the pandemic, anyway. Now we don't go anywhere or do anything. I'm happy as peaches about it, but the rest of my family is struggling with it.

@NEStalgia,

I think they have a product and form factor that's perfect with the Switch, so the same type of device but with more power each generation could be the way to go.

I would like them to keep the Switch brand and make the 2, 3 etc.

I only play docked. Because i like to play games on my TV.
The pro controller is also better.
I played docked also because my joy cons are drifting.

I barely use mine handheld. I think when I first got my Switch at that point I used to take it to work, play it on the couch in handheld mode but I feel like that novelty wore off and now handheld is reserved for games that need a d-pad like Tetris.

I traded my standard switch for a ps4 in early 2019 and traded that for a Switch Lite when Animal Crossing came out and not having an option to play on TV really annoyed me so I traded that in again towards the newer model Switch and I barely play that handheld.

I always play my switch docked due of the nature of the games i own requiring me to sit in a certain position like splatoon and smash and also joycon drift cause the controllers are garbage.

Ever since I got an Xbox it's been 90% handheld. I really like sports games and clearly it makes way more sense to play those on Xbox. However I am like twice as good at Rocket League on Switch in Handheld mode. Not sure why just got used to it I guess. Bought a pair of Pink and Green Joycons and havent had drift again.

Before corona it was split 50/50 but now that I work a lot from home it's 90% docked.

@Tempestryke indeed its 300 bucks mine stays in the house

I don't play more in handheld mode as i can't afford to more joycon drifts, if it wasn't for that abysmal design flaw i sure will rock my switch more in handheld

I'd say I'm about 80% handheld these days, but it has fluctuated a bit over the years. Generally, I don't have the time or attention span to play on the TV.

99% docked. I very rarely use it in handheld mode. I like having the option, but I just don't use it that way very much.

The Switch Lite is perfect for me because I've always preferred handheld gaming. I get how it's not for everybody though.

I only play in handheld when I have no other option. Which happens to be about 70% of the time lol.

I would prefer to play in docked mode but, to be honest, I don't get much time to sit st the TV. Which is why the Switch is my favorite console, I love the versatility.

I play mostly docked with my Splatoon 2 Pro Controller, unless I’m taking the Switch somewhere. Which, lately, most of the time I leave it at home.

I absolutely love playing my switch docked. It is easier on my eyes and I enjoy it on my 75" TV. I would be very sad if they switched to only the Lite. They are not as nice looking and having the ability to detach the controllers is a huge plus for me. I plan on getting the PRO when it comes out.

Almost always docked for me, but the option to take it on the go whether for some gaming during my lunch hour or work or a convenient option on vacation is a huge convenience for me.

I used to play mostly on handheld, but that’s only because I didn’t like the quality of my TV back then. Now that I have a 4K TV, I play almost entirely on docked. Especially since the pro controller feels so much better to use.

@johnvboy Yeah, that's what I personally would want as video game nirvana. But i wonder if the rapid expansion of streaming over the next few years will put Nintendo's handheld niche on the rocks. I can see them being to go the radical "blue ocean" it at least "third pillar" route again. Their core is dominance is portable gaming. If streaming makes that niche less relevant most companies would keep trying then go bust. Nintendo just invents new markets and goes that way.

I've played in handheld the most, but I just got Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, So the Docked % Will raise.

I play exclusively in handheld

80% docked. The only way to play intensively. Even with a system grip, it is too uncomfortable playing handheld for any length of time. I only rock handheld/tabletop on the go, in the can, and in bed

70% Docked

That other 30% is either for traveling or for certain games that are better hand held (text heavy games or ones that benefit from the touch screen).

Fun fact: Animal Crossing feels like two different games when I go from handheld to docked mode and back again. Don't ask me how. It just does.

Just like Breath of the Wild. I play the game differently when I go between handheld mode and docked.

Don't even get me started on tabletop mode. I'm totally in love with it, and I think it's just so cozy to play in tabletop with a hot cup of joe on a weekend morning.

The beauty of the Switch's versatility is that, not only does each play mode draw out unique experiences and approaches to the same games, but also each play mode is seamlessly interactive. Sure, you could just plug a stick into the TV to play in docked mode, but it's the seamless interactivity of placing your actual Switch into the dock that feels intrinsically fun. It's similar to the purposeful interactivity of amiibo. You could technically just connect the toy wirelessly to your game, but the point of it is physically placing it on the screen/controller.

handheld as I let the wife watch tv while game next to her.

@NEStalgia,

I think the blue ocean by it's nature can be fickle, the hardcore market is pretty much what it is, around 180 million consoles each and every generation, Nintendo could have hit upon a nice upgradable brand with the Switch, and the branding itself has real power, I remember thinking on the reveal trailer how cool the Switch "Click" was, I think this is the way for them to go.

@Supadav03 Lovely example illustrating the beauty of the Switch - everyone will have their own unique usage patterns of the Switch. It's why I don't want a console that I can't pick up and play somewhere else. It's now my favourite ever console.

I'm 100% handheld, I can't be bothered being fixed in one spot to play games, I like the freedom and flexibility to take my games around with me.

I have to do docked because of joycon drift

@johnvboy Yeah, generally speaking, I agree. But Nintendo's issue right now I think is that handheld gaming has been a pseudo monopoly cash cow making up their core market since 1989. Psp was only marginal competition, and mobile couldn't offer the same quality experience.

But with streaming getting revved up now they'll be sharing "hybrid" portable/tv gaming with full scale graphics games and companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and inevitably Apple. They can't compete head on in that environment any better than they were able to compete head on in tv consoles.

Yes, there's problems with streaming in terms of available internet, latency, etc. But for a big chunk of casual and family markets, a $50 Luna stick or such will be the right price. Between streaming eroding the mass/family market and Series S eroding the budget console market, I think that shrinks Nintendo's market uncomfortably so, and they can't rely on their handheld dominance anymore.

Nintendo style would imply they go left field and try to build new markets/niches to dominate. Maybe going the third pillar route to compliment a switch 2 which would replace switch 3 if it proved successful. But furukawa isn't Iwata. He doesn't have that kind of moxie.... Not sure if he can be as disruptive of status quo as Iwata.

What kind of left field would Nintendo need of handheld or hybrid becomes too rough a market? Who can say with Nintendo. It would have to be something that isn't entirely new or is old but used in a new way. Dual screen was their last successful innovation. It has to suit Japan and has to be therefore either mobile or have a deep gimmick to become faddish. New input.. new way to play. I could see them doing something to make vr more main stream. The other platforms fail repeatedly with that.. Going for full immersion. Nintendo had the first commercial vr experiment, and luigi's mansion 3 proved they're not ashamed of it's flawed legacy. They have an obsession with 3d, playing with 3d screens on gcn but never releasing anything. Finally doing it with 3ds. Then extending our with labo vr. It's clear they're tinkering with vr concept behind the scenes, so i could see them experimentally releasing something commercial. Very Japan, very gimmick, not really new, and something that escapes real competition. But at the same time, vr is a more limited audience.

They'll probably do something radical though. Switch 2 will exist. But by switch 3 i think the hybrid market will be to competitive for Nintendo to continue relying on it. Nintendo never sticks with markets when they become to competitive.

Id love if we got to switch five and switch became as reliable as a new PlayStation. But that's not Nintendo's style once bigger companies start chasing their market. For better or worse

@NEStalgia,

Which is one of the main selling points of the Switch, power aside it's a console that can be played as a handheld but also a more conventional connected to T.V device, Nintendo have been very clever with their marketing with that one, and I do believe Nintendo are very set on the idea of only having one device to develop/support, as with the Switch lite can still have their stand alone portable console, but still only have to make games for the same machine.

@johnvboy No argument there for as long as switch remain sufficiently lucrative. But with the streaming industry just getting started, and knowing that's the dream of the big publishers, i think that's going to make a significant dent in switches potential market, increasingly so. Amazon is going to be aggressive in that space, and they already have a large kids demographic with Kindle Fire. Once Apple steps in they'll be hyper aggressive. With unlimited spending money. Streaming offers pc grade graphics with the convenience of playing on all your phones and tablets and built in smart TV and tv stick support. "We the core" know better than to trust dodgy input lag. But to the masses and soccer moms when little Timmy wants new video games, lots of parents are going to say "here play in your phone or tv, it looks the same"

Over the decade there's going to be a lot of players... Bigger, richer players in the hybrid space via streaming, while carriers are pushing 5g, 5g, 5g. Im sure Nintendo is well aware of what the pitfalls of relying on switch are and are working out contingency ideas (in a Nintendo like way). Although, they have a cozy relationship with Microsoft and i could see a contingency where the contingency is supporting xCloud (I'm sorry, XBox Cloud Gaming With Game Pass....blurg...) to keep doing what they're doing but also expand playable games. But that has it's own problems of cannibalizing 3rd party ports.

All of that seems too messy, dependent, and single minded to be Nintendo style though. Switch 2 is a lock. Switch 3.... It depends how much streaming eats their market.

When I first saw it, I was convinced I would only play it as a home console and it would never leave the house.
The second day of having it, I took it to work to play Zelda at lunch, and have done that every day since launch.
But some games (like Super Monkey Ball) i just couldnt play handheld as it was giving me motion sickness, was a lot better on TV

I mostly use my switch docked, when I'm at home and want the best experience (usually if I get a new game I'll wait until it's dark and play in the living room on our big tv so I get to experience it the best I can) but if I'm traveling or at a friend's or relative's house I'll play it handheld because obviously there's no opportunity to dock. I also sometimes play handheld when it's really busy in my house, and then occasionally I just feel like it.

It really depends on my mood, but no matter what way I play it's still fun

@NEStalgia,

Physical consoles will stop at some point, however every generation we are told that.

@johnvboy Haha, true, though I don't really think the issue here is so much that streaming will end the need for consoles any time soon. Only that Nintendo in particular has never done well with intense competition and always seeks to sidestep it into a niche. They really abandoned the "home console" after the GameCube. Wii was "other" - and WiiU was an attempt to bring Wii's "otherness" into a console and failed. They've relied on being, basically, the only player in handhelds (Sony's dabbling was never big competition, and mobile isn't a direct competitor of the same type of thing.) With Switch, they retreated into their strengths and stopped making "home consoles" that compete with other home consoles, leaned into their handheld dominance, and made a handheld that's a drop-in console replacement for WiiU's power.

On paper, a "one generation behind console/handheld/hybrid is a special sauce to keep them going.

But.....due to streaming they now have competition from behemoths again. Switch needs to make up the revenue of both their former handheld and console production. If streaming starts eating into that market in a way that enough people don't see the need to buy a Switch to get their gaming fix, I don't think Nintendo would want to continue down that product line. At least Iwata's Nintendo wouldn't have. They'd have gone a new way. Maybe Furukawa isn't clever enough for that and will keep doing iterative Switches.

For my own greedy personal interests, I hope so, as the Switch model is the perfect model. But for the long term health and "Nintendo-ness" of Nintendo, Iwata's way was probably better. It would be hard to position a bespoke handheld hybrid against streaming services that are pushing PC graphics to every device you already own when companies like Amazon will start pushing it with every Prime subscription, and the cult of Apple will do what cults do...

I would say 99.99 % of the time, my is docked, unless it's Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu, then I play that in handheld. Either way, the Nintendo Switch is the best new console out there!

I use mine primarily in hand held, except when I want to make a video.

I realize this is a really old post, and this comment will only be read by someone searching for an answer to their search to this question, but I will comment anyway. We as a household just bought a switch. Yes, it is 2022, and yes we may be late to the game, but we just now entered the club of Nintendo Switch owners. We purchased the cheaper non-OLED version. Why, do you ask? Well, because we never intend to use it as a portable unit. We bought it to enjoy as a family, and as such intend to keep it docked since it will be used by the entire family. I found this post when searching to see how most people use the console. The poll that provided source material for this article is an interesting one. I am a father of 5 children. Two of my kids are technically adults and probably will only seldom play this new family console. My oldest son has his own Switch, and my 20-year old daughter (who really isn't home much anyway) probably won't have much have interest in playing it.

I can see the draw of playing games on this console while undocked, but when it comes to games that use motion as an input to the game, I don't see how a portable game even makes sense. Games like Switch Sports and Just Dance can't easily be played on the Switch while undocked, if at all. They are meant to be enjoyed while holding a controller in your hand because of the dependence on motion.

I also am puzzled that someone would even pay $299 just to play a portable handheld game that doesn't even come with any games out of the box. Of course as I type this comment I am made aware of a Lite version that costs much less. That makes more sense to me, but I digress. I shake my head every time I turn on the switch and see the top sliver of the display that is visible while docked come to life for a second before going blank again. It seems crazy to me that this expensive looking piece of hardware stays hidden behind the dock. It really is an interesting piece of hardware.