NINTENDO SWITCH LITE

It may be cheaper, but does a Nintendo Switch that doesn’t ‘switch’ really make any sense? £199 nintendo.co.uk

Er, does a Switch that doesn’t Switch really make any sense? Let’s find out…

The Switch Lite is an assured new step on the dedicated portable console path that Nintendo has dominated for decades. But it’s emphatically not a successor to the original Nintendo Switch.

The Switch Lite is smaller (91.1x208x13.9mm compared to 102x239x13.9mm), and thanks to rounder case edges and a new matte finish, it’s a tad more comfortable to hold. It’s also lighter, at 275g compared to the original Switch’s 297g. The Switch Lite’s screen is 5.5 inches compared to the Switch’s 6.2, but it retains the same 720p resolution, so it actually looks a little sharper.

The Switch Lite’s microSD card slot is located on the bottom of the case under the right thumbstick, behind a pull-away tab. There’s no kickstand, no rumble, and no ambient light sensor either.

The Switch Lite’s thumbstick and button layout is the same, though a more compact case means that the right thumbstick is now in the bottom right hand corner, which is something we found to be slightly less comfortable over elongated or busy play sessions.

One welcome change is the addition of a proper D-pad, which replaces the original Switch’s four small separate direction buttons. It’s particularly ace when playing retro titles that were originally made with D-pads in mind. The Switch Lite achieves three to seven hours of play per charge. That means it outlasts the original, but doesn’t manage as long as the 2019 Switch, which achieved between over four to nine hours per charge. Performance in games is identical to the original, but internal storage is limited to a titchy 32GB.

Why has Nintendo released a Switch that can’t switch? One answer may be the rise of mobile phone gaming, especially now that Apple appears to be getting its act together with Arcade. Making the Switch even more portable helps with that.

And, of course, a cheaper Switch is an easier sell, especially with so many impressive titles being released over autumn and winter. We suspect that the bulk of sales will come from kids (or those buying for them), rather than gaming’s hardcore. That’s because the Lite isn’t really designed for them.

The Switch Lite may be cheaper and more portable, but for serious gamers the lack of TV output, detachable Joy-Cons and rumble means it’s not as compelling as the full-fat Switch.