Just the other day we got our first look at the long-rumored “lite” version of the current Nintendo Switch system, appropriately titled the Nintendo Switch Lite. Nintendo has a habit of providing us with minimal details at first and then going into more detail at a later date. Surprisingly, we got essentially all the information we could have possibly needed all at once for the Nintendo Switch Lite. It is Nintendo’s first hardware change to their current market console and it is designed towards players who are on the go all the time and not use the Switch on a TV much or not at all.
The Switch Lite has a couple of major changes which distinguish it from the regular Switch on the market currently. First and foremost to support the idea of portability, the Switch Lite is smaller and lighter than the regular Switch. Weight has been dropped from 0.88 lbs to 0.61 lbs, approximately, and the screen size has gone from a 6.2″ touch screen down to a 5.5″ touch screen. For those with a Nintendo 3DS XL or 2DS XL at hand, the top screen on those consoles is 4.88″ in comparison.
Next, the two joy-con controllers that would normally have the ability to detach, are fused to the tablet portion of the new console. Does anyone remember what the Wii U Gamepad looked like? Yes, exactly the same, but better looking, and it’s actually portable unlike the Wii U tablet which has to remain pretty close to the base console. With the joy-con unable to detach, that brings us to our next point.
The console can no longer be placed in a dock and played on a TV. “Well Logan, that is what made the Switch, well, a Switch! Why would you not want to play it on a TV?!” While I agree with that sentiment, lower the pitchforks for a moment and listen. There is actually a lot of players out there that enjoy playing their Switch in handheld mode for the majority of the time. What about a truck driver that is on the road much of their time and doesn’t play their Switch on a TV, if ever? How about someone who only wants to play single-player games and they have a more personal experience with their games? There are many scenarios that a non-dockable Switch can apply to!
There is also another thing to consider with the joy-con being attached, and this is a point we won’t know until after players get their hands on the “new” console. On the regular Switch the joy-con can flex a bit or sometimes break off when attached to the console. While a rare scenario, this could be almost eliminated when there are no joy-con anymore, just the sides of the system. Unless of course, someone is trying to push the limits of their system, which we really don’t recommend.
Without the ability to detach the joy-con, that brings up a point of compatibility. Nintendo in their announcement said that all games that support a handheld mode are compatible with the Switch Lite. Although, games that require the use of joy-con, such as 1-2 Switch or Super Mario Party, will need a joy-con or a set of joy-con to connect to the system by wireless connection. This also means that those users will have to find an alternative charging method for those controllers since the most common way to charge is by attaching them to the Switch and then docking the unit.
The Switch Lite does away with the flimsy kickstand, HD Rumble, and the IR motion camera that is built into the right joy-con. Although some major gameplay connected hardware pieces have been removed, the console will still feature motion-controlled aiming, commonly referred to as gyro controls and is what was used in Breath of the Wild to aim the bow and arrow and solve certain puzzles.
The Switch Lite will be launching on September 20th and will come in three colors at launch: yellow, grey, and turquoise. Not too long after the initial launch, we are getting our first special edition, a Pokemon Sword and Shield edition, adorned with graphics of the games’ two announced legendaries, Zacian and Zamazenta, coupled with a special color scheme of white/grey with cyan and magenta buttons. This special edition Switch Lite will release on November 8th, just before the launch of Sword and Shield on November 15th.
The new hardware also claims to have improved battery life, depending on the game that being played. The current Switch claims 2.5-6.5 hours, while the Switch Lite claims 3-7 hours of battery life. With not having to charge the joy-con anymore, that battery power can go straight into longer gameplay times.
The system comes with one of the bigger improvements a lot of gamers wish they had from day one, a standard d-pad. Previously, the Switch had a d-pad with separated, individual buttons, which made a lot of gamers playing titles such as Mortal Kombat 11 seeking alternative options.
Previous accessories such as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, Joy-Con, and standard 3.5mm headphones and headsets will be compatible with the Switch Lite. There is no word yet on if there will be options for wired controllers such as players who like using the Gamecube controller for Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, although there are a couple of wireless options for those that enjoy that shape of controller.
With this announcement and wealth of new information for the new console, what are your thoughts? Will you be picking up the Switch Lite for your first Switch? A second, more portable option? Let us know in the comments!
