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Nintendo Switch Lite · Photo source
Nintendo · Switch
Switch Lite
Nintendo's smaller, handheld-only version of the original Switch with built-in controls and a 5.5-inch screen, for players who only play on the move and want the lowest price.
- Type
- Handheld
- Output
- –
- Memory
- 4 GB
- Storage
- 32 GB
- Weight
- 275 g
What reviewers say
Reviewers agree it is a comfortable, lighter and more portable Switch with the same performance in handheld play, at a lower price. The main drawback is that it cannot connect to a TV; Tom's Guide found it cramped for larger hands, and TechCrunch found the smaller screen made menu text harder to read.
From techradar.com, tomsguide.com and techcrunch.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specPerformance
- Type
- Handheld
- CPU
- NVIDIA customised Tegra processor
- GPU
- NVIDIA customised Tegra processor (integrated GPU)
- Memory
- 4 GB
- Storage
- 32 GB
- Disc drive
- No
- CPU
- NVIDIA customised Tegra processor (Tegra X1-based ODNX10-A1, according to iFixit)
- Memory detail
- 4 GB LPDDR4X in two 16 Gb Samsung chips (iFixit; not published by Nintendo)
- Storage detail
- 32 GB; about 6.2 GB is reserved for the system
- Storage expansion
- microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC cards
Display and video
- Built-in screen
- 5.5″ LCD, 1280 × 720
- Built-in screen
- Capacitive touch screen; 5.5-inch LCD; 1280 × 720. Nintendo doesn't publish the refresh rate
- Video output
- None
- Audio
- Stereo speakers; 3.5 mm headset jack
Design and power
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- Up to 7 hours
- Weight
- 275 g
- Battery life detail
- About 3 to 7 hours (Nintendo support); the product page says more than six hours depending on the game (roughly four hours in The Legend of Zelda - Breath of the Wild); 3570 mAh; charges in about 3 hours
- Power use
- 4 W while gaming
- Colours
- Blue, Coral, Yellow, Grey
Connections
- Ports
- USB-C (charging only)
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 4.1, NFC
- Controller
- Built-in controls with a +Control Pad; Joy-Con can be paired separately
- Backward compatibility
- Nintendo Switch game cards only; games must support handheld mode
Pros and cons
Pros
- Light at about 275 g
- Built-in controls, with no Joy-Con to lose
- Plays Nintendo Switch games that support handheld mode
Cons
- No TV output
- 32 GB of storage, about 6.2 GB of it reserved for the system
- Can't play Nintendo Switch 2 games
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Output | Memory | Storage | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld | – | – | – | 529 g | Nov 2023 | |
| Handheld | 8K | 16 GB | 64 GB – 512 GB | 669 g | Feb 2022 | |
| Handheld | – | 16 GB | 512 GB | 608 g | Jun 2023 |
Sources
- nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-Switch-Family/Nintendo-Switch-Lite/Nintend…
- nintendo.com/en-gb/Support/Nintendo-Switch/How-Long-Does-the-Battery-Charge-Las…
- nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2020/200507_4e.pdf
- store.nintendo.com/en-gb/consoles/nintendo-switch-consoles
- ifixit.com/Teardown/Nintendo+Switch+Lite+Teardown/126223
Photo: nintendo.com
- Nintendo Switch Lite in yellow, shown from the front at an angle: nintendo.com/eu/media/images/08_content_images/systems_5/nintendo_switch_3/nint…
- Nintendo Switch Lite in turquoise, shown from the front at an angle: nintendo.com/eu/media/images/08_content_images/systems_5/nintendo_switch_3/nint…
- Nintendo Switch Lite in coral, shown from the front at an angle: nintendo.com/eu/media/images/08_content_images/systems_5/nintendo_switch_3/not_…
- Nintendo Switch Lite in blue, shown from the front at an angle: nintendo.com/eu/media/images/08_content_images/systems_5/nintendo_switch_3/not_…
- Five Nintendo Switch Lite finishes shown together: nintendo.com/eu/media/images/08_content_images/systems_5/nintendo_switch_3/nint…
