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With last week’s release of the Nintendo Switch Lite, there’s now a brand new way to experience your favorite Switch games. Sacrificing the TV connectivity and detachable Joy-Con functionality of the original Switch in favor of a more easily portable footprint, the Switch Lite is simply the latest example of Nintendo’s long tradition of stellar handheld gaming systems.
However, if you’re thinking of buying a Switch Lite — particularly as we head into the holiday shopping season — here are a few things to consider.
The Price Is Right
Out of the gate, the Switch Lite has one undeniable advantage over its best-selling big brother: price.
At $199.99, it’s a cool $100 less than the original Switch. Nintendo accomplished this by compromising a bit on its overall feature set. Obviously missing is the television-connected charging dock — and thus, the titular “switch” mechanic — and with it the popular TV mode. The system’s also missing the kickstand used for the shared on-the-go Tabletop mode.
What’s left, then, is Handheld mode.
Unlike the older Switch, the Switch Lite isn’t a home console that you can take with you; it’s a dedicated portable gaming system, just like the Game Boy, GBA, Nintendo DS, and 3DS.
