Nintendo Switch vs Nintendo Switch Lite: Which One one to buy?

Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch lite currently have no rivals; Nintendo home consoles are unique in their kind and allow you to play both on the move and quietly at home.

Although these two consoles of the famous Japanese company are very similar, they are actually different. Therefore, based on your needs, you will understand which of the two is more for you and which one you should buy.

This article will see the main differences between Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch lite and which to buy.

Dimensions and Weight

The first and the most obvious difference between the two Nintendo consoles lies in their size. The basic Nintendo Switch is 4” high 9.4” long .55” deep, complete with Joy-Con; the Lite version instead measures 3.6” high 8.2” long .55” deep.

To give you an idea, the Nintendo Switch Lite is about the size of the basic Nintendo Switch without a Joy-Con and is an inch shorter. Another factor that immediately catches the eye is the Joy-Con. While in the standard version, the latter is removable and can be used individually or as a joypad. In the Lite version, they are fixed.

The controls are also changing since, in the Lite version, the 4 arrows are replaced by a more classic and convenient directional cross.

Another factor that changes from one model to another is weight. The Nintendo console in its basic variant weighs 398g against the 275g of the Lite version. This weight difference is felt. The Nintendo Switch Lite is much more comfortable for hands and wrists during use.

Screen and Audio

Both are equipped with an LCD screen, with 1,280 × 720 resolution. However, these differ in the size of the latter. The Nintendo Switch Lite mounts a 5.5-inch screen, while the basic Nintendo Switch mounts a 6.2-inch screen. This difference is especially evident during use in games with crowded scenarios and which, in the handheld version, suffer more than in the TV mode.

One of the sore points regarding the Nintendo Switch Lite is the audio compared to the standard version of the console, and the audio is more muffled and less powerful.

Battery and memory life

Both consoles are equipped with an internal storage of 32 GB expandable on the memory front, with microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC memory cards, up to 2TB if you plan to buy one.

As for the Nintendo Switch Lite, between 3 and 7 hours of use are ensured, while for the basic 2017 version, the duration is between 2.5 and 6.5 hours. Both are inferior to the new, improved version of the standard Nintendo Switch (model starting with HAD), whose autonomy is between 4.5 and 9 hours.

Rumble HD and IR Motion Camera

One of the biggest differences between the standard Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch Lite, as already mentioned above, is the possibility of unhooking the Joy-Con from the console, which in the Lite version are instead irremovable.

This leads to various sacrifices, such as the absence of the Rumble HD vibration system and motion sensors, making some titles incompatible. Despite this, you can buy a pair of Joy-Con separately to use with the Nintendo Switch Lite, but this will be quite inconvenient, as you will lose the practicality and comfort of this console, created specifically for use on the move.

Compatible games

The list of games that are currently not compatible with Nintendo Switch Lite is not long at all:

• 1-2 Switch
• Super Mario Party
• Nintendo Labo
• Just Dance
• Fitness Boxing

In addition to the titles listed above, there will also be some games that, despite being compatible, will be sacrificed for some specific commands that will then be lost or managed differently. Beyond that, the inability to detach the Joy-Con will not allow you to play with your friend for a challenge on the fly. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to play, but that you need a separate pair of Joy-Con to be able to play.

Conclusions

Concluding, we can say that Nintendo Switch is a more versatile and complete console given the possibility of being used both on the move and with the TV. If, on the other hand, you intend to use the Nintendo console more on the go, then you can easily choose Nintendo Switch Lite, which will be more lightweight, comfortable, manageable during use, and cheaper.

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Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch Lite

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