Nintendo Switch Lite is the first major update to the Switch lineup, adding both choice and headaches for users. What to choose – convenience or functionality? Let’s try to figure it out.
On the one hand, the release of Switch Lite seems like a logical step on the part of the company. A lot of people have already bought the hybrid Switch, so there’s no need to convince them of anything. But what about those who are still desperately clinging to their 3DS or, perhaps, PS Vita? Few people would deny that the original Switch seems bulky compared to portable counterparts that can easily fit in your pocket like a smartphone. And it’s no coincidence that I haven’t started a single game on my phone since 2012.
This is one way of looking at it. The other seems less logical. By releasing the Lite, Nintendo seems to have made the whole name meaningless, because there is no switch left. While the original console impressed with its functionality and flexibility, the Lite is as simple as a lamppost. In a sense, it’s an analog of the 2DS, a cheaper version of the 3DS that has lost almost all of its signature features. However, the Lite is not that much cheaper, and it’s still better not to hammer nails with it.
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Nintendo Switch Lite form factor and equipment
The console is sold in a colorful box that is noticeably smaller than the original. Everything is simple inside: documentation, console, and a large-sized charger (Type-C). I was even surprised: 3DS and tiny mini-console games have taught me not to wait for Nintendo software.
Switch Lite reminds me of the PS Vita Slim in many ways. The same rounded edges, the same “delicious” colors. I have the turquoise model, which is the cutest of the existing ones, although the yellow and even gray models look great too.
The build quality is excellent. Pleasant to the touch plastic, no backlash or creaks. No sense of cheapness.
Switch Lite is very cute. So cute that my friends, who used to turn their noses up at the mere mention of consoles, began to show interest in it. I can understand them: in real life, the device looks no worse than in the pictures. It feels more comfortable in my hands than the 3DS and even the Vita, which was the most comfortable handheld I’ve ever had. Even the annoyingly large bezel around the screen seems almost cute, although, of course, it would be better if it wasn’t there at all – in 2022, it’s archaic. But we must not forget that this is how Nintendo is trying to reduce the cost of the console, which is important.
Despite the familiar layout of all the controls, Switch Lite doesn’t look like a modified OG Switch at all. On the left side, instead of the usual clicking Joy-Con buttons, there is a real cross that fans have been waiting for so desperately. The cross is soft – much softer than the Pro Controller.
Other buttons are also softer and more pleasant. The Lite will appeal to people with large hands (who didn’t even find the Vita to be the most comfortable device) and everyone else. And if you still don’t like something, you can always buy accessories from third parties. For example, the GripCase Lite from Skull&Co.
The Switch Lite is noticeably smaller than the original revision, but not significantly so. It’s both lighter and more compact, making it much easier to fit into a bag or backpack. But it’s unlikely to pass the “pocket test”: unlike the 3DS, the Switch seems more vulnerable to external factors, and the pocket needs to be big to fit it in. The Lite is compact, but not miniature. To better understand its dimensions, check out the photos where we compare it to everything from an antique Game Boy Pocket to modern analogs.
The console comes with branded cases, which are a must-have accessory if you want to keep your Lite from getting scratched in the first month of play. Unless, of course, you play exclusively at home. I also liked the branded case: it’s soft, looks neat, and even allows you to take a few cartridges with you on the road. Like the adult case for the other revision, it is as thin as possible – thinner than most Chinese counterparts from AliExpress.
Differences from the adult model
I’ve touched on the topic of smaller dimensions several times, but it’s not the only thing that sets Lite apart. Several steps were taken to make it cheaper. Obviously, this model cannot be called a “hybrid” anymore, since the Joy-Con controllers attached on both sides are “soldered” and cannot be detached.
At the same time, the HD Rumble feature, a high-quality vibration created using proprietary technology, has disappeared. It’s a shame – I’ve always liked this feature, which many people have forgotten about. But surprisingly, HD Rumble was not replaced by conventional vibration motors, as a result of which Lite lost the vibration function altogether. To be honest, I’m not a fan of this decision, which was made either for the sake of cheapening or to save battery. Some games are just weird to play without vibration.
Since the Joy-Con is not detachable, some titles are simply not possible on the Lite. For example, Super Mario Party, which relies on all the bells and whistles of detachable controllers. The 1-2-Switch is also completely meaningless, but it’s much easier to get over. Nintendo Labo doesn’t work either. But Arms, despite the advertising, is quite playable without the Joy-Con, although some of the magic is lost. Also, don’t count on the Just Dance, Fitness Boxing, and Ring Fit Adventure series. In principle, you don’t have to sacrifice much.
It still has an accelerometer and gyroscope, so puzzles in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be solved.
Also, Lite does not have a leg and, accordingly, does not support “desktop” mode. This turns it from a “social” console into an “introverted” one, designed for one person, not a company that could previously fit both in front of the TV screen and in front of the small display of the console itself.
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Screen, sound of Nintendo Switch Lite
The Switch’s screen has never been impressive in terms of performance, but it’s always been a joy to use in live communication. Given the limitations of the hardware, there’s no need for more: the picture is juicy and bright, without any problems with clarity or detail. Fortunately, Nintendo didn’t skimp here: it’s exactly the same display, only smaller. The resolution is 1280×720, the diagonal is 5.5″, and the matrix is IPS.
If you play one model first and then the other, the reduced diagonal immediately catches your eye. However, the interface is adjusted for this, and the games look even better than before. One problem is the small print in some games. Even the original Switch sometimes suffered from text that was almost impossible to read, and the Lite will only make things worse. Here the blame lies with the developers, who should have provided an option to enlarge the text long ago. So get ready for games like Fire Emblem: Three Houses or The Witcher will make you squint.
The color temperature remains the same as on the updated revision of the adult model. It is warmer, and the white color is less bluish. It’s a bit of an amateur’s choice: those who are used to the original’s picture will take some time to get used to the yellowish whites here. But the adaptation process will not last long.
As for the sound, some deterioration was noticed. Lite sounds flatter and quieter, which is noticeable in such titles as DRAGON QUEST XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition, where the English voice acting simply drowns against the background of loud music. But this is critical; the music in the same game is not complainable, so the results will differ from game to game.
Cloud storage, data transfer, using two Switches at the same time
Having talked about the technical characteristics and described all the capabilities and features of Lite, the only thing left to do is to talk about the Nintendo platform and infrastructure. Because there are some pitfalls here.
Let’s say you’ve been using the original model for a long time, and now you’ve decided to replace it with a Lite. You can understand: Lite is best suited for those who are constantly traveling. To transfer all your data, you should use either the (paid) cloud storage function or a special transfer function. But none of these options is perfect: cloud saves don’t work for all games, and you won’t be able to transfer data from Splatoon 2, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and some other games won’t work. A special transfer function allows you to transfer absolutely everything, but for it to work, you need to have both consoles with you – new and old. That is, you can’t sell one and then buy another. It’s not very convenient.
Let’s imagine another situation: you already have a Switch, and you want another one. One model is for playing on TV and local multiplayer, and the other is only for public transportation and airplanes. It would seem that it could be easier with a (paid) subscription and cloud storage, right? In fact, there are questions here.
Nintendo requires you to choose a main console. The “flagship” console will work as usual, while the non-main console will have certain restrictions. For example, it can’t run downloaded games without a connected internet connection, which it uses to check your license. What if you are a pirate?
When you have to make such a choice, it’s not very convenient. I advise you to choose Lite as your main console for traveling, because you probably have the Internet at home. I should note that the operation takes place on the console itself. In principle, it can be done from the website, but it will be much more difficult.
By the way, another oddity: if you have a game running on your second Switch and the console is connected to the Internet, you won’t be able to open it on the original console. In general.
By registering your second Switch, you get the option to download your games from the eShop or play existing cartridges with your account. If you’re not doing a full transfer, then you’ll have to remember about (paid) cloud saves, which allow you to easily transfer saves from one console to another. But is it really that easy? First, make sure that all your games are backed up, and then get ready to manually download the saves for each game from the server. There is no automation. So, if you want to transfer your entire media library, it will take some time.
What is the conclusion? It’s ironic, but if you want to conveniently play Switch games both at home and on the go, you need the original model, not the Lite. Because there is nothing more convenient than the very hybridity when you can simply take the console out of the dock and put it in your bag, pausing the game. Yes, Lite is more convenient in one way, but much less convenient in another. That’s why it’s important to decide what’s more important to you before buying – comfort or convenience. Because in this case, they are not synonymous.
Verdict
Nintendo Switch Lite seems like the perfect birthday or New Year’s gift. Very cute, handy, and compact, it’s perfect for those who are always on the go, children, and people who never play on TV. The smaller display doesn’t affect the gaming experience too much, and the new form factor seems much more convenient. But be sure to think about which model suits you best, because the Lite is very limited in its capabilities, and using two consoles at the same time turned out to be more difficult than we would have liked.
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