Regular or Lite - which Nintendo Switch is right for you?

Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite? We weigh up the pros of both best portable gaming consoles on the market right now.

Where does your favourite game take you? To an ancient battlefield? An NBA court between Lebron and Steph Curry? The magical kingdom of Hyrule? The finish line of a fantastical Kart race? Bowser's Castle?

Well, wherever it takes you, thanks to the Nintendo Switch, you can now take it pretty much anywhere you like.

But that’s not the real question. The real question is: which of Nintendo’s two spectacular consoles should you choose to take on your next big adventure?

Because with both the Nintendo Switch and now the more recent Nintendo Switch Lite on the market, and with rumours of the Nintendo Switch 2 circulating the web, we thought it’d be a good time to break down the pros of both excellent choices. 

Let’s start with the Nintendo Switch. 

The Nintendo Switch – RRP $430 (roughly)

Released back in 2017, the Nintendo Switch was the follow up to Nintendo’s Wii U, which launched to a lukewarm reception back in 2012.

But instead of buckling to the pressure placed on them by rivals Sony and Microsoft with their powerful but same-samey consoles, the brilliant game-maker doubled down on portability over power and delivered the most versatile little console ever seen on the market.

It can operate as a handheld, or you can flick out a kickstand, detach its controllers and sit it on a table, or you can plug it into your big screen TV with its included docking station.

Here it is in action if you’re more of a visual learner:

It has a built-in 6.2 inch, 1280 x 720 LCD screen with 2.0 ch stereo speakers, and can go up to 1080p resolution when it’s plugged into your TV via HDMI and weighs roughly 400 grams, which is less than the weight of a fairly generous ham sandwich from a traditional Italian butcher.

So, the plus side of picking this model is its versatility, especially the part about being able to plug it into your big screen TV if you’re more of a couch potato than a run and gun type of player.

It should be noted too that because of its detachable controllers and big screen compatibility, the Switch might be better suited to party players, or people with family and friends who love to play multiplayer games. 

The Nintendo Switch Lite RRP $299 (roughly)

If you’re a slightly older gamer with fond memories of growing up next to a Gameboy, then the Switch Lite might be what you’re looking for.

As a dedicated handheld console, it’s sacrificed some of the fancier features of the Switch - such as the TV compatibility and built-in rumble packs – in favour of a lighter, thinner design.

Don’t let its body fool you – it still has the guts of a top notch and hugely capable gaming machine, plus a 5.5 inch, 1280 x 720p screen at 267 ppi.

So, if you’re the type of player who’s on the move a lot, this would be the right choice. It’s flat enough to pack easily, and because it’s just one solid unit, you don’t need to worry so much about smaller parts coming loose when you’re in transit and rattling around in the bottom of your bag.

Or, if you like playing in bed, on the couch, or you’re such a hapless Skyrim addict that you need to take it somewhere unmentionable (gross, would not recommend), then the decision to pick up this little pastel beauty should be pretty easy.

Also – it is genuinely light in weight; at just 276 grams, it’d make for a pretty bad paper weight. In fact, a sheet of paper could probably hold it down.   

But don’t take our word for the benefits of the Nintendo Switch Lite, please enjoy the authentic Japanese presentation skills of Nintendo’s official General Producer for Switch. 

Plus, stacks of the Switch’s awesome games are fully compatible on the Switch Lite, specifically, the games that’re are playable in handheld mode.

That includes the NBA 2K series (excellent), Hyrule Warriors, Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8, and many, many more.

Listen to your heart container

Whichever road you choose to travel, you’re guaranteed to get your gaming fix from either of these excellent little consoles.

And while international travel is still on hold for the time being, either version of the Nintendo Switch makes for the perfect travel companion on a road trip, especially if you’ve got a car full of kids that you need to keep entertained for hours on end.

So, ask yourself, are you a Bowser, who likes to barricade themselves in a castle and party with princesses? Or are you more of a Link, who prefers to roam the open plains solo, always looking for adventure?

Or if you can't decide, just get both. 

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