Nintendo Switch Lite

Nintendo has always been the king of portable gaming devices from the original Game Boy to the DS, gaming on the go has been their niche and let’s face it, most of those games are just too good to leave at home.

The Switch Lite is a compact and portable handheld device that can be used to play most of your favourite games (just ensure they support handheld gaming mode). Dedicated to handheld play and unlike the original Switch the Switch Lite has built-in controllers on the sides of the device, with the left side featuring a +Control Pad and analog stick and the right side housing the four X, Y, A, B buttons and another analog stick, set slightly lower than on the Switch. The Switch Lite is currently available in a colourful Yellow or Turquoise as well as a more subtle Grey or for pure geek indulgence the Pokemon edition, it is smaller (and lighter) than the Switch at 3.6” high, 8.2” long, 0.55” deep making it comfortable in the hands of both adults and children, although with larger hands the right thumb may become tired with the new position over long sessions. The sleek design is intuitive and attractive, the R, ZR, L and ZL buttons feel a little less robust than the original Switch but other than that it feels solid, it doesn’t have a built in stand (as it focuses on handheld play) and as a device that will travel with you, it is worth investing in a cover.

The 5.5inch touch screen has a 720p resolution that’s bright and clear for enjoyable game play, you can set up the Lite to be a secondary device to your Switch or as a standalone product, however if you are using it as a secondary device you cannot play a game on both consoles at the same time. When looking for compatible games you just need to look for the ‘Handheld mode’ icon, however for games that do not support handheld mode, players can wirelessly connect compatible controllers (sold separately), the favourites like Super Smash Bros, The Legend of Zelda and Mario Kart are all available (as well as more than 2,000 other games). The Multiplayer gaming options let you link up to eight Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite systems together to play multiplayer games anywhere, whilst the Online Play lets you team up or face off with others online in compatible games with a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Some things to consider are that the Switch Lite cannot be linked to the TV and doesn’t support Tabletop mode, it is obviously missing the Joy-Con controllers and doesn’t have HD Rumble or IR Motion Camera included. It does have the capability of taking and storing screenshots which can be viewed, edited with text and shared on social networks all with a battery that will provide you with about 3-7hours playtime depending on what you play. The Switch Lite doesn’t come cheap and has a much more scaled gaming system but, with its sleek operating system, sharp screen and intuitive controls it is a great choice for gaming on the go. RRP £199.99

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