Nintendo Switch Lite offers a cheaper, handheld-only option for dedicated on-the-go play

Nintendo has announced the Nintendo Switch Lite, a long-awaited version of the console that has been designed specifically for handheld play.

Given the design of the original Nintendo Switch – allowing for the seamless switching between big screen and handheld play – it was only a matter of time before Nintendo announced a dedicated handheld-only alternative. That day has finally arrived as Nintendo revealed this morning the Nintendo Switch Lite.

Designed specifically for handheld play, the Nintendo Switch Lite has undergone a few modifications to become better suited for on-the-go play than the standard Switch console. Changes to the actual system’s design and functionality have made it more compact and lightweight.

For starters, the Nintendo Switch Lite does not support output to a TV, so you can only play games on the system’s screen. The control inputs have also been built right into the main unit as one piece of hardware, and the directional buttons have also been swapped out for a more traditional +Control Pad. The IR Motion Camera and HD rumble features have also been removed, since the Switch Lite uses built-in controllers instead of the Joy-Con controllers.

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While these changes create a better mobile gaming experience, they do come with some drawbacks. For games that require motion controls, like 1-2 Switch, you’ll need to buy additional Joy-Con controllers. This is also true if you want to enjoy local multiplayer since you can’t actually separate the controllers.

That said, the Nintendo Switch Lite will play all Switch games that support handheld mode, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and many more.

The end result is a smaller, sleeker unit that lightweight (.61 pounds versus the Nintendo Switch’s .88 pounds with controllers attached). The touch screen is slightly smaller, measuring 5.5” versus the Switch’s 6.2” touch screen. It also looks like you’ll get a slightly longer battery life with the Nintendo Switch Lite; somewhere between three and seven hours, though that varies based on the games you play.

And now for the best part; with all of these modifications, the Nintendo Switch Lite will be priced at a very attractive $199.99 ($100 cheaper than the standard Nintendo Switch). It will come in three colors: yellow, gray and turquoise. And lastly, it will be available on September 20, 2019.

Do you plan on purchasing the Nintendo Switch Lite? Let us know in the comments below!