Nintendo Switch Lite arriving in September for US$199

When the Nintendo Switch Lite is released on September 20th, it will be available in yellow, gray, and turquoise.

Nintendo Switch Lite

Rumoured for some time now, the Nintendo Switch Lite has been officially announced by Nintendo. Dedicated to handheld play, it will be released in September and have an MSRP of US$199.99.

Unlike the current Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite featured built-in, non-removable controllers with an actual D-pad on the left controller. It is also lighter and sleeker than the Switch, making it even more portable. The new handheld console will be able to play any Nintendo Switch game that works in handheld mode (which currently should be all of them).

While the new, smaller, handheld console has many similar features to the larger Switch like access to the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online, there are definitely a few tradeoffs. The Switch Lite does not include HD Rumble, an IR motion camera, automatic brightness controls, and does not support output to a TV. In addition, it features a 5.5″ touch screen instead of the Switch’s 6.2″ touch screen.

On the plus side, it is 0.27 lbs lighter than the Switch and battery life is slightly better at 3-7 hours per charge instead of 2.5 to 6.5 hours. For comparison, Nintendo states that the battery on the Switch will last about 3 hours while playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. On the Switch Lite, it should last about 4. Even though it features a smaller screen, the Switch Lite still has a 720p resolution, meaning your PPI will be slightly better. As for physical size, it is just under 1/2-an-inch taller and just over an inch in width than the original Switch.

When the Nintendo Switch Lite is released on September 20th, it will be available in yellow, gray, and turquoise. A Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield themed version will be released in November. At $199.99, that’s $100 cheaper than the larger Switch as well.

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