by AdministrateurRecently Nintendo launched a Nintendo switch lite and it actually lines up with the Nintendo’s previous heritage with DS, 3DS and game boy. The recent handheld system from Nintendo, the 3DS, had the most hardware changes of any system because it was followed by a distinct « 2DS » row with its own iterations. The 2DS and a large-screen XL model accompanied the initial 3DS. Confusingly, however, the system iterations also began to brand themselves as « new, » leaving three more versions: the New Nintendo 3DS, the New Nintendo 3DS XL, and the New 2DS XL. The New 2DS is the recent phase, although it particularly dissects the initial 2DS flat scheme layout in favor of the other 3DS models that is the ‘ clam-shell architecture’.
Whenever the Nintendo used the moniker of lite, they are referring to smaller and trim down version of the system. Lite versions are the full-blown revision that just replaces it. But in the case of a switch, it is actually a side version or an alternative option which is cheaper and have little fewer specifications than normal switch. The Switch Lite, intended as a cheaper solution to the initial tablet/console hybrid, was disclosed by Nintendo. It comes in at $199 — $100 less than the base unit and you get a streamlined version of the switch for that price, but a few caveats as well. Switch lite is one of the self-contained units that are overall smaller than the size of the regular switch. It doesn’t have removable joy-cons and it is all one solid unit that’s all together at the same time.
Switch lite physical appearance is more like the previous version of the switch, a lot of button placements and ports and all that kind of stuff is in the same place that they were in the regular switch. The major changes are notable is that the button on the left side of the controls is D-pads in this version of handheld hardware. They also removed the kickstand on the back of the switch lite since the tabletop mode is not suitable for these type of hardware. The screen size in this version has also been reduced since the regular switch has the 6.2-inch screen whereas this version has a 5.5-inch screen with capacitive touch-screen and 1280×720 resolution which is noticeably smaller but good enough to play games. The Nintendo regular switch weighs in at approximately 0.88 pounds with joy-cons attached whereas the new switch lite clocks in at approximately 0.61 pounds making it a much lighter option. A 30 percent lighter to be exact than regular switch and it can play the majority of the switch library games.
Above we discussed the outer noticeable changes in the switch lite. As the lite version has fewer specifications than the full or regular version a lot of internal changes have done, a lot of which have to do with joy-cons. In this version, the joy-cons are now a part of the system a couple of features have been removed. Lite version does not contain IR sensor anymore which is a big loss for this low budget handheld device. Another thing missing in this version is that there is no HD rumble as a lot of games relies on HD rumble not in play station but also in handheld mode.
But with these missing features, one feature that is still intact in switch lite in joy-cons is the NFC reader. Secondly, the battery life of the switch lite apparently has the longer one, seeing as how it optimized for portability only. According to Nintendo, the switch life has the battery range of like three to seven hours depending on what type of games you are playing because of course if you are playing little 2D games or massive 3D open world games.
Just like first Nintendo’s handheld hardware, game boy, it does not support TV dock mode. The switch lite is purely a handheld system. It is designed to play games in handheld mode, nothing more. You cannot connect it with the TV. The main focus of launching this hardware is to make purely portable focused system. It’s the Nintendo switch which doesn’t switch to anything. It’s missing the charm and the cord design philosophy but it’s made for the young kids who just play exclusively in handheld mode.
The main goal of Nintendo’s switch lite is to make it a cheaper, more affordable switch that’s aiming mainly at kids and the only way to Nintendo would achieve that is that making the system cheaper to produce. So compared to normal switch, the switch lite have less powerful tech inside of it that allows achieving the same kind of performance but it won’t be capable of the same level of power that allowed for the dock mode. There is also a fact that unlike the regular Switch, which comes in a single black color option, this version was available in a lot of multiple colors more like Nintendo’s DS line of the system. Switch lite is available in grey, yellow and turquoise colors with one special pokemon edition.
Switch lite is the really cool, affordable spin-off and an alternative version of the switch. There is an interesting concept of using the original switch as the dock-dedicated version to play a multiplayer or to play for better visuals. Nintendo also added a local multiplayer mode in the switch lite itself by connecting wireless joy-cons and pro controllers to the switch lite which is a nice feature to have. But The Nintendo Switch Lite is an uncommon version of the hardware, mainly because it leaves a key portion of the image of the system. The capacity to « change » between TV-docked and handheld modes was this console’s primary pitch, to the extent that it was named after it. It may also be similar to the 2DS because it is smaller and looks stronger. As the controllers unable to detach themselves. All this would create it a great match for younger players, apparently.