Daniel VG/Shutterstock When the original Nintendo Switch was released in March 2017, gamers were already immersed in the eighth generation of consoles with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This was after Nintendo was recovering from the failure of the Wii U. But even then, the Switch was considered the weakest console of the Big Three. However, the launch was massive, with 2.74 million units sold in its first month. The console was a huge success for Nintendo to the point that it eventually overtook the PS4 in 2023. The Switch Lite was released in September 2019 as a smaller, portable-only version of the original Switch. It started at $199, but Nintendo increased the price to $229.99 in August 2025. However, you can find it cheaper at third-party or second-hand retailers. It was still underpowered compared to the PS4 and Xbox One, and considering the age of the hardware compared to current-gen consoles, including the Switch 2, you might wonder if it’s still a viable option in 2026. The answer is yes, as is the case with the original Nintendo Switch. It has several advantages. For everyone, it’s a cost-effective entry point into the world of Nintendo. It also has an extensive game library and an online catalog filled with classic titles. Plus, compared to the basic Switch and Switch OLED, this is a highly portable console, although there are a few features you’ll give up that aren’t a deal breaker. A cheap handheld that Nintendo still supports Esolex/Getty Images As of this writing, the Switch 2 costs $449.99, about double the price of the Switch Lite. In September 2026, the price of the Switch 2 will increase to $499.99, making it even more expensive. The Switch Lite is even cheaper than the standard model, which costs $339. So if you’ve been playing on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC and are curious about what Nintendo has to offer, this is a good place to start because it won’t put a strain on your wallet. Plus, just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s less capable than the base Switch. You just won’t have the flexibility of Joy-Cons due to the built-in controllers. This can be a sticking point if you’re one of the unlucky few to experience stick drift. You also won’t be able to connect it to the dock and play on your TV. This also makes it an affordable handheld. What’s even more encouraging is that Nintendo doesn’t plan to stop supporting the Switch anytime soon. According to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa (via Sankei), Nintendo will continue to sell the Switch “as long as there is demand.” Although major console releases are slowing down significantly as the Japanese gaming company focuses on the Switch 2, it can’t ignore the Switch’s large user base. You’ll have plenty to keep you busy on the Switch Lite until you’re ready for a Switch 2 Lite, if Nintendo makes one. A huge backlog of exclusives awaits you rvlsoft/Shutterstock When a console generation ends, there are always hundreds, if not thousands, of games to fall back on. The Switch Lite is no exception. One of the biggest draws is its high-quality first-party games that you can only play on Nintendo. If you like adventure, you have “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and its sequel, “Tears of the Kingdom.” If you like platformers, Nintendo has “Super Mario Odyssey,” “Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze,” and “Kirby and the Forgotten Land.” For JRPG fans, you have all the games “Xenoblade Chronicles” and “Fire Emblem: Three Houses”. Some of them even have Switch 2 upgrades. The list is long, spanning multiple genres including action, racing, and shooters. If you’ve been away from Nintendo games for a while, you have a lot of catching up to do. You also have titles from third-party publishers, including Ubisoft, EA, Sega, Koei Tecmo, Capcom, FromSoftware and Microsoft. Just be sure to check reviewer and user reviews on sites like Metacritic before purchasing a third-party AAA Switch port, as some of them are mediocre. Besides that, you can still play online games like “Fortnite”, “Apex Legends” and “Monster Hunter Rise”. This requires the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, which costs $19.99 per year for the Individual plan. You also get over 150 retro games from classic Nintendo consoles and the Sega Genesis, perfect for playing on the go. Post navigation The design flaw that haunted the Xbox 360
Daniel VG/Shutterstock When the original Nintendo Switch was released in March 2017, gamers were already immersed in the eighth generation of consoles with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This was after Nintendo was recovering from the failure of the Wii U. But even then, the Switch was considered the weakest console of the Big Three. However, the launch was massive, with 2.74 million units sold in its first month. The console was a huge success for Nintendo to the point that it eventually overtook the PS4 in 2023. The Switch Lite was released in September 2019 as a smaller, portable-only version of the original Switch. It started at $199, but Nintendo increased the price to $229.99 in August 2025. However, you can find it cheaper at third-party or second-hand retailers. It was still underpowered compared to the PS4 and Xbox One, and considering the age of the hardware compared to current-gen consoles, including the Switch 2, you might wonder if it’s still a viable option in 2026. The answer is yes, as is the case with the original Nintendo Switch. It has several advantages. For everyone, it’s a cost-effective entry point into the world of Nintendo. It also has an extensive game library and an online catalog filled with classic titles. Plus, compared to the basic Switch and Switch OLED, this is a highly portable console, although there are a few features you’ll give up that aren’t a deal breaker. A cheap handheld that Nintendo still supports Esolex/Getty Images As of this writing, the Switch 2 costs $449.99, about double the price of the Switch Lite. In September 2026, the price of the Switch 2 will increase to $499.99, making it even more expensive. The Switch Lite is even cheaper than the standard model, which costs $339. So if you’ve been playing on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC and are curious about what Nintendo has to offer, this is a good place to start because it won’t put a strain on your wallet. Plus, just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s less capable than the base Switch. You just won’t have the flexibility of Joy-Cons due to the built-in controllers. This can be a sticking point if you’re one of the unlucky few to experience stick drift. You also won’t be able to connect it to the dock and play on your TV. This also makes it an affordable handheld. What’s even more encouraging is that Nintendo doesn’t plan to stop supporting the Switch anytime soon. According to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa (via Sankei), Nintendo will continue to sell the Switch “as long as there is demand.” Although major console releases are slowing down significantly as the Japanese gaming company focuses on the Switch 2, it can’t ignore the Switch’s large user base. You’ll have plenty to keep you busy on the Switch Lite until you’re ready for a Switch 2 Lite, if Nintendo makes one. A huge backlog of exclusives awaits you rvlsoft/Shutterstock When a console generation ends, there are always hundreds, if not thousands, of games to fall back on. The Switch Lite is no exception. One of the biggest draws is its high-quality first-party games that you can only play on Nintendo. If you like adventure, you have “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and its sequel, “Tears of the Kingdom.” If you like platformers, Nintendo has “Super Mario Odyssey,” “Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze,” and “Kirby and the Forgotten Land.” For JRPG fans, you have all the games “Xenoblade Chronicles” and “Fire Emblem: Three Houses”. Some of them even have Switch 2 upgrades. The list is long, spanning multiple genres including action, racing, and shooters. If you’ve been away from Nintendo games for a while, you have a lot of catching up to do. You also have titles from third-party publishers, including Ubisoft, EA, Sega, Koei Tecmo, Capcom, FromSoftware and Microsoft. Just be sure to check reviewer and user reviews on sites like Metacritic before purchasing a third-party AAA Switch port, as some of them are mediocre. Besides that, you can still play online games like “Fortnite”, “Apex Legends” and “Monster Hunter Rise”. This requires the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, which costs $19.99 per year for the Individual plan. You also get over 150 retro games from classic Nintendo consoles and the Sega Genesis, perfect for playing on the go.
