Do you have to buy the Lite switch? The advantages and disadvantages of the new Nintendo system

Last month, Nintendo lifted the curtain on Switch Lite – a smaller and more affordable iteration of its popular hybrid system. Unlike the standard switch, which can work as a portable or home console, the Lite is specifically designed for portable use. Therefore, it lacks some of the most distinctive features of the system: it is not able to connect to a TV, it has no built-in kickstand, so you can not configure it for table game without any accessories extra, and it avoids detachable controllers in favor of a solid body design.

The fact that Nintendo releases a newer version of the switch should not surprise anyone. The company has a long history of refreshing its gaming equipment every few years. However, these revised systems have generally supplanted their predecessors; The DS Lite, for example, was a complete upgrade compared to the original DS, while the new 3DS boasted a slightly more powerful hardware than the standard 3DS, as well as the newer 3DS. a second analog node – a feature that 3DS owners have been calling for for a long time.

In comparison, the Switch Lite is more like the 2DS toast; it uses the same internal components as the base switch, but in a more compact (and child-friendly) form, and eliminates unnecessary items to reduce the price of the system. All this to say that the Switch Lite will not please everyone.

Still, the system certainly has its charms. We recently had the chance to review the Switch Lite during a demonstration in New York, and now that we have a little time with him, we understand much better its advantages and disadvantages. We'll be releasing our full test of the new console at launch, but in the meantime, if you want one, here are some things to consider to help you decide if the Switch Lite switch is right or wrong. for you.

It's literally a smaller switch with fewer features

Whether it's a benefit or a disadvantage will depend on your personal preferences, but the Switch Lite is essentially the same technology, but in a smaller format. The interface and system menus are the same as the standard switch. Although you can not physically connect the controllers to the console, pairing them works the same way. You must go to the Controller menu and press the Sync button on your computer. Joy-Cons or Pro Controller.

The games also seem to work on both the Switch Lite and the Standard Switch. During the demonstration, we played three titles on the system: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Wild Breath, and Super Mario Maker 2, and we found no noticeable difference in performance between our hands. on time. However, there are some control issues, especially when you play Super Mario Maker 2, which we will discuss later.

PRO: It's light and comfortable

The Switch Lite is designed exclusively for portable use, and it certainly does. Due to its small size, the system is easier to carry than a standard switch. Because it gives up detachable parts for a solid body, it is also more robust than the basic model. It is much lighter and ergonomic, conforming better to your hands.

Nintendo Switch vs Switch Lite

The system also offers control enhancements over a standard switch. Much has already been done on the appropriate D-pad of the Switch Lite, which is certainly a boon for some games like the previous Mario Maker 2, but its analog controllers also feel a little more flexible than those of the Joy-Cons. As a portable device, the Switch Lite is more comfortable to use than a standard switch.

CON: You will need to buy separate controllers if you want to host multiplayer games

Because of its importance for portability, the Switch Lite does not lend itself as well to hosting local multiplayer gaming sessions. With the original switch, you can set up an impromptu match in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, for example, by moving the system support and transmitting one of its joy-disadvantages to another player, but the Lite switch does not have these two features. .

Despite these omissions, there is still technically It is possible to organize this type of multiplayer sessions on the Switch Lite, but you would have to go through several steps to achieve this and the experience seems to be far from ideal. First, you must maintain the system in place, whether by buying a support or by pressing against another object. You would also need to have separate controllers for each player, offsetting all the money you would save by using the cheaper Switch model.

Of course, if you and your friends have a copy of the same game, you can still play with them wirelessly with Switch Lite. However, it is clear that the system is designed to be more of a personal device than a common device, like the standard switch. Therefore, if you are able to set up a multiplayer session anywhere, you will probably be better served. by the original model.

CON: Some games are not suitable for this

Since the Switch Lite does not come with Joy-Cons, it lacks the unique features of these controllers, namely HD Rumble and the Infrared Camera. Some games do not work at all with the system, like the Nintendo Labo range. The DIY titles require that you insert the system into the Toy-Cons that you build, but the size of the Switch Lite and the lack of removable controllers mean that it will not fit into the devices in it. cardboard.