Nintendo Switch Console & Switch Lite Review, Best Games Recommendations

1. Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch, within three years of its launch (2017), has truly become a gaming hit. As of now, It’s one of the most popular gaming devices around the world for two reasons.

First, due to the social distancing policies taking effect because of the coronavirus pandemic, Nintendo Switch is entertaining gamers as well as non-gamers around the globe right at their home. Second, the console has a hybrid design and offers exceptional handheld graphics along with the capability of seamlessly transitioning into a home console.

A large part of this device’s success is the hybrid design mentioned earlier. The combination of on-the-go and home gaming features has revolutionized Nintendo Switch, uplifting the gaming market.

We highly recommend going for this console due to its usefulness when playing a vast library of top-tier first and third-party games. This gadget is surely going to entertain you during and after the pandemic.

What’s in the box?

The box has your Nintendo Switch device (your main console) along with detachable controller sides (also known as Joy-Cons), and two grips for combining these controller sides into a traditional game-pad. It also has two straps that allow you to transform the controller sides into individual controllers.

In addition to those straps and sides, you get a dock to plug your console onto your TV, a USB Type-C power cable charger (Nintendo Switch charger), and also an HDMI cable that you can use to connect your console to the TV.

Build quality and design

The device has a premium quality feel that you will surely notice with the device on your hands. The Joy-Con controllers of the Nintendo Switch are made of glass and metal that give a fantastic appeal to the user. Overall, the device has an appealing and eye-catchy look.

The console has a resolution of 1280×720 on a 6.2″ capacitive touch screen. You get some decent and sharp colors in the introductory menu screens as well as in the game. This, surely, is quite a powerful gaming system for a handheld console.

While it isn’t as powerful as certain home consoles like the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X, it still is one of the best portable handheld consoles, outstripping rivals like LYRA and Google Stadia.

Cabling and dock

The dock is made out of plastic and is rather lighter than the Switch itself. Slotting the console into and out of the dock is quite convenient. There’s a port on the dock that securely holds your Nintendo Switch. At the back of the dock, you get a flip-down plastic door that, once dropped, can get you access to an AC adapter port, a USB port, and an HDMI port.

You can connect the Joy-Con Charging Grip and also your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to the dock using any of the three USB ports available in the rear cavity and the left-hand end.

Controllers and accessories

You can get certain accessories separately with your new Nintendo Switch console.

The most common accessories include the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Charging Grip, a separate Nintendo Switch AC adapter, and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. There are certain other accessories that you can buy, including the Nintendo Switch Accessory Set and the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Wheel.

The Joy-Con charging grip is somehow like the Joy-Con Grip that you get with the package. However, this one features a top-mounted charging port, allowing you to keep using the controller even without battery.

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller has similarities with the Wii U’s pro controller. However, this one has a slightly wider and more rectangular build. The AC adapter is much identical to the adapter you receive with the Nintendo Switch console.

MicroSD support

Nintendo Switch console has an internal storage capacity of 32GB. This onboard memory is surely not enough when it comes to gaming consoles. That’s why Nintendo is providing an option for inserting a microSD card in your gadget to extend your storage capacity.

The Nintendo Switch sd card slot supports a microSD memory device with a storage capacity of up to 2TB. With this kind of space, you’ll never have to think twice before installing a hefty game in your console.

Buy new or used Nintendo Switch on Amazon:

Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con – HAC-001(-01)

Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy‑Con HAC-001 w/ Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

2. Nintendo Switch Lite

Nintendo is renowned for making great handheld gaming consoles for years. The product, Nintendo Switch Lite, is a dedicated handheld gaming console which is the miniature version of the Nintendo Switch console discussed previously in this article.

This is a great handheld console that you can buy at almost half the price (around $250) of the standard Nintendo Switch console (around $487). It’s going to be a decent option for those who like to play tons of games on-the-go and are not willing to spend much budget on their new entertainment resource. The lightweight aspect and compact size allow this device to fit right into your pocket, taking it with you wherever you go.

However, if you are considering going for Nintendo Switch Lite, keep in mind that you will have to give up some cool features like connecting to a TV and replacing the wireless controllers. With the standard Nintendo Switch, you get to play multiplayer games with kids on TV. You also get to enjoy two-player multiplayer right on the Switch, thanks to the removable controllers.

With the Nintendo Switch Lite, you won’t be able to entertain yourself with these sorts of features. But, as you are spending only half the budget on this gadget as compared to the standard version, this might be a deal that you should opt for in low-budget scenarios.

Design and build

Talking about the design, the Nintendo Switch Lite has the most comfortable and attractive design that you can ever get in a console. This one also boasts a screen resolution of 1280×720 with a decent 5.5” LCD touch capacitive screen.

You get to choose from various color options, including turquoise (the most popular one), yellow, coral, and gray. The white buttons of the Switch Lite pop quite nicely with the gorgeous color options offered currently in this model.

It has a matte finish which is useful in providing a decent extra grip on the hands. The Switch Lite feels a lot more well-made than the standard model. It is a sturdy chunk of plastic that gives a premium feel of a true handheld gaming console.

Display

For half the price of the standard Switch console, you get to see unexpectedly top-notch bright and vibrant colors on the Switch Lite. While playing a game, if you are a former user of the Switch, you will notice that the Nintendo Switch Lite is providing you a much immersive gaming experience as compared to the standard version due to thinner bezels.

This beast’s touch controls are also quite smooth just like you get to enjoy on the Nintendo Switch. The uniform chassis and thinner bezels solidly increase the in-game experience and allow you to indulge yourself in the game.

Battery life

The Switch Lite is expected to give you a battery life of around 3 to 7 hours which is slightly better than the standard Nintendo Switch (2.5-6.5 hours).

However, this performance is still lower when compared to the 9 hours battery life of the refreshed model of Nintendo Switch released in 2019. The refreshed model mainly focuses on better battery life at the same price as the standard model released in 2017.

MicroSD support

The Switch Lite has a default internal storage of 32GB which is typically enough when it comes to smartphones. But, for a gaming console, that’s a no-no. So what’s the solution? Yeah, you got the right hint from the heading: MicroSD support.

Nintendo Switch Lite, just like the standard Switch, allows you to insert a memory card into your Nintendo Switch Lite sd card slot with up to 2TB of storage capacity. The Nintendo Switch Lite supports microSD cards, microSDXC cards, and microSDHC cards.

To make it simple, whatever microSD card you have with you from an old digital camera or an Android phone, it should work on your Switch Lite console.

Buy new or used Nintendo Switch Lite on Amazon:

Nintendo Switch Lite – Turquoise

Best Nintendo Switch Games 2022

Got your new Nintendo Switch and now wondering which games to play? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! The following are some of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2020, that you will fall in love with at first sight.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

New Horizons is the latest entry in the Animal Crossing series that has been going on for 8 years so far. The game whisks you away to a deserted island where your primary job is to transform this island into a top-notch resort. Spruce things up and make your island a complete tropical paradise to attract new islanders.

This game is compatible with both Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite. You can buy it at the Nintendo eShop for $59.99.

Bayonetta 2

Bayonetta 2 is an awesome game comprising some mind-blowing animations and fast-paced combat mechanics with impressive depth. The game has excellent graphics and it plays and looks great in both portable and docked mode.

Bayonetta is a dark witch who summons demons and has pistols in her hands and feet to fight angels. The game has gained much popularity since the release of version 2 in the year 2018. It works on both Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite. You can buy it for $49.99 on the eShop.

Dark Souls: Remastered

Dark Souls became a hit in 2011 and since then it has been topping the charts of challenging yet exciting games for Switch besides other home consoles including PS4 and Xbox.

The game has a punishing level of difficulty. Hence, if you are a stubborn player, this is the game you might want to play on your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite in 2020. You can buy it on eShop for around $39.99.

Other renowned games

The following are some games we are mentioning for you to explore and purchase according to your desire.

Diablo 3
Cadence of Hyrule
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Fortnite Battle Royale
Hollow Knight
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Mario Kart 8 deluxe
Octopath Traveler

There are certain Nintendo Switch Bundles available on the Nintendo eShop as well that you can explore. Or just buy an individual game first to test it out on your new Nintendo Switch console.

Conclusion

The gadget you will buy depends on your personal preference and budget. If on a tight budget, go for the Switch Lite. This console is guaranteed to provide you with decent entertainment due to a vast variety of games that are available on the Nintendo eShop, ready to be purchased.

Otherwise, if you are a regular home console gamer and are considering switching to a premium handheld console, Nintendo Switch is going to be the most suitable choice for you. If you don’t fancy the handheld experience, you can always dock your device to your TV and enjoy the same old home console experience.

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Victoria Munyi

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