Nintendo has unveiled a new and lighter version of Switch game console, the Nintendo Switch Lite. The console is a smaller version of the system that’s focused on the platform’s portable side. The new Nintendo Switch Lite hardware will cost $199.99 and will be released on 20 September.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is designed specifically for handheld play—so you can jump into your favourite games wherever you happen to be.
“Adding Nintendo Switch Lite to the lineup gives gamers more colour and price point options. Now consumers can choose the system that best suits how they like to play their favourite Nintendo Switch games,” said Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser.
The flagship Nintendo Switch launched in March 2017 and offers three different play modes: playing in TV mode by placing the system into a Nintendo Switch dock, playing cooperatively or competitively in tabletop mode by sharing Joy-Con controllers and playing in handheld mode. The system comes with either Gray Joy-Con controllers or Neon Red and Neon Blue Joy-Con controllers.
The smaller Nintendo Switch won’t feature detachable Joy-Con controllers. Instead, the new Switch is a compact, all-in-one piece of hardware that makes the Switch feel more like a Game Boy or Nintendo. DS. Controllers are built right into the system for handheld play, and the left side sports a +Control Pad. The system also does not connect to television for big-screen play — it’s purely a handheld gaming device.
It will support external Joy-Con controllers, the Switch Pro Controller, and the Poké Ball Plus, and has built-in gyro controls. It also supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC.
The system features a smaller 5.5-inch screen, weighs less than the original Switch hardware (approximately 0.61 lbs), and comes in three colours: yellow, grey and turquoise. The Nintendo Switch Lite also boasts longer-lasting battery life, ranging from three to seven hours of play.