Nintendo Switch Lite vs. Switch Comparison: Games Compatibility and Hardware Specs
Nintendo Switch users now have the choice of either picking the original that is a hybrid console, or the new Lite version. How are these two different?
Nintendo has announced the Nintendo Switch Lite, a portable version of the Switch hardware that loses some capabilities but makes it up with a more portable form.
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If you are someone who is new to the Nintendo Switch eco-system, it might be confusing at first to see the difference between both of these hardware revisions. We have outlined a simple list that explains the difference between both systems.
Nintendo Switch Lite vs. Nintendo Switch Hardware Specs Comparison
First up is a look at the hardware specs between both systems. First is the size of the system itself. The regular Nintendo Switch will measure at 4” high, 9.4” long, .55” deep (with Joy-Con attached) while Lite revision is measured at 3.6” high, 8.2” long, .55” deep.
Next, we take a look at the battery life in portable mode for both systems. According to Nintendo, it is approximately 2.5 – 6.5 hours for the regular Nintendo Switch and approximately 3 – 7 hours for the Nintendo Switch Lite. This is already an upgrade over its predecessor.
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When it comes to the touch screen size, the regular Nintendo Switch packs a 6.2″ touch screen while the Lite revision will come with a 5.5″ touch screen. Even though the screen size is smaller, it wasn’t confirmed if the screen uses a different material compared to the regular Switch.
The weight for the regular Nintendo Switch is approximately .88 lbs with controllers attached while the Lite revision carries less weight at .61 lbs. There are no attachable Joy-Con controllers but instead, they are not integrated into the system itself with a slight modification where the button-type Dpad has been replaced with a functional one for the Lite revision.
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Here is a detailed infographic from Reddit which explains the difference between both of these hardware revisions. You can have a look at it to determine which better fits your need when buying a new system.
At the end of the day, it comes to the price of the hardware, which is going to benefit the new Lite model. It is cheaper at $199 but the ability to lose playing on the big screen can be another factor to consider here.
Games Compatibility
According to Nintendo, Lite can play the games in the Nintendo Switch library that support handheld mode. In case there is no support for handheld or there is a requirement to play using Motion Controls and HD Rumble, you will have to buy a separate Joy-Con controller and play the games this way. You won’t be able to use Motion Controls which is crucial in games like Super Mario Party and 1-2 Switch. Still, almost every game should work if you have a separate Joy-Con controller.
