The Nintendo Switch Lite Is Inferior, but I’m Going to Buy It Anyway

I’m going to buy the Switch Lite. It was as easy as Nintendo announcing that the new version of the system is “dedicated to handheld play” to get me on board. I’ve had a Switch since day 1, so this sudden excitement for another may seem a little silly, but I’ve got some good reasons… or at least good enough for me.I’ve always been a Nintendo handheld kind of person. While I’ve had just about every Nintendo home console since the N64 – sorry Wii U – I’m still just as invested in Nintendo’s handheld offerings. The only major Nintendo handhelds I’ve missed at this point are the original Game Boy, the Game Boy Advance SP, and the DS Lite, so you can say I’m pretty committed to them. Even with the Switch’s release, I still play my special edition Pikachu 2DS XL from time to time to revisit games and get that true handheld experience. The Nintendo Switch Lite

has an important spot in my game rotation too.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a toned down, cheaper Switch, and that’s weirdly what I want. I love that I can take my Switch with me around my apartment or continue playing a Nintendo Switch game from the comfort in my bed, but I hate traveling with it. The battery life is a letdown, it’s a little heavy, takes up too much space in my bag with its charger, and even with my Switch in a case, I’m scared that it’ll get smooshed or stolen. While the battery life on the Switch Lite isn’t really much better, it does alleviate my other worries.

At an investment of $200 USD (which is still a fairly large investment) I can have the peace of mind that my better Switch with my most important save files is safe at home while still enjoying the games I’ve been wanting to play on the go. I’m also planning on only playing specific kinds of games on my Switch Lite. For instance, I vastly preferred playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild docked, but I want to play games like Stardew Valley, Rain World, or any of the many visual novels I’ve been wanting to check out on the Switch Lite. They lend themselves to good handheld experiences.

There’s also a good chance that Nintendo uses the Switch Lite as their main creative outlet for special edition Switches. Nintendo already announced a Zacian and Zamazenta Edition Switch Lite, and I’m hoping it’ll be the first of many. We’ve seen how creative Nintendo can get with its 3DS design and it’s about time we see more of that for the Switch. I’m personally hoping and holding out for a potential Animal Crossing edition of the Switch Lite. Again, it’s far easier for me personally to justify dropping $200 for a special variant of a system I want, even if it doesn’t include the game. It’s a lot, but given how much time I spend sitting on a train every week, I’m here for it.

11 Other Nintendo Switch Lite Color Options We’d Love To See

Nintendo Switch Lite: Comparisons, Games

For more details on the Switch Lite, be sure to check out IGN’s comparison chart that showcases all known differences between the Switch Live vs. the original Switch and the games we know will have problems running on the Switch Lite.Miranda Sanchez is an executive editor at IGN. She spends about two hours a day commuting. You can chat with her about video games and anime on Twitter.