Switch Lite on trial: the return of the Gameboy
Nintendo is making the Switch smaller and more portable. The fact that the function that gives it its name is disappearing is less serious than it sounds.
Just over two years after its launch, the Switch has been redesigned. The console is smaller, cheaper and more colourful. Is it better? The most obvious difference is the limited functionality. You can't remove the controllers or put the console in the dock to play on a TV. This is a fully portable console. You can still connect Joy Cons or the Pro Controller via Bluetooth to play with your friends. But without a stand and with an even smaller screen, multiplayer fun is limited. The vibration function and motion control are also removed.
| Switch standard | Switch Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Écran | LCD 6,2 pouces avec 1280 x 720 pixels | LCD 5,5 pouces avec 1280 x 720 pixels |
| Taille | 102 mm x 239 mm x 13,9 mm | 91,1 mm x 208 mm x 13,9 mm |
| Poids | 398 g | 275 g |
| Autonomie | 2,5 - 6,5 heures/ révision 4,5 - 9 heures | env. 3 - 7 heures |
| Mémoire | 32 Go, extensible avec carte Micro SD | 32 Go, extensible avec carte Micro SD |
| Jeux | Tous | Tous les jeux avec mode portable |
Less display, but more battery life
Because of the nearly one-inch smaller display, the Switch Lite is also smaller than the standard Switch. For children, who will undoubtedly be the main target audience, using the Switch will be easier. The LCD screen has once again been made by InnoLux, as revealed by a Teardown. Nevertheless, it's not identical to its predecessor. The screen is a little less bright, the white has a slight yellow tinge and the colours are a little paler. What I find worse, however, is the fact that there is no longer any automatic brightness control. Just when I want to play in bed, the screen is too bright.
In return, the Custom Nvidia processor has received an update. The exact details are not known, however, other than that it should be more energy efficient. And it probably will be. Because at 13.6W, the battery has shrunk slightly from the original Switch's 16W, but still lasts about 10% longer. However, I didn't really feel a difference on a day-to-day basis. If battery life is important to you, I'd recommend checking out the revamp of the Switch. It lasts a lot longer.
Even more practical
I never found the normal Switch too big or too heavy, but still good. Or at least that's what I thought before I picked up the Lite for the first time: it's similar in size to a PS Vita, clearly has the best portable form factor and just feels great to hold. Even the slightly rough material is very pleasant to the touch. The significantly lower weight is also a positive feature.
The buttons have all been reworked. Most strikingly, the Switch now has an actual multi-directional cross rather than arrow buttons. But it's really no better to use. The four directional buttons are too easily merged into a single button. The other buttons and keys are better. They're more pleasant to use. In particular X, Y, B, A give better feedback thanks to their longer travel.
I miss the 0.7 inch less than expected. It was only in games with lots of small details, such as the tactical game Steamworld Heist, that I noticed I was getting closer to the Switch Lite's screen.
Although I think the Switch Lite is very cute, I have to say that my hands tense up quicker. The position of the sticks is just as painful as on the normal Switch. Well, those are the disadvantages of a compact handheld console. Nonetheless: for my part, the Lite is definitely my first choice for travel. The Switch will stay in the docking station from now on. And now we come to another important point.
The obstacle posed by a second Switch
If you want to use two Switch consoles simultaneously with the same Nintendo account, there are a few things to keep in mind. One console is defined as the primary device. By default, this is your old Switch. This comes into play with digitally purchased games. This is because, before each game starts, the second console will check via the Internet whether the game is not being used at the same time on the main console. The check will be carried out every three hours or you will be automatically disconnected. That's why I made the Switch Lite the main console (you can find the option in the eShop user account), because I don't want to activate a hotspot before every game. Anyway, the Switch on the dock is always connected to my home network.
The second point concerns the transfer of backups. If you want to sync them via the cloud, you can only do so with a Nintendo online subscription, which costs 28 francs a year for individual accounts and 49 francs for families. Some exceptions, such as Splatoon 2, do not support this function. However, synchronisation with the cloud doesn't always work perfectly either. There have often been occasions when an update has not yet been loaded, and it can only be downloaded manually anyway. In other cases, I've almost always had to manually synchronise backup transfers when I wanted to change console. And to do that, you have to finish the game first.
Without a subscription, you need to transfer saves locally. This is possible if the two consoles are side by side. However, save transfers are not copied, but moved. You must therefore always move them to the console you want to play with.
Recap: the return of the Gameboy
I'd forgotten how nice a real handheld console could be. Until I used the Switch Lite for the first time, I didn't realise how bulky the normal Switch was. The lite version is a bit like a real Gameboy. The size and weight are perfect for travelling. And although the right stick position isn't quite as comfortable as a real controller, the Switch Lite is a lot of fun. The design is nice, the buttons are a little better and the missing Switch function shouldn't worry this device's target audience.
Only the tedious process of transferring saves should be urgently reworked by Nintendo. Especially if you have to pay for cloud backup transfers. Also, the Switch Lite has become a surprisingly successful upgrade that shouldn't just appeal to new customers or families.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
