Deals on the Nintendo Switch Lite have drastically improved since the first release of the console, and you're more likely than ever to find a reduced console or a discounted bundle with a handful of titles. If you're on the hunt for a new compact console, you won't need to look much further.
When the console originally launched, the Nintendo Switch Lite was only available at its standard price of $199 / £199 / AU$329, rarely offering an additional game or accessory as most bundles tend to now. Although this console won't exactly break the bank, given it's Nintendo's budget offering from the Nintendo Switch family of consoles, it's still nice to save a few pennies where you can.
Nowadays, it's a lot easier to find the Nintendo Switch Lite alongside some of the best Nintendo Switch games available at a discounted rate, and we've got all the best deals to make your shopping more streamlined. But, if you want to expand your gaming library, it's worth checking out our guide to Nintendo Switch game deals too, or even Nintendo Switch Pro Controller deals if you're looking to round out the whole experience.
The best Nintendo Switch Lite deals
You'll find all the best Nintendo Switch Lite deals from around the web just below. These are listed with the cheapest first, but you can also search for the best price for a specific color, too.
The Nintendo Switch Lite usually costs $199 / £199 / AU$329 but it has been available at a discounted price a number of times in the past. These discounts are more frequent today so you should look for a reduction of $20 / £20 / AU$30 or more for just the handheld by itself in order to get a good deal.
The best Nintendo Switch Lite bundles
Of course, one of the best ways to save cash on your new console is by picking up a Nintendo Switch Lite bundle. The chart below offers up the best prices on Nintendo Switch Lite bundles from across the web, so you can save on a handheld with discounts on games and peripherals on top.
When to find good Nintendo Switch Lite bundles
The best Nintendo Switch Lite bundles usually crop up around the key gifting periods of the year. That means you often see the console on sale around November and December, with stock running dry into January. However, there are other periods of the year in which you'll find some decent Nintendo Switch Lite deals.
Nintendo will typically bundle their latest game with a Nintendo Switch Lite console to try and shift a few extra units – especially around the major releases. Be on the lookout for Nintendo Switch Lite bundle deals around these key dates in the future then.
What is the Nintendo Switch Lite price?
The Nintendo Switch Lite is priced at $199.99 in the US and £199.99 in the UK. In Australia, the Switch Lite costs $329.99. So make sure you don't pay any more than this unless you get some additional extras like games or accessories.
What colors does the Nintendo Switch Lite come in?
Most stores stock the Nintendo Switch Lite in coral, yellow, gray, turquoise or blue. We've shown the prices for each of these versions above. These are the main colors but a couple of special editions have also been released in the past with unique designs. These include two Pokémon-themed releases: the Zacian & Zamazenta Edition and the Dialga & Palkia Edition.
How is the Nintendo Switch Lite different?
The Nintendo Switch Lite cannot be used to play games on your TV. It does not come with a dock and you can't plug an HDMI cable into it from your TV. There are no plans to release a separate dock to make it compatible with TVs and you can not use the dock that comes with an original Nintendo Switch either.
The screen on the Switch light measures 5.5 inches across compared to 6.2 inches on the full-sized Nintendo Switch - both display a 720p resolution.
A small number of Nintendo Switch games are not fully playable in handheld mode so they won't work properly with a Switch Lite either unless you use an additional controller like the Nintendo Switch Pro controller or a pair of Joy-Con (all sold separately). So, anything that needs to be played in docked or tabletop mode is going to be a bit of a pain. We're mainly talking about titles like Mario Party, 1-2 Switch, Fitness Boxing, Just Dance and Nintendo Labo.
Until you pick up some Joy-Cons you'll also have zero access to any sort of optional motion controls either which is a shame for using weapons like bows and swords in games like Zelda or Skyrim. Once you buy those additional Joy-Con controllers, you're very close to the price of a regular Nintendo Switch which comes with a pair anyway.
There are no rumble vibration features in the Lite either.
So far, we haven't seen any Nintendo Switch Lite bundles that offer these controllers with it but if we hear of any you can bet they'll be right here.
Why is the Nintendo Switch Lite cheaper?
The Nintendo Switch Lite features a smaller screen than the regular Nintendo Switch and does not feature removable controllers. The biggest difference though is that you can not play it on a TV as there's no way to 'dock it'. So while you're making a saving, it might be worth opting for the full-size version instead if you want to play games on the TV too.
Should I buy a regular Nintendo Switch or a Lite?
The Nintendo Switch Lite would arguably be a great purchase for families that already own a regular Nintendo Switch and multiple people regularly want to play at once (but perhaps a different game). And if some of them generally play in handheld mode away from the TV most of the time already then even better. You can also use your regular Switch controllers to reclaim the motion controls on games too.
If you don't own a Switch already, the lower price point is very tempting, but we think you'd be missing out on some of the Switch's best features by removing motion controls from games. And once you've paid for a set of controllers too you've basically paid the price of a regular Switch.
Not being able to play games on your TV is really going to hurt when you fire up gorgeous classics like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Witcher 3 or Super Mario Odyssey. These are titles that are much more enjoyable on the big screen at home.
If you travel a lot though and are going to spend most of your Switch gaming time on a commute or in the back of a car, then the Switch Lite might be a solid pick for you or the family. Looking for something to play on Ninty's super popular console? Be sure to check out our roundup of the best Nintendo Switch games.
