Updated 4 Nov 2026
Is the Nintendo Switch Lite worth it?
Yes — as a cheap handheld for a child.
It plays the huge library of Switch games that run in handheld mode, on a 5.5-inch 720p screen, and it's small and light enough for young children and travel. It doesn't connect to a TV, the controls are built in so two players need a second console, and it has the first Switch's chip, so it can't play Switch 2 games. For a child who mainly wants Mario, Pokémon and Animal Crossing on the go it's about half the price of a Switch 2.
97%of 4,632 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Small, light and sturdy
- Huge library of Switch games
- About half the price of a Switch 2
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What owners say
Owners love it as a present for children: light, easy to use and easy to take anywhere. The main complaint is thumbsticks that drift or break, mostly in reviews from 2020 and 2021.
Good to know
- Doesn't connect to a TV at all.
- The controls are built in, so a worn or drifting stick means a repair, not a new controller.
- The 5.5-inch screen is small, and games run at 720p.
- Battery lasts about 3 to 7 hours depending on the game.
- Can't play Switch 2 games.
From 4,632 buyer ratings at Currys, Boulanger (France), Harvey Norman (NZ, Australia) and Takealot (South Africa), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- A hit as a present for childrenMentioned a lot
- Easy to set up and useAlso mentioned
- Light and easy to take anywhereAlso mentioned
- Good battery lifeMentioned by some
- Good valueMentioned by some
- Lovely coloursMentioned by some
What they complain about
- Thumbsticks drift, click or breakVery rare
Get it if…
- It's for a young child.
- You only play handheld, on trips or in bed.
- You want Nintendo's games for the least money.
Skip it if…
- You want to play on the TV or with family on one console.
- You want the new Switch 2 games.
- You have big hands.
More on the Switch Lite
How we reached this verdict
TechRadar calls it a great, compact console for anyone who doesn't use the TV mode, and Tom's Guide an excellent dedicated handheld that may be too small for bigger hands, with no TV mode; its battery lasted just under four hours of Smash Bros. Expert Reviews liked the smaller body and longer battery than the first Switch. BGR's 2026 look says it's still worth buying at half the price of a Switch 2, as long as you accept the built-in controls and no TV. Thousands of owners at Currys, Takealot and Harvey Norman call it a great present for children, light and easy to use; the main complaint, mostly in reviews from 2020 and 2021, is thumbsticks that drift or break.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Expert Reviews, BGR (2026), TechRadar, Push Square (PS5 Pro reviews), manufacturer specifications.
Updated 4 Nov 2026How we decide