The Nintendo Switch Lite is a new resigned edition of the standard Nintendo Switch, dedicated entirely to portable play and coming with all the advantages and disadvantages you'd expect from such an ambitious pitch.

Design is robust; attractive and easy to use; Already boasts a fantastic library of games; Increased battery life compared to the base model

Nature of console means certain games are no longer supported; Local multiplayer is far harder to achieve without docking

The Nintendo Switch Lite boasts a design focused around portability, but are the sacrifices to functionality worth it Find out in our review

Light weight and compact! Perfect for the kids when travelling or needing some quiet time!

Not as clever or innovative as its bigger brother, but the cheaper Switch Lite is probably the best handheld console Nintendo has ever made

Great colour options; Sharp; colourful screen; Brilliant selection of games; An actual D-Pad; Very comfortable to hold (unless you have giant hands)

Primary and non-primary console faff; Battery life still isn’t great; Some games need Joy-Con support; Should it even be called a Switch?

The Switch Lite is something that most of us probably assumed was inevitable. Nintendo loves to iterate on its consoles with new models – handhelds especially – so a hardware revision for the Switch is something that was bound to happen.

At $200; the Switch Lite is priced really well; More portable than the standard Switch; Good battery life despite smaller size

USB-C port placement can be annoying at times; No option to connect to an external display

The bottom line is this: the Nintendo Switch Lite is a joy to play games on, and while it’s a totally unnecessary luxury for owners of the more talented original console, it is a more desirable piece of kit to have in your hands. Hardware-wise, I’d hesitate to call it a superior handheld to the OLED-toting and criminally under-utilised PlayStation Vita, but it absolutely trounces Sony’s long since retired portable in the games department - and ultimately that’s what matters. In Nintendo’s long line of handhelds, the Switch Lite might just be the best. It’s just a shame that those who do want the Lite as a second console have to put up with more grief than is probably necessary. If handheld gaming is all you’re after and you don’t mind trading a bit of functionality, it’s hard to imagine the Switch Lite being anything other than your new favourite gadget.

Great colour options; Sharp, colourful screen ; Brilliant selection of games ; An actual D-Pad ; Very comfortable to hold (unless you have giant hands);

Primary and non-primary console faff; Battery life still isn’t great; Some games need Joy-Con support; Should it even be called a Switch?;

I wanted a smaller cheaper version of the switch to replace the 3DS. A great option if you dont plan on playing it on a tv. The battery life is a bit of a letdown but as I only use it at home it doesnt bother me too much, if it was being used while on a long car trip it may be a problem

Love our lite if you dont want to play it on the tv then dont pay the extra for the switch. But in saying that the battery is a bit of a let down for a portable system if u want it for long haul without power.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is an excellent portable console that refines the display, buttons and overall form factor of its older sibling. Yet the sacrifice of docked play will be a deal-breaker for some. If you're yet to purchase a Switch, however, and are purely interested in portable play without the need for local multiplayer, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a no-brainer.

Design is robust, attractive and easy to use; Already boasts a fantastic library of games; Increased battery life compared to the base model;

Nature of console means certain games are no longer supported; Local multiplayer is far harder to achieve without docking;

Great colour options; Sharp, colourful screen ; Brilliant selection of games ; An actual D-Pad ; Very comfortable to hold (unless you have giant hands);

Primary and non-primary console faff; Battery life still isn’t great; Some games need Joy-Con support; Should it even be called a Switch?;