Hardware Convince me! Should i buy Lite or Regular SWITCH?

[raxadian]

Here are the three mayor problems with the Switch Lite:

*Harder to repair, if you suffer from joycon driff you are screwed.

* Less powerful hardware.

* Not every game will run well (or run at all) on it.

And that's basically it.

 

[Rahkeesh]

The internal hardware in the lite isn't less powerful at all. Sure it doesn't have as much thermal headroom, theoretically limiting overclocking, but the chips themselves are exactly the same as in the v2. You might run into other issues with games that play better docked or with joycons, but handheld performance is not going to differ at all.

 

[raxadian]

The internal hardware in the lite isn't less powerful at all. Sure it doesn't have as much thermal headroom, theoretically limiting overclocking, but the chips themselves are exactly the same as in the v2. You might run into other issues with games that play better docked or with joycons, but handheld performance is not going to differ at all.

It CANNOT use some of the legal and Nintendo approved workarounds to run games faster on portable mode since those require the hardware of an original Switch.

Like Breath Of The Wild? It will load slower, to give an example.

So yes, even if you just compare portable mode, the Lite is slower for some things.

 

[Rahkeesh]

Are you claiming that boost mode is diminished or inactive for the lite?

 

[DANTENDO]

The switch lite should of been the switch pro or plus whatever you want to call it -but as its not look its simple just get the original switch least tht way ther be no regrets as you may change yr mind while playing a game in portable mode and wishing fk yeh I need to play this on a bigger screen

 

[Kioku]

I'm more than a little confused as to why anyone could or would recommend the Switch Lite outside of price.

 

[raxadian]

Are you claiming that boost mode is diminished or inactive for the lite?

Boost mode uses the hardware used for regular mode, so yes.

Of course that's expected, the Lite is a cheaper version of the Switch so if course it will have a less powerful hardware.

I wanted one until I found out Joycon driff is not only a problem but also harder to fix than on a regular Switch.

I'm more than a little confused as to why anyone could or would recommend the Switch Lite outside of price.

The battery does last longer without needing recharging compared to the regular Switch. And being smaller makes it better for travel.

 

[Kioku]

The battery does last longer without needing recharging compared to the regular Switch. And being smaller makes it better for travel.

To some extent, I can agree these are valid points. The newer Switches have a pretty good battery life nowadays, and the size isn't an issue. Especially when you consider just how much smaller the Lite really is. Yeah, some people have tighter carrying space. Be it smaller bags, or no bags at all. Still..

 

[Rahkeesh]

Boost mode uses the hardware used for regular mode, so yes.

Of course that's expected, the Lite is a cheaper version of the Switch so if course it will have a less powerful hardware.

You need to define "more powerful" because its the exact same chip. If Nintendo disabled boost mode for the lite then its out of heat/battery concerns, not because the chip itself cannot hit those higher clocks. These chips were always substantially underclocked compared to their full capabilities displayed in the Nvidia Shield. Its fair enough if lack of boost mode is a dealbreaker but I've never head of gameplay being any worse on a lite, which it shouldn't due to nearly identical internals.

You should look at it more as overpaying for the OG switch. Nintendo supposedly had to pressure suppliers to still profit from the lite at 200. Of course seperable joy-cons and dock still adds costs but not $100.

 

[raxadian]

To some extent, I can agree these are valid points. The newer Switches have a pretty good battery life nowadays, and the size isn't an issue. Especially when you consider just how much smaller the Lite really is. Yeah, some people have tighter carrying space. Be it smaller bags, or no bags at all. Still..

Is also harder for kids to break it because the joycons cannot be removed. But that's a mixed bag because Joycon driff still happens.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

The main pro of the Switch Lite is not price, cause you're certainly not saving anything considering the removable JoyCons and the dock make up for that price difference.
The main pro is size. Unless you or your family is simply too poor to make up the $100 price difference and a Switch Lite is the only way you could get a Switch.

If you could dock the Switch Lite, even if the dock was a separate purchase, that would bring it up to as much as an OG Switch once you added a dock and controller(s), if not $20 more. And that might still be a worthwhile purchase for some, even if it cost more than buying an OG Switch and getting the dock and removable JoyCons in the bundle, just for the superior portability.

That would make the Switch Lite a much better purchase than it is now, in my opinion.

As things are the Switch Lite is only worth it if you're really sure you would never want to use it docked (or don't have the option to, if you're a kid living with your parents and don't have your own TV)
But that means you are locking yourself out of local multiplayer focused games like Smash Bros and Mario Party. Which for most people, even if you hardly ever play docked anyway, those times when you have friends over and want to play a game, is what justifies still having that dock. Not to mention that Mario Party among some other games requires JoyCons to be played, so that's another $70 on top of the $200 right there if you want to play those games, even if just in single player.

For anyone that can afford it the OG Switch is a much better option, you're simply getting far more functionality and flexibility for your money. I'm not at all surprised the poll went the way it did.

 

[raxadian]

You need to define "more powerful" because its the exact same chip.

The regular Switch is more powerful in portable mode because it uses some of the hardware of the regular mode to load some games faster. The Switch Lite cannot do that as it lacks said hardware. Some of the updates of Breath Of the Wild that make the game tun faster on portable mode use that to give the most know example.

 

[SENSENuii]

The regular Switch is more powerful in portable mode because it uses some of the hardware of the regular mode to load some games faster. The Switch Lite cannot do that as it lacks said hardware. Some of the updates of Breath Of the Wild that make the game tun faster on portable mode use that to give the most know example.

This is not true, all boost mode is is a temporary overclock to the CPU used only for loading screens to speed them up a bit, what you are thinking of is the chip that helps it talk to the dock and to display on TV

 

[ZachyCatGames]

* Less powerful hardware.

Switch Lite runs the exact same firmware as normal units, and has and uses the exact same clock speed profiles. What you're saying is complete bullshit.
EDIT: and the lite can/does use boost mode.

 

[James_]

The normal Switch is superior because it's the only one that can play Ring Fit Adventure

looks down at my signature

You're saying I own a Switch Lite? Yeah we don't talk about that

 

[DANTENDO]

The switch lite is basically for those tht hav a phobia of screens larger than 6 inches

 

[raxadian]

The switch lite is basically for those tht hav a phobia of screens larger than 6 inches

Is a cheaper console for parents to buy their kids. Like the 2DS is to the 3DS.

 

[wiewiec]

Lite for some people could be better since it is cheaper than regular, also little shame that they ripped pissibility to any TV connection, but not big deal for me since I always play Switch as handheld.

 

[Panzerfaust]

OG switch for sure. more features and it's portable as well.

 

[MetoMeto]

Lite for some people could be better since it is cheaper than regular, also little shame that they ripped pissibility to any TV connection, but not big deal for me since I always play Switch as handheld.

Now i dont get that part. Ok, they made it not possible to play docked..ok...they taken off hardware for that to cut on cost. ok! But couldnt they make external hardware sold separetly for lite, if you want to stream to TV?! its SOOOO weird decision for switch not to switch!!! i mean i KNOW its possible in theory to do it like that, so why dont they make external streamer!
I mean it would be like streaming hardware outside of the console conected through USB-C