While Sony and Microsoft are busy dropping hints about their next-gen consoles that are in the works, Nintendo has surprised everyone by announcing a smaller and cheaper iteration of their Switch console, the Switch Lite.
The new Nintendo Switch Lite is a portable-only device that is slightly smaller and weighs less than the original Switch, and is priced at $199.99 (around R2,800) and will be released on 20 September 2019.
As for the main differences, the Switch Lite won’t feature the Joy-Con controllers (which usually come with the standard Switch console), and won’t have the ability to sync with a dock and be played on a larger TV.
The display on the handheld is a 5.5-inch, 720p resolution screen, and the console itself comes in three colours: yellow, grey and turquoise.
It’s also confirmed that the Nintendo Switch Lite’s battery life will outlast that of the traditional Switch, ranging from three to seven hours of play.
The Nintendo Switch Lite device is also compatible with the full library of Nintendo Switch releases that support handheld mode, however, the Switch Lite doesn’t offer HD Rumble support or the IR camera included in Joy-Cons for the original Nintendo Switch. That said, the Switch Lite will support external Joy-Con controllers, the Switch Pro Controller, and the Poké Ball Plus, and has built-in gyro controls.