How to Justify Buying a Switch Lite

The Lite at the end of the tunnel.

I own a Switch. I have done so now for about a year and a half and man has time been transformative. It’s where I go more often than my PS4 for AAA games if I can help it, and don’t get me started on how perfect it is as a platform for indie titles. It seems I’m not the only one who loves the Switch. Everyone these days has one, which makes the Switch Lite a challenge. 

How do I, someone who has a perfectly good piece of gear, justify buying an almost identical piece of tech with money that I need to spend on food? Here’s how. I write a piece about it for other people to look at so they also feel better about buying a Switch Lite when they don’t need it. Here are just some of the reasons that you can use when you might be about to press ‘Checkout’ when buying the Lite.

1. You’re a commuter

I’m not a commuter, but you might be! Compared to the old Switch, the Switch Lite is smaller, lighter and specifically designed to be used in a handheld mode. The Lite’s battery is also better than its older brother, so if your train is delayed or cancelled (#thanksbritishrail) you don’t have to worry about your most superior form of entertainment running out on you. If you’re a commuter you also might wear a lot of grey, so I mean that turquoise and yellow would really pop, making your outfit that little more stylish. 

2. You’re around 17-25

Now I am somewhere between 17-25, and I know quite a few people in that age range. Most of them have something in common, they don’t own a TV. I do have a TV but it was a hand-me-down and it’s only used on the rare occasions I have to get my PS4 out to play something. If you’re like me and you don’t ever use the Switch dock, it’s way more efficient to have a console that only does handheld mode, because that’s the only thing you’ll use it for anyway. 

3. You keep having to buy Joy-Cons

Ah, the highly controversial Joy-Con stick drift rearing its head. If you use your Switch a lot, you might have experienced this yourself, but otherwise you might not know what I’m talking about. The drift is something joy-cons, often with quite a bit of use, have been displaying. No matter what you do, your joy-cons believe that you’re pushing them, ever so slightly, in one direction or another. If you’re in-game, it’s probably quite annoying that you keep looking left when idle so you have to go out and buy a new set of joy-cons. Know how to fix that? Buy something that doesn’t even have that to break! No joy-cons on the new Switch Lite means you get the freedom to completely be constricted to always holding your screen. And if you do experience drift on the Lite? Complain to Nintendo I guess? That’s an issue down the line though.

4. Bi-culture is your jam

Have you seen the Pokemon Sword and Shield limited edition version of the Switch Lite? It just oozes bisexual energy. In all honesty, I must clarify that that was a joke, it’s just phenomenally pretty. As are the yellow and turquoise versions of the console. Joy-cons being colourful is all well and good, but having your entire console in a pretty shade of whatever colour is better. Don’t take my word for it however, just gaze at the lush colours they picked for the buttons on the Lite. 

Tony Hawk for Switch when?

5. You’re an adult and you can do what you want with your money

I mean isn’t this ultimately what you wanted to hear? If you aren’t an adult with money available, I guess Christmas or birthdays are a good idea. Otherwise you’re going to have to wait until the pre-owned versions start popping up before you get your hands on the Lite when it’s slightly less shiny and new. If you are an adult with money, go on, treat yourself. If you really want that Switch Lite, go get one. It’s the small things that can make the most difference so go have some fun and pretend you’re one of the moderately attractive people Nintendo show laughing in their adverts.