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The Nintendo Switch is a handheld gaming system released by Nintendo on March 3, 2017, in three varieties – the Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo Switch, and Switch Lite. This article is geared towards children and their parents and is meant to serve as a sort of guide for choosing which model of Nintendo Switch will be the best fit for your child’s particular needs. This article will give a breakdown of the price points, specifications, pros, and cons of all three types of Nintendo Switch, recommended accessories for the systems, and a ranking of the systems. We’ve even got our picks for the best Switch games for kids included at the end of this article.

Nintendo Switch – Original

The Nintendo Switch is the original Switch console and is the successor to Nintendo’s earlier handheld consoles, such as the DS and Gameboy.

Nintendo Switch Original Stats:

Price: $299 at Walmart, Target, BestBuy, and Amazon

Storage capacity: 32 GB (shared with the system for necessary operating processes) – additional storage can be purchased separately in the form of MicroSD, MicroSDXC or MicroSDHC cards that contain up to 2TB of extra storage.

Resolution: 720p in standard mode and 1080p in tv mode.

Play Styles: The Nintendo Switch has two modes of play: one mode is the traditional hand-held gaming experience. The other mode of play is a more traditional console game experience which allows the player to connect their Switch to their television via HDMI, allowing you to play your favorite games on the big screen and control the game with your wireless Joycon controller.

Screen: 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen with dimensions of 1280x720

Weight: .66 lbs. (without joycon controllers attached), .88 lbs. (with joycons)

Connection: WIFI, Bluetooth

Speaker system: Stereo

Jack: 3mm

USB: Type C – used for charging the system

Battery Life: 4.5 – 9 hours based on system use (roughly 3-hour charging time)

Sensors:

1. Gyroscope – basically a motion-detection sensor that allows you to point your joystick in one direction which moves your in-game character in the same direction.

2. Accelerometer – a motion-detection device that allows for accurate in-game velocity.

3. Brightness Sensor – senses the brightness of the surrounding area and adjusts the brightness of the screen accordingly.

Battery: Lithium-Ion

Pros:

· Can be played like a handheld console or a traditional stationary console.

· Plenty of options for increasing storage.

· Faceplates of actual system can be changed to a variety of different colors (sold separately), and you can buy different colored joycon controllers.

· Can be connected to wired LAN WIFI adapter for better internet connection.

· Lightweight system perfect for small hands.

· Encourages movement because of the various movement sensors.

· Can be charged via being plugged directly into a USB-C cord or can be charged by insertion into the dock.

· Plenty of console-exclusive games

Cons:

· Price has not gone down much although console was released five years ago

· Switch was officially discontinued by Nintendo

· Games are expensive and tend to not depreciate

· Controllers can get “stuck,” hindering controls – this issue has been worked on but remains an issue in individual systems.

· Without buying additional storage, the useable memory for the Switch is low, meaning that you will be able to download only a couple of digital titles at a time before running out of storage.

· Battery life isn’t ideal for traveling long distances without the ability to charge.

Nintendo Switch Lite

The Switch Lite is a version of the Switch released in 2019 as a cheaper alternative to the main console– it lacks certain features of the main system, which accounts for its cheaper cost.

*As certain stats of the Switch Lite and Switch OLED are the same as the original system, these stats will simply be marked as SaS (same as Switch). Doing this allows for complete comparisons of the three Switches – if you are stuck between choosing one device, seeing what is different and what is the same can help you decide.

Nintendo Switch Lite Stats:

Price: $199 at Walmart, BestBuy, Target, and Amazon

Colors: Coral, Turquoise, Yellow, Gray, Blue

Storage: SaS

Screen: 5.5-inch Capacitive touch screen with resolutions of 1280x720

Weight: .61 lbs.

Sensors: SaS (minus the brightness sensor)

Play Style: Strictly handheld (can’t be wired to tv)

Resolution: SaS

Connection: SaS

Buttons: Left and right stick / Capture, volume, and home buttons / A, B, X, Y, L, R, ZL, ZR, + and -, / power button / control pad (controls are on the system rather than on a separate controller like the Joycon)

USB: SaS

Speaker System: SaS

Jack: SaS

Battery Life: 3 – 7 hours (approximately 3-hour charge time)

Battery: SaS

Pros:

· Comes in at a much more affordable price than the original Switch: $199 vs $299.

· Small size great for small hands.

· Comes in more color options that don’t require changing the faceplate – simply choose one of the five available console colors.

Cons:

The Switch Lite has many of the same problems that the original Switch has, with the addition of a few problems unique to this system.

· Cannot be wired to television

· No detachable controllers

· Shorter battery life

· No brightness sensor

Nintendo Switch OLED

The Nintendo Switch OLED is very similar to the original Switch, with some key differences:

1. OLED screen vs LCD

2. Larger Size

3. More build-in storage

Switch OLED Stats:

Price: $349 at most major retailers

Release: July 2021

Screen: Capacitive multi-touch 7.0-inch OLED screen (1280x720)

*OLED screens provide crisper visuals, brighter colors, higher contrast

Storage: 64GB (can be increased with SD cards)

Weight: .71 lbs. (without joycons) .93 lbs. with joycons

Play Style: SaS

Battery Life: SaS

Resolution: SaS

USB: SaS

Jack: SaS

Sensors: SaS

Battery: SaS

Connection: SaS

Rankings:

Best Price Point: Switch Lite

The Switch Lite comes in 1st in this category because you can play the same games as the other two models for cheaper – if you’re willing to sacrifice some of the cool features of the OLED and Switch.

Best Overall: Original Switch

The Original Switch is the overall best because it is a happy medium of the features from the Lite and the OLED: the graphics aren’t as crisp as the OLED, but you can wire your console to the television unlike with the Lite.

Best Graphics: Switch OLED

The OLED by far has the best graphics of the three Switch models due to its OLED screen – but for almost $100 more than the Switch. This option is the best for people who care about getting image quality closest to PC quality.

Suggested Accessories:

Screen protector

Carrying cases

Game case

Extra Joycon controllers

Best Games for Nintendo Switch:

Let’s Go Pikachu or Let’s Go Eevee:

This installment of the Pokémon franchise gives you the choice of either Pikachu – the classic, yellow mouse that everyone knows and loves – or Eevee, the adorable little guy who can evolve into 8 different Pokémon! Regardless of whether you go with Pikachu or Eevee, the game is largely the same. You start your journey to become the best trainer there ever was, just like in previous Pokémon games. What makes Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee unique is the use of the Switch’s motion-sensing technology which allows players to mimic the motions of throwing a real Poke ball, which increases immersion. This feeling can be amplified by buying the separate Poke ball accessory. Also, unlike previous games, Pokémon are visible outside of tall grass, which means you can strategically CHOOSE what wild Pokémon to battle, rather than being ambushed in random encounters.

This game is not only great for children, but for older Pokémon fans as well – it has been described as a remake of Pokémon Yellow, one of the earliest Pokémon games. The sense of nostalgia that Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu evoke is perfect for returning trainers, or for kids who are just starting out their journey to be the very best.

Cost: $59.99

Size: 4.2 GB

ESRB Rating: E for Everyone

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a highly acclaimed addition to the LOZ saga in which players play as the beloved hero, Link, as he journeys through Hyrule. Link has awoken after 100 years in a land that he does not recognize nor remember. In his journey to reclaim what has been lost, Link must acquire different weapons, visit shrines and towers, and journey through numerous unique towns.

Breath of the Wild offers countless hours of fun for your child as they experience the land of Hyrule through Link’s eyes.

Cost: $59.99

Size: 14.4GB

ESRB Rating: E for Everyone 10+

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons basically takes the question of “if you were lost on a deserted island, how would you survive?” and turned it into a game! AC:NH features cartoonish graphics and an E for Everyone rating that make it a perfect game for children.

In AC:NH, you get to build a village on a deserted island, literally from the ground up. You can farm, build, customize your character and house, befriend townspeople (they’re animals!), fish, and much more.

*Note for parents trying to buy a game for multiple children to play. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you are limited to creating ONE island per game, which means if you have multiple children sharing a Switch or a copy of AC:NH, they will all have to share and play on the SAME island. It is recommended that if buying this game for multiple children, that each child has their own copy of the game and their own Switch, or at the very least, their own copy of the game to avoid fighting.

Cost: $59.99

Download Size: 7 GB

ESRB Rating: E for Everyone

Super Smash Bro’s Ultimate

In Super Smash Bro’s Ultimate, you have the choice of playing as 74 different Nintendo or third-party characters as you battle each other on 104 different stage options. Super Smash Bro’s Ultimate is an arena-style match fighting game where your goal is to be the only one not knocked out of the ring at the end of the match. The game includes different modes such as timed mode, in which the goal is to defeat your opponent in a set amount of time, and several other modes each with their own set of rules.

Playable characters include fan favorites such as Kirby, the cast of Mario, Pikachu, Snake (Metal Gear series), Zelda (LOZ), and more!

Price: $59.99

Size: 16.7 GB

ESRB Rating: E for Everyone 10+

Honorable Mentions:

Slime Rancher - $24.99 / E for Everyone

Pokémon Sword or Shield - $59.99 / E for Everyone

Luigi’s Mansion 3 - $59.99 / E for Everyone

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - $59.99 / E for Everyone 10+

Final Thoughts

Regardless of what version of the Nintendo Switch that you choose, you will be gifting your child a quality, well-rounded console with beautiful graphics, sound quality, and options for play. It is recommended that you consider your budget, how your child wants to play (handheld or wired to television), and how important graphics are to your child before purchasing a Switch model. You should also make a list of the games that your child wants the most and consider a few key factors to ensure that you get your money’s worth: length of game, extra stuff to do in-game (side quests and collectibles), and price of game. Narrow your child’s list down to the games that will get you the most bang for your buck, because as mentioned, Nintendo games are typically very slow to go down in price, which means that the $59.99 price tag of most new games will be sticking around for a while. One positive of the price tags is that if your child completes a game and wants to move onto another one, you can sell your physical copies of games back to GameStop for a decent amount of money – note you won’t be getting back the full value of the game, but since Nintendo games depreciate so slowly, they still net okay money in trade-ins.

Which Nintendo Switch is your favorite? Did we miss your favorite game in our list? Let us know in the comments!

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