The Nintendo Switch Lite. This is Nintendo's attempt to make their already portable gaming
system even more portable. They did have to remove a few things in order to shrink it
down. Today we're going to find out how durable this new console from Nintendo really is.
Let's get started.
[Intro]
The game cartridges for the Nintendo Switch Lite are the same size as the regular Switch,
and reminiscent of the old-school Gameboy cartridges. I remember saving up for a Gameboy
Color back when I was 12 or 13. And Link's Awakening was one of my favorite games of
time growing up. It's cool to see that Nintendo has remastered. Let's see what else comes
in the box. Remember, the normal Nintendo Switch comes with a dock. This dock can output
1080p to a TV or screen while gaming with friends. There is no dock with a Nintendo
Lite since it's specifically meant to be a portable console and can't be connected to
external displays. So it only has that USB-C charger in the box. It is possible to connect
more than one Switch to your Nintendo account, so games you already own for your normal Switch
can be downloaded onto the Switch Lite at the same time.
Let's start with the scratch test. I've never really tried gaming one-handed before, so
let's see how this goes. The numbers 1-10 on this slip of paper indicate different hardness
levels on Mohs scale of hardness. Plastic would scratch at a level 2 or 3. Glass will
be a 5 or 6. And sapphire would be a level 8 or 9. If the Nintendo Switch Lite screen
was made from diamonds, it would of course be a level 10. Since this little guy only
costs $200 at launch, we can pretty safely assume that the screen is going to be made
from plastic. And since we visibly see scratches at a level 3, with deeper grooves at a level
4, a plastic screen is confirmed. The downside of a plastic screen is that is scratches relatively
easily. Maybe not with coins, but any rough or sharp object will scuff up the screen.
The positive side to plastic screens though is that they will never shatter, and I think
that's what Nintendo is going for here – longevity. So putting an uncrackable screen on Nintendo
Switch Lite is a good idea.
There is a way to get the best of both worlds though, and that's with a tempered glass screen
protector. Our video sponsor dbrand sells a 2-pack of tempered glass protectors for
less than $10, and they're an exact fit. It's a pretty inexpensive way to get the scratch
resistance of glass. And if it ever does crack or shatter, it can be easily replaced because,
you know, glass is glass, and glass can.....that's going to be hard to clean up.....It's a worthwhile
method of protecting your plastic screen, so I'll put a link down in the description
if you need to get some for your Switch.
The other big design change besides no docking ability is that now the side controllers are
not detachable. The builtin left side joystick is covered with a very thick rubber material.
And it's very well attached and won't be wearing off or falling off on it's own. It's a very
durable coating. There is a new d-pad that replaces the circular individual buttons.
This guy is made from a single color, solid piece of plastic. On the right side we have
more of that super thick rubber covering on the joystick. It's easy to see how thick and
well attached it is with a little help from my razor blade. It'll take a very long time
for this exterior covering to wear off on it's own.
The circular buttons up here at the top have the letters molded into the button itself,
so these letters will never physically wear off which is pretty smart. The Nintendo Switch
Lite comes in 3 colors: this turquoise blue, the yellow you saw earlier, and a gray color.
All of which are made from a solid single colored plastic housing. The SD card slot
has a little flap covering the port. This is held in place with a thick rubber hinge.
We'll have to see how this connects on the inside when we take this apart, but from the
outside, it looks like it's never going to come off on it's own.
There is no kickstand this time around since the joy-cons are not detachable. And pretty
much every side, button, and surface of the Nintendo Switch Lite is made from plastic.
Even the power and volume buttons. There is a massive vent for the internal cooling fan
that'll be fun to check out from the inside as well. And it also has a headphone jack.
The game cartridge flap is held on with the same thick rubber straps. The back panel of
the Switch has 2 more grills...also probably for that internal cooling fan. And both have
a paper thin plastic grill attempting to keep out dust and debris. This console is definitely
not water resistant.
If you're trying to decide between the Switch and the Switch Lite, I think it's all dependent
on how and where you like to play games. Personally when I'm out and about, I hardly ever game.
The only time I plink around on Breath of the Wild is when I'm sitting down in front
of a TV, with my detached joy-cons. So it's worth it for me to spend the extra $100 for
the full sized Nintendo Switch. But if you mostly game on the go, this travel size $200
Switch Lite might be the better option. Leave a comment down below if you know who this
guy is.
The screen on the Lite is still 720p, same as the regular Switch. Just a tad smaller
at 5.5 inches instead of 6.2. And under the heat from my lighter we can see the little
ripples start forming on the melted plastic before the display underneath starts to turn
off and go black. This shows that Nintendo is using and LCD panel. The burned pixel recover
however and do eventually come back on. But the melted front plastic is still melted.
The first portable Nintendo Gameboy console was released in 1989 and that thing is a tank.
Today, 30 years later, it's time to test the structural build quality of Nintendo's newest
portable system. I was worried that the plastic might be fragile or the screen could pop off,
but after a substantial flex from the front, and a very hard flex from the back, there
is no permanent damage done to the Switch Lite housing. The Switch does flex in both
directions, but it's not enough to damage the internal components or crack that LCD
screen. Everything is still in place and it's a solid little device. The Switch Lite gets
a thumbs up from me. It can handle some aggressive Smash Bros, or crazy Mario Kart races, and
probably any physical abuse kids, or kids at heart can throw its direction. I'll put
a link for the Switch Lite in the video description for its current pricing, along with some of
those tempered glass screen protectors from dbrand.
Now if you'll excuse me, Link's Awakening and I have some catching up to do. Tell me
your favorite video game down in the comments. And then come hang out with me on Instagram
and Twitter. Hit that subscribe button if you haven't already. And thanks a ton for
watching. I'll see you around.