Nintendo Switch Consoles

The Switch is a name given to that latest family of Nintendo Consoles. Designed to be a hybrid between a home and handheld console, the Switch can be played through a TV or other screen using the Switch dock, or in handheld mode on the built-in screen outside of the dock.

The Joycon Controllers on the Nintendo Switch are wireless and can be attached and detached to the Switch as you move between different modes of play. The controllers have traditional button inputs as well as high fidelity motion controls, and feature HD rumble which offers more precise haptic feedback that increases immersion as you play.

The Switch is the only console to play all the latest entries in Nintendo’s iconic, long-running franchises including Mario, Zelda, Pokémon and more. The Switch is also supported with a wide library of software from industry leading developers as well as critically acclaimed independent studios.

The Nintendo Switch has built-in Bluetooth connectivity, which is used to pair the console with compatible devices. Controllers and Bluetooth audio equipment such as Earbuds, Headphones and Speakers can all be paired with your Switch. For some controllers, headphones and accessories there are wired connection options available as well.

Using Bluetooth, you can connect your Switch to up to eight wireless controllers simultaneously. Joycons can be paired to the Switch console individually or as left and right pairs. Nintendo also produce a Pro Controller for the Switch (sold separately) that has a similar button layout and form factor to other modern video game consoles.

Multiple controllers are used to play games with friends and family locally on a single screen. To play a game with multiple people on the one console, it needs to support local multiplayer. You cannot connect more than two wireless controllers to a Switch if Bluetooth headphones are in use.

Nintendo currently produce three different models for their Switch console: the original Nintendo Switch, the Switch Lite and the Switch OLED. These models come in a range of colours and are compatible with the entire Switch software library.

The original Nintendo Switch model is designed to seamlessly transition between portable, handheld and TV modes of play. When placed in the dock, the Switch will output to a TV or monitor via HDMI. When out of the dock, the Switch can be played in handheld mode by attaching the Joycon controllers to the sides of the console or they can be detached and the screen propped up using the built-in stand for portable play.

The Switch Lite is the least expensive model and is designed as a purely handheld experience. This model does not output to a TV and has the controller buttons built into the console itself.

The Switch OLED is the latest model and works like an original Switch but with a larger, brighter built-in screen, larger kickstand, better speakers and more.

Different Switch models have different internal storage capacities. The original Switch and the Switch Lite both have 32GB of internal storage for games, saved data, screenshots and captured video. The newer Switch OLED has 64GB of internal storage.

The number of games that fit on a Switch console will depend as the size of each individual Switch game and its saved data varies. The smallest Switch games are under 150MB whilst some of the largest exceed 17GB. A very select few Switch games exceed the 32GB internal storage capacity of older Switch models. There is a solution to this aside from simply upgrading to the 64GB OLED model, which also has a larger, brighter OLED screen built into it and other improvements such as enhanced handheld audio.

All Switch models can have their internal storage expanded using microSD Cards, sold separately. Nintendo recommends using cards with a minimum speed of 60-90MB per second, graded as Class 10 or Ultra High Speed Class 1 / Video Speed Class 10 and up. MicroSDs are available in sizes up to 512GB with official Nintendo Switch branded and approved cards available.