Nintendo Switch price comparison

The Switch launched in March 2017. In 2019 a revised version (often called V2) followed, with a more efficient chip and much longer battery life. On the outside, the two look almost identical. You can recognise the V2 by the model number HAC-001(-01) and the red packaging; the first version carries HAC-001 without the suffix.

For playing on the TV, the difference doesn't matter. If you play a lot on the go, the V2 is worth it for its longer battery life.

The standard Switch has a 6.2-inch LCD and 32 GB of storage. The OLED offers a larger, nicer display and 64 GB with the same performance. The Lite is smaller but cannot connect to a TV. All three play the same games of the first Switch generation.

Check the Joy-Con for stick drift, test whether the console outputs a picture to the TV when docked and take a look at the charging port. A complete set includes the console, dock, two Joy-Con, grip, power adapter and HDMI cable. Avoid offers that hint at modified software or blocked online features – such consoles are often permanently banned from the online service. We filter them out.

The first Switch has a huge game library with many family, party and adventure games that are still fun today and cheap to buy used. New games released exclusively for the Switch 2, however, do not run on it. If you mainly want to play the well-known classics or are looking for an affordable device for children, a used Switch V2 is a good choice. If you are planning long term and want new Nintendo games, take a look at the Switch 2. For beginners on a small budget, the original Switch therefore remains a sensible option.