It’s not news at this point: the Nintendo Switch and its handheld-only variant, the Lite, have been running out of stock in physical retailers across the country. With everyone being contained to their homes these past few weeks, the console has been in high demand. Increased demand for this $300 console and its cousin is understandable, but lots of people have been unable to get their hands on one considering just how high that demand is.
Unfortunately, the main version of the Switch (the kind that you can plug into your TV) is still sold out almost everywhere. As usual for the past few weeks, finding a Nintendo Switch at its normal retail price is almost impossible, as most retailers don’t have it. The Switches you could find online are all from places like eBay, where people are charging exorbitant prices for them. Even worse, there’s still no real indication of when the regular Switch will be restocked nationwide.
Now on to the good news. Thankfully the Nintendo Switch Lite is a whole lot easier to come across right now. It’s only $200, and actually does the same thing as your usual Switch. The only difference is that you can’t connect the Lite to a TV to play on the big screen. Of course, that’s a pretty small sacrifice to make, unless you wanted a Switch in order to play couch co-op or something. The Lite has been restocked for several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. These Lites are available in many colors, including coral, blue, and grey.
The Lite may have slightly more limited functionality than the regular Switch, but for $100 less it’s not really a bad tradeoff. Moreover, the Lite is just way more available than its big brother variant right now, so if you just want a way to play Switch exclusive games right now, going for a Lite is a much better option.
As always, Nintendo is aware of the problem regarding stock in the United States. According to one of their statements, the situation will be rectified soon. “Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the US, but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
Unfortunately, there’s no real indication of how ‘soon’ exactly this will happen. It could be two weeks, a month, or even longer. Moreover, considering the high demand for the Switch right now, who knows how long the new stock will last before we find ourselves right back where we started.
Taking all of that into consideration, as well as the inflated prices of regular Switches on third party sites, going for a Lite may well and truly be the best choice for those looking to get a Switch. For one, it’ll save you a lot of money, and more importantly, you can get one right now instead of waiting until some undisclosed time of Nintendo’s choosing.
Related: Where to Buy a Nintendo Switch
