Which Switch to get?

[QuiltedBear]

DS has been asking for a Switch for the last couple of years, and we said he could have one when he’s 7 (a bit arbitrary, but that’s the age on the box so he accepted it). Now his birthday is rapidly approaching, and I’m not sure which one to go for: original Switch, Switch OLED, or Switch 2?

On the one hand, I could get an original Switch for about half the price of a Switch 2, and it’s not much more for a Switch OLED. But how much longer will Nintendo support and publish games for the earlier generation of consoles?

What would you recommend?

I got a Switch OLED about 6 months ago - no regrets.
I think there will be a few games that are only compatible with Switch 2, but not all of them by any means. I personally wouldn’t buy one yet - so expensive and not without their issues.

Thanks. I’d read that the Switch 2 is physically bigger, so more comfortable for large hands, but that suggests to me that the Switch or Switch OLED would be better for a 7 year old’s hands. Currently leaning towards the OLED so thank you for the confirmation bias haha!

Will he spend more time on it on the TV or in handheld mode? The only difference between the basic switch and the OLED one is a better screen so if it'll mostly be in TV mode then there isn't much point paying extra (and the basic screen already looks pretty good.

Personally I'd get the cheapest basic switch you can and upgrade it to a switch two in a couple of years when there are more games exclusively available on it. He can enjoy the currently available titles for now.

Switch 2 without question, I’d never buy old tech and will last so much longer with games releases.

PS I appreciate that is a privileged position to take!

Just got DS and OLED and it’s great - I would recommend it.

To be honest, I’m not quite sure how it’s going to work at the moment, so I’m anticipating a mix of the two. He definitely wants the full Switch, not just the Lite version, but when he had a go with my friend’s one he played it in handheld mode.

If I were buying for myself I’d go Switch 2 without hesitation, but given the fickleness of youth I’m reluctant to spend that much too soon!

@DoAWheelie has an interesting proposition about buying cheap now and then upgrading in a few years if he really takes to it. Definitely something to think about.

My 8yo has had a switch since 6yo (not a lite) and loves it. Plays a mix of handheld and on TV. He recently went to a birthday party in a gaming bus and they tried the switch 2 and none of them liked it - said it was too big and they preferred the smaller size!

Don't get a lite! There are issues with the sticks breaking often on Nintendo consoles. It's annoying when it happens on a controller and needs replacing, it's far worse when it's on the lite and the whole thing needs replacing.

You can send the controllers back to be repaired/replaced and keep playing the console with the other ones for a few weeks, but when the whole thing needs sending back you can't play at all.

The lite cannot do TV mode so if you would ever want to play co-op games together or even just keep a close eye when he's playing multiplayer games (if you allow that) then TV mode will be required.

It might be worth looking second hand at the moment as a lot of people will be selling their basic version to upgrade to a switch 2.

I agree with this. Always buy latest and greatest. Consoles from Nintendo generally last many years so getting the latest supported one means you will be able to use it for the maximum amount of time . Get the Switch 2. When he's 14 amd still just about the play recent games on it, he'll thank you.

Another vote for switch 2. We are a house hold of many different switch consoles, but recently got my son the switch 2 for his good
exam results. We are all using it, and playing together again on the tv which we had for out the habit of. I think for longevity it makes sense to get the newest version you can afford.