The greatest gaming devices you can buy

The Nintendo Switch Lite is the cheapest portable console on our list, which makes it an ideal choice for those on a budget, as well as for children.

It looks particularly bright and fun, with a funky yellow plastic outer shell. And if this isn’t to your taste, the Switch Lite is available in a couple of other colours, including turquoise and grey. This is a much smaller footprint console than the full-fat Switch, which we found made it nicely portable. Its lighter 275g weight also made it easier to hold, especially for younger children.

The display on the Switch Lite is a denser 5.5-inch panel with the same 720p resolution as the original. Generally speaking, you won’t be losing anything in terms of picture quality, even with a 0.7-inch reduction in overall size.

It’s worth noting that the Switch Lite isn’t fully compatible with every Switch game, since the Joy-Cons aren’t detachable. This means a select few titles (such as 1-2-Switch) that need motion controls won’t work, unless you shell out on extra Joy-Cons. Other than that, the entire library is open to you, meaning all the best Mario, Zelda and Pokemon games are all within reach.

In addition, the console features decent battery life, ranging from four to seven hours, depending on the game. At the top end, it means you’ll get roughly a working day’s worth of playtime out of the Switch Lite before it needs to be charged. If you’re only playing for a couple of hours a day, it’s likely you could get several days’ worth of charge out of this little guy.

While it may not have detachable Joy-Cons and slightly shorter battery life than the standard Switch, the Switch Lite is a great option for those who want the fundamentals of Nintendo’s latest console with a fun gaming experience, complete with a sturdy and colourful outer shell and a great selection of games.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full review: Nintendo Switch Lite Review