Nintendo Switch Lite vs Nintendo 3DS XL
Nintendo Switch Lite ($229.99) vs Nintendo 3DS XL ($199.99) — side-by-side specs, weight, pros and cons to help you pick the right console.
Nintendo
3DS XL
$199.99
Vaulted, no longer sold
Spec-by-spec
| Spec | Nintendo Switch Lite | Nintendo 3DS XL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.99 | $199.99 |
| Weight | 275g | 336g |
| Display | 5.5" LCD 720p | 4.88" 3D top, 4.18" touch |
| Storage | 32GB + microSD | — |
| Battery | 3 to 7 hours | — |
| Controllers | Built in (not detachable) | — |
| Output | Handheld only, no TV output | — |
| Colors | Five colors: Turquoise, Yellow, Blue, Gray, Coral | Blue / Black, Red / Black, Silver / Black, Pink / White |
| Weight | 275g | 336g with battery, stylus and card |
| Screens | — | Glasses-free 3D top screen, touch bottom screen |
| Controls | — | Circle Pad (no C-Stick) |
Pros & Cons
Nintendo Switch Lite
- Cheapest Switch at $229.99
- 275g, the lightest of the Switch family
- Five colors
- Plays every game that supports handheld mode
- No TV output, it cannot dock
- Joy-Con are built in and do not detach
- Smaller 5.5 inch LCD than the Switch
- Only games that support handheld mode work
Nintendo 3DS XL
- Big 4.88 inch glasses-free 3D top screen
- Plays the 3DS and DS libraries
- Four US colors
- Foldable clamshell with a stylus
- 336g, the heaviest of the family
- One Circle Pad, no C-Stick or ZL and ZR
- amiibo needs a separate NFC reader
- No longer made
Nintendo 3DS XL is the better value at $199.99. If weight matters most, Nintendo Switch Lite carries lighter at 275g. Both are part of our curated console index — tap through to check current pricing.
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