Which Nintendo Switch model was designed exclusively for handheld play?

The Nintendo Switch Lite was designed exclusively for handheld play.

Nintendo released Switch Lite on September 20, 2019, as a smaller and lighter member of the Switch family. Its controls are built into the body, so the system does not include detachable Joy-Con controllers and cannot connect directly to a television through a dock.

The Lite plays Switch games that support handheld mode, and some games may require separately sold Joy-Con controllers for features such as detached motion play. It has a 5.5-inch touchscreen and is available in several colors.

The name can cause confusion because Switch Lite is still part of the Nintendo Switch platform. “Lite” describes the hardware’s reduced size and features, not a separate software generation. It remains compatible with many physical cartridges and downloadable Switch titles.