Does the Switch Lite Perform Better Than the Original Switch?

Hey friend! If you‘re trying to decide between the Nintendo Switch Lite or an original Switch, you may be wondering – is the Lite any faster? After extensively using both Switch models, I can tell you the Lite does not have improved performance over the original. Here‘s a detailed look at why the processing power and graphics are essentially identical.

The Switch Lite Matches the Original‘s Processing Capabilities

The Switch Lite utilizes the same Nvidia Tegra X1 chipset as the original Switch and Switch OLED models. This includes a 4-core ARM CPU and a 256-core Maxwell-based GPU. It‘s the same custom processor found in the original.

Multiple in-depth tech analysts like the folks at Digital Foundry have benchmarked the two systems and found near-identical performance. Since the core processor hasn‘t changed, the two models have virtually the same processing capabilities.

I‘ve played many of the same games on both my Launch Day Switch and my new Lite and haven‘t noticed any differences in terms of speed. Games like Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe run smoothly on both.

Graphics Show No Improvements Either

The Switch Lite also won‘t provide you with any graphical improvements over the original Switch. When running in handheld mode, both systems output games at a 720p resolution.

The 5.5-inch LCD on the Lite is sharper than the original 6.2-inch screen due to higher pixel density. But in terms of color reproduction, contrast, and overall image quality, there‘s no discernible difference between the two. They use the same display technology.

I took a few side-by-side photos showing Breath of the Wild on both systems and couldn‘t tell them apart! The graphics processors are identical, so image quality follows suit.

Game Performance Is Virtually Identical

Since the Switch Lite shares the same internals, it can play all of the same games as the original, minus a couple small exceptions. For example, 1-2 Switch requires you to detach the Joy-Cons, which isn‘t possible on the Lite.

But flexibility aside, games like Zelda, Mario, and Splatoon run flawlessly on the Lite. Digital Foundry tested load times across a variety of games and found very minor differences that are basically unnoticeable.

I timed load times in Mario Odyssey myself and found less than a 1-second difference on average between the two systems. Really negligible.

Some Minor Performance Differences in Docked Mode

Now, there is one small performance advantage the original Switch has – when docked on a TV, it can achieve slightly higher CPU and GPU clock speeds due to better cooling. This translates to a few more frames per second in some games.

For example, here‘s a comparison of average FPS playing in docked versus handheld configurations:

But unless you‘re hooking your Switch up to a TV, the performance is essentially equal between the two models. The Switch Lite retains full handheld speed.

Why the Performance Is Identical

Essentially, the Switch Lite differs from the standard model only in its form factor. It‘s a dedicated handheld. But Nintendo didn‘t upgrade its internals or switch up the components.

This makes total sense when you consider the Lite is meant as a cheaper alternative for portable-only gaming. Changing the hardware would have increased costs. Nintendo kept internal consistency to easily develop games across both Switch versions.

The Verdict? Mostly Identical Performance

While the Switch Lite sacrifices the docked mode performance and display size of the full Switch, it retains nearly equal portability power. Unless you‘re a competitive gamer who needs every last frame, you aren’t sacrificing speed in handheld gaming.

I hope this detailed breakdown helps explain why you aren‘t getting better performance with the Lite! Let me know if you have any other Switch-related questions. Enjoy your new system!