Nintendo Switch facts for kids

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Nintendo Switch

Top: A Nintendo Switch in "Handheld mode", with the Joy-Con attached to the sides of the console Bottom: A Nintendo Switch in "TV mode", with the Joy-Con attached to a grip and the main unit docked
Also known as	NX HAC (Nintendo code names) Odin (Nvidia code name)
Developer	Nintendo PTD
Manufacturer	Foxconn Hosiden
Product family	Nintendo Switch
Type	Video game console
Generation	Eighth / Ninth
Release date	^{March 3, 2017} CHN Other models Lite September 20, 2019 (2019-09-20) OLED model October 8, 2021 (2021-10-08)
Retail availability	2017 (2017)–present
Introductory price	US$299.99 ¥29,980 €329.99 Other models Lite US$199.99 ¥19,980 €229.99 OLED model US$349.99 ¥37,980 €349.99
Units shipped	146.04 million (as of September 30, 2024 (2024 -09-30)^[update]) (details)
Media	Game card Digital distribution
Operating system	Nintendo Switch system software
Power	3.7 V 15.95 Wh (4,310 mAh) Li-ion battery Duration: 2.5–6.5 hours/4.5–9 hours Charger: 7.5 W 5.0 V 1.5 A/39 W 15.0 V 2.6 A Other models Lite 3.8 V 13.6 Wh (3,570 mAh) Li-ion battery Duration: 3–7 hours
System-on-chip used	Nvidia Tegra X1/Tegra X1+
CPU	ARM 4 Cortex-A57 cores @ 1.02 GHz
Memory	4 GB LPDDR4 @ 1,331/1,600 MHz
Storage	32 GB/64 GB eMMC
Removable storage	microSD/HC/XC (up to 2 TB)
Display	Nintendo Switch: 6.2-inch, 1280 × 720 IPS (237 ppi) Nintendo Switch Lite: 5.5-inch, 1280 × 720 IPS (267 ppi) Nintendo Switch OLED: 7-inch, 1280 × 720 OLED (210 ppi) Docked: 480p/720p/1080p via HDMI
Graphics	256 Maxwell-based CUDA cores Undocked: 307 MHz, 236 GFLOPS Docked: 768 MHz, 393 GFLOPS
Sound	Undocked: Linear PCM 2.0 ch stereo speakers (with pseudo-surround) Docked: Linear PCM 5.1 ch
Input	Volume +/−, power buttons
Controller input	Joy-Con Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Others GameCube controller (with adapter) Joy-Con Wheel Special NES controller Special SNES controller Special N64 controller Special Genesis controller Toy-Con USB computer keyboard
Camera	Ambient light sensor
Touchpad	Multi-touch capacitive
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 5 @ 2.4/5 GHz Bluetooth 4.1 1 × USB-C Headphone jack Dock Nintendo Switch 3 × USB 2.0 Nintendo Switch – OLED Model 2 × USB 2.0 1 x Ethernet
Online services	Nintendo eShop Nintendo Switch Online
Dimensions	Nintendo Switch Width: 173 mm (6.8 in) Height: 102 mm (4.0 in) Depth: 14 mm (0.55 in) With Joy-Con attached Width: 238 mm (9.4 in) Height: 102 mm (4.0 in) Depth: 14 mm (0.55 in) Nintendo Switch Lite Width: 208 mm (8.2 in) Height: 91 mm (3.6 in) Depth: 14 mm (0.55 in) Nintendo Switch OLED Width: 176 mm (6.9 in) Height: 102 mm (4.0 in) Depth: 14 mm (0.55 in) With Joy-Con attached Width: 242 mm (9.5 in) Height: 102 mm (4.0 in) Depth: 14 mm (0.55 in)
Weight	Nintendo Switch 297 g (10.5 oz) With Joy-Con attached 398 g (14.0 oz) Nintendo Switch Lite 277 g (9.8 oz) Nintendo Switch OLED 319 g (11.3 oz) With Joy-Con attached 420 g (15 oz)
Best-selling game	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (64.27 million, as of September 30, 2024 (2024 -09-30)^[update]) (list)
Predecessor	Wii U
Successor	Nintendo Switch 2 (upcoming)
Related articles	Nintendo Switch Lite

The Nintendo Switch is a super popular video game console made by Nintendo. It first came out on March 3, 2017, all around the world.

It's Nintendo's best-selling home console ever! It's also the third best-selling game console of all time, right after the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. A new console, the Nintendo Switch 2, is coming in 2025. It will let you play your old Switch games too!

History of the Nintendo Switch
What Makes the Switch Special?
A World of Exciting Games
Nintendo Switch: Impressive Numbers
Images for kids
See also

History of the Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has a long and exciting history. It started way back in 1889 in Kyoto, Japan, making playing cards. They later jumped into the video game world.

Their first big hit was the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985. This brought famous characters like Mario and Donkey Kong into our homes. After that came the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, and Wii U.

The Nintendo Switch arrived in March 2017. It was a big deal because it mixed two types of gaming. You could play it like a handheld device, similar to the Game Boy. But you could also connect it to your TV, like a home console. This "hybrid" design was new and became a huge success!

What Makes the Switch Special?

The Nintendo Switch has a unique design that makes it stand out. It looks like a tablet with a screen. But the controllers, called Joy-Con, can be taken off! You can then play on a TV. You can also play with friends using extra Joy-Cons. This makes multiplayer games super fun.

Joy-Con Controllers: Versatile Fun

The Joy-Con controllers are amazing because they are so flexible. You can hold them like regular controllers. You can also share one with a friend to play together. They can even be used individually for games that use motion controls.

The Dock: Big Screen Gaming

The Dock is a special stand for your Switch. It lets you connect the console to your TV. This means you can easily switch from playing on the small screen to playing on a big screen.

Portability: Game Anywhere

One of the best things about the Switch is that it's portable. You can take it anywhere you go! Play in the car, at a friend's house, or even on vacation. It makes gaming much more convenient and easy.

A World of Exciting Games

The Nintendo Switch has a massive collection of games. There's something for everyone, from action-packed adventures to tricky puzzles. You can also find creative building games.

Here are some of the most popular game series:

These are just a few examples of the many amazing games. You can find racing games, sports games, and games that let your imagination run wild!

Nintendo Switch: Impressive Numbers

The Nintendo Switch has achieved some incredible milestones.

Over 146 Million Consoles Sold: More than 146 million Nintendo Switch consoles have been sold worldwide! This makes it one of the best-selling video game consoles ever.
Thousands of Games: The Nintendo eShop is the online store for Switch games. It has a huge number of titles, and new games are always being added.
Global Success: Millions of people around the world love the Nintendo Switch. It brings together gamers of all ages and backgrounds.

Images for kids

The back of the Nintendo Switch (without the controllers), showing the kickstand, MicroSD slot, charging port, and intake vents. The Joy-Con slotting mechanism is visible on the short side.
Joy-Con on strap
A Nintendo Labo kit simulating a fishing rod and reel
The Nintendo Switch Lite integrates the Joy-Con into the main body.
The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model features a larger OLED display, a metal body and a redesigned kickstand.
The main menu screen of the Switch system software
Nintendo Switch Online logo
The Nintendo Switch's game cartridge
Nintendo sought to avoid the struggles it had with communicating the capabilities of the Switch's predecessor, the Wii U. Some have mistaken the Wii U GamePad (left) as an accessory for the original Wii console rather than a controller for the Wii U.
The Grand Palais in Paris during the Switch media event on January 15, 2017
First-year sales of the Switch (red line), Wii U (green), and PlayStation 4 (blue) in Japan
Nintendo Switch 2 logo
Front of the dock. The Switch console is inserted from the top.
Back of the dock, closed, and with no console inserted. Two USB ports are visible.
Back of the dock, opened. A USB-C AC adapter and HDMI cable must be connected for TV gameplay. There is an additional USB 3.0 port inside.
Top of the dock, a USB-C male port is visible.
The gray Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R) controllers. The inside rails slot onto the side of the main Switch console or grip controller.
A Nintendo Switch (bottom left) next to two gray Joy-Con in the Joy-Con grip (bottom right) and the Nintendo Switch dock (top). The Joy-Con can be separated from the console, as shown here.