Nintendo Switch facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
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 video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. It is Nintendo's best-selling home console and the third-best-selling game console of all time, behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. Its successor, the Nintendo Switch 2, which will be backward compatible with Switch games, is scheduled for release in 2025.

History
What makes the switch so special?
A world of games
Numbers that wow
Technical specifications
Images for kids
See also

History

The Nintendo Switch wasn't the first console Nintendo made – far from it! Nintendo has a long and exciting history, starting way back in 1889 as a playing card company in Kyoto, Japan. They made their way into the video game world with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985, bringing iconic characters like Mario and Donkey Kong into our living rooms. They followed up with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, and finally, the Nintendo Switch in March 2017.

The Switch was a big deal because it combined the best of both worlds: a handheld gaming experience like the Game Boy and a home console experience like the Wii. This "hybrid" design was something completely new, and it became a huge success.

What makes the switch so special?

The Switch's unique design is what sets it apart. It's a tablet-like console with a screen, but you can also detach the controllers (called Joy-Con) and play on a TV! You can also play with friends using multiple sets of Joy-Cons, making multiplayer gaming a blast.

The Joy-Cons: These detachable controllers are incredibly versatile. You can hold them like traditional controllers, share them with a friend to play together, or use them in unique ways, like individually to play motion-controlled games.

The Dock: This is the special stand that lets you connect your Switch to a TV. It’s how you transition from handheld to big-screen gaming.

Portability: This is a major advantage! You can take your Switch anywhere – on a car ride, to a friend's house, or even on vacation. It makes gaming so much more convenient.

A world of games

The Nintendo Switch has a huge library of games. From action-packed adventures to puzzle-solving challenges and creative building games, there’s something for everyone. Here are some of the most popular franchises:

These are just a few examples! There are countless other incredible games available on the Nintendo Switch, from racing games and sports titles to creative games that let you unleash your imagination.

Numbers that wow

Over 100 million: That's how many Nintendo Switch consoles have been sold worldwide! This makes it one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time.

Thousands of games: The Nintendo eShop (the online store for Switch games) boasts a huge number of titles, constantly growing with new releases.

Global phenomenon: The Nintendo Switch is loved by millions of people around the world, uniting gamers of all ages and backgrounds.

Technical specifications

Technical specifications of Nintendo Switch
System-on-chip	Name		Nvidia Tegra X1 Nvidia Tegra X1+
System-on-chip	Process		20 nm 16 nm
CPU	Type		Quad-core ARM Cortex-A57 Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 (disabled)
	ISA		ARMv8-A
	Clock rate		1020–1785 MHz
	Cache	L1	A57: 48 kB + 32 kB per core A53: 32 kB + 32 kB per core
	Cache	L2	A57: 2 MB A53: 512 kB
GPU	Type		Nvidia GM20B Maxwell-based
	Clock rate		307.2–768 MHz
	Stream processors		256 (157–393 GFLOPS)
	TMUs		16 (4.9–12.3 GTexel/s)
	ROPs		16 (4.9–12.3 GPixel/s)
	Compute units		2
Memory	Total		4 GB LPDDR4/LPDDR4X SDRAM
	Clock rate		1331.2–1600 MHz
	Bandwidth		21.3–25.6 GB/s
Storage	Main	Type	eMMC NAND flash memory
	Main	Capacity	Base model: 32 GB OLED model: 64 GB
	Removable	Type	microSD/HC/XC
	Removable	Capacity	Up to 2 TB
Media	Name		Nintendo Switch game card
Media	Capacity		1–32 GB
Display	Main	Type	Base model: LCD screen OLED model: OLED screen
		Size	Base model: 6.2-inch Lite model: 5.5-inch OLED model: 7-inch
		Resolution	Base model: 720p (237 ppi) Lite model: 720p (267 ppi) OLED model: 720p (210 ppi)
	External	Interface	Dock: HDMI 1.4b Dock with LAN port: HDMI 2.0
	External	Resolution	1080p, 720p, or 480p

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.