By participating in fun games, Nintendo Switch can help you lighten the mood or get over the Monday blues. The handheld video game console is all the rage among gamers because of its amazing ability to offer stunning live graphics while playing the part of an excellent home console. It can only claim to live up to some people’s tastes despite being such a cool game console. Others might not like the split D-pad, and others might think the right analog stick is placed strangely. And if you still need to figure out the Nintendo Switch or want to find something cheaper or more fun, this list of the best Nintendo Switch alternatives of 2023 has everything you need.
Best Nintendo Switch Alternatives in 2023
Though Switch is way ahead of the pack in many aspects, there are quite a few rivals that can give the video game console a run for its money. So, whether you are hunting for an elegant handheld console or itching for handsome consoles, you have got multiple options to put your hands on.
Oh yes, there are also quite a few players designed to take your gaming to the all-new level. So, let’s dive right in (along with me) to explore the best Nintendo Switch alternatives.
Best Nintendo Switch Alternatives for Handheld Gaming
1. Nintendo Switch Lite
Many foes can give the video game console a run for its money, even though Switch is far ahead of the pack in many ways. So, whether you’re looking for a stylish or beautiful handheld console, you have several choices to put your hands on.
Oh, and there are a lot of players designed to take your gaming to a whole new level. Let’s start immediately (with me) to look at the best options for the Nintendo Switch.
Besides that, it comes with a control pad that looks like a D-pad and can help you master your games with ease. By matching it with a very useful device, you can fill the hole left by not being designed for tabletop experience.
It can run for up to seven hours on a single charge for the Nintendo Switch handheld. You can also choose from three different colors: yellow, gray, and teal. In times of price, it costs $199, which is $100 smaller than the original console.
The Nintendo Switch Lite is one of the best handheld gaming strategies you can buy to play games without a connection.
Buy From Amazon: $199
2. Nintendo 3DS XL
Nintendo’s 3DS XL is considered one of the best handheld game consoles. The gaming console is right on the money in many ways, so that’s understandable. Also, like the brand-new Switch Lite, it looks pretty light and fits well in your hands. This means you can play your favorite games for hours on end.
The 3DS XL comes with a C stick that makes controlling it much better. Its status as one of the cheaper options for the Nintendo Switch is further enhanced by its built-in amiibo and NFC support. You can also play all of the Nintendo 3DS games on this handheld. It also has family settings, so you can keep kids under six from using the 3D mode.
Finally, the 3DS XL has a battery life of up to 3.5 to 6.5 hours, which is alright compared to the new Nintendo Switch, which has a battery life of 4.5 to 9 hours. It’s one of the cheapest Nintendo Switch options that works well.
Buy From Amazon: Around $150
3. LYRA | Handheld Game Console
This handheld gaming console is great for people who like to play old-school games. “LYRA” is the name of this gaming console, which claims to put the past of games in your hands.
In essence, this handheld console will be able to mimic all of the consoles from the classic age, allowing you to play games that were made for those consoles. Because a Raspberry Pi CM3L powers it, LYRA can do more than play games. It can also be your computer and video system.
The LYRA handheld console is powered by the Broadcom BCM2837B0, Cortex-A53 (ARMv8) 64-bit SoC, which is a 1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core engine. With 1GB of RAM and an 800×480 TFT LCD screen, it will be ready to use right away.
You can see that LYRA isn’t very powerful, but it’s fine for playing the games that it supports. The LYRA project is now on Kickstarter, which has raised much money. This is why we hope it will be on the market soon. You can get this console for 30% less if you order it ahead of time.
Buy from Kickstarter: £149
4. Google Stadia / xCloud
It might be fun to get a computer gaming service. “Google Stadia” and xCloud Gaming have your back if you want to make your gaming experience more exciting by streaming video games up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (35Mbps for full 4K HDR/60fps). The ability to play high-quality games without buying expensive gaming tools makes this gaming service stand out to me.
Yes, you did hear that, right? For some video games, you only need a browser tab to play. You don’t even need to load the game. Talking about Google Stadia, what makes it a console is its cloud computing power, which is 10.7 GPU teraflops, which is more than the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X combined! It will be a huge game-changer.
The service will work on PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones (at first, only Pixel phones), and Google‘s data centers will power it. Plus, buying a game console doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Google Stadia’s processing is done “in the cloud,” which differs from Microsoft’s Xbox, Sony’s PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Remember that it will set you back $9.99 per month.
You can also use Microsoft‘s xCloud Gaming, a good cloud gaming tool. It lets you watch high-end games without any gear, just like Stadia. But it’s still in beta and only works on Android phones and tablets. There have been problems with the iOS app; we are still determining when it will be available on PCs and Macs.
This means that Google Stadia is currently the best choice for cloud gaming.
5. iPad
I know, most of you didn’t see that one coming, did you? The iPad is, without a doubt, the best tablet out there. Apple’s tablet is very fast, thanks to its A-Series Bionic chip. The iPad can easily adapt to your preferences, whether you like fast-paced online games or games that make you feel like you’re on a long car ride.
Since iOS 13 (iPadOS 13) came out, the tablet can also use PS4 and Xbox controls. And if you pay for Apple Arcade monthly, you can play hundreds of paid games whenever you want.
So, if you want to get one of the best Switch alternatives that is also very powerful and lets you play many games in style, the iPad is a great choice.
The best thing about the iPad Pro is that it can be used for many things, so you don’t have to carry around many different gadgets. You can play games, check your email, watch Netflix and YouTube on your iPad Pro, and do much more. Switch doesn’t let you do these things. At this point, the iPad Pro is the best Nintendo Switch option that you can buy if you don’t want to play AAA games like Zelda or Doom.
Buy From Amazon: Starts at $329
Best Nintendo Switch Alternative Consoles
1. Xbox One S
The type of video game console called “Xbox” always makes us happy. Since I first played with this console a few years ago, it has continued to meet my needs. The best thing about it is that it lets you customize your gaming experience, making it a strong rival to Nintendo Switch. You can get the most out of your games with the great images and high dynamic range.
It also has cloud storage, just like Switch, so all your games and saves are safe and easy to return whenever you want. You can get the Xbox Game Pass for $9.99 a month to enjoy many great games and improve your gaming experience.
While you can use this program for more than just games. You can even use it to watch Netflix and other sites that offer 4K video. It also has a built-in 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player that lets you watch movies with amazing clarity.
In terms of console gaming, everyone knows that the Nintendo Switch is the best of both worlds, but it needs to be more powerful to give you a 4K full gaming experience. One of the best choices for the Nintendo Switch you can buy right now if you want to enjoy gaming at its best is the Xbox One S.
Buy From Microsoft: $299 (1TB)
2. Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series X can make a good case for itself as a reliable Nintendo Switch option if strong power is what you’re after. The video game console has much faster start times, so games run a lot faster. So, whether you like killing your opponents in a thrilling racing game or an intense death match to be the last one left, a video game console can enhance your experience with fast-paced gaming.
It can easily handle high-octane games thanks to the 12 teraflops of processing power provided by the system on a chip (SOC) and AMD’s Zen 2 and RDNA 2 designs. With the ability to offer stunning pictures at up to 120 frames per second, this video game console looks like it will be very tough to beat.
Another feature that makes the Xbox Series X a better alternative to the Nintendo Switch is DirectX ray tracing, which is crucial in providing high-quality lighting and correct shadows to create a realistic gaming experience during live gameplay. The 3D spatial sound greatly enhances gaming and is one of my top picks.
The Xbox Series X, which costs $500, is also not too expensive, which makes it a good alternative to the Nintendo Switch.
Buy From Microsoft: $499.99
3. PlayStation 4 Pro / Slim
I assume you’ve been waiting for the PS4 to appear on this list finally. It has been one of the world’s best-selling game consoles for a long time. As a result, it should be recognized as a notable alternative to Nintendo Switch. When it comes to getting the desired crispness out of games, the PS4 is a light year ahead of its competitors.
With this console at your disposal, you can play 21 classy games, including the wildly famous Starfox 2 that was all the rage in the 1990s. Some of that time’s most exciting two-player games are also in the set. These include Super Mario Kart and Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting.
One of my favorite things about this console is the new test mode that plays back the saved stop points. It also supports the Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro add-ons to enhance gaming.
Buy From Amazon/Sony: $399.99 – PS4 Pro / $299.99– PS4 Slim (1TB)
4. PS5
Xbox Series X says it has more power than any other video game console on the call, but PS5 is just a little behind. Sony’s most recent offering is in the top tier in terms of both raw power and speed. So, if you’re hunting for a game like the Nintendo Switch that can do most of the things you want, keep an eye on it.
With its high-end SSD, the video game console loads games faster than any other device. Its unique CPU, GPU, SSD, and I/O allow for fast-paced live gaming.
Additionally, the incredibly useful haptic feedback, adjustable triggers, and 3D sounds make it fully prepared to offer a fantastic gaming experience. To make shadows and effects that look like they do in real life, ray tracing simulates each light ray separately.
Notably, the PS5 supports 8K output, allowing you to play games on a TV with a quality of 4320p. Additionally, it supports a live 120Hz output on 4K screens and has a high frame rate of up to 120FPS.
Given its high-end specs, PS5 should be considered one of the best Nintendo Switch options in 2020.
Buy From Sony: $499.99
5. Super NES Classic
Are you looking for something other than the Nintendo Switch that lets you play old games? If so, the Super NES Classic is the best choice for you. The console looks like the home consoles that were popular in the 1990s, and it can be a great choice if you want to play old games again.
With this console at your disposal, you can play 21 classy games, including the wildly famous Starfox 2 that was all the rage in the 1990s. Some of that time’s most exciting two-player games are also in the set. These include Super Mario Kart and Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting.
One of my favorite things about this console is the new test mode that plays back the saved stop points. It also supports the Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro add-ons to enhance gaming.
Buy From Amazon: Around $180
Frequently Asked Questions
What is comparable to the Nintendo Switch?
Nintendo Switch is comparable to a number of other video game consoles. For example, the Switch Lite and LYRA are excellent handheld gaming devices. The Xbox Series X and PS5 are also great consoles that can be used instead.
What is the cheapest Nintendo Switch?
Despite the $300 price tag, you can get a Nintendo Switch for about $250 if you take advantage of the special offers.
Is Nintendo replacing the Switch?
According to several theories, Nintendo is preparing to launch a more powerful version of the main Switch. It’s called Switch 2 or Switch Pro. The launch is said to happen in 2021.
Can I buy Switch games without a Switch?
Both yes and no. You can buy the games from Nintendo’s online store or from a place that sells game disks. You won’t be able to play them without the Switch or Switch Lite, though.
Which is better Nintendo Switch or Lite?
Switch is the better choice if you want top-notch efficiency. The Lite, on the other hand, is the best option if you want a lightweight and portable gaming experience.
Pick Out the Best Nintendo Switch Alternatives
That’s all I have to say about the top alternatives to the Nintendo Switch. Of course, none of the above rivals can compete neck and neck with Nintendo’s video game console; they have most of the features necessary to light up your gaming experience significantly. Let me know your thoughts about my choices and those ready to rock your gaming spree!