Our verdict
The original Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console: you can play it on a TV or lift it out and use it as a handheld. Two detachable Joy-Con controllers come in the box, and TechRadar praised their HD Rumble, a finer, more detailed vibration than a basic buzz. The screen is HD 720p, a modest resolution that is now some way behind newer consoles. The bigger catch is only 32GB of built-in storage, which downloaded games fill quickly. A microSD card slot adds more; TechRadar says cards up to 2TB are theoretically supported. On 1 August 2026 the UK price we recorded was £259 for the 32GB console. Games, subscriptions and cards are extra.
Buy it if
- You want one console for the TV and for playing away from it
- You want two controllers in the box for playing with someone else
- You will add a microSD card and are happy with the total cost
Skip it if
- You want the sharpest picture or the most powerful hardware
- You do not want to buy extra storage for downloaded games
- A newer or cheaper option turns out better after you compare like for like
How it would fit your home
Family play on the sofa
Each Joy-Con works as a controller, and two come in the box. You can share the console without buying anything else first.
Playing away from the TV
Undock it for a journey or another room. Remember the 720p screen and the limited 32GB storage: plan on a microSD card if you download games.
Weighing the cost
At £259 the console is only part of the bill. Add games, any subscription and a card before comparing it with other consoles.
The details, in plain English
Hybrid design and controllers
The Switch's main idea is that one console works both docked to a TV and as a handheld. The Joy-Con are detachable controllers: each has analogue sticks, buttons and shoulder buttons, and two come included. TechRadar liked the HD Rumble but disliked two details: the left controller has a split D-pad (four separate buttons rather than one cross), and the right stick sits awkwardly under the face buttons. Joy-Con also charge only on the console.
Screen and picture
The screen is HD 720p, which means 1,280 by 720 pixels. TechRadar called the display bright, crisp and colourful, which suits play in a bedroom or on a journey. It is a lower resolution than newer consoles, so if you mostly play on a large TV and care about sharp detail, another console may suit you better.
Storage
The 32GB of internal storage is the main practical limit. A few large downloaded games can fill it. The microSD slot lets you add a card, and TechRadar says capacities up to 2TB are theoretically supported. Budget for one if you buy games digitally, and check the card type the manufacturer recommends before you buy.
Ownership cost
Our recorded price of £259 is for the 32GB hybrid console only. A storage card, extra games and any online subscription increase the true cost of owning it. Prices can move, so confirm the exact version, what is in the box and the final basket total at the retailer before you buy.
Strengths and drawbacks
What it does well
- Hybrid design: play on a TV or take it out and play as a handheld
- Two Joy-Con controllers included, with HD Rumble for finer vibration
- microSD slot for extra storage, up to 2TB in theory according to TechRadar
- A bright, crisp, colourful screen, according to TechRadar
What to watch out for
- Only 32GB of built-in storage, which downloaded games fill quickly
- HD 720p is a modest resolution beside newer consoles
- The Joy-Con charge only when attached to the console
- Split D-pad on the left Joy-Con and an oddly placed right analogue stick, TechRadar found
- Games, subscriptions and extra storage all add to the real cost
The Switch has an unusual place: it is older and less powerful than most rivals, but it is the console built around playing both on a TV and away from it. Weigh that flexibility against its age, 32GB storage and the extras you will need.
Make the Nintendo Switch easier to live with
Add-ons that answer a drawback we named above. Check compatibility with your exact model before buying.
Solves: only 32GB of built-in storage, which downloaded games fill quickly
SanDisk Nintendo-licensed microSDXC 128GB, SDSQXAO-128G-GNCZN Not yet reviewed by us
Adds game-download space to the original Switch family; compare its total cost with a console that already has more storage.
Check first: For original Switch family game storage. Do not substitute it for the microSD Express requirement of Switch 2.
Alternatives we have reviewed
| Product | Our verdict | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Nintendo Switch (this one) | A flexible TV-and-handheld console for people who want Nintendo's approach, provided you will pay for extra storage and accept older hardware. | £259.99RRP · 32GB hybrid console, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Nintendo Switch OLED | A good buy if you play mostly in handheld mode and want a 7-inch OLED screen with deeper blacks and richer colour. | £309.99RRP · 64GB hybrid console, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Nintendo Switch Lite | A good-value handheld for someone who will only ever play on the go or on the sofa, as long as TV play and detachable controllers do not matter. | £199.99RRP · 32GB handheld, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
 Nintendo Switch 2 | Nintendo's best current console for anyone who mainly plays on a TV or near a charger. | £419.99RRP · console only, RRP recorded 12 Oct 2026 | Check price |
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Where our findings come from
Research-based review. Specifications and comments quoted here come from TechRadar's Nintendo Switch review; we have not tested this console ourselves.