Considering buying a Switch Lite for my gf, is the controller quality as bad as the regular Switch controllers?

[Yan]

My girlfriend would like to play some soothing games (tips welcome!), she played a lot of candy crush before but that just got more frustrating after a while and the pay to win pop ups are horrendous.
So I 'd like to buy a Switch Lite with Animal Crossing New Horizons as I think that would be perfect. But I know the Switch controller quality is pretty bad with joy con drift and such....
I would really like to know if the Lite controllers are better because I wouldn't like to send the whole system back every few months to get it fixed.

 

[Deleted member 26746]

Sadly more of the same... so consider the original one since at least you can replace the joy-cons in that version if you don't want to open it yourselft or send it to get fixed

 

[Novocaine]

I've found the lite to be better. No flimsy parts and a d pad

 

[manustany]

It's slightly better imo, also there's a true d-pad.

 

[YolkFolk]

No complaints from those I know who have a Lite. I bought one for my niece and she loves it. Doubt your gf would have any complaints sat there playing AC.

 

[Symphony]

The sticks aren't fixed, the only reason there aren't quite as many reports yet is because the system hasn't been out long enough since drift typically occurs anywhere after 9-12 months depending on the amount of use (you also find it occurs to the left stick far sooner than the right) - however there are more than enough reports of ones being either bad out of the box or very quickly developing drift so we know the minor tweak they did to the design didn't fully fix it. And no, constantly spraying contact cleaner into there to stave off the problem a little longer isn't an acceptable solution for such an expensive product.

If you're in the US they'll repair for free, if you're not then tough luck it's counted as misuse and you'll be paying for it. With a regular Switch you can at least either switch out the joycons or use a regular controller instead of sending the whole unit away for repair.

 

[zuf]

I got my gf a Switch Lite with Animal Crossing at launch. No problems yet and she's put 150+ hours into it.

 

[cowbanana]

It's the same dogshit components. Those sticks are already dead.

Nintendo keeps selling this garbage, well aware of how shit it is.

 

[nanskee]

Wtf the switch lite has drifting joysticks? That's a faulty product that shouldn't be on the market. At least with the regular switch you have alternatives.

Nintendo has been pretty garbage this generation when it comes to controllers

 

[Pancakes R Us]

I've bought 3 Lites. One is mine and two for my nieces. No problems so far with any of them. Love the D-pad.

If you're very concerned, get the OG Switch - as someone has pointed out, at least you can replace the Joycons. And if you're in America I think Nintendo fixes them for free?

 

[Yan]

Well, that doesn't sound very promising...
I'm actually pretty disappointed to hear this. Thank you for the replies so far everyone.
I would really like for her to experience a Nintendo quality game, especially after those cellphones games, but it's sad to hear that Nintendo's hardware quality is in stark contrast with it's software quality.

 

[oni-link]

If I get my girlfriend a Switch, and I have one too, can games we buy digitally be played across both systems?

I'm assuming no, but curious anyway

 

[Gay Bowser]

I've put hundreds of hours into mine with no issues. I love how compact and light it is; when I lift a regular Switch it seems so heavy now :D

I also like that it's all one piece, so you get a nice solid-feeling unit instead of one with a little bit of flex and give where the Joy-cons are attached.

 

[LinkStrikesBack]

If I get my girlfriend a Switch, and I have one too, can games we buy digitally be played across both systems?

I'm assuming no, but curious anyway

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Yes but you'll have to set your "primary switch" to hers and her primary switch to yours if you want to be able to play the same digital games on both systems on your own accounts. Also you'll have to always be connected when starting a game that was bought on your account.

 

[Deleted member 69771]

If I get my girlfriend a Switch, and I have one too, can games we buy digitally be played across both systems?

I'm assuming no, but curious anyway

Click to shrink...

yeah they can, but you can't play at the same time and be online.

Well, that doesn't sound very promising...
I'm actually pretty disappointed to hear this. Thank you for the replies so far everyone.
I would really like for her to experience a Nintendo quality game, especially after those cellphones games, but it's sad to hear that Nintendo's hardware quality is in stark contrast with it's software quality.

Click to shrink...

anecdotal, but if she takes care of her system it should be fine. i only got drift on my joy-con this year, and i've had my switch since launch, played thousands of hours too. plus nintendo fixes drift for free if you're in the US.

 

[oni-link]

Yes but you'll have to set your "primary switch" to hers and her primary switch to yours if you want to be able to play the same digital games on both systems on your own accounts. Also you'll have to always be connected when starting a game that was bought on your account.

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yeah they can, but you can't play at the same time and be online.

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I don't think we'd get the online sub, but also probably wouldn't play the same game at the same time

It would just be nice that she would be able to play my games once I was done with them and vice versa, without needing to buy everything twice

So could we both be playing one copy of BOTW, but not both at the same time?

 

[Deleted member 69771]

I don't think we'd get the online sub, but also probably wouldn't play the same game at the same time

It would just be nice that she would be able to play my games once I was done with them and vice versa, without needing to buy everything twice

So could we both be playing one copy of BOTW, but not both at the same time?

Click to shrink...

you could at the same time too, if one of you went into airplane mode/wasn't connected to the internet.

 

[Gay Bowser]

anecdotal, but if she takes care of her system it should be fine. i only got drift on my joy-con this year, and i've had my switch since launch, played thousands of hours too. plus nintendo fixes drift for free if you're in the US.

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Yeah, I think it's worth noting that, despite how places like this make it seem, not everyone experiences drift at all.

I certainly wouldn't let it keep me from buying a Switch as a gift.

 

[Xion_Stellar]

I heard that it's supposed to have the same Joy Con Drift issue but I had the Switch Lite since it launched and I haven't ran into this issue.

 

[zuf]

Well, that doesn't sound very promising...
I'm actually pretty disappointed to hear this. Thank you for the replies so far everyone.
I would really like for her to experience a Nintendo quality game, especially after those cellphones games, but it's sad to hear that Nintendo's hardware quality is in stark contrast with it's software quality.

Click to shrink...

Don't let it put you off. The spectre of stick drift shouldn't prevent someone from having fun playing all of these great games.

 

[LinkStrikesBack]

I don't think we'd get the online sub, but also probably wouldn't play the same game at the same time

It would just be nice that she would be able to play my games once I was done with them and vice versa, without needing to buy everything twice

So could we both be playing one copy of BOTW, but not both at the same time?

Click to shrink...

You could even be playing it both at the same time, think that other person is slightly confused. I definitely played bloodstained ritual of the night at the same time as my sister (each on our own accounts). Iirc there's restrictions on being able to play the same download copy of a game together online, but I've never tried that myself so don't know, perhaps that's what they meant.

To enable being able to play downloaded games on each others accounts on different switches in slightly more detail than I said above.

Step 1: Log in to her switch and via opening the eshop set your account as primary on her switch.
Step 1.5: You'll presumably need to go to the eshop on your existing switch and set it as not primary first. Then when you next open the eshop on any switch, it will set it to primary for that switch. Now any account on her switch can play any game that your account has bought, as long as you have an internet connection. Do vice versa for her account on your switch.

Step 2 (turns out it's only really two steps, lol): As long as your switch is connected to the internet, you can boot any game with your account that you have bought on your switch using your account. You'll also be able to play any game she has bought using her account without an internet connection. Vice versa for her switch.

 

[Deleted member 69771]

You could even be playing it both at the same time, think that other person is slightly confused. I definitely played bloodstained ritual of the night at the same time as my sister (each on our own accounts). Iirc there's restrictions on being able to play the same download copy of a game together online, but I've never tried that myself so don't know, perhaps that's what they meant.

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Oh, I was talking about playing on the same account, if they're playing on different accounts there's no problem.

 

[cowbanana]

I certainly wouldn't let it keep me from buying a Switch as a gift.

Click to shrink...

Three drifting sticks say I wouldn't gift this shit to anyone. Nintendo needs to fix their shitty hardware.

 

[Atheerios]

I don't think we'd get the online sub, but also probably wouldn't play the same game at the same time

It would just be nice that she would be able to play my games once I was done with them and vice versa, without needing to buy everything twice

So could we both be playing one copy of BOTW, but not both at the same time?

Click to shrink...

You actually can play at the same time with 2 people.

In your primary console, use another profile, not the one that bought the game.

On the secondary console use the profile that bought the game.

 

[oni-link]

Oh, I was talking about playing on the same account, if they're playing on different accounts there's no problem.

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So if we both have a Switch, and our own accounts, one can buy a game on one account and the other can also play that game on their account?

Sorry if I'm making this confusing

 

[Deleted member 69771]

So if we both have a Switch, and our own accounts, one can buy a game on one account and the other can also play that came on their account?

Sorry if I'm making this confusing

Click to shrink...

Yeah, that's how it works. Just make sure that, for example, if you want her to play your games make her Switch the primary one for your account. Switch consoles can be registered as primary/secondary for any Nintendo account, consoles that are primary let every account on the console play the games while secondary consoles only allow the account holder to play their own games, afaik.

 

[Yan]

Nintendo only does free repairs in the US? I'm from Europe, but doesn't faulty controllers fall under warranty?

 

[cowbanana]

Nintendo only does free repairs in the US? I'm from Europe, but doesn't faulty controllers fall under warranty?

Click to shrink...

They do, but after that period you're sitting on a time bomb with a product known to fail a lot. Nintendo service is also shit, I had to send a joy-con in twice to have it repaired. First they wouldn't acknowledge the drift even though it was severe and the second time they wouldn't acknowledge the problem either but repaired it on "suspicion". The repair lasted 5 months before the stick shit the bed again.

 

[Imitatio]

Nintendo only does free repairs in the US? I'm from Europe, but doesn't faulty controllers fall under warranty?

Click to shrink...

I've sent in my first pair of Joy Cons under warranty and got the left one fixed free of charge. It should be fine.
As soon as you're out of warranty, though, is where it could become more tricky. But that's 24 months later, so I wouldn't worry about it too much just now.

 

[.exe]

Between the sticks and the d-pad issues, maybe a regular Switch is a better option.

 

[EduBRK]

There's multiple occurrences of dpad's not registering diagonals an analog drifiting.

A normal Switch would be a safer choice as if a Joycon drifts out of warranty you just buy another.

I have two friends with dpad issues in multiple Lites, they've returned and just got the normal Switch and a Hori dpad joycon.

 

[dunkzilla]

It will fail at some point, yes. I was tempted to get one at one point as a secondary for the house but I thought better because of the stick drift.

 

[Deleted member 49611]

had one from launch. no issues. no drifting. it's great. but the downside is IF something goes wrong then you're getting a whole new console and you can say goodbye to your Animal Crossing/Pokemon saves and start again

none of my standard joycons have had drifting either. if something did go wrong then they are easily replaceable and you don't need to replace the console itself.

Nintendo only does free repairs in the US? I'm from Europe, but doesn't faulty controllers fall under warranty?

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no, it's not just the US.

i've had to get a joycon repaired (disconnecting left) and didn't cost me a penny. they paid for shipping label/returns too. all i had to do was post it. not sure if you're under warranty.

and yes if your controller is faulty they will replace it. that's obvious, surely? any product that is faulty (not just nintendo) should be fixed, replaced, or get a refund.

 

[Donniewahlberg]

I would say it's great, but I'd also say the joycon quality is great so take from that what you will/ymmv. Two regular switches from launch , two pro controllers and two switch lites with no issues for context.

 

[Obsonet]

Can only speak for myself but I have no problems with my launch system.
That said since there is no way to transfer your animal crossing save if the console breaks your island is gone, although I think they are still planning something so that might change

 

[Dr Pears]

The drifting is a nightmare especially if you live somewhere outside of Nintendo Support.

 

[TrubbleFrog]

As a caveat, I've only had my Lite since March and haven't had any drifting issues yet. That being said, as someone who -does-not-like- holding the normal Switch handheld, this thing feels great. It's more akin to holding a big DS (which doesn't feel to bulky) than a Wii U pad.

 

[Puffy]

Media create sales told me theres nothing to worry about. Buy it

 

[Acidote]

I'll hijack the thread to ask this:

Is there any quality third party joycon with all the features of the og?

 

[Pooroomoo]

I'll hijack the thread to ask this:

Is there any quality third party joycon with all the features of the og?

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No, there are only third party ones with missing features.

 

[Devilgunman]

Buy yourself a can of WD-40 as well. I used it to fix the drift on my joycon, pro controller and XB1X controller. Worked like charm.

 

[Acidote]

No, there are only third party ones with missing features.

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What the hell. Why? "Just like the original but with no drifting". Millions to be made there.

Isn't anybody interested or it's just that Nintendo doesn't allow it?

 

[Link_enfant]

It's slightly better imo, also there's a true d-pad.

Click to shrink...

It hurts to say this but the Switch Lite's d-pad is actually awful for a lot of games, as soon as diagonals are involved in some sort.
It's baffling how they somehow managed to ruin this as it's supposed to be an improvement over Joy Cons.
People always bring back the Pro Controller d-pad's issues (only on some units though, mine is perfectly fine), but this is far worse to me.

 

[Yan]

Thanks for the info. I think a regular Switch is a better option then (sadly more costly too). Losing all savefiles when they replace the broken Lite model is something we'd like to avoid!
Still, how many years old is Switch now? Baffling that Nintendo still can't fix this problem.

 

[Link_enfant]

Thanks for the info. I think a regular Switch is a better option then (sadly more costly too). Losing all savefiles when they replace the broken Lite model is something we'd like to avoid!
Still, how many years old is Switch now? Baffling that Nintendo still can't fix this problem.

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More than 3 years old, yeah it's insane to realize this.
Also consider getting a Pro Controller if you don't have one yet, if any of you plan to play it docked :)

 

[Puffy]

A data wiped switch lite is just an opportunity to experience the games again. Sounds like a pro to me

 

[Deleted member 11175]

Buy yourself a can of WD-40 as well. I used it to fix the drift on my joycon, pro controller and XB1X controller. Worked like charm.

Click to shrink...

WD-40 is ok, but I've found electronic contact cleaner to work even better.

 

[Deleted member 1476]

Yes, and you can't change them so you're doubly fucked.


If you really, really want a switch get the original model.

 

[Yan]

Any recommendations for games without high scores and are just relaxing to play?

 

[Pooroomoo]

More than 3 years old, yeah it's insane to realize this.
Also consider getting a Pro Controller if you don't have one yet, if any of you plan to play it docked :)

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What do you mean by losing all savefiles? If you have NSO you have cloud saves for most games, and if you don't, you can still transfer saves to another Switch before sending it to be fixed should that be necessary.

What the hell. Why? "Just like the original but with no drifting". Millions to be made there.

Isn't anybody interested or it's just that Nintendo doesn't allow it?

Click to shrink...

Don't know, either due to costs or Nintendo won't allow it (imo more probably the former). People like to criticize how expensive the joycons are, but maybe if a third party had to implement everything that a joycon had, it would cost the same or more...