If a Nintendo Switch 2 is outside your budget, an original Nintendo Switch can still be a sensible buy—provided its price, games and condition fit your needs. But the headline claim that Nintendo told people who cannot afford Switch 2 to buy “Switch 1” is not verified by the official statements available here. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa did acknowledge that Switch 2 was priced relatively high compared with Switch; he did not, in the cited statement, tell buyers to choose the older system.
What Nintendo actually said about Switch 2’s price
In an official English translation of a February 2025 investor Q&A, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said pricing decisions take inflation, exchange rates and consumers’ expectations for Nintendo product prices into account. At that time, he also said Nintendo had no plans to change Switch hardware prices. That was Nintendo’s position in February 2025, not a guarantee about current prices. Nintendo Life’s reproduction of the translated Q&A
In a May 2025 financial Q&A, Furukawa described Switch 2 as “priced relatively high compared to Nintendo Switch” and said Nintendo recognized the resulting challenges to early adoption. The statement acknowledges the price gap; it does not establish a universal price difference in every country or say that Nintendo recommended buying the original console instead. Nintendo Life’s report on the translated financial Q&A
The reported wording behind the headline—specifically, that people unable to afford Switch 2 should buy the first Switch—cannot be confirmed from these statements. No affordability statistic or estimate of how many consumers cannot afford the newer console is established by them.
#1 Best Overall
- The next evolution of Nintendo Switch
- One system, three play modes: TV, Tabletop, and Handheld
- Larger, vivid, 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR and up to 120 fps
- Dock that supports 4K when connected to a compatible TV*
- GameChat** lets you voice chat, share your game screen, and connect via video chat as you play
When the original Switch makes sense
Consider the original system if its actual local price leaves room in your budget for the games you want, and those games run on it. It can also be a reasonable choice if you mainly want to play an existing Switch library or prefer a model and screen setup that suits you better. Compare the exact models and condition available: the standard Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED are not interchangeable choices for every player.
Make the comparison using the total cost of the setup, not just the console listing. Include any games you need, the condition of a used system and accessories you would have to replace or buy. Local retail prices and stock vary, and the sources cited here do not establish a current price comparison for any particular market.
Rank #2
- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
When Switch 2 is the better fit
Switch 2 is the better fit if the games you most want require it, or if you value the newer system’s hardware and are comfortable paying its current local price. Nintendo says Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital Nintendo Switch games, but warns that some titles may not be supported or fully compatible. Check each game you care about against Nintendo’s compatibility information rather than assuming the entire Switch library works without qualification. Nintendo’s Switch 2 announcement and product information
Nintendo announced Switch 2 for release on June 5, 2025. Its announcement listed 256 GB of internal storage and specified that additional storage requires microSD Express cards. If storage expansion matters to you, factor in that card requirement when comparing the systems. Nintendo’s Switch 2 announcement and product information
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #3
- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001( 01)
Compare the two systems against your priorities
| What matters to you | Original Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase cost | Check the current local price for the exact model and condition. No universal current price advantage is established here. | Check the current local price and availability; no market-specific comparison is established here. |
| Games | Choose it if the games you want are available for the original Switch. | Plays compatible physical and digital Switch games; Nintendo warns that some may not be supported or fully compatible. Check titles individually. |
| Existing Switch library | Plays games made for the original system. | Can carry over value from compatible Switch games, but compatibility is title-specific. |
| Accessories | Uses Switch accessories designed for the original system. | Nintendo says Switch Joy-Con controllers and peripherals such as the Switch Pro Controller can be used wirelessly. |
| Storage | Not stated in the cited Switch 2 announcement. | 256 GB internal storage; additional storage requires a microSD Express card, according to Nintendo’s April 2, 2025 announcement. |
| How long it suits you | Depends on whether the games and features you want remain available for this system. | May be the more suitable choice if you want Switch 2 games or the newer hardware; your priorities determine whether the added cost is worthwhile. |
A practical way to decide
- List your must-play games. Note which are available on Switch and which require Switch 2. For Switch games you want to play on Switch 2, check Nintendo’s title-specific compatibility details.
- Compare local total costs. Check the exact model, condition, included accessories and availability. Add the games and any required storage you expect to buy.
- Account for what you already own. A Switch library or compatible accessories may change the value of upgrading, but do not assume every game or accessory will work identically on Switch 2.
- Choose based on the next few years of play. If the original console covers your game list at a comfortable cost, it can be a reasonable purchase. If your priority titles require Switch 2, buying the older system may only postpone the newer purchase.
What Nintendo’s sales figures do—and don’t—tell you
Nintendo reported that Switch 2 hardware sales reached 19.86 million units through the fiscal year ended March 2026. It forecast 16.5 million units for the fiscal year ending March 2027; that is a company forecast, not a reported result. Nintendo also said interest in Switch and backward compatibility helped the transition. These are Nintendo’s figures and explanation, not evidence that every Switch game works on Switch 2 or that either console is affordable for a particular buyer. Nintendo hardware and software sales data
Earlier, Nintendo reported more than 10 million Switch 2 units sold by the end of September 2025, while the original Switch installed base was above 150 million. Those dated company figures show the scale of the older system’s audience at that point; they do not tell you which system offers better value for your game list today. Nintendo hardware and software sales data
Quick Recap
Best Value
- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
