If you can, it’s a good idea to wait for a holiday sale as that’s when you’ll find the best deals. You’ll want to ensure you’re getting the New Nintendo Switch model (2019) with improved battery life. Look for predominantly red packaging on the console box.
Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Nintendo Switch consoles are selling out very quickly. There isn’t much inventory to be had, let alone discounts. Near the bottom of this post, you’ll find links to various retailers’ Nintendo Switch pages. Check them often for your best chances at finding a Nintendo Switch online. Beware of price-gouging; don’t pay more than you should. If you can be patient, the consoles will come back in stock eventually. You can also use a service like Zoolert to get alerts for when it’s back in stock.
Nintendo Switch Lite Deals
The Nintendo Switch Lite typically costs $199, but the games are usually priced the same as its bigger brother. This console doesn’t have removable Joy-Con controllers and it can’t be docked, but it does come in your choice of Turquoise, Yellow, or Gray. It plays the same games you’d find on the Nintendo Switch, but if a title requires Joy-Cons, some finagling may be required. You can read more about the differences here. Nintendo Switch Lite consoles are also facing ongoing stock shortages due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but they’re in stock more often. We’ve linked to the places we could find them in stock below.
Retailer Deal Pages
These are the deals pages for a few major retailers that sell the Switch, in case you’re hunting for something more specific. You can also often find secondhand units on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. We have a guide to shopping safe on eBay that you should check out before purchasing from a private seller.
Refurbished Switches From Nintendo
We don’t always recommend refurbished units, but Nintendo has a good track record with refurbished goods, and a couple of us on the WIRED team have purchased refurbished consoles from Nintendo in the past. These all come with a 1-year warranty just like you’d get with a new Switch from the factory. It’s not a huge discount, but if every dollar counts, it’s a way of saving a few bucks. Nintendo’s stock is currently sold out, but you can enter your email to be notified when inventory is replenished.
