If you’re buying used, Nintendo’s older console still makes plenty of sense.
Nine years after launch, the original Nintendo Switch still has plenty of life left in it. However, whether it’s worth buying in 2026 will largely depend on how much you pay for it.
The standard Switch is currently priced at $339.99, with the Switch OLED at $399.99, while the Switch 2 has been priced at $499.99 since September 1. Console prices aren’t exactly behaving themselves elsewhere either, with Microsoft raising some Xbox models by as much as $150 in August.
That makes a brand-new Switch OLED particularly difficult to recommend. Saving $100 sounds nice until you look at everything that extra money gets you, but used is where things get much more interesting.
Buying new makes the Switch 2 easier to justify
Switch 2 has a growing list of exclusives, but newer games are only part of the argument. It also supports original Switch games, and Nintendo keeps improving that experience.
Buying used changes the equation
Things get really interesting when you look at used models. Pre-owned standard Switch consoles are listed at around $200, and used OLED models are around $250 at GameStop. Now we’re comparing a roughly $200 console to a $500 console. Handheld-only buyers can go cheaper still, with pre-owned Switch Lite systems available for around $170, though the Lite can’t connect to a TV.
And there’s still an absurd amount to play on it. The original Switch has nine years of Nintendo games, third-party releases and indies under its belt, and Nintendo says the eShop, Nintendo Switch Online and other services will continue for the “foreseeable future.” Compatible digital Switch games you already own can be downloaded and played on Switch 2 later.
There’s another minor advantage for physical collectors. Some Switch 2 releases are in the form of game-key cards, which don’t contain the full game data and require a download before playing. The card can still be lent or resold, but a traditional Switch cartridge that contains the entire game is just more charming.
Of course, there is homework with used hardware. When purchasing a standard Switch, look for a serial number beginning with XKW rather than the older XAW. The newer hardware is rated by Nintendo to last 4.5 to nine hours on a charge, while the original revision is rated for 2.5 to 6.5 hours.
You should also test the Joy-Con sticks, the USB-C port, the screen, the dock and charger before handing over any money. iFixit currently rates the original Switch at 4/10 for repairability due to the glued-in battery, soldered USB-C port and lack of official replacement parts or repair instructions.
Nintendo estimates that the battery will maintain about 80 percent of its original capacity after roughly 800 charge cycles.
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