Here’s where you can buy a Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch was, like most consoles during the pandemic, once in short supply. Thankfully, retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart now routinely stock the Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and upgraded Switch OLED model in multiple color configurations, giving those who have continually struck out ample opportunity to purchase Nintendo’s incredibly popular handheld console.

If you’re not sure where you can pick up a Switch as of right now, we’ve vetted stock and rounded up where you can purchase the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite, and the Nintendo Switch OLED model both online and in-store. We’ve also scoured the web for any bundle that seems like a good deal, as well as discounts that might be applicable.

Where can I buy a Nintendo Switch right now?

• If you’re looking to pick up the standalone console with red and blue Joy-Cons, you can currently do so for $299.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Adorama, and Nintendo. The model with the gray Joy-Cons is not as widely available, but can still be purchased for the same price at Best Buy, Walmart, and Nintendo.
• The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Edition of the Nintendo Switch is also available for purchase at Amazon, GameStop, Best Buy, and Nintendo for around $299, its usual retail price. Keep in mind this is a special colorway for the system and Joy-Cons, but it does not include a copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
• If you’re not against buying a preowned or refurbished console, you’ll want to check out GameStop and Nintendo’s online store, where you can often find deals on refurbished Switch consoles. Right now, for instance, GameStop is selling refurbished models of the standard Switch and Switch OLED starting at $259.99 and $339.99, respectively.

Where can I buy a Nintendo Switch Lite right now?

The Nintendo Switch Lite has a lot in common with the standard Switch, aside from a few key differences. The Lite only functions as a handheld console — meaning you can’t hook it up to your TV — and it’s smaller, lighter, and sturdier than its dockable counterpart. Its screen clocks in at 5.5-inches, it features a proper D-pad, and can play all the same games as the regular Switch, except those that require detachable Joy-Con controllers (which are very few). Regardless, it’s a great handheld for those who prefer to game on the go.

Many retailers carry the Nintendo Switch Lite as a standalone console, though, the available color selection varies by retailer. Best Buy, and Nintendo currently have the best selection, with each offering the Switch Lite in coral, turquoise, and blue for around $199. Other retailers — including Adorama, Target, and Walmart — also have the Switch Lite in stock, but with a more limited color selection. The gray model is a bit harder to come by, but you can currently find the yellow colorway at Nintendo.

Nintendo

Where can I buy a Nintendo Switch OLED model right now?

The Nintendo Switch OLED officially went on sale in October for $349.99, and offers a slew of improvements, most notably a vibrant 7-inch OLED display, 64GB of internal storage, and an improved kickstand that offers greater stability. The speakers get a bit louder and offer a touch more clarity, too, and there’s now a wired ethernet port built directly into the dock.

While the supply has mostly caught up to demand, the Switch OLED model can still go out of stock. Luckily, both color configurations are available at several retailers at the moment.

• Right now, you can pick up the OLED model with white Joy-Cons from Target, Nintendo, and Best Buy for $349.99, its standard retail price. The model with red and blue Joy-Cons is also available from Best Buy and Amazon (with delayed shipping) for the same price, if you’re keen on picking up the more colorful configuration.
• If you’re looking for a bundle, Best Buy is selling both the white model — as well as the red and blue configuration — bundled with Metroid Dead for $409.98, which is the same price you’d pay if you were to purchase the items individually. The retailer is also selling a similar Metroid Dread bundle that contains the console in white or red and blue, as well as a Switch carrying case and screen protector, for $429.97. Read our Metroid Dread review.

What accessories do I need to buy for the Nintendo Switch?

Frankly, the Switch comes with everything that you need to get started and have fun. However, a few extra purchases can help you get a little more out of your console, and in some cases, help it weather the wear and tear that it’ll undoubtedly endure.

First off, a microSD card will help you extend your Switch’s default storage capacity, especially given each game ranges in download size from 1GB to tens of gigabytes. At Amazon, a 400GB microSD card will currently set you back $43.85, which is 37 percent off the typical price retail price. SanDisk’s microSD cards are also on sale in other size configurations, including a 200GB model for $26.99 ($8 off), which is still large enough that you should have little trouble storing several titles.

Let’s talk quickly about controllers. The Switch Joy-Cons have a somewhat unconventional look. Nevertheless, the Pro Controller is a great alternative for playing most Switch games, though some Mario Party titles require the Joy-Cons to play. If you are looking for a Switch Pro Controller, Amazon has discounted the controller to $54.99. If you prefer a different retailer, Best Buy and Target are both selling the controller at the MSRP ($69.99).

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Next up, get a tempered glass screen cover. The display on the Switch and Switch Lite is covered in plastic, and it’s just asking to get scratched as soon as you take it out of the box. Fortunately, you can save the heartbreak by getting an affordable, easy-to-apply glass cover at Amazon. Right now, for example, you can pick up two SuperShieldz screen protectors for $7.99, which is far cheaper than replacing a broken display.

If you want to play online with friends, ensure your data is backed up to the cloud, and get access to a slate of on-demand games from the original Nintendo console and SNES console era, you’ll want to get a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. It’s $19.99 a year for a single user on a console or $34.99 a year for up to eight users on different consoles.

For those looking for more retro gaming, Nintendo introduced the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription tier in October, which provides access to classic Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games — as well as the DLC for Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — for an annual fee. An individual subscription will run you $49.99 a year, while a shared family plan will cost you $79.99 a year. The list of available games is continually growing, but it includes the likes of Golden Axe, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and a host of other popular titles from the heyday of both consoles.