The successor of the Nintendo Switch is already expected to arrive in March 2025, which means that it won't be long before the current-gen handheld will be an old model. However, that doesn't mean that it will be outdated. Here are the pros and cons of buying it to help you with your decision.
Pros:
1. You will likely still have access to newer games. Even after the Switch 2, or whatever Nintendo will call it, is released, it's likely that the company will still release game versions that are compatible with the older version. Of course, there might be titles that can't run in the 1st-generation switch anymore.
2. Depending on where you purchase them, it might be cheaper. Prices for older models usually go down when the latest model is launched. Sometimes it's for the company to sell the remaining stocks, or because people are more inclined to purchase the newer release and the cheaper price is meant to encourage buyers to stil get the older model.
3. There are already readily available accessories. Since the handheld console has been around for years, there are already countless accessories you can buy for it. Some are from the company that manufactures it while others are from third-party vendors. Either way, it won't be difficult to find what you might need.
4. You don't have to wait for the upcoming model. Despite the rumors saying that the Switch 2 is coming this March 2025, they are no more than rumors. It's possible that Nintendo would release it later than that. If you already want to play exclusive games now, you have a few months to make the most of the console before the new model is released.
Read Also : Nintendo Switch Releases Its 18.0.1 Update
Cons:
1. It still has unaddressed issues. In case you don't know, many Nintendo Switch owners have brought up the problem that comes with its Joy-Con controllers, particularly its stick drift issues. It can't be known yet whether Nintendo will fix this with the Switch 2, but you might as well just wait to see if the successor will fare better in this regard.
2. It'll get outdated much earlier. Just like all other consoles, they tend to gradually stop releasing updates and offering repairs to older models and put the company's resources to the current-generation consoles. This means that your console will have a shorter lifespan, considering that the Switch is already more than seven years old.
3. Newer games will eventually be exclusive to the Switch 2. Nintendo won't abandon the Switch immediately and will probably still release games with compatible versions to the current-gen, but as years go by, the company and other studios will do that less and less, and you might have to buy the Switch 2 anyway to play newer games.
4. It still has a smaller library compared to other handhelds. The Switch's game catalog has fewer titles, partly because the hardware is not capable of running heavier games. The upcoming model might have better specs, but nothing is certain for now. If you want more variety, you might be better off buying a Steam Deck or other handhelds in the market.
