The coronavirus pandemic has caused a massive shortage of Nintendo Switch, as well as Nintendo Switch Lite. There are several reasons for this. First, supply chain challenges hampering console production, and second, the massive increase in demand for the console due to the popularity of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It's been a while since the shortage started, and while the situation has improved a bit, many gamers are still struggling to get a console for themselves.
While some retailers have the console, the price is much higher than the regular price. For example, the $ 200 Nintendo Switch Lite sells for over $ 300, while the Nintendo Switch, which normally sells for $ 299, goes all the way up to $ 500, too, the Basic Edition. Considering the current scenario, the premium for getting the console is way too much. However, for people looking to get the console, there is good news as Nintendo has confirmed that production issues will likely be resolved very soon. In a shareholders' meeting, Nintendo chairman Shuntaro Furukawa said, “We might not be able to manufacture (Switch) as planned until May, but production has largely recovered since June. We expect it to normalize around the summer. This means that the shortage is pretty much temporary and prices are expected to return to normal in the coming weeks.
For those who can't wait for prices to normalize, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a decent-priced buy. It might not have the bells and whistles of the Nintendo Switch, but it's still a pretty solid console on its own. With the only downside of not being able to play on your TV, you'll end up saving almost $ 200, at current prices, so that's pretty much worth it. Since new stocks at standard prices are running out pretty quickly, buying a Nintendo Switch Lite seems like the best deal right now.