The Nintendo Switch is a tablet that connects to a TV and splits into two controllers

The Nintendo Switch is a single device that works three different ways. At its core, it is a tablet with a screen, a processor, and a battery. When you want to play on your TV, you slide the tablet into a dock that connects to your television — the screen on the tablet turns off and the image appears on your TV instead. When you want to play handheld, you pull the tablet out of the dock, attach two controllers called Joy-Cons to the sides, and play on the tablet's screen. When you want to play in tabletop mode, you prop the tablet up with its kickstand and detach the Joy-Cons so two people can hold one controller each.

This flexibility is the Switch's main feature. You are not buying a home console or a handheld device — you are buying one device that becomes either one depending on what you need. The tablet itself never changes. Only how you connect it to a screen and controllers changes.

Key Takeaways

  • The Switch is a tablet that plugs into a dock to display on your TV, or plays on its own screen when you remove it and attach the side controllers.
  • Games are stored on a microSD card inserted into the back of the tablet, not built into the device, so you can own dozens of games on one card.
  • The Joy-Con controllers on the sides can be used together as one controller, separated so two people each hold one, or used individually for certain games.
  • The Switch connects to the internet through Wi-Fi to read games, play online, and receive system updates, but does not require internet to play games you already own.
  • The battery lasts between four and nine hours depending on which Switch model you own and what game you are playing.

How the dock and TV connection work

The dock is a plastic stand with a USB-C port on the back. You plug an HDMI cable from the dock into your TV, and a power cable into the dock itself. When you slide the tablet into the dock, the USB-C connection transfers the video signal to your TV and also charges the battery. The tablet's screen goes dark because the system automatically sends all the video to the TV instead.

If you remove the tablet from the dock while a game is running, the game pauses and the image switches back to the tablet's screen. You do not lose your place. This is useful if someone else needs the TV — you can pull the Switch out and keep playing handheld without stopping.

The dock does not process anything. It is only a connector and a stand. All the computing happens inside the tablet. This is why the Switch can work with any TV that has an HDMI port, and why the dock itself never needs updates or drivers.

What the Joy-Con controllers do and how they attach

The Joy-Cons are two small controllers that slide onto the left and right sides of the tablet. Each one has buttons, a joystick, and motion sensors inside. When both are attached to the tablet, they work as a single controller — you hold the tablet like a game controller and use both sides to play.

When you detach them, each Joy-Con becomes its own controller. In tabletop mode, one person can hold the left Joy-Con and another can hold the right one, and you can play games together. Some games let you use a single Joy-Con held sideways like a traditional controller. Other games require both Joy-Cons detached and held separately.

The Joy-Cons communicate with the tablet wirelessly using Bluetooth, so they do not need a cable. They charge when attached to the tablet. If you want to play with more than two people, you can buy additional Joy-Cons or a Pro Controller, which is a larger traditional-style controller that also connects wirelessly.

How games are stored and played

Games on the Switch are stored on a microSD card, which is a small card about the size of a postage stamp. You insert it into a slot on the back of the tablet. The Switch can hold a microSD card with up to 2 terabytes of storage, which is enough for hundreds of games. You buy games digitally through the Nintendo eShop, and they read directly onto the card.

You can also buy physical game cartridges, which look like small plastic rectangles. You insert a cartridge into a slot on the top of the tablet, and the game runs from the cartridge. Physical games take up no storage space on the card, but cartridges cost more and take up physical space. Most people use digital games because they are cheaper and you do not have to swap cartridges.

When you start a game, the Switch loads it from either the cartridge or the microSD card into the tablet's memory, and then runs it. You can play any game you own whether the tablet is docked, handheld, or in tabletop mode — the game does not care how the hardware is arranged.

How the battery and power work

The Switch tablet has a built-in battery that powers the screen and processor. When the tablet is in the dock, the power cable charges the battery and also powers the system, so the battery does not drain. When you remove it from the dock and play handheld, the battery powers everything.

How long the battery lasts depends on which Switch model you own. The original Switch lasts about five and a half hours on a full charge. The Switch Lite, which is smaller and has controllers built in, lasts about five and a half hours. The Switch OLED, which has a larger and brighter screen, lasts about four and a half hours because the better screen uses more power. The newer Switch with the updated processor lasts about nine hours.

You can extend battery life by lowering the screen brightness, closing background apps, and playing less demanding games. When the battery runs low, you can plug the tablet into a power cable using the USB-C port on the bottom, and it charges whether the tablet is in the dock or not.

How internet and Wi-Fi work on the Switch

The Switch connects to the internet through Wi-Fi. You set up your Wi-Fi network in the system settings, and the Switch remembers it. When you are in range of that network, the Switch connects automatically.

You need internet to read games from the Nintendo eShop, to play online multiplayer games, and to receive system updates. You do not need internet to play single-player games you already own, to use the Joy-Cons, or to play local multiplayer with people in the same room.

The Switch does not have cellular data — it only works on Wi-Fi. If you want to play online away from home, you need to bring a portable Wi-Fi hotspot or go somewhere with public Wi-Fi. Some games let you play online with other people around the world, while others only let you play locally with people in the same room.

How the processor and graphics work

Inside the tablet is a processor made by NVIDIA. It handles all the calculations the game needs — moving characters, calculating physics, rendering graphics. The processor is less powerful than the processors in PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, which is why Switch games have simpler graphics and lower frame rates than games on those systems.

The Switch's screen is 6.2 inches on the original and OLED models, and 5.5 inches on the Lite. The resolution is 1280 by 720 pixels, which is lower than modern phones and TVs. When you dock the Switch and play on a TV, the image is the same resolution but stretched larger, so it looks less sharp than a game made for TV.

Despite the lower power, the Switch can run demanding games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Elden Ring. Developers optimize games to run well on the Switch's hardware, and the smaller screen and lower resolution mean the processor does not have to draw as many pixels.

What happens when you turn the Switch on and off

When you press the power button on the top of the tablet, the system boots up. This takes about 30 seconds. The Switch shows the home screen, which displays your games and user profile. You can then select a game to play.

When you press the power button again, the system goes into sleep mode, not a full shutdown. In sleep mode, the tablet uses very little power but stays ready to wake up when ready. If you press any button or touch the screen, the Switch wakes up when ready and you are back where you left off. This is different from turning off a computer — the Switch does not fully shut down unless you hold the power button for several seconds.

Sleep mode is useful because you can pause a game, put the Switch down, and come back hours later without losing your place or draining much battery. If you want a full shutdown, you can do that from the system settings, but most people just use sleep mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be online to play games I already own?

No. Once a game is downloaded or a cartridge is inserted, you can play offline. You only need internet to read new games, play online multiplayer, or receive system updates. Single-player games work fine without any connection.

Can I use the Switch without the dock?

Yes. The dock is only for displaying on a TV. You can play handheld with the Joy-Cons attached, or in tabletop mode with the kickstand and detached Joy-Cons. The dock is optional if you do not have a TV or do not want to use one.

What happens if the microSD card fills up?

When the card is full, you cannot read more games. You can delete games to make space, or buy a larger microSD card. Games you delete can be downloaded again later without paying again if you own them digitally.

Can two people play on one Switch at the same time?

Yes, if the game supports local multiplayer. You can use two Joy-Cons, two Pro Controllers, or a mix of both. Some games require each player to have their own controller, while others let two people share one Joy-Con. Check the game's description to see how many players it supports.

How do I know which Switch model to buy?

The original Switch works in all three modes and has detachable Joy-Cons. The Switch Lite is smaller, cheaper, and handheld-only — it cannot dock to a TV. The Switch OLED has a larger, brighter screen and better speakers, but costs more. Choose based on whether you want to play on a TV and how much you want to spend.