Can you connect a Nintendo Switch Lite to a TV?
The Switch Lite was released as the smaller, lighter, even more portable sibling to the original Nintendo Switch. That, of course, has the option of being docked, so that you can play it on a TV. But the Switch Lite was never designed with that dual functionality in mind.
So is it possible to connect the Nintendo Switch Lite To TV inputs? And if so, how do you do it? That's what we'll be exploring in this article.
Can You Connect Nintendo Switch Lite To TV Without A Dock?
The Switch Lite was never intended to be docked and connected to a television. So the short answer is no. Nintendo, when designing this purely for handheld use, removed some of the essential components for connecting with a TV. Most essentially, the Switch Lite doesn't have any video output components, so it can't send data to an external screen, in the way a Switch can.
Furthermore, the Switch Lite has been intentionally designed by Nintendo to be an exclusively handheld device. It won't for instance, fit into the Nintendo Switch dock. Nintendo already has a console designed for use with a television - the Switch. But they also recognised that for people who want to play a portable console, and don't intend to connect it to a TV, they might benefit from something slightly smaller and even more portable. Hence, the Switch Lite.
The USB-C port on the Switch Lite is only there for charging the device, rather than for docking, or plugging into a television. The lack of components is part of the reason Nintendo were able to make it smaller and cheaper than the original Switch. So that game of Mario Kart will have to stay on your Switch Lite.
Are There Any Options To Connect A Switch Lite To A TV?
Short answer: yes, but...
There are people out there who have found ways to project the image from their Switch Lite to their television. But even by their own admission, the image quality isn't great, and there is considerable lag, which spoils the gaming experience. For the vast majority of people, the time and effort required to get this set-up to work, could not be justified by the results.
If you really want to play Nintendo Switch games on your television, then buy the original Nintendo Switch or the Switch OLED. These consoles are fully intended to be played on a TV as well as while you're on the go. The extra expense is more than worth it for the improved experience.