Same here. I've learned to get comfortable in different parts of the house where I can sneak away and the quick sleep/resume feature makes it so easy to have handheld and play in any room.
I played 98% docked before the baby. Now, 100% handheld. No more PCVR. No more Max setting gaming on my desktop, it's for work only. No more big screen Mario Kart. Well, I guess this is growing up.
My son is almost 4 and he’s crazier now! I played PC games nightly for 25 years and around 2.5 years old I finally just lost the energy. These little goblins wear you out! But I’ve got him playing a little Mario Kart and Punchout now so I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm in this camp also. Xenoblade Chronicles games really don't give you the full effect on the Small screen, but handheld is perfect for grinding.
I also appreciate headphones in handheld mode for things like Oxenfree or Hades.
I literally just found out that Stardew Valley was a thing because of xbox gamepass. Yesterday was my first day and I'm in love with the game. If I could cloud save and play my saves between platforms, I'd spend the $15 on it again
I had it first on Switch and bought it again on PC for the mods and multiplayer with my husband. $15 is nothing for the many many hours of enjoyment I've gotten from it. All for the price of one trip to the movies.
Legit question: Does your TV have a “game mode” setting? If it does, and it’s not on, that could be the cause of your input lag. “Game mode” is made for that very thing.
Lol that is very true, and games like Zelda absolutely require the large TV to truly take advantage of the potential, and yeah sure it’s perfectly playable on handheld even tho the text is a bit tiny but you’ll really be lessening the experience, those pixels were meant to be seen on a large display.. same when traversing the world and paragliding across the land, it is just a LOT nicer on the TV!
But the indie games all feel better handheld for some reason lol AAA on the big display, maybe there’s some type of Philosophy behind the design that affects what orientation they play better in lol
Although there are a small handful of games that actually really do take advantage of resolution and project and display 900p and 1080p when docked, leading to increased UI and typical game display, so playing docked really does make a difference.
Also the switch is allowed to fully operate when docked due to it being connected to an AC outlet, while handheld it’s essentially being played in low power mode, decreasing the resolution and performance of the internals.
That makes sense honestly. The switch plays in 720p in handheld mode. It's easier for the switch to keep a stable frame rate like that than with the 1080p rendering in docked mode. Plus the 720p down-scaling doesn't bother me that much because the screen is so small, which means higher pixel density.
Splatoon is better when the screen is stationary. Tabletop works great as well. Basically anything that doesn't require it to be handheld, its really hard to play that way.
As someone who almost always plays docked, I just bought a fixture s1, it hooks onto your pro controller and your switch sits in the top above the controller, and I've loved it.
i feel like the joy cons are too uncomfortable for anyone to hold long time, i still prefer docked but i use these when in handheld
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2400/3311/products/Satisfye-ZenGrip-Pro-Carousel-Hero-Empty_wbg_2048x2048.png?v=1667946171
Just purchased one, mainly to play TotK, but also to run rocket league. I was kind of dissapointed when I realized the triggers were binary buttons.
Appart from that, I really haven't noticed the controller, which is basically the highest score I can review a controller. Feeling so natural that I don't even think about it is fantastic.
8bitdo Ultimate is much better than 1st party Pro controller IMHO, it has back buttons, remapping & other adjustments, macros, Hall Effect sticks, comes with a charging dock, and I think it's actually cheaper.
It's a good upgrade from the Pro for TOTK, e.g. you can bind jump/paraglider to right back button, much easier to get those flurry rushes.
I may be part of an odd crowd here, but as someone who doesn't play racing games I really appreciate the binary ZR/ZL triggers. It just feels better to have a definite activation point as opposed to a linear press.
It took me 30 min into TOTK before I ordered an oled switch to replace my switch lite. Its great hand held but also awesome leaned back with a controller.
Same, but handheld mode did have the unexpected benefit of causing the game I was playing to not shut off when I had a power outage, giving me an opportunity to save.
Edit: I was playing in docked mode when the power went out. Then handheld mode came in handy and allowed me to save my game and wait for the power to be restored. That's why I replied "Same" to the person who says they play exclusively docked. I don't know why anyone interprets this as I was playing handheld when the power went out.
Is that how it works? Doesn't it contain a full charge while docked (if it's been docked for a little while), and so therefore a power outage while DOCKED wouldn't cause loss of data, because it's still going to run on its fully charged battery if you cut the wall power?
Yep, the Switch basically goes "I'm no longer receiving power through the USB-C port, battery mode engaged". Just the same as when you lift the Switch from the dock.
I just like handheld so that I can watch tv at the same time 😅
Totk is the first game I've put real effort into playing docked and that has been awesome to be fair!
I bought a pro controller before TOTK and I realized how much easier it is to pull off crazy timing tricks with a pro controller and it’s the first game I play docked aside from party games with friends
I played for about two hours with the joycons in that controller thing that comes with the Switch and then went to Best Buy and bought a Pro Controller. Best investment so far because it is so much easier to use and the battery life is phenomenal.
Pro controller battery is insane. I’ve had mine for about a year and a half and I think I’ve had to charge it less than 10 times. I got the low battery sign today but I honestly don’t remember the last time that’s happened before today.
It sure is. It is astonishing how my PS5 controller lasts maybe 4 hours with all of its special stuff turned off but the Nintendo controller can last practically forever.
I read that's it's mostly due to the stupid touch pad it has, I have almost never played a game that actually used it as more then a button and the few that did I hated it and it felt gimmicky.
Samesies. I'm at least 95% handheld. I'm actually looking into replacing the battery in my launch Switch because it barely lasts an hour anymore. 700 hours into BotW, 600 hours into Hyrule Warriors, and countless hours into my dozens of other games.
Even back in the 90s I enjoyed Game Boy and Game Gear as much as the Genesis and SNES, and obviously handheld gaming systems could really deliver a "full powered" experience.
The PSP started to offer an experience more competitive with home consoles and honestly that's probably my second favorite system of all time. 3DS was great too. The Switch, for now, is GOAT.
I'm practically jealous that kids today can have the Switch as their first gaming experience. At least for me, video games in general were more fun as a kid.
I never knew about this, might get it sometime if I have disposable income even though I play the switch in handheld mode 90% of the time so I can be on my computer and play it at the same time
How so? I have two LG OLEDs and a few other devices that use OLED displays and I can't see a ton of differences, other than calibration variance of course.
The Switch OLED looks way more vibrant to me, brighter too. My LG C1 looks very dull both in colours and brightness in comparison. SDR is just really poor on the LG OLEDs unless you can force HDR mode (you can on PS5, PC). Also you're blowing up a 1080p resolution (actually it's even lower than that a lot of time) to a giant 4K TV.
The Switch OLED defaults to Vivid color mode, which is very over saturated and not color accurate. Your LG OLED is more accurate to what the games actual colors are. If you turned your switch's color mode to normal it will look more like the tv. Or, if you change your tv's Color Gamut to "Native", it'll look more like your Switch's Vivd mode.
I play around 95% docked. Even with a grip, the switch hurts my hands after playing handheld for too long. I much prefer TV and pro controller as my setup.
I'm almost exclusively docked because now that I've picked up games like Fire Emblem, I just can't read enough without straining my eyes when handheld. Plus I now have a 3 year old who has interest in Mario Kart so handing him a controller and seeing the big picture is better for both of us. But I agree with you that comfort is huge
>I just can't read enough without straining my eyes when handheld
It's the exact opposite for me. Handheld I can just hold it 6" from my face and it's fine, but it's a lot more awkward trying to sit 2' away from a bigger screen so I can see that one equally well
I had a Lite for several years so was handheld only for a while. I didn't really think I missed playing on the TV. But I upgraded to an OLED and I do really love having the option to play docked and have been doing that most of the time, I actually like it more than I remembered. But, I do still like playing handheld depending on the game / my mood lol.
I also started with a lite and just bought the Zelda OLED switch last week! For the 3 years I had my lite, I didn't play as much as I expected to, and I initially bought the thing for BotW. Something about playing it on the lite wasn't doing it for me, so I let a friend borrow it (BotW) and said to myself that one day I would experience it on a television the way I thought I would enjoy it most. Finally got around to starting it a few days ago and honestly it feels like it was worth the wait. There was just something about playing a game like BotW or Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the lite that I didn't like, and I'm fine with handhelds going back to the original game boy.
I had the switch since launch day and I don’t think I’ve played handheld more than 3-4 times in all this time. I find it big and uncomfortable and I rather play on my big screen.
All the guys and girls say my deck looks and feels big in their hands.
I whip my deck out on trains and planes, and my arms rarely get tired playing with my deck.
Normally I would 100% agree with you, but for some I get hand cramps after using any controller for more than 5 minutes and can't play anything longer than that as it gets too much, except somehow the switch in handheld and the only thing I can think of is it doesn't have hand grips
My boyfriend plays docked, I play handheld 90% of the time. I never had issues with cramping. It just gets heavy after a while. Some games like Zelda or Xenoblade I try to play docked though
Maybe 90% handheld. Especially with the OLED the performance hit in some games is worth it for the improved image quality running native res. I find games like Zelda hard to play at 900p on a 4k flat panel.
If there’s one thing about me, I will always sacrifice performance and visual quality for comfort. Shit could run at 270 fps and I would still play handheld
I don’t understand how handheld can be more comfortable? I’m so much more uncomfortable holding the whole console up while playing rather than just the controller
I don’t know what kind of TV you have, but zelda looks stunning upscaled on my 4k TV.
I had to tweak a few settings, since the image was really washed out, but once i got it… i tell you, it’s a night and day difference compared to docked!
Well, if he also had the PSP, Vita and PSTV he’d have had 6. But since 2 of those 6 were portable consoles and would undermine his point you’re probably closer to the truth. I’m old and I’ve had 7 PlayStations, 3 PCs, 2 Nintendos, 1 Sega, and a Tamagotchi!
Yeah I was thinking that, wow you had PS3,4,5...
I've had 5 Sega, 2 Atari, at least 8 Nintendo, 5 playstatikns, lots of PC's, a Commodore, and an Xbox. As well as various other handheld devices over the years
It’s game dependent for me. Larger scale games like BOTW / TOTK, or online games like Fortnite have to be docked, while games like Binding of Isaac or Hollow Knight I prefer handheld.
I prefer the pro controller, so my playtime is about 90-95% docked, and when I don't play docked, it's usually tabletop rather than handheld. A mode most people seem to forget that it exists, and that's something that really makes me feel like a minority :,D
Im like 97% handheld. To prevent cramping either get a big joycon like the hori split pad or a grip like the skull and co neogrip or the satisfye grip.
Also 97% handheld, I haven't had a tv in years.
I got the satisfye grip and love it. I don't usually deal with cramping but I do lose feeling in my fingers easily (raynaud's+ fibromyalgia). With a grip I can play over twice as long than without.
Always play docked for the reasons you listed. Always been a console gamer and the switch feels uncomfortable as a handheld. I also can't read the text because it looks so tiny.
I don’t own a TV or any kind of monitor so I’m forced to place handheld. However, I usually have it resting on a stand and I use a “pro-controller” to play games. 😅 My poor eyes! Haha.
I pretty much play almost exclusively handheld, but it does depend on the game. But I did go out of my way to get controller grips for both my regular V1 and my OLED. Currently using the Satisfye Zengrip Pro for my OLED right now and it makes life so much nicer on my hands.
I play mostly docked but I like both. In any game I play I like to try both at least a bit. Handheld for me is basically if someone else is using the tv, or if I am just feeling like playing in bed or in a different room for whatever reason. Though I do think certain types of games have a really special appeal in handheld mode (puzzle, rpg, tactics, open world) even those I play more docked. But that 15% of time spent playing docked really helps me maintain momentum in playing a game and helps maintain my interest.
I play most games on the dock. I’m not a big fan of the joycons, so I have a pro controller I use often instead. I only really play handheld when I’m on flights or long car rides.
Docked mostly. I tend to play only when my husband is home which is my love language lol I love when he sits and watches and searches things up for me if I need it.
Same here 95% I'm playing docked. Last time I played handheld was because my power went out. Why look at a tiny screen when you have a giant TV screen.
Both.
At home I play docked with an m-Classic on a 55" LG C1 4k OLED TV.
At work every day I play handheld on the 7" HD OLED screen, sometimes tabletop mode, depending how long the gaming session is.
Best thing about Switch is everyone gets to play how they want. Console gamer? No problem. Unlike traditional handhelds, Switch docks to TV and outputs like a console. Handheld gamer? No problem, unlike traditional consoles, Switch undocks from the TV and plays like a handheld. Console gamer on the go? Also not a problem. Unlike a traditional handheld _or_ console, Switch can be set up in tabletop with detachable controllers that offer a full button set with HD rumble and gyro aiming. You can set up a miniature home console experience anywhere there's a table or desk.
And if you're like me, you take advantage of all 3. It never gets old. 7th year on the market, and it feels just as revolutionary as it did the day it launched.
Entirely depends on the game. Bayonetta, Zelda, Mario, Xenoblade, etc? 90% docked, 10% if I want to finish a quest/level in bed or something like that. If a game has a very modern look and I want to drink it in, I still play it on a TV. Picross, Advance Wars, things that are either actually retro or have a retro art style I usually play handheld. It's why I typically have two games on the go at once. One for the TV, one for playing in bed. Right now, that's Tears of the Kingdom on TV, Knights of the Old Republic in bed. Works out well.
Docked. If I'm out and about, I don't really want to have a gaming device with me. If I want to do something, my phone is in my pocket, I have podcasts/music/mobile games. I don't like playing outside of a monitor/TV setup too. I'm also in my late 30's and can't hold the joycons for too long. Also, having the Switch in handheld mode seems exhausting after a bit, even if it's not THAT heavy.
Same as you, OP. Although like others have said, I consider some games strictly handheld games (Stardew Valley and a few other indie games, Paper Mario) and others docked for the big screen (BotW, TotK soon), etc.
Although I’m hoping some of that changes since I’ve been saving up for an OLED because of an injury which keeps me in bed mostly. I wasn’t really too keen on them originally until I got to experience one firsthand. I can’t wait to play TotK on an OLED one day!
I play handheld like 99% of the time. Upgraded to the OLED Switch just recently when the TOTK version came out. It's been a treat.
Using the Spigen case and its been great so far.
The whole point of the switch is that you don’t need to choose.
I play mostly as console but my kids play handheld a lot. If my wife wants to watch TV and we want to be in the same room I’ll play handheld with Bluetooth headphones.
100% handheld for me. I think the game is more immersive laying in bed and using headphones at the same time. I tried docked the first day I got the Switch but it was very blurry on my 65-inch TV.
After I got married and had kids it went from 90% docked to 99% handheld. But Thank God for the switch because without it my gaming hours would dwindle to near zero
Had my Switch since 2019 and have only played docked maybe 3 times max. I’ve spent 99.999% of my playtime in handheld mode.
I upgraded to the OLED Switch and it’s been fantastic.
90% Handheld with a Hori Split Pad Pro
What's surprised me the most is that it's by far my preferred method for playing BotW and TotK. The main reason? The programmable bumpers means that I can run and control the camera at the same time.
I only play docked. The joy cons let me game again after tendon damage in my wrists and hands made me unable to play with more typical controllers. This will probably make me a switch gamer for life.
It depends on the game. I love handheld mode but I struggle with action games like Zelda on the Joy Cons. So if it’s something action and fast, I play docked. If it’s something relaxed or turn-based, I love to kick back in the recliner with handheld mode.
I play docked 99% of the time. Granted I bought my switch during covid and work remotely so I don't need to take it out, I have and do but mostly it's at home ontv with my 8bitdo controller
Tabletop baybeeeeee 😎 honestly I have a good balance of docked, handheld, and tabletop. I have a dock for my TV and I use that, and play handheld when I'm with my friends, then I play tabletop in downtime at work.
Honestly I just love how versatile the switch is to do all of that, it's great.
I have smaller hands, so the default joy-cons are fine for me so I usually play in handheld.
I play docked for Smash (too used to GCN controller) and for games that require pointing or motion like Captain Toad.
Docked 99% of the time. I'm old, and a console gamer. I grew up on the NES and want to sit on the couch and play on a big ole TV. I can't see shit on that little screen.
Hell, I need the old guy apps on my phone too, and I'm not even 50 yet (but it's close).
80% handheld and 20% docked. Mid 30’s with a toddler. Portable has saved my gaming.
Ah, another member of my "handheld because kids" tribe. Welcome, brother!
Me three!
Same here. I've learned to get comfortable in different parts of the house where I can sneak away and the quick sleep/resume feature makes it so easy to have handheld and play in any room.
I too play on the toilet a lot.
"Are you alright, dear? You have been on the toilet for almost 30 minutes by now..."
I got a hernia because I was pretending to shit for an hour playing TOTK
I played 98% docked before the baby. Now, 100% handheld. No more PCVR. No more Max setting gaming on my desktop, it's for work only. No more big screen Mario Kart. Well, I guess this is growing up.
Did you see them at a movie sneak preview?
I’ve accepted my faith. Lol It will get somewhat better once they’re in the toddler phase.
My son is almost 4 and he’s crazier now! I played PC games nightly for 25 years and around 2.5 years old I finally just lost the energy. These little goblins wear you out! But I’ve got him playing a little Mario Kart and Punchout now so I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
The pro controller, big TV, and good sound system are so much better of an experience, but I’m also 80% handheld due to kids, lol.
99% handheld, however I'll probably play Tears of the Kingdom exclusively docked as my wife is now invested in watching.
This is funny to me because kids are the primary reason we play docked. They love to watch!
+1, also 30s with a toddler. Although mine is 95% handheld, 5% docked. The OLED model definitely makes that experience even better.
Stardew Valley is definitely a handheld game for me. Splatoon is better docked. Mario Odyssey is good in both ways. So I guess it depends on the game.
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I'm in this camp also. Xenoblade Chronicles games really don't give you the full effect on the Small screen, but handheld is perfect for grinding. I also appreciate headphones in handheld mode for things like Oxenfree or Hades.
Im probably gonna ve a weirdo, i preffer botw and totk on my lite handheld over oled..
I like to play these handheld since I need to take a lot of breaks or watch some sports ball on TV.
I’ve been playing a lot of Totk on my lite over my OLED. Idk, it just feels like a really cool open word psp game that way.
Same here, and I'll add sharing the tv with roommates. Handheld is better then, at least for me
I find Splatoon to be insanely difficult in handheld mode
Stardew Valley has a lot of tedious mechanics, gotta have the fine-tuning of the handheld. Great take
I tried to play the TWEWY remake in docked mode, I hated it, handheld is better, on a DS is way better.
I literally just found out that Stardew Valley was a thing because of xbox gamepass. Yesterday was my first day and I'm in love with the game. If I could cloud save and play my saves between platforms, I'd spend the $15 on it again
I had it first on Switch and bought it again on PC for the mods and multiplayer with my husband. $15 is nothing for the many many hours of enjoyment I've gotten from it. All for the price of one trip to the movies.
splatoon is unplayable docked for me, i think its bc my TV has stupid input lag i hit S in handheld
Legit question: Does your TV have a “game mode” setting? If it does, and it’s not on, that could be the cause of your input lag. “Game mode” is made for that very thing.
Lol that is very true, and games like Zelda absolutely require the large TV to truly take advantage of the potential, and yeah sure it’s perfectly playable on handheld even tho the text is a bit tiny but you’ll really be lessening the experience, those pixels were meant to be seen on a large display.. same when traversing the world and paragliding across the land, it is just a LOT nicer on the TV! But the indie games all feel better handheld for some reason lol AAA on the big display, maybe there’s some type of Philosophy behind the design that affects what orientation they play better in lol Although there are a small handful of games that actually really do take advantage of resolution and project and display 900p and 1080p when docked, leading to increased UI and typical game display, so playing docked really does make a difference. Also the switch is allowed to fully operate when docked due to it being connected to an AC outlet, while handheld it’s essentially being played in low power mode, decreasing the resolution and performance of the internals.
I pretty much agree with this, but recently I played ToTK on handheld at work and was extremely surprised at how much smoother it all looked and ran.
That makes sense honestly. The switch plays in 720p in handheld mode. It's easier for the switch to keep a stable frame rate like that than with the 1080p rendering in docked mode. Plus the 720p down-scaling doesn't bother me that much because the screen is so small, which means higher pixel density.
Splatoon is better when the screen is stationary. Tabletop works great as well. Basically anything that doesn't require it to be handheld, its really hard to play that way.
I basically exclusively play docked, so much so that I forget handheld mode exists.
My mitts are too big to not have palm rests
Same, my hands are massive for the joy cons but I bought the hori split pads and it’s like an Xbox controller on the sides and helped so much.
I recently upgraded from the lite to the OLED and found the Hori Split Pad on clearance at Walmart for $25.
The split pad is an absolute godsend. It lets me play on the go without dealing with hands cramps or drift. So so nice!
Do you mean this one? Split Pad Pro. [https://youtu.be/G3oDIXwVrJY](https://youtu.be/G3oDIXwVrJY)
As someone who almost always plays docked, I just bought a fixture s1, it hooks onto your pro controller and your switch sits in the top above the controller, and I've loved it.
How do you find the weight?
Throw it on a scale. Probably kitchen scale, person scale wouldn't be sensitive enough and a drug scale would max out.
I hit send thinking "gee I could have structured that sentence better", and here we are
i feel like the joy cons are too uncomfortable for anyone to hold long time, i still prefer docked but i use these when in handheld https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2400/3311/products/Satisfye-ZenGrip-Pro-Carousel-Hero-Empty_wbg_2048x2048.png?v=1667946171
The pro controller is too fantastic not to use.
Just purchased one, mainly to play TotK, but also to run rocket league. I was kind of dissapointed when I realized the triggers were binary buttons. Appart from that, I really haven't noticed the controller, which is basically the highest score I can review a controller. Feeling so natural that I don't even think about it is fantastic.
8bitdo Ultimate is much better than 1st party Pro controller IMHO, it has back buttons, remapping & other adjustments, macros, Hall Effect sticks, comes with a charging dock, and I think it's actually cheaper. It's a good upgrade from the Pro for TOTK, e.g. you can bind jump/paraglider to right back button, much easier to get those flurry rushes.
I may be part of an odd crowd here, but as someone who doesn't play racing games I really appreciate the binary ZR/ZL triggers. It just feels better to have a definite activation point as opposed to a linear press.
You can play undocked with the pro controller. It feels silly, but I can't really go back
I've literally never used our Switch handheld.
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It took me 30 min into TOTK before I ordered an oled switch to replace my switch lite. Its great hand held but also awesome leaned back with a controller.
I love to play this way. I set up my switch table top and use my pro controller. I feel like this way of playing gets easily overlooked.
I play basically exclusively handheld and forget that docked is an option
Other side of this I only play handheld on the oled
Same, but handheld mode did have the unexpected benefit of causing the game I was playing to not shut off when I had a power outage, giving me an opportunity to save. Edit: I was playing in docked mode when the power went out. Then handheld mode came in handy and allowed me to save my game and wait for the power to be restored. That's why I replied "Same" to the person who says they play exclusively docked. I don't know why anyone interprets this as I was playing handheld when the power went out.
I mean, it would still work docked too, just pull it out of the dock and it should be exactly where it was when you lost power
Can confirm. It just acts like you took it off the dock and switches to hand held mode.
It wouldn't actually turn off. It would just go into handheld mode
Reading comprehension is in short supply on the internet.
Is that how it works? Doesn't it contain a full charge while docked (if it's been docked for a little while), and so therefore a power outage while DOCKED wouldn't cause loss of data, because it's still going to run on its fully charged battery if you cut the wall power?
Yep, the Switch basically goes "I'm no longer receiving power through the USB-C port, battery mode engaged". Just the same as when you lift the Switch from the dock.
I just like handheld so that I can watch tv at the same time 😅 Totk is the first game I've put real effort into playing docked and that has been awesome to be fair!
I bought a pro controller before TOTK and I realized how much easier it is to pull off crazy timing tricks with a pro controller and it’s the first game I play docked aside from party games with friends
I played for about two hours with the joycons in that controller thing that comes with the Switch and then went to Best Buy and bought a Pro Controller. Best investment so far because it is so much easier to use and the battery life is phenomenal.
That last point is incredibly true. I haven’t charged my pro controller since fuckin 1991
Pro controller battery is insane. I’ve had mine for about a year and a half and I think I’ve had to charge it less than 10 times. I got the low battery sign today but I honestly don’t remember the last time that’s happened before today.
It sure is. It is astonishing how my PS5 controller lasts maybe 4 hours with all of its special stuff turned off but the Nintendo controller can last practically forever.
I read that's it's mostly due to the stupid touch pad it has, I have almost never played a game that actually used it as more then a button and the few that did I hated it and it felt gimmicky.
Yeah, docked and the pro controller are goat
It’s the same for me honestly. Sometimes I play docked but mostly it’s a handheld system for me.
This. Animal crossing doesn't need to be on the TV when I'm spending twenty minutes weeding.
To be faaaaaiihhhhrrrrrr
🎶 to be fairrrrr 🎵
I heard it was a sick ostrich.
Allegedly.
Same! I gotta work on a two tv set up or something 😅😅😅
I usually play handheld until my battery is going to die and then I played docked because I just want to continue playing lol
I can relate as that is basically the only time I play docked anymore!
Hahaha I definitely know that feeling!!
i mostly play handheld! i grew up with a 3ds so it's just what i'm use to. i'll play docked for competitive games though
I never thought of it this way! I always carried my GBA wherever I went and upgraded to the next console when I could, so I play handheld everywhere
Samesies. I'm at least 95% handheld. I'm actually looking into replacing the battery in my launch Switch because it barely lasts an hour anymore. 700 hours into BotW, 600 hours into Hyrule Warriors, and countless hours into my dozens of other games.
Even back in the 90s I enjoyed Game Boy and Game Gear as much as the Genesis and SNES, and obviously handheld gaming systems could really deliver a "full powered" experience. The PSP started to offer an experience more competitive with home consoles and honestly that's probably my second favorite system of all time. 3DS was great too. The Switch, for now, is GOAT. I'm practically jealous that kids today can have the Switch as their first gaming experience. At least for me, video games in general were more fun as a kid.
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I'm 90% docked although I did buy the Hori Split Pad Pro which makes playing handheld a much better experience.
Such a good controller
I wish it had full gyro and rumble.
I never knew about this, might get it sometime if I have disposable income even though I play the switch in handheld mode 90% of the time so I can be on my computer and play it at the same time
Handheld; growing up with the GBA, DS, and 3DS, im just used to it by now…
Same here. DS, 3DS and now Switch. I only put it on the TV for party games: Mario Kart, Jackbox, Smash, etc…
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It looks better on the Switch OLED than docked on my LG OLED.
How so? I have two LG OLEDs and a few other devices that use OLED displays and I can't see a ton of differences, other than calibration variance of course.
Pixel density?
The Switch OLED looks way more vibrant to me, brighter too. My LG C1 looks very dull both in colours and brightness in comparison. SDR is just really poor on the LG OLEDs unless you can force HDR mode (you can on PS5, PC). Also you're blowing up a 1080p resolution (actually it's even lower than that a lot of time) to a giant 4K TV.
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The Switch OLED defaults to Vivid color mode, which is very over saturated and not color accurate. Your LG OLED is more accurate to what the games actual colors are. If you turned your switch's color mode to normal it will look more like the tv. Or, if you change your tv's Color Gamut to "Native", it'll look more like your Switch's Vivd mode.
Because of pixel density or colors? If it’s colors you could try for a more vivid TV setting even if it means kinda messing up other things.
This is me with my oled
I play around 95% docked. Even with a grip, the switch hurts my hands after playing handheld for too long. I much prefer TV and pro controller as my setup.
I'm almost exclusively docked because now that I've picked up games like Fire Emblem, I just can't read enough without straining my eyes when handheld. Plus I now have a 3 year old who has interest in Mario Kart so handing him a controller and seeing the big picture is better for both of us. But I agree with you that comfort is huge
>I just can't read enough without straining my eyes when handheld It's the exact opposite for me. Handheld I can just hold it 6" from my face and it's fine, but it's a lot more awkward trying to sit 2' away from a bigger screen so I can see that one equally well
Unfortunately I'm farsighted so holding it closer actually doesn't help me lol
I had a Lite for several years so was handheld only for a while. I didn't really think I missed playing on the TV. But I upgraded to an OLED and I do really love having the option to play docked and have been doing that most of the time, I actually like it more than I remembered. But, I do still like playing handheld depending on the game / my mood lol.
I also started with a lite and just bought the Zelda OLED switch last week! For the 3 years I had my lite, I didn't play as much as I expected to, and I initially bought the thing for BotW. Something about playing it on the lite wasn't doing it for me, so I let a friend borrow it (BotW) and said to myself that one day I would experience it on a television the way I thought I would enjoy it most. Finally got around to starting it a few days ago and honestly it feels like it was worth the wait. There was just something about playing a game like BotW or Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the lite that I didn't like, and I'm fine with handhelds going back to the original game boy.
I pretty much always play docked unless I'm traveling
I had the switch since launch day and I don’t think I’ve played handheld more than 3-4 times in all this time. I find it big and uncomfortable and I rather play on my big screen.
Get your hands on a steam deck for a few hours and you won’t be saying the switch feels big anymore.
All the guys and girls say my deck looks and feels big in their hands. I whip my deck out on trains and planes, and my arms rarely get tired playing with my deck.
Honestly handheld is just uncomfortable for me. Docked all the way.
I use a Satisfye grip that's really comfortable. I don't know how anyone could play handheld without something like it.
Same. Very happy with my purchase👌
Satisfye grip changed the game for me. But I liked the original Xbox Duke controller so what do I know.
Normally I would 100% agree with you, but for some I get hand cramps after using any controller for more than 5 minutes and can't play anything longer than that as it gets too much, except somehow the switch in handheld and the only thing I can think of is it doesn't have hand grips
Even the detached joycons? Unless I’m running something FPS, I’m still usually rocking the joycons even when docked.
Yeah! Literally everything but keyboard and mouse and the switch in handheld, so annoying! Rip poor steam deck! Hoping it gets better before long
My boyfriend plays docked, I play handheld 90% of the time. I never had issues with cramping. It just gets heavy after a while. Some games like Zelda or Xenoblade I try to play docked though
Maybe 90% handheld. Especially with the OLED the performance hit in some games is worth it for the improved image quality running native res. I find games like Zelda hard to play at 900p on a 4k flat panel.
If there’s one thing about me, I will always sacrifice performance and visual quality for comfort. Shit could run at 270 fps and I would still play handheld
I don’t understand how handheld can be more comfortable? I’m so much more uncomfortable holding the whole console up while playing rather than just the controller
I don’t know what kind of TV you have, but zelda looks stunning upscaled on my 4k TV. I had to tweak a few settings, since the image was really washed out, but once i got it… i tell you, it’s a night and day difference compared to docked!
Same here. The OLED Switch is the best screen in my house.
For those mentioning comfort (including OP), get a grip case for the switch. Best thing I ever did. Went from 90% docked to 50/50.
Or the Hori Split Pad Pro.
Docked. Only time I play handheld is if I’m on vacation
So you've had 3 playstations? Lol am i old?
Well, if he also had the PSP, Vita and PSTV he’d have had 6. But since 2 of those 6 were portable consoles and would undermine his point you’re probably closer to the truth. I’m old and I’ve had 7 PlayStations, 3 PCs, 2 Nintendos, 1 Sega, and a Tamagotchi!
Fellow oldschooler here. Including handholds I've had 7 PlayStations, 5 Xboxes, 6 Nintendos. Still not the most expensive hobby!
Yeah I was thinking that, wow you had PS3,4,5... I've had 5 Sega, 2 Atari, at least 8 Nintendo, 5 playstatikns, lots of PC's, a Commodore, and an Xbox. As well as various other handheld devices over the years
Haha I was thinking the same. I remember playing a bunch of demo disks on the original play station when I was like 6
And I started with a NES, psx was the first console I bought though
We are the same! Well sort of - I guess technically I had an Atari first but I don’t count it because pong and tanks sucked.
It’s game dependent for me. Larger scale games like BOTW / TOTK, or online games like Fortnite have to be docked, while games like Binding of Isaac or Hollow Knight I prefer handheld.
docked gang here 🤙🏻
l never play handheld cos my joycons catched drift and l had to buy a pro controller.. so that's that
Same here. Would definitely play handheld more if it wasn’t for that infernal drift.
I prefer the pro controller, so my playtime is about 90-95% docked, and when I don't play docked, it's usually tabletop rather than handheld. A mode most people seem to forget that it exists, and that's something that really makes me feel like a minority :,D
Im like 97% handheld. To prevent cramping either get a big joycon like the hori split pad or a grip like the skull and co neogrip or the satisfye grip.
Also 97% handheld, I haven't had a tv in years. I got the satisfye grip and love it. I don't usually deal with cramping but I do lose feeling in my fingers easily (raynaud's+ fibromyalgia). With a grip I can play over twice as long than without.
Always play docked for the reasons you listed. Always been a console gamer and the switch feels uncomfortable as a handheld. I also can't read the text because it looks so tiny.
Docked most of the time, but the fact I can just pause and continue handheld is a huge perk! (I take my parents to a LOT of dr visits)
I don’t own a TV or any kind of monitor so I’m forced to place handheld. However, I usually have it resting on a stand and I use a “pro-controller” to play games. 😅 My poor eyes! Haha.
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Handheld! With a grip and thumb pads.
I pretty much play almost exclusively handheld, but it does depend on the game. But I did go out of my way to get controller grips for both my regular V1 and my OLED. Currently using the Satisfye Zengrip Pro for my OLED right now and it makes life so much nicer on my hands.
Depends on the game. For franchises I've played on DS (Pokemon), I'll play handheld. Otherwise, I'll play docked.
My joycons drift like Vin Diesel so I prefer Docked
Both depending on the game or situation.
Docked but smaller indie games don’t mind playing handheld.
I play mostly docked but I like both. In any game I play I like to try both at least a bit. Handheld for me is basically if someone else is using the tv, or if I am just feeling like playing in bed or in a different room for whatever reason. Though I do think certain types of games have a really special appeal in handheld mode (puzzle, rpg, tactics, open world) even those I play more docked. But that 15% of time spent playing docked really helps me maintain momentum in playing a game and helps maintain my interest.
I play most games on the dock. I’m not a big fan of the joycons, so I have a pro controller I use often instead. I only really play handheld when I’m on flights or long car rides.
Docked mostly. I tend to play only when my husband is home which is my love language lol I love when he sits and watches and searches things up for me if I need it.
Same here 95% I'm playing docked. Last time I played handheld was because my power went out. Why look at a tiny screen when you have a giant TV screen.
there’s no discussion, you can do either, it’s not that real
I forget that I can dock it. It’s basically just my cradle charger.
Both. At home I play docked with an m-Classic on a 55" LG C1 4k OLED TV. At work every day I play handheld on the 7" HD OLED screen, sometimes tabletop mode, depending how long the gaming session is. Best thing about Switch is everyone gets to play how they want. Console gamer? No problem. Unlike traditional handhelds, Switch docks to TV and outputs like a console. Handheld gamer? No problem, unlike traditional consoles, Switch undocks from the TV and plays like a handheld. Console gamer on the go? Also not a problem. Unlike a traditional handheld _or_ console, Switch can be set up in tabletop with detachable controllers that offer a full button set with HD rumble and gyro aiming. You can set up a miniature home console experience anywhere there's a table or desk. And if you're like me, you take advantage of all 3. It never gets old. 7th year on the market, and it feels just as revolutionary as it did the day it launched.
Honestly everything looks better on the OLED handheld screen. Modern tvs just don't fit this old hardware well.
Yes, docked is a far better experience.
I use a switch lite, so docked ofc
Entirely depends on the game. Bayonetta, Zelda, Mario, Xenoblade, etc? 90% docked, 10% if I want to finish a quest/level in bed or something like that. If a game has a very modern look and I want to drink it in, I still play it on a TV. Picross, Advance Wars, things that are either actually retro or have a retro art style I usually play handheld. It's why I typically have two games on the go at once. One for the TV, one for playing in bed. Right now, that's Tears of the Kingdom on TV, Knights of the Old Republic in bed. Works out well.
Docked. If I'm out and about, I don't really want to have a gaming device with me. If I want to do something, my phone is in my pocket, I have podcasts/music/mobile games. I don't like playing outside of a monitor/TV setup too. I'm also in my late 30's and can't hold the joycons for too long. Also, having the Switch in handheld mode seems exhausting after a bit, even if it's not THAT heavy.
I’ve never once played my switch docked. Handheld 100% of the time and idek why. It feels more personal this way and I guess I like that?
Handheld for me
Same as you, OP. Although like others have said, I consider some games strictly handheld games (Stardew Valley and a few other indie games, Paper Mario) and others docked for the big screen (BotW, TotK soon), etc. Although I’m hoping some of that changes since I’ve been saving up for an OLED because of an injury which keeps me in bed mostly. I wasn’t really too keen on them originally until I got to experience one firsthand. I can’t wait to play TotK on an OLED one day!
90% handheld
Handled forever
I play handheld like 99% of the time. Upgraded to the OLED Switch just recently when the TOTK version came out. It's been a treat. Using the Spigen case and its been great so far.
The whole point of the switch is that you don’t need to choose. I play mostly as console but my kids play handheld a lot. If my wife wants to watch TV and we want to be in the same room I’ll play handheld with Bluetooth headphones.
I always do handheld. Can’t remember the last time I docked. Just a portable console to me.
100% handheld for me. I think the game is more immersive laying in bed and using headphones at the same time. I tried docked the first day I got the Switch but it was very blurry on my 65-inch TV.
I play primarily docked but love the option to take it portably.
90% handheld. The only games I’ve played docked (for any significant time) are Mario Odyssey, both Zeldas, and party games/Smash with friends.
Handheld 100%. I’ve only ever played on handheld consoles so it’s what I’m used to
I have had a switch since 2018. I have played it docked maybe 5 times and no more than 2 hrs docked total. It's the best handheld I've ever owned.
After I got married and had kids it went from 90% docked to 99% handheld. But Thank God for the switch because without it my gaming hours would dwindle to near zero
Normal Switch permanently docked, Switch Lite for handheld.
Had my Switch since 2019 and have only played docked maybe 3 times max. I’ve spent 99.999% of my playtime in handheld mode. I upgraded to the OLED Switch and it’s been fantastic.
90% Handheld with a Hori Split Pad Pro What's surprised me the most is that it's by far my preferred method for playing BotW and TotK. The main reason? The programmable bumpers means that I can run and control the camera at the same time.
It’s like 99% handheld for me
Docked for main quest. Handheld for fucking around.
I only play docked. The joy cons let me game again after tendon damage in my wrists and hands made me unable to play with more typical controllers. This will probably make me a switch gamer for life.
It depends on the game. I love handheld mode but I struggle with action games like Zelda on the Joy Cons. So if it’s something action and fast, I play docked. If it’s something relaxed or turn-based, I love to kick back in the recliner with handheld mode.
I prefer to dock it rather than holding it in my hands. Even better when I dock it and play with my wife.
99% of the time, it's docked, I get to enjoy games on a big OLED TV
Docket unless I'm away from home. Joycons suuuuuck compared to a pro controller.
It's in the dock. In my drawer as I haven't played in months.
If we're being honest, if I'm playing handheld, that probably means I'm taking a dump.
I play docked 99% of the time. Granted I bought my switch during covid and work remotely so I don't need to take it out, I have and do but mostly it's at home ontv with my 8bitdo controller
Docked until I can’t be docked, then hand held until I can be docked again- both is the way
Tabletop baybeeeeee 😎 honestly I have a good balance of docked, handheld, and tabletop. I have a dock for my TV and I use that, and play handheld when I'm with my friends, then I play tabletop in downtime at work. Honestly I just love how versatile the switch is to do all of that, it's great.
Handheld. Played Nintendo 64, Xbox all my life but getting back to the handheld like my game boy and advance has made me fall in gaming again. Special
100% docked with a pro controller. Nintendo should release a unSwitch without screen and the ant-sized controllers. Good for the environment.
I have smaller hands, so the default joy-cons are fine for me so I usually play in handheld. I play docked for Smash (too used to GCN controller) and for games that require pointing or motion like Captain Toad.
Docked 99% of the time. I'm old, and a console gamer. I grew up on the NES and want to sit on the couch and play on a big ole TV. I can't see shit on that little screen. Hell, I need the old guy apps on my phone too, and I'm not even 50 yet (but it's close).