I'm still using the original Switch in 2026. It simply works since everything else has become too complicated.

      My original Switch should have been retired by now. It features thick bezels, an aging display, diminished battery life, and the unmistakable wear of a device that has endured too many travels in backpacks. When placed alongside Switch 2 and the latest generation of handheld PCs, Nintendo’s first hybrid console seems severely outmatched.

      Yet, I continue to reach for it.

      My expectations aren’t extraordinary. I want to power it on and begin playing before my brain starts tracking battery life. I still use the old console in 2026 because it’s almost frustratingly straightforward.

      That shouldn’t seem revolutionary. Yet, it does.

      Simplicity remains a key feature

      A low benchmark, undoubtedly. Portable gaming has impressively discovered ways to complicate things. The Switch 2 is the clear upgrade, and Nintendo’s newer model presents a compelling hardware case. However, it retails for $449.99, which isn't exactly an easy choice when my old Switch already carries my library of purchased games.

      Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends

      The PC-based competitors make a valid argument as well, especially devices like the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally X. They’re quicker, more defined, and significantly better at making my old Switch resemble a lunchbox with controls. On paper, they seem to prevail effortlessly.

      In practice, however, things become less straightforward.

      Greater power means more tasks

      Increased capabilities also entail more management while playing. A handheld PC can be exceptional but can also introduce Windows, launchers, battery metrics, storage balancing, graphics settings, update alerts, and the nagging feeling that I should invest 20 minutes fine-tuning a game before I can truly enjoy it.

      That’s fantastic for those who appreciate having control. Sometimes, I do as well. I’m not suggesting my Switch could compete against an ROG Ally X and triumph in terms of specifications without causing some embarrassment.

      Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

      But therein lies the point. My Switch doesn’t demand optimization from me. It simply sits there, a bit dusty, awaiting my use. And this comes from someone who genuinely enjoys adjusting settings.

      Sufficient quality is undervalued

      The real genius is that Nintendo’s original Switch has found utility in a straightforward, resilient manner. It feels familiar. It’s portable enough. It boasts years of games, spanning Nintendo’s first-party classics to indie titles that still work well on a small display. Its greatest asset in 2026 isn’t the Tegra chip; it’s the knowledge of what to expect when I undock it.

      Nintendo continues to enrich that game library in quirky ways. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen were added to the Switch in February as standalone titles, bringing two Game Boy Advance games from 2004 into the same eShop as the company's latest hardware. That’s quintessentially Nintendo, for better or worse. It also sheds light on why my old Switch feels perpetually unfinished.

      I don’t long for 2017. I yearn for a device that already understands its purpose. My games are intact. My saves are safe. So is that familiar click when I attach the Joy-Cons.

      The original Switch isn't excelling in 2026 by being the top handheld. It’s thriving by being the least demanding device in the space.