Nintendo just launched its newest special-edition Switch Lite, this time channeling the power of the Triforce for a lavish golden design fit for its Hyrule Edition naming scheme. This new version of the handheld brings a Hylian theme to the console that we already love, alongside some extra goodies that make a great value.
This special-edition Switch Lite channels some Hylian vibes so you can play Zelda games in style. It sports a gorgeous gold design complete with a Triforce insignia and even includes a year of Nintendo's premium online membership service.
A closer look at the Switch Lite’s Zelda-themed design
The whole story with the new Hyrule Edition of Switch Lite is the design. The handheld still features a 5.5-inch screen with a 1,280-by-720 resolution and packs up to six hours of battery life on a single charge. It’s the same console that we loved back when it launched, still performing like a champ for playing games like Breath of the Wild or the newer Tears of the Kingdom.
Nintendo Switch Lite Hyrule Edition.
This time around, Nintendo is just applying a new coat of paint. And boy, is it pretty. It’s all right if I call a gaming console pretty, right? Because this one certainly is. The golden design is so unmistakably Zelda: It plays off the chromed design of the original cartridge for The Legend of Zelda on the NES, just swapping that old-school foil effect for a pearlescent finish. Still, it looks fantastic now that I’ve got the console in-hand.
The golden color pairs with a few extra embellishments, including a small Triforce logo underneath the right joystick. Flipping the handheld over shows an even bigger inclusion to be excited about. The entire back of the console is filled up with a giant Hylian Crest, mkaing this special edition even more exciting.
What else is included with the Hyrule Edition
The Zelda-themed Switch Lite might be the star of the show, but you also get some extra goodies in the box. The companion USB-C wall charger is, of course, an expected inclusion, but Nintendo sweetens the pot even more. In addition to the special-edition console, you also get a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership.
It’s the elevated version with the expansion pack too! That means you’ll get access to all the usual features the paid membership offers, like cloud saves, the ability to play multiplayer games online and access to a curated library of over 100 NES, SNES and Game Boy titles. Plus, you get all the perks of the expansion, such as various N64, Game Boy Advance and Sega Genesis games, as well as access to DLC for games like Animal Crossing, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and more. All that would normally cost you an extra $50 per year.
Bottom line
The new Switch Lite Hyrule Edition console might have launched alongside the just-released game, Echoes of Wisdom, but there’s something here for all Zelda fans. I’m a more recent convert to the Nintendo franchise after sinking over 500 hours into Breath of the Wild. That affinity for the series alone made this themed handheld worth adding to my collection.
And when I say “collection,” I sure do mean it. I’ve been collecting these limited-edition console releases from Nintendo for years. I have the recent Animal Crossing versions of Switch Lite, the Splatoon OLED model and even the themed Skyward Sword Joy-Con controllers. But out of all of them, the golden stylings of this new Zelda model really stands above the rest. It’s so ornate, it’s so Hylian and it’s just so cool.
The handheld is also a solid value. Normally you’d pay $200 for one of the standard designs of the Switch Lite. Throw in a year of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership and you’re looking at another $50. This new bundle on the other hand retails for $210. So not only do you get that special design right out of Hyrule Kingdom but you get it all for $40 less than if you buy the console and its companion membership separately.
This is the perfect way to dive into Nintendo’s latest generation of consoles if you somehow haven’t gotten your hands on a Switch yet. And with the holidays right around the corner, it’s also a great gift for the Zelda fan in your life.
