For those hoping there might be a hidden – or secret – way to output the Nintendo Switch Lite to a television or monitor, I have bad news. According to investigation work by YouTuber Jonathan Downey, “there’s nothing there to interpret and put out any type of video”.
“It appears that the hardware that is needed does not exist on the board, which is a semiconductor that’s required to interpret video,” Downey explained in a Switch Lite teardown video (thanks, VGC). “There’s nothing there to interpret and put out any type of video.
“So, unfortunately, for anyone who’s wondering if that would ever be possible if it gets hacked or something down the road, it does not appear to be the case from what I’m seeing.”
The Nintendo Switch Lite, which released on 20th September 2019, is a cheaper, portable version of Nintendo Switch that does not include the dock needed to play Switch games on your TV.
Other findings by Downey includes claims that the Switch Lite uses the same Joy-Con sticks as the original model – even though the Lite’s ones are not detachable – and the increased battery life is achieved chiefly by its more efficient processor. The Switch Lite also has a slightly smaller battery.