Here’s where you can buy a Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch was, like most consoles during the pandemic, once in short supply. Thankfully, retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart now routinely stock the Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and upgraded Switch OLED model in multiple color configurations, giving those who struck out ample opportunity to purchase Nintendo’s versatile console.

If you’re not sure where you can pick up a Switch as of right now, we’ve vetted stock and rounded up where you can purchase the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite, and the new Nintendo Switch OLED model online and in-store. We’ve also scoured the web for any bundle that seems like a good deal, as well as discounts that might be applicable.

Where can I buy a Nintendo Switch right now?

If you’re looking to pick up the standalone console with red and blue Joy-Cons, you can do so for $299.99 at Best Buy, Target, Amazon, and Woot. The latter retailer is also offering Amazon Prime members $20 off the console, dropping the final sale price to $279.99. If you prefer the model with the gray Joy-Cons, it’s currently available at Best Buy, Target, and GameStop for $299.99, its typical retail price. If you’re looking for a bundle, Amazon is selling a package with red and blue Joy-Cons and a 64GB SanDisk microSD card for $312.82 ($7.16 off). If you need additional storage, Amazon is also offering one with a 128GB microSD card for $319.85, a $15 discount, and one with a 256GB SanDisk microSD card for $340.49, an $12 discount. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Edition of the Nintendo Switch is also available for purchase at GameStop, Target, and Best Buy for $299.99, its usual retail price. If you’re not against buying a preowned or refurbished console, you’ll want to check out GameStop and Nintendo’s online store, where you can often find deals on refurbished Switch consoles. Right now, for instance, GameStop is selling first and second-gen models for up to $20 off.

Where can I buy a Nintendo Switch Lite right now?

The Nintendo Switch Lite has a lot in common with the standard Switch, aside from a few key differences. The Lite only functions as a handheld console — meaning you can’t hook it up to your TV — and it’s smaller, lighter, and sturdier than its dockable counterpart. It also features a D-pad and can play all the same games, except those that require detachable Joy-Con controllers (which are very few). Regardless, it's a great handheld system for those who prefer to game on the go.

Amazon, Best Buy, and most other major retailers all currently carry the Nintendo Switch Lite as a standalone console, though, colors are limited. Amazon is selling the turquoise and blue models for $199.99, their usual MSRP, and Walmart is selling the pink version for the same price. Target also has the turquoise Switch Lite in stock for $199.99, while Best Buy is selling the turquoise, pink models, and blue models for the same price. Amazon, meanwhile, is selling the Switch Lite alongside a 64GB SanDisk microSD card for $213.81, a $6 discount. If you want more storage, you can also buy the Switch and a 256GB microSD card for $241.98 ($11 off) or a 128GB SanDisk microSD card for $220.84, a $14 discount. Note that, regardless of which bundle you choose, the color selection is limited. If you don’t mind paying for a bundle, Adorama is selling the turquoise Nintendo Switch Lite with Animal Crossing: New Horizons and a 128GB microSD card for $289.99. If you prefer a different title, the same bundle is available with Metroid Dread for $293.97. Adorama is also is selling the Pokémon-inspired edition with a 128GB microSD card, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond, and Pokemon Shining Pearl for $359.99. Nintendo

Where can I buy a Nintendo Switch OLED model right now?

The Nintendo Switch OLED officially went on sale in October for $349.99, and offers a slew of improvements, most notably a vibrant 7-inch OLED display and an improved kickstand that offers far greater stability. The speakers get a bit louder and offer a touch more clarity, too, and there’s a wired ethernet port built directly into the dock.

While the supply is starting to catch up with demand, the Switch OLED model can still be relatively difficult to come by. Right now, however, you can pick up the model with either the white or red and blue Joy-Cons at Best Buy for $349.99, its standard retail price. Both the red and blue and white configurations are also available at Amazon, though, the latter with delayed shipping.

What accessories do I need to buy for the Nintendo Switch?

Frankly, the Switch comes with everything that you need to get started and have fun. However, a few extra purchases can help you get a little more out of your console, and in some cases, help it weather the wear and tear that it’ll undoubtedly endure.

First off, a microSD card will help you extend your Switch’s default 32GB of storage, especially with each game ranging in download size from 1GB to tens of gigabytes. At Amazon, a 400GB microSD card will currently set you back $44.99, which is 36 percent off the typical price retail price. SanDisk’s microSD cards are also on sale in other size configurations, including a 200GB model for $24.99, which is still large enough that you should have little trouble storing several titles.

Let’s talk quickly about controllers. The Switch Joy-Cons have a somewhat unconventional look. Nevertheless, the Pro Controller is a great alternative to play most Switch games, though some Mario Party titles require the Joy-Cons to play. If you are looking for a Switch Pro Controller, Amazon, GameStop, and Best Buy all currently have the controller available for around $69, which is the full MSRP.

The Switch doesn’t include a screen protector, so make that one of the first things you buy.Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Next up, get a tempered glass screen cover. The display on the Switch and Switch Lite is covered in plastic, and it’s just asking to get scratched as soon as you take it out of the box. Save the heartbreak by getting an affordable, easy-to-apply glass cover at Amazon. Right now, for example, you can pick up two Orzly glass screen protectors for $9.61.

If you want to play online with friends, ensure your data is backed up to the cloud, and get access to a slate of on-demand games from the original Nintendo console and SNES console era, you’ll want to get a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. It’s $19.99 per year for a single user on a console or $34.99 a year for up to eight users on different consoles.

For those looking for more retro gaming, Nintendo also recently introduced the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription tier, which provides access to classic Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games for an annual fee. An individual subscription will run you $49.99 a year, while a shared family plan will cost you $79.99 a year. The list of available games is continually growing, but it currently includes the likes of Golden Axe, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and a host of other popular titles from the heyday of both consoles.