Nintendo Switch 1 Sells for $230 as 2026’s Cheapest New Console
Updated
Updated · Boy Genius Report · Oct 19
Nintendo Switch 1 Sells for $230 as 2026’s Cheapest New Console
3 articles · Updated · Boy Genius Report · Oct 19
Summary
$230 makes the original Nintendo Switch the lowest-priced new console in the U.S. in 2026, undercutting current-generation options even though it is now considered last-gen.
That lower entry price comes with trade-offs: Nintendo first-party games rarely get discounted, and upgrades can add $5 to $20 per title unless users pay about $20 a year for Switch Online.
$500 systems like the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series S cost far more upfront, while Sony and Microsoft partly offset higher prices with subscription libraries that can replace $60 to $80 game purchases.
Storage and accessories also narrow Nintendo’s price advantage, with a licensed 256GB microSD Express card for Switch 2 costing $60 and premium-style controllers sold separately.