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[I collect VHS tapes]

I picked up an OLED Switch around Thanksgiving and have only used it in portable mode once. And that was just to see how pretty the OLED screen is.

The OLED screen is gorgeous, I just thought I would be using it in portable mode more. I find that if I plan on having some down time when venturing out of my house I'll just bring a book. I think I would honestly be embarrassed to use it out in public. I don't regret my purchase since BoTW has already made it worthwhile, but it got me curious as to how important this feature is for other people.

I remember the Switch commercials where people would be playing at the most random places like house parties or rock climbing gyms.

I live in a large city (Los Angeles) and have never seen someone playing with their Switch out in public. Do adults actually use the Switch like you see in the commercials or is portable mode mostly something to keep the kids occupied while you're waiting for the food to arrive at a restaurant?

 

[poppabk]

Speaking for my kids - but portable is pretty much the only mode they use.

 

[Sleepwalker]

my wife uses her oled portable only. I have a hacked one mostly only docked, never really use it portable.

 

[Con_Z_ǝdʇ]

100% docked. I bought it for the Nintendo games and not for the portability.

 

[Danjin44]

100% docked. I bought it for the Nintendo games and not for the portability.

Same, but I also play lots of long JRPG like SMTV and Xenoblade on Switch, so for me it’s portability is a god send.

 

[jshackles]

100% handheld, I think I even disconnected the HDMI port from my dock to plug something else in. Now the dock is just a charging dock.

 

[Con_Z_ǝdʇ]

Same, but I also play lots of long JRPG like SMTV and Xenoblade on Switch, so for me it’s portability is a god send.

It is kinda sad that i don't use this feature. But when i'm on the go i barely have time to focus on gaming.

 

[GigaBowser]

Only thing I like about it.

 

[kunonabi]

In theory I would love it but I can't stand the form factor for a handheld as it just doesn't suit my needs at all. I'd much rather just take my New 3DS with me.

 

[ljubomir]

Portable only. The most important feature of Switch to me, by far.

 

[THE DUCK]

Very, otherwise it's the most pathetically underpowered console of all time vs it's competitors. Still think a dock graphics booster would have been a good idea, even if sold separately.

 

[Lupin3]

I tend to only play docked, but my kids are using it all over the house. The perfect system for them.

 

[Indyblue]

It’s pretty important but the MAIN reason I got it is cause of Nintendo games.

 

[Mr Hyde]

It's very important. I play almost exclusively in handheld mode, even moreso with the new OLED. The tv is mostly reserved for the PS5.

 

[bender]

I like the portability for vacations but I never use it in handheld. The cabins I rent generally have a TV in them.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Is this only for Switch owners?

Portability is super important to me, but Nintendo's hardware and ever-shrinking 3rd party offerings are a complete turn-off to me. Which is why I pre-ordered a Steam Deck.

 

[ShadowLag]

I can't play games on handhelds any more, I just feel like I'm being cheated out of a bigger, better experience. Docked 100% for me, I just needed a Switch to play the exclusives.

 

[Kagoshima_Luke]

These days I'm mostly playing docked, but in the past I've taken it to work, on trips, etc. I was even playing FIFA with coworkers on breaks just like in the Switch commercials. It'd rate it as somewhat important.

 

[AJUMP23]

I like traveling with mine.

 

[Danjin44]

It is kinda sad that i don't use this feature. But when i'm on the go i barely have time to focus on gaming.

Thats the thing I never bring my Switch outside, when I talk about portability I mostly talking about bringing Switch to my bed and play games before going to sleep.

 

[StateofMajora]

Not at all important. I play docked exclusively.

 

[arvfab]

Almost only in portable mode. 80% of the time before sleep, 5% sitting beside my wife on the couch while she watches something uninteresting to me on the TV and rest of the time while sitting on my ceramic throne.

 

[Con_Z_ǝdʇ]

Thats the thing I never bring my Switch outside, when I talk about portability I mostly talking about bringing Switch to my bed and play games before going to sleep.

Awesome feature especially for those things. "I" only used the portable mode to banish my girlfriend away from the TV.

 

[Fbh]

I'm probably like 70% Docked 30% portable, so not all too important.
To me the biggest advantage of the Switch form factor is getting all Nintendo games on a single console.

 

[Deerock71]

Ever since I got a Series S and basically turned it into a gaming laptop, portability outside the house is currently ALL the OLED Switch has going for it. Glad it's an OLED!

 

[Andodalf]

I play it in bed almost exclusively

 

[TintoConCasera]

I never take mine outside but love playing it on portable mode. Very comfy

 

[lughnasadh123]

Important enough to get the Switch lite. The only reason I got it was to have a few games to play outside the house. Otherwise I'd get something typically cheaper on my PS5 or PC.

 

[Woopah]

Living in London I use it quite a bit on the Tube and buses. I also like that you can use the kickstand to play multiplayer games while on the train.

 

[SteelCurtain 59]

Basically the only time I ever use it in handheld mode is if there's a power outage or occasionally during March Madness if the only game on is a blowout. But like 99% of the time I'm playing on Switch I'm playing in docked mode. I was one of the rare people who's excitement about the Switch was games like Pokemon and Fire Emblem being playable on a TV instead of on a handheld

 

[GametimeUK]

It's super important to me in the absence of a dedicated Nintendo handheld device. I would prefer a more powerful home console along with a separate handheld, but it is what it is.

 

[Dee Dah Dave]

Very, it’s the reason why I don’t own one.

 

[BusierDonkey]

I'll never buy another console I can't take with me like the Switch. I have a PC for when I'm home and whenever I head out to the cabin in the summer or take a weekend trip to visit family the Switch goes in my bag.

 

[TwiztidElf]

When I have to go to the office with my long commute, very important.
Not so important for the last two years then. Docked 99%.

 

[Captain Toad]

If the Switch wasn't portable, I'd still have one because I like Nintendo first-party games, but I'd be PISSED with how far behind it is power-wise.

 

[Wooxsvan]

I only have a switch Lite so.... ya.

 

[cireza]

Switch Lite is the only way for me to actually enjoy this thing.

 

[Fluo]

Switch Lite cause it's yellow

 

[Horatius]

portability doesn't mean using it in places outside the house to me, i use the portable mode all the time while at home

lying in bed before falling asleep, sitting on the couch watching the nfl, pooping, etc.

it's amazing, genuinely made me think about getting the valve thing, having normal games be portable is amazin

 

[Astral Dog]

Its a very big part of its appeal

 

[ReBurn]

The main draw for portability is taking it with me when I travel. I have a Genki covert dock that I use to connect it to hotel TV's. I used to never play in portable mode until I got the OLED version. I like looking at the screen but being able to play in handheld mode on the go still isn't really a priority for me.

 

[Deerock71]

Is this only for Switch owners?

Portability is super important to me, but Nintendo's hardware and ever-shrinking 3rd party offerings are a complete turn-off to me. Which is why I pre-ordered a Steam Deck.

No. Clearly you csn come in and shill the Steam Deck too. Enjoy being plugged in constantly with your "portable".

 

[Kilau]

On the go™

 

[Joey.]

Very, very important to me - unless I’m playing with friends/family which is docked than I’m playing portable on my couch, most likely with my wife who is watching TV.

I don’t really play portable in the sense like at lunch at work, etc. But I love the fact that I can just take it wherever I want in my house.

 

[Punished Miku]

I play portable frequently. I dont have to stay in one room. I can play it literally anywhere I want.

 

[Dream-Knife]

I don't take my switch out of the house unless I'm taking it to a friends to play smash (rarely). I played SMT 5 almost entirely portably as I've come to enjoy those type of games in handheld. Same with MH: Rise last year.

Unless you're bringing a ton of power, it might as well be portable IMO.

 

[Coolwhhip]

Havent turned it on in over 2 years, so I use it mainly as a tv cabinet held.

 

[YukiOnna]

Docked only since it's a home console to me. I don't understand the concept of on the go even for handhelds so there's no reason for me to remove it.

 

[Smether]

Portability is the main reason I purchased it. At the time I had a crappy job where I had to travel a lot and time to game at home was none existent. Nintendo was also super strong with first party stuff right out of the gate so it wasn't hard to justify it.

 

[Kenpachii]

I see it as a handheld, i have no interest in a nintendo console.

However i never play it outside of my gaming room, so mobility isn't very important.