Nintendo is the least likely of the three platform holders to discount hardware, and Black Friday rarely changes that. What does happen is bundling — console packaged with a first-party title — and genuine, meaningful discounts on the accessory ecosystem, which is where most Switch owners actually end up spending.
The buy-or-wait question
What works
- Buy if: Nintendo's first-party library is the reason you want it. That is the reason the platform exists and it delivers
- You want a handheld that plays games nothing else plays
- You are buying for a household or a child — see the kids' setup guide
- Bundles this week frequently include a game you would have bought anyway
What doesn't
- Wait if: you are primarily buying for third-party ports. Performance there has been inconsistent — our assessment
- You are bothered by the key-card release format, which has been contentious
- You already own a capable handheld PC — the comparison
- You expect a hardware revision. Nintendo has historically revised, though nothing is announced
The storage problem
Switch 2 uses microSD Express, which is a genuinely faster and genuinely more expensive format than the standard microSD cards the original Switch used. Your old cards do not carry over for game storage, and the price per gigabyte is a real step up.
This is the accessory most Switch 2 owners underestimate, and Black Friday is the best pricing window it gets all year. Our platform-wide storage guidance is in the 2026 storage expansion guide and the Black Friday storage guide.
Accessories worth the week
- microSD Express storage. The one you actually need.
- A screen protector. Cheap, and the single highest-value protective purchase for a handheld.
- A carry case, if the console leaves the house. Our assessment of what protection actually prevents damage is in cases, skins and protection.
- Extra controllers, if you play locally. See couch co-op setup.
Our full accessory breakdown is in the Switch 2 accessories guide, and current library picks are in the best Switch 2 games.
What not to buy
Third-party dock replacements, oversized grip shells, and anything promising to improve performance. The Switch accessory market has more genuine junk in it than any other platform's, and Black Friday is when the junk is marketed hardest.