Looking for where to buy a Nintendo Switch? Yep, so are many of us right now. The Nintendo Switch stock situation has been a bit of a rollercoaster over the last few months, as incredible demand and supply chain issues have created a serious bottleneck. The good news in the situation is improving, so do take a look below for all the latest availability.
For folks in the US, there are very few Nintendo Switch consoles out there. Amazon and Best Buy regularly have it in stock, but it's also unavailable for short periods of time. As for the UK, is much more widely available with all the major retailers and specialist stores currently stocking the Switch console. You can even find a few good value Nintendo Switch deals.
Of course, we're expecting this situation to improve even further with Black Friday 2021 getting underway throughout November. We've started tracking the Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals that have already made their way to stores and will be the first to bring you all the best offers once even more Black Friday sales go live.
Meanwhile, the hunt for Nintendo Switch OLED stock is even harder - that latest version of the console is currently sold out everywhere.
However, if you're not after the main Switch, you can also find the latest Nintendo Switch Lite deals and sales available as well. We're also bringing you the best cheap Pro Controller prices as well so you can get the full experience.
Where to buy a Nintendo Switch in the US
- Check for stock at Amazon
- Check for stock at Best Buy
- Check for stock at B&H Photo
- Check for stock at Dell
- Check for stock at Adorama
- Check for stock at Newegg
- Check for stock at GameStop
- Check for stock at Walmart
Where to buy a Nintendo Switch in the UK
- Check for stock at Amazon
- Check for stock at Currys
- Check for stock at Very
- Check for stock at Argos
- Check for stock at John Lewis
More Nintendo Switch stock
Why is the Nintendo Switch selling out?
It's a combination of a few factors: the global pandemic has led to a rush of people buying the console to fill their hours indoors, which isn't surprising. At the same time, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has released, a long-awaited game and a massive crossover hit that's captured the imaginations of a wider, mainstream audience. The Switch has been regularly selling out for a while now. This has just exacerbated the issue.
In addition, back in February, Bloomberg posted a report warning that a potential bottleneck with component supplies coming out of China (caused by coronavirus) would see stock dry up as soon as April. If the reasoning mentioned in that report was correct, it looks like they were pretty on the money with the timing, except stock looks like it'll be gone even faster than that.
"Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the US, but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience," is what Nintendo told THR in a statement. So, more stock is on the way. But when will you you be able to buy a Nintendo Switch?
When will the Nintendo Switch be back in stock?
The situation is hard to predict given that Nintendo has reportedly faced supply line issues over the current health crisis, but Nintendo intends to make 10% more consoles than it did in 2019 to help meet the increase in demand (assuming its supply lines can keep up). A Nintendo representative told Nikkei, though, that it can't be sure how many Switch units will be supplied as it procures parts for the console.
Our prediction? The Switch will be hard to get hold of all year, but we'd be surprised if we see many more new units released as parts of the world are in lockdown. We're hopeful we'll see the Switch more readily available in the summer months.
Again, this is just our best guess, but you can be guaranteed that when the Switch does come back, folks will be rushing to claim the new consoles. It's very likely to sell out again.
In the meantime, our advice is to avoid being gouged by third-party sellers who are inflating the price. $299.99/£279.99/AU$469 is the MSRP/RRP for the regular Switch, while $199.99/£199.99/AU$329 is the price for the Switch Lite. Paying above that isn't worth it unless you're picking up a bundle with games and accessories.
Where to buy Nintendo Switch when stock returns
As soon as those consoles hit that warehouse, retailers are going to want to get them on the shelves. And you can bet they'll be flying into delivery trucks just as quickly. If you hear word that the Nintendo Switch is back in stock in the US, Amazon and Walmart will be your best bet.
With massive warehouse inventories, speedy delivery, and quick checkout processes, these retailers are primed to pick up your Nintendo Switch order ahead of the queue. Plus, in all our time covering Nintendo Switch bundle deals, these stores have consistently won out in value, meaning you're more likely to grab some extras for your cash.
In the UK, Currys and Game are likely to offer the first bundles of the pack, though don't underestimate the power of Argos same day delivery if you want your console now. We'll likely see the best prices come out of Currys, who are normally reluctant to increase the cost of the console as demand reaches its peak, and if you're looking for the fastest checkout times to secure yours before everyone else, you'll want to keep an eye on Amazon as well.
If stock has already been wiped clean at these retailers by the time you get there, you'll still be left wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch. Luckily, plenty of non-tech retailers stock the Nintendo Switch as well, so you'll have luck with John Lewis, Jacamo and Studio among others.
In Australia, Amazon is likely your best bet, though it's worth keeping an eye on other online stores, such as Kogan and eBay. While it might take a while, big retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Big W are also likely to receive new stock, and game retailers such as EB Games and The Gamesmen are also expected to get more units soon.
Don't leave yourself wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch on the day, get prepped now and you have every chance of bagging one when the masses flock to the shelves.
Right now, you're more likely to find a Switch Lite than you are a regular Switch, but stock is still selling out fast. Here's a quick price comparison chart for the Switch Lite:
