Do you mostly use your Switch docked or Handheld?

[MadisonSteel]

I usually do docked. I like the big screen. But sometimes I do handheld.

 

[Sheep]

Handheld! My partner and I don't have the biggest TV (and I don't have a TV at all at my parents' place) so handheld is always much better and more comfortable. \o/

 

[Poke Dragon]

Due to the flimsy internet connection on first-party games, I used handheld most of the time, but now that Nintendo finally replaced their really old server provider (no really, it's 18 years old) with a much newer one, I might start playing docked more.

 

[Neyo]

Docked because I’m paranoid that I’ll drop and break it.

 

[Greninjaman]

I have changed my vote. I only play handheld now. It's just easier for me and lets me see the screen better.

 

[Ebail]

Aside from the first hour I'd owned Pokemon Let's Go Eevee, and about 30 minutes of Super Mario Odyssey I've played/only play handheld. To me it's just like playing a bigger Gameboy Advanced (with much better graphics, of course) and after playing Pokemon for over 20 years strictly portable (aside from side games like Stadium) it feels odd to play it anyway besides playing it handheld still.

 

[farewell friend]

I mostly use my Switch in table-top mode.

 

[FinalArcadia]

Docked probably 85% or more. I only go handheld if I'm exercising on a stationary bike or in few other situations. And my Switch never leaves the house. If I have the power to play games on my TV, I'm going to do that, especially when the Switch is not that comfortable to actually hold in handheld and I think it's way too big for me to even really think of it as handheld at all. PSP-size is about the upper limit for a handheld size-wise for me.

 

[Plaid]

I prefer to play in docked mode whenever possible (though Joy-Con drift has semi-defeated my ability to play in handheld mode as it is until I can do something about that). I was pretty tickled about the idea of a mainline series (and a Pokémon Mystery Dungeon) game on the big screen at last, and have really liked playing Rescue Team DX on the TV. Puyo Puyo Tetris is one of a few games that I don't mind playing in handheld, however.

 

[Isaac the Investigator]

Docked, since Joy-con drift is a bitch

 

[CuboneKing]

Handheld like 90% of the time, I only really play docked when I’m playing with friends or experiencing a new game

 

[indigohex3]

I got a Switch Lite, so I can only play in handheld, which I prefer.

 

[Arylett Charnoa]

Docked, because the joycons' tiny, hard buttons hurt my fingers after a period of extended play. I don't play it enough either to buy third party joycons that are better designed. This may change with the release of Legends Arceus [which is my first Pokemon game on the Switch due to my lack of interest in the previous entries], but I still plan on playing mostly docked due to my controller of choice [PS4] being far more comfortable.

 

[RexMissingno]

Usually handheld. I don't mind playing it docked and I have it set up for when my friend comes over, but I can sit more comfortably with it handheld.

 

[R1ke]

Honestly handheld, cause someone else is usually using the tv or would be able to see everything I’m playing. It feels kinda weird cause they’d always be commentating over my gameplay.

 

[Okido]

I have no problem playing in handheld sometimes, but I mostly play it docked. I just think it's more comfortable that way, since it's easier for me to see and I can use whatever controller I want without it being a hassle.

In Pokémon specifically, I greatly prefer docked mode for most things, but I always switch over to handheld when doing something tedious like hatching eggs or soft resetting. Handheld just feels better for that. It always feels a little weird seeing it on my TV, and it probably looks even weirder to someone watching it :р

 

[Puddle]

I bought my Switch second hand without the dock to save a bit of money. I used tabletop mode sometimes when I first got it, but lately I've been using handheld mode almost exclusively. I bought a Hori Split Pad Pro because the joy cons were drifting.

 

[Dorothy]

Mine's a lite so I don't really have a choice.

 

[TheCapsFan]

-snip from December 2020-

My, how things have changed.

I used to play docked most of, if not all of the time. Although by last year's Switch Year in Review, this remains true, the actual ratio was about 55/45 docked/handheld. However, in more recent months, my play has shifted more and more towards handheld (partially as a result of my sister not being home anymore, so I only have one dock available to me that I keep on the downstairs TV).

The bigger reason for this, however, is that I upgraded to an OLED. And man, does that really make a difference in how I play! It's a lot more fun to play in handheld with the brighter and more vibrant screen, as you might expect, but another feature that often goes unnoticed is the improved kickstand! Now, it's far easier and more comfortable to play in tabletop mode (which is technically still handheld mode) for those times when I just want to use a nice controller, or if my hands hurt from holding the Switch (which, yes, this does happen sometimes - moreso with my Switch than with my 3DS, actually. I think it's because the system gives off more heat). The incredibly flexible kickstand also allows me to play it in bed in tabletop, if I wanted to, by propping it up on top of a pillow or something like that.

So, yeah, my answer shifted in this poll in the last year. Kinda cool!

 

[pokemoll]

Personally I prefer playing in docked mode because my hands start to hurt from holding my Switch for even shorter periods of time in handheld mode, though I don't get to do so as often as I would like as my nephews are almost always at my house, and if they don't have access to the TV, they start screeching. ^_^; So whilst it isn't my first choice, I tend to play in handheld mode more.

I did used to have my Switch set up in my bedroom, where I almost always played in docked mode... however, that changed when my mum asked for Ring-Fit for her birthday, and I had to relocate downstairs. Maybe one day I'll invest in getting her a Switch of her own so that I can have my sweet, sweet docked mode back.