Sell Your Nintendo Switch for the Best Price in the UK

The Nintendo Switch is too old to be worth anything now. That is what most people assume.

They are wrong. The Switch OLED is still fetching £130 to £180 in cash from UK buyback services. Even the original V2 model, launched in 2019, commands £80 to £120. A Switch Lite, the budget model that most people assume is barely worth posting? £50 to £80.

Nintendo hardware holds value better than any other console brand. This is not an opinion. It is a pattern that has repeated across every generation. The Wii, the 3DS, the original Game Boy — Nintendo consoles depreciate slower than PlayStation and Xbox equivalents, and the Switch is no exception.

But there is a window closing. The Switch 2 is on the horizon, and historically, Nintendo hardware values take their biggest hit once a successor actually launches. Right now, your Switch is at or near its peak second-hand value. In six months, that will not be true.

If your Switch has been gathering dust since you finished Tears of the Kingdom, this guide covers exactly what it is worth, how to prepare it, and where to get the best price.

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Why Nintendo Hardware Holds Value

Before we get into the numbers, it is worth understanding why a console from 2017 still commands decent money. It is not nostalgia. It is economics.

Scarcity of Supply

Nintendo has always been conservative with manufacturing. They produce fewer units than demand calls for, which keeps second-hand prices firm. The Switch OLED in particular had persistent stock issues during 2022 and 2023, which means the second-hand market never became flooded the way the PS5 market did.

Even now, with the Switch 2 approaching, retailers are not discounting Switch consoles aggressively. Nintendo controls its pricing more tightly than any other console maker.

Exclusive Games Hold the Platform Hostage

You cannot play Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing, or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on anything else. These are system sellers, and they remain system sellers years after release. A parent buying a Switch for their child is buying access to these games specifically. That sustained demand keeps the hardware valuable.

This is fundamentally different from PlayStation and Xbox, where most major titles are available on both platforms (and increasingly on PC). Nintendo exclusives are genuinely exclusive, and that makes the hardware they run on more valuable.

The Collector and Retro Market

Nintendo has a uniquely passionate collector community. Limited edition Switches (Animal Crossing edition, Splatoon edition, Zelda edition) command premiums even with cosmetic wear. Standard models get folded into retro gaming setups or kept as dedicated handheld devices. There is a market for Switches that goes beyond "I need something to play games on."

The Handheld Factor

The Switch is the only major console that works as both a home console and a portable device. The Steam Deck has entered this space, but it is a PC gaming device aimed at enthusiasts. For casual and family gaming on the go, the Switch has no real competitor. That unique positioning sustains demand.

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What Your Nintendo Switch Is Worth Right Now

Here are the current UK buyback prices for every Switch variant. These are what services like TechLoop pay in cash, not optimistic eBay listing prices.

Nintendo Switch OLED

The OLED model commands the best prices because it is the most recent, has the best screen, and is the version most buyers want. If you have the white model, it tends to fetch slightly more than the neon version due to demand.

Nintendo Switch V2 (2019 Revision — Red Box)

The V2 is identifiable by its red packaging and improved battery life over the V1. It is the most common Switch model on the second-hand market and still commands decent prices.

Nintendo Switch V1 (Original 2017 Launch)

The V1 is worth less than the V2 because of its shorter battery life and older hardware revision. However, there is an interesting niche: early V1 units with specific serial number ranges are vulnerable to homebrew exploits, which makes them valuable to the modding community. If you have a launch-day Switch, it could be worth more than these ranges suggest to the right buyer.

Nintendo Switch Lite

The Switch Lite is the lowest-value model because it cannot connect to a TV and has a smaller screen. But it still has an active market, particularly as a budget option for children or a second device for travel.

Accessories and Controllers

Do not overlook accessories. A pair of Joy-Cons and a Pro Controller can add £55 to £85 to your total payout. These are items most people would throw in the box for free, not realising they have independent value.

For your exact Switch value, get an instant quote on TechLoop. It takes about 30 seconds and the price is locked for 7 days.

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Joy-Con Drift and How It Affects Value

Let us address the elephant in the room. Joy-Con drift — where the analogue stick registers movement without being touched — is arguably the most common hardware fault in modern gaming. Nintendo has faced lawsuits over it. Almost every Switch owner has experienced it.

How Much Does Drift Reduce the Value?

Joy-Con drift reduces the value of your Joy-Cons, not the console itself. Here is the breakdown:

The console is a separate unit from the Joy-Cons. If your Joy-Cons drift but the console itself is perfect, the console retains its full value. This is why quoting a Switch "with Joy-Cons" versus "console only" produces different numbers.

Should You Fix Drift Before Selling?

Nintendo offers free Joy-Con drift repairs in the UK, but the turnaround time is 2 to 4 weeks. If you are planning to sell soon, waiting a month for a repair does not make financial sense — your console is depreciating while you wait.

Third-party replacement sticks cost about £8 to £12 per Joy-Con and are a relatively simple DIY repair if you are comfortable with small electronics. But if you are not, do not risk it. A botched repair can damage the Joy-Con further, reducing its value below what a drifting stick would have fetched.

For most people, the answer is: sell the Joy-Cons as-is, mention the drift when you get your quote, and let the buyer handle the repair.

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Selling Games: Bundle or Separate?

This is one of the biggest decisions Switch owners face, and the answer depends on what games you have and how much effort you want to invest.

Nintendo Games Hold Value Differently

Nintendo first-party games do not depreciate the way PlayStation and Xbox games do. A copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, released in 2017, still sells for £28 to £35 on the second-hand market. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom fetches £30 to £38. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is £20 to £28.

This is unusual. A PlayStation or Xbox game from 2017 would be worth £2 to £8. Nintendo games hold value because Nintendo rarely discounts them, so second-hand copies remain the cheapest way to play.

The Bundle vs Separate Comparison

The Recommendation

If you have 3 or more first-party Nintendo games in good condition, sell them separately. The per-game value on eBay or Facebook Marketplace is significantly higher than what a buyback service will offer in a bundle. A collection of 5 popular first-party games sold individually could net you £120 to £160 — far more than the £30 to £50 a bundle deal might add.

If your games are mostly third-party or indie titles, bundling them is fine. The individual resale value is low enough that the time spent creating separate listings is not worth it.

Sell the console through TechLoop for the guaranteed price and fast payment, and sell the games wherever gives you the best per-title return.

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Preparing Your Switch for Sale

Before you sell your Switch, you need to do a few things to protect your data and ensure the process goes smoothly.

Step 1: Back Up Your Save Data

If you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, your cloud saves are already backed up for most games. Check by going to System Settings, then Data Management, then Save Data Cloud. Make sure your important saves are uploaded.

Note: some games do not support cloud saves (Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the most notable). For those, the save data is stored only on the console and cannot be transferred except via a local console-to-console transfer.

Step 2: Delink Your Nintendo Account

This is critical. Your Nintendo Account gives access to your digital game purchases, eShop balance, and online subscription. You must delink it before selling.

1. Open the eShop from the home screen.
2. Select your profile icon in the top right.
3. Scroll down and select Deregister to remove the console as your primary device.
4. Go to System Settings, then Users, then select your user profile, and choose Remove User.

This delinks your account from the console. Your digital purchases and saves remain tied to your Nintendo Account and can be redownloaded on a new console.

Step 3: Remove Your microSD Card

If you have a microSD card in your Switch, remove it. The card is yours and is not part of the console sale. Any games or data on it are encrypted to your console and will not work on another device anyway, but the card itself has value and can be reused.

Step 4: Factory Reset

Go to System Settings, then System, then Formatting Options, then Initialise Console. This wipes everything: user data, saves, screenshots, downloaded games, Wi-Fi settings, and system preferences. The console returns to its out-of-box state.

Step 5: Clean It

A quick clean makes a surprising difference to how your console is graded. Use a microfibre cloth to wipe the screen and body. Clean the Joy-Con rails with a dry cotton bud. Remove any dust from the vents. A clean device looks better on inspection and can mean the difference between a "good" and "minor wear" grade.

Step 6: Gather Accessories

Collect the dock, HDMI cable, power adapter, Joy-Con grip, Joy-Con straps, and original box if you have it. Each accessory adds value to your total payout, and the original box can add £5 to £10 on its own.

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Where to Sell Your Nintendo Switch

Online Buyback Services

Services like TechLoop offer the most straightforward experience:

• Guaranteed price. Get a quote, accept it, and that is what you receive (assuming the condition matches your description).
• Free postage. You do not pay to send the device.
• Same-day payment. Once your Switch is received and inspected, you get paid the same day.
• 7-day price lock. Your quote holds for a week, giving you time to decide.
• Accept faulty devices. Drift, dead pixels, charging issues — all accepted at a fair price.

For most sellers, this is the easiest and most reliable option. No listing, no negotiation, no strangers.

eBay and Facebook Marketplace

Selling privately can net slightly more, especially if you have a limited edition console or a large game bundle. But you are dealing with:

• eBay fees: 12.8% final value fee plus payment processing.
• Buyer disputes: eBay's buyer protection heavily favours buyers, which is risky with used electronics.
• Time investment: Photos, listing, messages, packing, posting.
• Lowball offers: Expect many messages from people offering half your asking price.

If you enjoy the process and have time, private selling can work. If you want certainty and speed, a buyback service is better.

CeX

CeX accepts Switches and pays in cash or store credit. Cash prices are typically 15 to 25 percent lower than online buyback services. Store credit is higher but locks you into spending at CeX. The advantage is instant payment — you walk in, hand over the device, and walk out with cash. The disadvantage is a lower price. For a direct comparison of UK buyback sites, we have a separate guide.

Game (GAME)

GAME stores offer Switch trade-ins, but primarily as store credit toward new purchases. If you are buying a Switch 2 from GAME, the trade-in credit might be useful. If you want cash, GAME is not the best option.

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Timing Your Sale: The Switch 2 Factor

Here is the reality. The Switch 2 has been announced, and that announcement has already begun to affect second-hand Switch prices. Historically, Nintendo console values follow a predictable pattern around successor launches:

You are currently in the window where prices are beginning to soften but have not yet taken their biggest hit. The largest drop comes when the Switch 2 actually launches and tens of thousands of Switch owners sell their old consoles simultaneously, flooding the second-hand market and crashing prices.

If you are planning to sell, the best time is now. Not next month. Not when the Switch 2 comes out. Now, while demand still exists and supply has not spiked.

Get a TechLoop quote today and lock in your price for 7 days. If the market drops in that window, your price is guaranteed. You have nothing to lose by checking.

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Special Cases

Limited Edition Switches

If you have a special edition Switch (Animal Crossing, Splatoon 3, Zelda, Pokemon, or any other limited edition), it may be worth more than the standard model. Limited editions command a 10 to 30 percent premium depending on rarity and condition. Be sure to mention the specific edition when getting your quote.

Modded or Hacked Switches

If your Switch has been modified with custom firmware, it is important to disclose this. Some buyback services will not accept modded consoles. Others will, but at a reduced price. Attempting to sell a modded Switch as stock is risky — the modification is usually detectable during inspection and could result in a rejected or reduced offer.

Switch Without Joy-Cons

You can sell a Switch console on its own without Joy-Cons. The price will be lower (see the tables above), but it is a perfectly valid sale. If your Joy-Cons are in poor condition (severe drift, broken latches), it might actually make more sense to sell the console separately and bin or repair the Joy-Cons independently.

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The Bottom Line

Your Nintendo Switch is worth more than you think, and it is worth more right now than it will be in three months. Nintendo hardware holds value better than any other console brand, but that value is not permanent. The Switch 2 is coming, and when it launches, the second-hand market will flood.

Do not let your Switch follow the same path as every other piece of old tech: sitting in a drawer, losing value week by week, until you eventually bin it or give it away.

Get a quote on TechLoop, see exactly what your Switch is worth today, and make a decision based on real numbers. The price is locked for 7 days, the postage is free, and you get paid the same day your device arrives. Your Switch deserves better than the back of a cupboard.