I got to try the new $200 Nintendo Switch Lite before it arrives next month - here's how it compares to the original

The Nintendo Switch Lite will come in three colors: yellow, gray, and turquoise.

Yellow has been a common color for Nintendo's handheld consoles in the past — the GameCube came in a yellow variation called "spice."

The gray Nintendo Switch Lite is bit darker than the original Switch, and is closer in color to more traditional electronics.

The turquoise color was quite popular with other folks at the hands-on event, but it might be my least favorite.

The Switch Lite did feel noticeably lighter than the original Switch, and a bit sturdier without the detachable Joy-Cons. The software and games seemed identical to the original Switch.

I brought my own Switch for comparison with the Switch Lite. At first glance, the difference in screen size felt negligible.

The Switch Lite has a 5.5-inch screen from corner to corner, while the original Switch has a 6.2-inch screen. The Switch Lite has a smaller screen than the smallest iPhone XS, which is 5.8 inches across.

The Switch Lite owes its slimmer design to smaller controls, which became more clear when I took the Joy-Cons off the original Switch.

The Joy-Cons on the original Switch have built-in motion controls and are meant to serve as solo controllers, so it makes sense that they required extra space.

Without Joy-Cons, the Switch Lite doesn't have motion controls or HD rumble support, but it's much easier to hold in one hand.

The Switch Lite also has a traditional directional pad on the left, instead of the four direction buttons like on the Joy-Con. The Switch Lite has slightly smaller buttons overall, too.

The Switch Lite doesn't have a stand like the original Switch, so it will be tough to play games with a friend or use a different controller.

The Switch Lite offers three to seven hours of battery life, which is 30 more minutes than the original Switch released in March 2017. But the full Switch consoles released in August or later now have a battery of 4.5 to nine hours.

The Switch Lite has less moving parts than the original Switch, which will make it easier to travel with or leave hanging around the couch.

The portable-only Nintendo Switch Lite will be on sale September 20 for $200.