Nintendo’s Customer Appreciation Sale puts its own Switch 2 Camera at $37.99 through September 26, while two officially licensed HORI cameras currently cost less on Amazon. The question is not which sticker has the largest percentage off. It is whether this household will actually use GameChat video, and whether a basic 640 x 480 licensed camera is sufficient for its room and screen.
Quick answer
Skip a camera if you only need voice chat. For video, Nintendo’s $37.99 sale camera offers a wide adjustable view and automatic brightness. The $24.98 HORI USB model costs less for basic video; the $29.99 Piranha Plant adds character design and mounting options, not higher stated resolution. These are different products, not three prices for one camera.
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Lower-cost licensed route when basic GameChat video is enough
HORI USB Camera for Nintendo Switch 2
$24.98 $34.99
Character design and flexible mounting at a modest premium over HORI USB
HORI Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2
$29.99 $39.99
What the sale changes, and what it does not
Nintendo’s exact Switch 2 Camera page showed $37.99 against its $54.99 regular price when checked. The camera connects to the USB-C port on the Switch 2, has an adjustable wide-angle view and automatic brightness adjustment, and includes a privacy shutter. The promotion runs through September 26 at 8:59 p.m. Pacific time. Nintendo says offers vary by channel; this Nintendo Store price is not an Amazon price.
The $37.99 Nintendo Store offer is for Nintendo’s own camera. The Amazon cards above are two different HORI cameras with their own prices and features; they are not alternate listings for Nintendo’s camera or part of its advertised discount.
Choose by the way you will actually use video
- One or two people near a screen: first ask whether your existing setup needs video. For occasional GameChat, a licensed 640 x 480 HORI camera may be adequate; do not buy on the assumption that its image will match Nintendo’s wider, brighter-room positioning.
- A sofa group farther from the TV: the official Nintendo camera’s wide adjustable lens and automatic brightness are reasons to inspect it, especially at the sale price. Check the placement and lighting of your own room before committing.
- Handheld and tabletop play: both HORI models include a removable camera unit, cable and base. Check where the unit and cable will sit in the modes you use most.
- Privacy and appearance: the standard HORI USB camera has a sliding lens cover; the Piranha Plant’s mouth closes over its lens. Paying the extra $5.01 for the plant is an aesthetic and placement choice, not an upgrade to the stated 640 x 480 capture specification.
HORI USB Camera: the least expensive verified route
The exact Amazon listing for ASIN B0F63YW6V3 showed $24.98. HORI’s product information identifies it as officially licensed for Nintendo Switch 2, with a 640 x 480, 30fps camera and 85-degree view. It includes a flexible neck, sliding lens cover, base, USB-C cable and right-angle audio adapter. It can stand by the TV, clip to it, or attach to the console for handheld use. Choose it for a basic camera task and compact look, not for an unverified promise of high-definition video.
Piranha Plant: a visible character choice
ASIN B0F63XTRT8 showed $29.99 on Amazon. HORI specifies 640 x 480 at 30fps for this model too. Its flexible-neck plant can sit in a Warp Pipe-shaped base, clip above a TV or attach directly to the Switch 2; the mouth covers the lens. If the form factor makes the camera easier to place or is itself worth owning, the difference from the plain HORI model may be reasonable. If your priority is clearer group video, its different shell is not a resolution upgrade.
A purchase test before the sale ends
- Confirm that your household will use GameChat video or a camera-enabled game, rather than buying an accessory for a discount alone.
- Measure the distance from the intended mounting point to the players, and check whether a cable and base can remain in place.
- Compare the exact Nintendo Store $37.99 offer with the two Amazon offers for their own models, not as interchangeable listings. Delivery, seller, and availability belong to the final checkout.
- If the official camera’s wide-view and brightness features matter, inspect that product directly at Nintendo. If basic licensed video is enough, pick between the two HORI shapes and privacy covers.
FAQ
Is the HORI camera part of Nintendo’s 30% sale?
No such claim is established here. The Nintendo Store’s official camera offer and the two separately checked Amazon listings are different purchase paths.
Will either HORI model work with the original Switch?
HORI identifies both as designed for Nintendo Switch 2. Do not treat a search-result platform label as a compatibility promise for the original Switch.
Do I need a camera to use GameChat voice?
Nintendo describes a compatible USB camera as required for video features. A buyer who only wants voice should check the current GameChat requirements before buying camera hardware.