Nintendo Announces New Version of Switch with Longer Battery Life
by Anton Shilov on July 17, 2019 2:00 PM EST
Nintendo has announced a new version of its Switch game console that features a considerably longer battery life than the first-generation model. The new console likely uses new components that feature a lower power consumption and therefore the gaming device can work for longer durations on one charge.
The new Nintendo Switch console has the same features as the original one (handheld mode, tabletop mode, TV mode, Joy-Con controllers, etc.) and looks exactly the same too. The company does not disclose precise specifications of the unit, but only says it can work for 4.5 – 9 hours on one charge, up from 2.5 – 6.5 hours in case of the previous-gen model.
Since it is hard to increase capacity of a battery by 80% in a short period of time without increasing its physical dimensions, it is more than likely that the product is actually based on a version of NVIDIA’s Tegra X1 SoC made using a more advanced (12 nm or 16 nm) process technology and featuring the same lower power consumption that we reported about a week ago on the new Switch Lite.
Since the new model with better battery life looks the same, it remains to be seen how Nintendo plans to differentiate between the two versions of its Switch consoles from the older ones in terms of hardware packaging. The original version carries the HAC-001 model number (with serial numbers starting from XAW), whereas the new SKUs will feature the HAC-001(01) model number (with serial numbers beginning from XKW).
The new Nintendo Switch game console will carry the same $299.99 MSRP as the original device and will be available in the near future.
Related Reading:
- Update: Nintendo Reveals Handheld-Only Switch Lite, With a New NVIDIA SoC
- Playing With Power: A Look At Nintendo Switch Power Consumption
- Nintendo Switch Hardware Launch Details - 32GB w/Expandable Storage, 6.2” 720p Screen, 2.5 to 6.5 Hour Battery Life
- Nintendo Announces Switch Portable Gaming Console - Powered by NVIDIA Tegra
Source: Nintendo, Nintendo Twitter (via Gizmodo)
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cfenton - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
The low end run time is a big improvement. 2.5 hours won't even cover many domestic flights, but 4.5 hours will get you most of the way from New York to LA. I carry a power bank with me when I travel, so it's not a big deal, but it's a nice upgrade for people who don't have a Switch.Kumouri - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
One of my favorite things I learned about the Switch after getting it (I didn't do much research, I got it for the exclusives XD) was that it used a normal USB-C port for charging and that I can charge it with the external battery I already carry around for my phone (from when I played way too much Ingress XD).xchaotic - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
During the short time I had the Switch, I found that the Switch wouldn't charge from some smaller powerbanks, it wouldn't charge from the airplane USB charger either. Was this a general thing or just my unit?cfenton - Thursday, July 18, 2019 - link
It needs quite a bit of power to charge while in use. I use a power bank with a USB-C port that supplies 5V at 3amps and that works fine. My smaller one with a regular 5V at 2.4amp output won't charge it faster than it discharges in use. I suspect the smaller one is not actually putting out 5V at 2.4 amps as advertised.mkozakewich - Tuesday, July 23, 2019 - link
Back when it first launched, the things I read seemed to indicate it wouldn't draw more than 2 A, which meant you'd need a 9 V charger to supply enough W. I don't know if they updated the firmware since then to allow 3A charging at 5 V. It would have been a good idea, because otherwise that cuts out all of the previous USB stuff.Samus - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
Interestingly I've had a switch for 2 years, and never run out of power even on transatlantic flights.But I don't play breath of the wild. I play the indie titles like dead cells and bloodstained that use like no resources.
Manch - Friday, July 19, 2019 - link
The Nintendo PS and most well made chargers/battery packs are a non issue. Make sure to use a USB C cable with a 56k Ohms. The Switch does not properly conform to the USB High PD spec. If the charger or batt pack is shit, it can burn out your Switch. Make sure you get a good USB C cable(56k Ohms resistor) to prevent this.quorm - Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - link
I wonder if there will be a new shield released as well.WJMazepas - Thursday, July 18, 2019 - link
Probably. The rumor was that the only SoC being produced in 20nm in TSMC was the Tegra X1. Now with every Tegra going to 16nm or 14nm they probably going to release a new model too.Or just update with new Tegra and thats it
matagyula - Thursday, July 18, 2019 - link
"the new Switch Lite." link leads nowhere :(