Original Switch Model Updated with Better Battery Life

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  • Original Switch Model Updated with Better Battery Life

    No other changes mentioned.

    Nintendo revealed that they are releasing an updated version of their regular Nintendo Switch soon. The only mentioned differences are the improved battery life when compared to the original model of the Switch. That is it. There are no other differences mentioned.

    The good news is that the battery life upgrades are not insignificant. At present, Nintendo says that the current Switch (HAC-001) has between 2.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life, depending on what you're playing. The new model (HAC-001(-01)) will have 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life. Nintendo provides the example of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. On the current Switch, you can play for about 3 hours on the battery. On the new model, the battery will last closer to 5.5 hours.


    Switch Battery
    Left: Switch new (top) vs Switch old (bottom) | Right: Nintendo Switch Lite

    That's a significant improvement there. The changes to the battery life were shared via Nintendo Japan's website. It's also known that this updated Switch model will not be priced any differently than what the current price is for the Nintendo Switch. That means the price should remain right around the $300 (USD) mark.

    Just because some changes weren't announced doesn't mean there aren't other changes included. The better battery life has to come from somewhere. That somewhere may actually come from a more efficient CPU, more efficient storage, and an improved GPU. Nintendo had filed a Class II Permission Change with the FCC around the same time that they announced the cheaper, portable only Nintendo Switch Lite. You can actually see the Switch Lite's estimated battery life on the right in the image seen above. These upgrades may not necessarily produce better framerates, but thanks to advances in technology they could be what is producing the better battery life.

    Short of Nintendo announcing these hardware revisions are in this updated Switch model, we may just have to wait for a third party to do a hardware breakdown to find out for sure.

    • cikame
      #1
      cikame commented
      Editing a comment
      I was listening to the Giant Bombcast today and they mentioned a new line of Tegra chips that are smaller, more efficient, produce less heat etc, and they could use it to improve battery life :P.

    • Shawn Zipay
      #2
      Shawn Zipay commented
      Editing a comment
      This is apparently coming out in August. I hadn't seen that info until well after this went up today.

      cikame The new Tegra chips have been the rumor indeed. If that is what's happening here, I imagine Nintendo won't outright say it to the public because that would, more than likely, cause some confusion with consumers. Or people getting a Switch now thinking it's "not as powerful" as this upcoming revision will get upset or something. It's just easier to say it has better battery life and leave it at that.
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