About 10 hours ago (at time of posting) Nintendo announced the switch has "better battery life" than ever before.
It appears the rumored under the hood changes have been confirmed.
newer versions have different model numbers and packaging.
New version releases in August in US, September in EU… no confirmed date for Aus release as yet
Version info can be found here:
https://www.vooks.net/new-switch-model-announced-with-a-mass…
Exactly what I was thinking. Updating a battery to a higher capacity is hardly news.
But it's the same price…how can you not be excited about them pretty much doubling the battery life? 5.5 vs 3 hours BOTW handheld is pretty good..
If a phone manufacturer doubled its battery life keeping the same form factor and price, it would be big news.
the update is more than just the battery if the rumors are true.
Updated SoC (chipset), ram type and ability to offer larger storage capacities
Rumors most likely true as the updated hardware would lead to improved battery life.
and i play my Switch handheld probably 80% of the time
That would make sense, as a chance in these thing could yield better battery life.
And I'm the opposite. I hate that the Switch isn't available as a stand alone console. Mine has only ever been out of the cradle for installing it and removing the controllers sometimes. I like the idea that is it portable, but have never played it outside of it being docked.
Updated SoC (chipset), ram type and ability to offer larger storage capacities
Remember that updating the SoC doesn't always mean better performance, could just be the same performance but a better battery life.
Despite all the changes, I don't see anything noticeably improving the performance. Not that it needs it, but there are certain games where it could help.
No. Most people play the switch in handheld
I very rarely play it docked
TLDR:
52% both
30% undocked*
18% docked*
* Meaning used in that one mode at least 80% of the time, according to Nintendo of America's stats gathered over the internet
Personally I think this is partly a generation gap. People in their 30s like myself value the big-screen dark-room couch experience, because we grew up at a time when the hardware capabilities of portable gaming where much worse than home PC/consoles (or nonexistant). Younger people are stuck on trains and waiting for their parents more and game whenever they can. Older people see train play time on a tiny screen with distractions all around as less valuable, and are more likely to read a book on their phones or something.
I like how when I’m in the middle of classic mode on smash and it’s time to leave for work, I can just pause and take it with me rather than leave the console running until I get home. Genius design.
I don't know about that. I'm in my 30s and have spent most of by gaming life playing handheld. Good graphics ≠ good game
Every time there is a switch post there are all these comments from people who don’t have one about why it is wrong in some way.
It surprises me. I don’t own an xbox but I can use my imagination to see improvements to the system are a positive.
Check out the two new controller colour combinations and you'll learn how to complain about things you never will own. :p
all these comments from people who don’t have one
I have one and can safely say that the only time I have mine out of the dock was to take it out of the box it came in to set it up. I wish they would do a switch console that was just that, a console. No screen, no battery. That would be news. But if their biggest news is improved battery life, colour me unimpressed. I certainly won’t be rushing out to buy this version.
I'd buy a non-portable switch.
Save your screen/battery/joycons and instead give me a pro controller and a discount.
Hell, for a small black cube and a pro controller, I would literally throw money at them.
give me a pro controller and a discount.
Nearly bought one during the Prime sale, even with all the discounts and $10 off code it was still $70 delivered. I just couldn't see it as a bargain and didn't proceed.
Hmm these must be the new batch made in Vietnam ones.
Yeah, I've had the Switch for about a year now and I'd completely forgotten that it's portable. It's got some quality games on there which demand a full size controller and screen.
Yes like Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, I think after completing this game my joycon now has the drift issue too lol
More battery life is great and all, but don't most people play the Switch docked?