Update: The Switch Is Getting Better Battery Life, Upgraded CPU and More Storage Space
Posted on July 17 2019 by Charles Xavier
Update: As reported by Kotaku, Nintendo Japan has listed an upcoming Switch model with better battery life on its website. This new model will be priced the same as the current model and will release in the US and other territories mid-August. The new Switch model, number HAC-001(-01), will have a battery life between 4.5 and 9 hours, depending on the title. In contrast, the current model has a battery life between 2.5 and 6.5 hours.
Better battery life, along with the upgraded CPU and storage space, demonstrates that Nintendo still intends to update the current Switch model with iterative improvements.
Original: Following yesterday’s announcement of the Nintendo Switch Lite, news also broke that the standard Nintendo Switch will be getting a few upgrades. According to recent filings to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the original Switch will soon have a new processor and flash storage chips.
Nintendo filed for a “Class II Permission Change”, which is essentially a request to alter an existing gadget without having to go through the hurdle of recertification for sale in the United States. The request cryptically lays out the changes as so:
- Change of SoC type
- Change of NAND type
- CPU board is changed due to the above components
What exactly does this mean? “SoC” is apparently referring to the Switch’s System-on-Chip, aka the Nvida Tegra processor which contains its CPU and graphics. Concurrently, “NAND memory” is merely a fancy term for flash storage space in a solid-state drive.
Keep in mind, this isn’t the rumored improved version of the Switch that was presumed to accompany the announcement of the Switch Lite. It’s believed that these changes will not even be addressed by Nintendo. Furthermore, the changes will likely only be minimal; the only things of note are possible faster loading times, fewer slow downs, and extended battery life for the console.
Will you be considering buying this slightly newer model of the original Switch? Is the Switch Lite maybe more up your alley for a future purchase? Or will you be holding out for that rumored “Switch Pro”? Tell us in the comments below.
Source: Federal Communications Commission (via The Verge), Nintendo (via Kotaku)
Charles is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. He is a Visual Development artist focused on enviroments and pitch paintings. Check out his Instagram and Twitter to see his latest artworks, a lot of which is Zelda fan art! His favorite candy is Skittles – he feels the world should know this.
