Nintendo has announced a revised version of the original Switch. The new model will be identical to the launch model Switch, with the key difference being longer battery life. This is separate from the recently announced Switch Lite, which is a more dramatic overhaul of the system.
The original launch model Switch touted between two and half to six and a half hours of playtime. However, the revised version will deliver four and a half to nine hours of battery life. The revised Switch model will cost the same ($300 or roughly £280). According to Nintendo’s product page, it will launch in mid-August in the US.
As noted by Nintendo when the Switch first launched, the battery life depends on the game that is being played, as a title like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild drains power at a much faster rate than other, less intensive titles.
On July 12, Nintendo pulled back the curtains on the Switch Lite, which is a smaller and cheaper version of the hybrid console. It features a smaller screen, does not output video to TVs and has dedicated control inputs instead of the detachable Joy-Cons, it also boasted better battery life than the original launch Switch. Due to the inability to connect to a TV, some games may have issues with Switch Lite, at least without purchasing separate Joy-Con controllers.
Reports indicating the Switch Lite surfaced in June and, around the same time, it was also reported that an “enhanced” version of the Switch targeted at “avid” gamers is also in production. Nintendo hasn’t indicated this is the case as of yet, however.
