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Nintendo Switch 32 GB console

"The Nintendo Switch is a home run for Nintendo and fulfills its innovative premise."

• Play at home or on the go

• Sharp display

• Unique multimode controller

• Excellent game library

• Great battery life

• Limited internal storage

• Some controller options are uncomfortable

This review was last updated on March 27th, 2020 by Lisa Marie Segarra, Gaming Editor of Digital Trends.

Nintendo wants to win you back. After the failure of the last home console, the Wii U, the publisher of Mario and Zelda, announced very quickly that they were working hard on a new console. Although the legendary publisher has made some amazing games in the meantime – like Super Mario Maker and Splatoon – Nintendo felt it was holding back, and fans accepted it because they knew there was a new era on the horizon. In our Nintendo Switch test, the question was, "Can Nintendo change things with new hardware?" The answer is a resounding "yes".

What's in the box

The Switch is a "hybrid" game console. It can be connected to a TV like a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One or can be carried as a portable device, similar to the Nintendo 3DS or Game Boy.

The switch itself is a small tablet with a 6.2-inch LCD multi-touch display. Inside, the console has a custom Nvidia Tegra processor and 32 GB of internal storage. It also has what you'd expect from a portable device: accelerometer, gyroscope, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, Wi-Fi and WiFi (IEEE 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac).

On the outside there is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, power and volume buttons, connectors for game cartridges, a microSD slot for expandable memory, a USB Type-C connector for charging and a stand.

It also comes with a dock, a holder that the switch slides into when you want to charge it or play it on a TV. The dock is practically a hollow plastic hub that connects via the console's USB Type-C port. There are three ports on the back: USB Type C for charging, HDMI for audio and video output and a USB 2.0 port. There are also two additional USB 2.0 ports on the side. The rear connections are exposed through a simple door in the rear area, in which some cables are also hidden.

The switch perfectly reflects Nintendo's sensitivity to gaming.

Also included are two detachable controllers called "Joy-Cons", which have all controller buttons and can be slid onto the tablet, two Joy-Con straps and the Joy-Con handle, the two Joy-Cons as a single controller connects with each other.

(They're pretty versatile. For example, you can connect them to your PC or create art on a Surface Pro.)

Battery life and portability

The original switch has a battery life of 2.5 to 6 hours, and its lifespan depends on how demanding the game you are playing is. For example, a game like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" places a greater strain on the resources of the console, so the battery lasts about 3 hours, even less if you play at full brightness. To say all of this, it won't take through most flights, but it's fine if the shuttle service works.

For a system that promotes portability, this is disappointing. While both the Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita last between three and five hours, Nintendo could easily have used the original Switch as an opportunity to improve the standard.

Fortunately, a new version of the Switch with improved battery life was launched in 2019. The updated console with a new chip layout and revised Tegra X1 processor dramatically improves the battery performance of the original switch and offers a battery life of 4.5 to nine hours. That's two precious hours of game time added to your Breath of the Wild game session. This change to one of the Switch's biggest flaws takes the console to a new level, especially for gamers who play a lot on the go.

Speaking of gaming on the go, while the Switch is not quite as portable as the 3DS, the upcoming Switch Lite promises to be. The Switch Lite offers a smaller, lighter, and more compact design for the family and aims to satisfy gamers who prefer the handheld gaming lifestyle. It has the same revised chip layout and the same Tegra X1 processor as the updated switch and promises a battery life of up to seven hours. The September 20 release may only add the lack of portability that the hybrid version of the console lacks.

Play your way

Although the Switch is a small tablet, it carries its soul outside of its small case. With the Joy-Cons, games can be controlled in many different ways. The small, remote-controlled controllers can be inserted and latched on both sides of the switch and transform it into a handheld game device à la Nintendo Game Boy and 3DS systems.

Both the console and Joy-Cons feel robust and are solid and of high quality.

Turning the Joy-Cons on and off may be one of the best physical design features of any game hardware in modern memory. It is simple, fun and there is a nice click that you can both feel and hear when the Joy-Cons are in place. It's a seamless transition, even in the middle of the game.

The switch feels good in the hand. Both the console and Joy-Cons feel robust and are solid and of high quality. The matte finish of the Joy-Con makes the console look and feel modern, whether you buy the gray or the colorful red-blue version. At 398 grams (0.9 pounds) and connected to Joy-Cons, it's light enough to last long distances in portable mode.

Although the dock doesn't feel as robust or well constructed as the console itself, it does the job. Although only the USB-C connector holds it in place, the switch in the dock appears to be secure and there have never been any connection problems between the console and the dock. It may be difficult to connect the switch console to the USB-C port at the bottom of the dock the first time, and the same “click” of detection that Joy-Cons provides you with to inform you that the console is secure.

If the console is connected to its dock or you just don't want to hold the entire console, you can use Joy-Cons freely or plug it into Joy-Con Grip, making it a conventional controller. The grip works like any other gamepad, but is much smaller than the Dualshock 4 of the PS4 or the Xbox One controller. This can cause discomfort in most adults. The small joysticks of the Joy-Con are also not as big as usual, making them seem difficult to grip. The optional Pro Controller fixes this problem – and is a great gamepad – but it's an accessory for $ 70.

A multiplayer machine, even on the go

Two Joy-Cons open the door for self-contained local multiplayer experiences. In some games, players can use a single Joy-Con as a controller. The Joy-Cons also have all the motion sensors that are required for gesture-based, motion-controlled games, similar to the Nintendo Wii.

However, using the individual Joy-Cons as a mini controller for the local multiplayer mode can be downright uncomfortable. The controllers are very small and have a rounded rectangular shape when rotated horizontally. Holding on to them can become painful after prolonged and / or intensive game sessions.

The included "Joy-Con straps" of the console give each Joy-Con more comfortable shoulder buttons and of course a wrist strap – but they only slightly improve comfort. The Joy-Cons are also not identical. The analog stick and the buttons are in different positions on the left and right. Joy-Cons.

The analog on the right is basically in the middle of the controller, making it difficult to get a grip on the stick. The player with the left Joy-Con definitely has an advantage when a game uses the thumb handle. If you need a controller if need be, using a replacement GameCube controller might be a better option. Thanks to a recent update, they are compatible.

There is a badly built element of the switch: its stand. It's a thin plastic flap that flips out of the back of the console and holds the console upright for multiplayer gaming on the go – or when you're tired and don't want to hold the console. The console remains upright as long as it is not touched or jostled. However, after opening it once, you are afraid that it may break. That would be particularly bad, since the stand also serves as a protective cover for the MicroSD slot.

A toy box with peripherals

There are a number of third-party peripherals that are designed to address all of the minor problems when playing the switch in its many use cases. These “optional” elements not only significantly increase the cost of the switch, they also show that the cost of the switch's “all-rounder” approach to hardware design has created a console with acceptable but annoying errors.

For example, the console's 32 GB of internal storage can store many screenshots, short video clips (for a small number of first-party games), and probably more than a few small indie games. However, players who are used to buying games digitally need a large MicroSDXC card for additional storage.

Nate Barrett / Digital Trends

Nate Barrett / Digital Trends

If you travel frequently and over long distances, you'll need an extra battery, similar to the one people carry around to charge their phone. Third-party accessory manufacturers have even started to develop portable docks and batteries specifically designed for the switch, such as: B. the SwitchCharge, which replaces the weak stand of the console.

If you're playing competitive or long distance games at the same time, you'll want to buy the Nintendo Pro Controller, which costs an additional $ 70.

However, not all peripheral devices have been developed to remedy the shortcomings of the system. With Nintendo Labo, launched about a year after the Switch itself, younger players can combine the Switch and its Joy-Con controllers with cardboard kits to create completely new experiences. This includes everything from playable pianos to RC cars to a fishing rod, each of which uses the system's infrared cameras and rumbles to do unexpected things. Existing games, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, are even supported, offering fans a new way of racing.

Everything about the games

Nintendo's Achilles' heel with some previous home consoles was a lack of software support. The Wii U struggled to release games consistently over its short lifespan, and the Wii struggled to attract third-party developers.

However, this did not prove to be a problem with the switch. From Zelda to Mario to Pokemon, the Switch has experienced a flood of excellent games that can appeal to long-time Nintendo fans as well as newbies.

Even better, the switch has become the point of contact for remastering, remakes and reissues of older games. It can play the original doom. It can play Star Wars Episode I: Racer. It can play the original Final Fantasy VII. It can play a variety of emulated NES and SNES games. Even The Witcher 3 is available. There is an enormous depth of content.

Mostly better online

Nintendo hasn't been at the forefront of online gaming innovation over the years, but the Switch offers a relatively stable multiplayer experience from Arms to Splatoon 2. Some games, like Mario Kart 8, work great online.

However, the limited matchmaking options in some of the biggest games, as well as the bizarre decision to omit voice chat without a smartphone app, are confusing and fading compared to the quality of life options available on both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live.

Unfortunately, Nintendo has also used its online service as a barrier to online gaming and its popular virtual console system. While a paid subscription for online access is common on current generation consoles, it's unfair to limit access to some of Nintendo's most popular retro games. Instead of allowing you to buy classics like we saw on previous Nintendo consoles, you get a selection of NES and SNES titles as part of your subscription. It's a good option, but it's a mistake to make it the only option.

Still, Nintendo has shown a surprising willingness to work with other platforms in some of its online games. If you want to play Minecraft or Fortnite: Battle Royale on Switch with your friends on Xbox or PC, you can even get Xbox successes in the case of the previous game.

No Netflix here yet

Despite its variety of game styles and parts, the Switch is actually an uncomplicated slot machine. Unlike other consoles that want to become an all-in-one living room or mobile online entertainment device, the switch is (at least for the time being) exclusively dedicated to gaming and gaming.

The user interface is very simple – a series of large squares that show your available games. Below the games there is a second set of smaller round buttons with a Nintendo curated blog feed, eShop, a place to view and share screenshots, etc.

Only a few non-gaming apps are currently available – Hulu is currently the only major streaming service – and Nintendo has not specified when or if these features will come to the console. As with the camera, its omission is not a big loss.

Most players already have a large number of devices – phones, tablets, laptops – on which they can watch Netflix and YouTube. At the same time, the switch would be a good personal screen with its sharp screen and third-party status.

Maybe Link can save our world

You probably don't think about the performance a game console consumes, but it can be significant. An Xbox One X can suck more juice than a small fridge while playing. This harms our planet and can cause hidden costs for your electricity bills over time.

The Nintendo portable switch circumvents the problem. When playing in docked mode, about 12 watts are consumed. The switch's total power consumption is even lower if other factors such as standby and data center usage are taken into account. PlayStation and Xbox consoles often download large patches and can be used to stream content from power-hungry data centers.

It all adds up. A study by the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory found that the switch uses less than a tenth as much power as the PlayStation 4 Pro when all energy sources are taken into account. It's far less demanding than the Xbox One S or Xbox One X.

The switch can also store your wallet. A light player spends $ 47 less on their electricity bills if they buy the switch instead of a PlayStation 4 Pro. A player who often plays all day can save up to $ 180. That's enough to buy three new games at full price.

Nintendo also offers free recycling for your old console and peripherals through the Take Back program. Microsoft and Sony offer similar programs, but they are more difficult to find on each company's website.

Warranty information

The Nintendo Switch comes with a one-year warranty from the manufacturer.

Our opinion

The Switch manages to combine Nintendo's penchant for strange, tricky hardware with the high-quality design that we expect from consoles in the modern era. From a hardware perspective, it's the best console the company has had in generations – possibly ever.

Nevertheless, the Switch is a Nintendo machine that was developed to play Nintendo games. Despite all the measures taken to reinforce the feeling of the mainstream, the shortcomings show that the console was designed so that the developers of Nintendo can develop interesting games. If you love Nintendo, this is a good sign as the capital N seems to be taking a new step.

Is there a better alternative?

The switch is unique. There are no platforms that offer the same home / portable “hybrid” functionality or such a wide range of controller options. Many of his best franchise companies like Splatoon and Mario cannot be played on any other platform, Nintendo or in any other way.

If you can do without Nintendo games and play on a TV or monitor, it's better to buy a PS4, Xbox One, or a gaming PC. If you already have one of these, the Switch is a fantastic second system that gives you access to more original games than any other option.

If you are specifically looking for a portable platform, we recommend the Switch over the 3DS. With improved battery life and an extensive collection of games available on the switch, you would only limit your options if you have an inferior handheld that is at the end of its life cycle.

How long it will take?

In the past, successful game consoles have a shelf life of about five years before the manufacturer makes a new console. We should also note that console manufacturers have worked to shorten the lifecycle of systems, even if the hardware is successful. This is the case with the switch.

Nintendo launched an updated version of the console with improved battery life two years after its first release. The Switch Lite, a compact version of the Switch that was developed exclusively for handheld games, came onto the market shortly afterwards. Original Switch owners who aren't interested in a more handheld-friendly console will likely pass the Switch Lite on, but the revised version of the Switch is a permanent replacement for the original, which significantly shortens battery life, which was a bit short of the debut version.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you love Nintendo and want to keep playing new Nintendo games or already have a modern game console, the Switch should be your next game console. However, if this is your first modern console or you mostly want to play a lot of games online, you should fit.

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