Just a week after announcing the Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo has revealed that the original Nintendo Switch is receiving an update, although this one is more of a minor revision. The most notable change is the battery life on the system, which will now range from 4.5 to 9 hours, depending on the game. This is up from the previous battery life of 2.5 to 6.5 hours on the original console.
This update comes shortly after Nintendo filed a “Class II Permission Change” with the FCC, according to The Verge. This effectively allows them to update an existing model without having to re-certify the original product. The filing mentioned a “Change of SoC type,” referring to the System-on-Chip, which includes the NVIDIA Tegra X1 processor. There is also mention of modification of the NAND system, referring to the storage type in the system. It’s unknown if this updated Nintendo Switch model contains any of these improvements, but it’s hard to believe Nintendo just magically upgraded battery life in the system without making any significant changes.
As noted on Nintendo’s product comparison page, the previous Nintendo Switch (Model HAC-001) has a serial number that begins with “XAW,” while the updated Nintendo Switch (Model HAC-001-01) will have serial numbers beginning with “XKW.” The boxes for the system have also been updated, sporting a bright red color scheme, so it will be easy to tell if you’re getting the newer model at a glance. According to Nintendo’s “Buy Now” page, the new models will begin shipping in mid-August.
Additionally, two new pairs of Joy-Con are available, sporting a variety of new colors. The first set includes a new Blue color for the left Joy-Con, paired with the previously released Neon Yellow right Joy-Con. The other set features a Neon Purple left Joy-Con and a Neon Orange right Joy-Con. These will be available beginning October 14th for a suggested retail price of $79.99.
Will you be picking up this revised system? What about those fancy new Joy-Con colors? Let us know what you’re excited about in the comments below. For all your other Nintendo news, stay tuned to Mammoth Gamers.
