When news surfaced that Nintendo was working on a "hybrid" console, everyone was curious as to what will it be and got everybody in the gaming community excited. And if you asked me what it was at that time, I would say it's probably some sort of a smartphone/gaming console type of device, given that in 2016, having a VR feature on a smartphone was really a big thing.
Back then, it was also called the Nintendo NX after an alleged leak about Project NX but was later changed to Nintendo Switch after the release of its promo video. Now that it was just officially unveiled, what have we learned?
Price And Release Date
First of all is the price. Since last year, it was already long rumored that the Nintendo Switch cost less than $250, but without any solid proof or official confirmation from Nintendo, it was something that could only be labeled as "possible price." However, days before the unveiling event for the Nintendo Switch, that $250 price tag became so popular but only proved in the end that the actual retail price is $300 - about $50 pricier than expected. Not bad for a rumor if you ask me.
And for its release date, the March thing that you've heard? It is true nonetheless because the Nintendo Switch is reported to be released on March 3. And according to Value Walk, this applies to all continents.
Display And Design
This is where the "hybrid" controversies came from and made the Nintendo Switch one of the most anticipated revelations this year. The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console that offers both home and handheld elements. It features a 6.2-inch 720p multi-touch display and has a screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels in "handheld mode." For its "home mode," the Nintendo Switch can be docked with a television set which can increase the resolution of the console to 1080p. It also fully supports HDMI.
Processor
I think we can all agree that the Nintendo Switch can never match the PS4 Pro and Xbox One Scorpio in terms of processing speed and the 4k resolution. Also, during the unveiling event, Nintendo only provided minimal details for its processor. But what we do know is that the Nintendo Switch is reported to feature a Nvidia Tegra processor which is expected to be more powerful than the processor included in the Nintendo Wii U.
Storage And Battery Life
Surprisingly, the Nintendo Switch only has 32 GB of onboard memory which is a far cry compared to other gaming consoles such as the PS4 Pro. But there is good news because it can be expanded via a micro SD card.
For its battery performance, the Nintendo Switch's battery life can last between 2.5 and 6 hours, depending on the graphical demands of the game being played. Speaking about games, Nintendo assured that playing the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can last up to 3 hours of game time.
Features
One of its notable features is its connectivity. According to Value Walk, the Nintendo Switch can connect up to eight Switch consoles at once for localized multi-player sessions. It can also connect to the Internet via an 802.11ac WifI connection.
Another thing that makes the Nintendo Switch a great device is that the console will not be region-locked. Unlike before, previous Nintendo released have been locked, making a number of Japanese Nintendo titles fail to arrive in the Western world. But this time around, the next generation Nintendo Switch will be compatible with softwares from all over the world.
