Just ahead of the weekend Nintendo UK published a new page dedicated to its upcoming Switch console. The page contains lots of technical specifications and we learn things such as precise dimensions, weights, video modes, battery capacities, memory card compatibility, and more. Unfortunately one of the most discussed aspects of the new console isn't broken down for us; there are no extra details on the customised Nvidia Tegra processor at the heart of the system.
Click to zoom in
At the head of Nintendo's new page is a bullet pointed numbered features and connectors diagram (as above). To see the tech specs you have to click to expand and area directly below this. For your convenience I've bullet pointed the full specs below:
- Size: 102mm x 239mm x 13.9mm (with Joy-Con attached), Please note: 28.4mm at the thickest, from the tips of the analogue sticks to the ZL/ZR Button protrusions.
- Weight: Approx. 297g (With Joy-Con controllers attached: 398g)
- Screen: Capacitive touch screen / 6.2 inch LCD / 1280x720 resolution
- CPU/GPU: NVIDIA customised Tegra processor
- System memory: 32GB. Please note: a portion of this internal memory is reserved for use by the system.
- Communication features: Wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac compliant) / Bluetooth 4.1 (TV mode only. A wired LAN connection is possible through the use of a commercially available wired LAN adapter.)
- Video output: Maximum resolution: 1920x1080, 60 fps. Please note: output via HDMI cable in TV mode. In tabletop mode and handheld mode, the maximum resolution is 1280x720, which matches the screen resolution.
- Audio output: Supports linear PCM 5.1ch. Please note: output via HDMI cable in TV mode.
- Speakers: Stereo
- USB terminal: USB Type-C terminal. Used for charging or for connecting to the Nintendo Switch dock.
- Headphone microphone jack: Stereo output
- Game card slot: Exclusively for Nintendo Switch game cards.
- microSD card slot: Compatible with microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC memory cards. Please note: an update via an internet connection is required to use microSDXC memory cards.
- Sensors: Accelerometer / gyroscope / brightness sensor
- Operating environment: Temperature: 5 - 35°C / Humidity: 20 - 80%
- Internal battery: Lithium ion battery / battery capacity 4310mAh. Please note: the internal battery cannot be removed. If the battery needs to be replaced, we plan to offer paid replacement via Nintendo Customer Support.
- Battery life: Battery life can last for more than six hours, but will vary depending on the software and usage conditions. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be played for roughly three hours on a single charge.
- Charging time: 3 hours approx. Please note: this is the time taken to charge while the console is in sleep mode.
From the above it's particularly interesting to see; the video modes confirmed, microSD compatibility information, and the descriptive (non removable) battery usage information. It's a bit odd that a post-purchase update will be needed for (micro)SDXC compatibility, as this standard was announced back in 2009. As mentioned in the introduction, the only unsatisfying aspect of these tech specs is the lack of detail concerning the 'customised' Nvidia SoC.
