New filings with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) have shown that Nintendo’s upcoming Switch Lite houses a smaller battery than the original Switch model.
The Vergeuncovered FFC documentation, includingphotos, confirming that Switch Lite uses a 13.6 watt-hour (Wh) battery that’s 16 per cent smaller than the 16Wh battery found in original Switch model.
The revised version of the original Switch, which launched in some regions this month, features the same 16Wh battery as the launch model, the FCC filings also show.
This means increased battery life in both the updated original Switch model andSwitch Lite, which launches in September, are being achieved mostly by usinga more efficient processor. The handheld-only Switch also has a smaller screen.
Nintendo’s official estimate for the newNintendo Switch’s battery life is between 4.5 and 9 hours, compared to the original model’s 2.5 to 6.5 hours and 3 to 7 hours offered by the upcoming Switch Lite.
The new Switch modelwill launch in “mid-August” in North America and Japan (and early September in the UK), but Hong Kong and Australian stores have already started selling the console.
An early user test shows the newSwitch lasting for five hours and 36 minuteswhilst playingLegend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildin portable mode.
Another test hasFire Emblem: Three Housesrunning for two hours in portable mode, with 60% battery life remaining, suggests a runtime of five hours.
The Verge also notes that the circuit board of each Switch model has a different codename related to Norse mythology. The launch model Switch has “ODIN” spelled out on its board, while “ODNX01-A2” appears on the processor, perhaps signifying it’s the Tegra X1.
The recently updated Switch model includes “MODIN” on its board, perhaps suggesting it’s a modified version of the ODIN board and the processor.
Meanwhile, the Switch Lite uses “VALI,” which is the name of one of Odin’s sons.
Nintendo said in July that lifetimeSwitch hardware sales were approaching 37 million units.
