Nintendo has announced a new version of its Switch game console that only works in handheld mode, yet it is considerably more compact, comes at a lower price point, and works for a longer time on one charge. One of the intrigues about the Switch Lite device is that it might be powered by a new version of NVIDIA Tegra SoC made using a more advanced process technology.
The Nintendo Switch Lite comes with a 5.5-inch LCD featuring a 720p resolution and has built-in controllers that have the same layout as Nintendo’s Joy-Con controllers. The console will support local and online multiplayer modes and will allow up to eight people to play at once anywhere with Wi-Fi. When it comes to style, the gaming device will come in grey, yellow, and turquoise to attract gamers with different tastes. As far as availability is concerned, the Switch Lite will ship on September 20 and will cost $199.99 (down from $299.99 in case of the fully-fledged version).
Since the console is designed for games that support Handheld mode, it cannot connect to TV, work in tabletop mode (because it does not have a kickstand), is not compatible with the Switch dock, does not support HD Rumble as well as IR Motion Camera. The said limitations are fully justified for mobile gaming as the new Switch Lite console is considerably more compact, it weighs 122 grams (0.27 pounds) less, and it works for three to seven hours (up from 2.5 – 6.5 hours in case of the original Switch). The more notable battery life comparison is the 3 hour vs 4 hour gameplay estimate given for Zelda's Breath of the Wild, which is a 33% increase over the original Switch, pointing out to larger efficiency boosts of the hardware.
The longer battery life of the Switch Lite despite its smaller dimensions and presumably a lower-capacity battery may indicate that the Switch Lite is based on a new NVIDIA Tegra SoC produced using a more advanced fabrication process. The original Tegra X1 chip was manufactured on TSMC's 20nm process node, which was not exactly the best node when it comes to power efficiency. Recently we've seen evidence of a revision of the X1 with notable changes in the operating voltages of the chip, which point out that this very well might be a die shrink. We believe that it's likely that the new chip is manufactured in a 16nm or 12nm process node.
| Nintendo's Handheld Game Console Specification Comparison | |||||
| Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch Lite | ||||
| SoC | CPU | 4x ARM Cortex-A57 | |||
| GPU | NVIDIA Maxwell | ||||
| Display | 6.2-inch 1280x720p LCD (HDMI: 1080p60) |
5.5-inch 1280x720p LCD | |||
| Size | 102 x 239 x 13.9 mm, 297g (tablet only) 398g w/Joy-Cons |
91.4 x 208 x 13.9 mm, 277 g | |||
| Battery | 4310mAh (16Whr?) 2.5 to 6.5 Hours 3 hours BotW gameplay |
3 - 7 Hours 4 hours BotW gameplay |
|||
| Storage | 32 GB NAND + microSDXC | 32 GB NAND + microSDXC (?) | |||
| Wireless | 802.11ac Bluetooth 4.1 |
802.11 Bluetooth |
|||
| I/O | Console | USB Type-C | - | ||
| Dock | 1x USB 3.0 2x USB 2.0 1x HDMI 1.x 1x USB-C (power only) |
||||
| Launch Date | 03/03/2017 | 9/20/2019 | |||
| Launch Price | $299 | $199 | |||
Neither Nintendo nor NVIDIA have confirmed usage of a new Tegra X1 inside the Switch Lite console. Meanwhile, as soon as the Japanese gaming giant launches the new product in September, we will find out for sure what is inside after the console gets teared down.
Related Reading:
- Playing With Power: A Look At Nintendo Switch Power Consumption
- Nintendo Switch Hardware Launch Details - 32GB w/Expandable Storage, 6.2” 720p Screen, 2.5 to 6.5 Hour Battery Life
- Nintendo Announces Switch Portable Gaming Console - Powered by NVIDIA Tegra
Sources: Nintendo
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