Upcoming Nintendo Switch Model has Double the Battery Life

Handhelds aren't Nintendo's only concern. The Japanese game company has announced an updated Nintendo Switch console version, featuring nearly double the battery life of the first-generation model.

There had been rumors lately of updated Nintendo Switch models. This was reinforced when Chinese accessory stores were displaying travel cases for a Switch Mini. Not long after, Nintendo announced the Switch Lite, a smaller, handheld only version of their latest console.

This had led players to wonder: what about the other rumor of a Switch Pro version?

Nintendo hasn't forgotten the base model. And while it's nothing to the scale of "pro," they have announced an updated version of the console. This version features a more efficient battery, extending handheld battery life to as much as 9 hours at a time.

For comparison, Kotaku compares the battery life of constant play of Zelda Breath of the Wild. On the standard Switch, the game could run for 3 hours before depletion. With the upgraded version, the game could run for 5.5 hours, nearly double that of before.

The new model will be sold as the standard Nintendo Switch option, replacing the current model. The price of the console will not change, either. This change will take place in Japan next month, with no official word on when this will go international.

One thing is for sure: used copies of the old model are going to flood places like GameStop, Craigslist, and Facebook marketplace.