Nintendo Switch Hybrid Console Will Ship With Non Removable Battery According To FCC Filing
With just a few months to go before Nintendo releases its next generation game console, the Nintendo Switch, we still know very little about the system. Much of what has been gathered about the Switch has been the result of leaks and online detective work by savvy individuals who willing to comb the web for clues. One of the newest ones was found in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and it points to the Switch using a non-removable battery.
"The battery is had (sic) built-in in the EUT, and the user can't remove the battery," reads a blurb in one of the documents Nintendo submitted to the FCC.
Normally a non-removable battery on a game console would not warrant a second thought. What makes the Switch different, and the presence of a non-removable battery a potential problem, is that it is a hybrid console built both for gaming in front of a large screen TV as well as on the go. The main unit sports a built-in LCD panel with detachable controllers. In an early trailer for the device, Nintendo clearly focuses on the portability of the Switch.
It is a bit curious that Nintendo would go this route, especially after having learned from the Wii U that battery life can be a problem. Over time, Nintendo eventually got around to releasing a high-capacity battery pack for the Wii U's gamepad, which has a built-in display. Using a size 0 screwdriver, users are able to swap out the included battery pack for the high-capacity one and increase run time from 3-5 hours to up to 8 hours.
Extended battery life is not the only concern. Over time, batteries lose their ability to hold a charge. Should that happen to the Switch, gamers would be stuck using the console only at places where there is a power outlet to plug it into. A better solution would be to give owners the ability to replace the battery with a fresh one, but it does not appears that will be the case.
One thing to keep in mind is that the device Nintendo submitted to the FCC is a prototype console. The final design could change when the console goes on sale in March 2017.
"The battery is had (sic) built-in in the EUT, and the user can't remove the battery," reads a blurb in one of the documents Nintendo submitted to the FCC.
Normally a non-removable battery on a game console would not warrant a second thought. What makes the Switch different, and the presence of a non-removable battery a potential problem, is that it is a hybrid console built both for gaming in front of a large screen TV as well as on the go. The main unit sports a built-in LCD panel with detachable controllers. In an early trailer for the device, Nintendo clearly focuses on the portability of the Switch.
It is a bit curious that Nintendo would go this route, especially after having learned from the Wii U that battery life can be a problem. Over time, Nintendo eventually got around to releasing a high-capacity battery pack for the Wii U's gamepad, which has a built-in display. Using a size 0 screwdriver, users are able to swap out the included battery pack for the high-capacity one and increase run time from 3-5 hours to up to 8 hours.
Extended battery life is not the only concern. Over time, batteries lose their ability to hold a charge. Should that happen to the Switch, gamers would be stuck using the console only at places where there is a power outlet to plug it into. A better solution would be to give owners the ability to replace the battery with a fresh one, but it does not appears that will be the case.
One thing to keep in mind is that the device Nintendo submitted to the FCC is a prototype console. The final design could change when the console goes on sale in March 2017.
