More Nintendo Switch Specs Have Been Revealed

Nintendo has released some updated specifications on their upcoming Switch console. Though the details are still quite limited, this information reveals more than we already knew.

The UK Nintendo website now has a detailed Specifications page with a list of hardware features for the Switch and some of its accessories. I’ll list some of the new and more interesting specs for ya below.

Home Menu UI

A brief rundown of the Switch’s Home menu is included on the web page. There is a News tab, which tells you the latest in video game news. Of course, you’ll have access to the Nintendo eShop, where you can purchase digital games and downloadable content. There is also an Album section which stores your in-game screenshots. Here you add text to and post your screenshots to social media.

In relation to screenshots, the web page states some games will have sections where screenshots are disabled. A video capture feature will be added in a later update.

An image of the Home menu UI (pictured above) reveals a couple more details, such as easy account switching, based on the user photos in the upper left corner. The time, wifi connectivity, and battery level are shown in the upper right corner. Next to the previously mentioned tabs are selections for Joy-Con settings/ syncing, general settings, and power. The game list appears in a tile fashion similar to the PS4.

Rumored Specs Confirmed

A few rumored/ unclear details were confirmed on the new specs page, such as the ability to expand the limited 32 GB storage with microSDXC cards. An update will be required to use the microSDCX cards, but Nintendo did not specify when such an update would be available.

Also confirmed is the 3-hour charging time while in sleep mode. We already knew about battery life, but remember that it will last up to 6 hours, depending on the game being played. Nintendo specified that the Switch battery will last 3 hours while running Breath of the Wild. Ouch.

The maximum resolution was also confirmed at 1080p and 60 fps, but that’s only when its connected to a TV via HDMI. If you’re playing on the tablet itself, the max resolution is 720p but holds the frame rate.

Other tidbits

The following is other interesting stuff I didn’t already know, but it may be public knowledge I just didn’t pick up.

The Switch dock “launches with USB 2.0 support, but USB 3.0 support will be added in a future update.” Maybe external harddrive support will come with this update?

The internal lithium ion battery cannot be replaced except via paid replacement with Nintendo Customer Support.

Accelerometer, gyroscope, and brightness sensors are included in the tablet.

Joy-Cons will stay charged for approximately 20 hours, but “actual time may vary depending on individual usage patterns.”

Did anything on this list stand out to you? Details are still hazy in places, but slowly receiving more information is exciting. That March 3rd launch date can’t come soon enough.