Mar 28, 2024 | Updated: 11:35 AM EDT

How Far Can The Nintendo Switch Go? YouTube Channel Tests Switch's Juice

Feb 27, 2017 05:12 AM EST

When Nintendo unveiled the Switch at a New York event in January, it estimated the battery of the switch would last between two and a half hours and six hours. The use of the battery’s juice depended on the settings and the game running on the console.

To The Max

GameXplain, a YouTube channel, tested the Switch by playing “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” while the settings for brightness, sound, and Wi-Fi on were at a maximum. After two hours and 28 minutes, the Switch went on a sleep mode, Mashable reports. It is the low end of Nintendo’s estimate.

While to some players, the battery life of a control is a major factor in deciding what brand to purchase, VentureBeat advises gamers battery life should not play a major role in making the purchasing decision. The advice is timely because the Switch will officially launch on Friday, March 3.

The website notes that it has observed some early problems with the Switch, but battery life is not one of the issues. VentureBeat stresses that three hours of playing video games on a portable device “is not shockingly low.” When compared to other portable systems, the Switch battery does not differ much from others.

Within Industry Average

The Nintendo 3DS juice lasts between three and five hours, while the battery of the New Nintendo 3DS is from 3.5 to 6 hours. It is 3.5 hours to seven hours for the New Nintendo 3DS XL, while the PlayStation Vita’s battery lasts between three and five hours. Clearly, the 2.5 to six hours of the Nintendo Switch is within the industry average.

However, Polygon is a bit worried because Nintendo previously promised to issue a patch for the shortcomings of the Wii U when it launched it in 2012, but until now no patch has been released. The gaming website fears it would happen again to the Switch.

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