You'd think that by leaving behind the iconic clamshell design of the DS and 3DS systems the Nintendo Switch would be less suitable as a portable device - after all, a clamshell provides valuable protection when the machine's not in use.
However, GizmoSlip has performed a series of drop tests on the new console and has discovered that it's actually more robust than you might expect. The Switch survived several 5ft drops onto cold, unforgiving concrete and while the Joy-Cons didn't fare all that well - the design of the console means they take most of the punishment from a fall - the main unit itself proved to be quite a tough customer.
While no one plans to drop their brand new console in this way, these tests do at least show that the Switch has been designed to survive the odd tumble, which bodes well for the more accident-prone players out there.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 58
People complaining about it not being glass will thank Nintendo one day.
Well that's good to see. Looks like the joycon also help to protect the Switch itself when they're connected.
I will however, be getting a tempered screen protector after reading scratch anecdotes from other users!
> While no one plans to drop their brand new console in this way
Apart from the idiot in the video of course.
Dude, if you have so much money that you can buy a Nintendo Switch and then deliberately break it, give it to charity.
When he calls Link 'Zelda', lol.
Funnily enough I just literally finished watching this video.
It's borderline criminal but is informative at the same time. The Switch is a hardy little unit.
Videos like this one are painful to watch.
Good Switch!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Why oh why do people do this. The video you've linked is even worse than this one. 😰
I work so hard to afford the luxury of buying a Switch yet these people buy them to destroy as if they are worthless.
That pains me to see something like that but all for science I suppose and click/views. Those are important in this day and age.
@Laxeybobby to be fair, the 'microwave' ones or other similar vids are pretty awful!
...But, this one at least serves a functionality purpose. I'd like to know that if I goof up and drop it, it might still stand a chance
@Spoony_Tech
Definitely... As soon as I heard it had a capacitive touch screen I was worried about a super fragile glass screen. Although a plastic screen has its drawbacks (prone to scratching) I still feel its the better option.
@Moon He lost all credibility with that comment lol =P
I can't be the only one who cringed each time he dropped that.
I wont give that guys views by watching his video. The manufacturer can let us know how to treat our devices, not some crazy guy trying to get cheap views
But I need to know if it can survive underwater. I plan on going scuba diving and I'm taking my Switch with me. Also was thinking of firing the Switch out of the cannon, will it be ok?
Yeah I saw this video over the weekend. I guess we now know why some people can't get their hands on their own Nintendo Switch.
It's painful to watch XD
Doesn't surprise me. Nintendo always makes tanks. I dropped my gamecube down a flight of concrete stairs in college. Still works and only got minimal scratches. My 3ds fell into my couch and because the universe hates me some how ended up under the metal recliner assembly. Aside from a small dent and three scratches it still is fine. I was more banged up over the whole thing than the system. I still have every Nintendo system I've ever owned (minus the NES because i sold it) and all of them still work fine except the N64 because my mother spilled soda on it and it still took it two years to die after that.
Still, makes me nauseous to see people trying to break tech for the heck of it.
@Savino I'd say the fact that they recorded themselves trashing it is evidence that there's at least £300/$300 that they DIDN'T give to charity. Unless you think them being rich means this console grew on a tree?
Very tough little console, I would expect nothing less from Nintendo. The fact that it's hitting the detachable controllers first most of the time provides a lot of impact absorbing. I'm very happy with the switch!
Another ultra-durable Nintendo system.
Not surprised that thing took a ton of damage before it decided to stop working.
Awesome. As painful to watch as it was, its nice to know it will truly take a beating. Which will be great when my son receives his for his 10th birthday. He's brutal on Nintendo systems.
People complain about the plastic screen being easy to scratch.
All Nintendo touch screens have been plastic though. I've always just bought some screen protectors I could switch out when they got too scratched.
People do that for their smart phones as well, and those have glass screens and aren't expected to last more than two years of use. So I should think it was fair to ask people to get screen protectors for device that is meant to last 10 years of use.
Didn't someone drive over the switch with a car or was that just a meme
Love watching these.
Should try dropping it on the rock or something next.
Ugh, it does make me cringe but its useful to know - seems that, at least, the Switch is toddler resistant. It can survive a nasty couple of falls, and what takes the most damage are the Joycons which can be replaced. And thank goodness screen protectors are cheap nowadays.
Its nice seeing durable stuff. I remember my old GBC - that thing took so many tumbles and works perfectly.
That's impressive! Nintendo's units have always been rugged, but I thought Switch was going to be the exception. It's hard to watch. I might require therapy after having seen this, but it makes me feel more confident holding my switch knowing that even if TRYING to damage it it's actually fairly hard to do. It's great that the Joycons take the hit! Super slick design from Nintendo.
Also interseting, in their slow motion you see the whole unit kind of flex like it's made of rubber after impact....it takes its shock and distributes the impact pressure.
I wonder if the screen has scratches on it?
NIce to see it's relatively resilient.
@Joeynator3000 I don't think you can fire it out of a cannon but I'm sure it will survive a grenade blast.
@Pod Stop using logic. This is the internet.
Whew, I was worried for a bit that the Switch would die if I dropped it on a hard surface. Side note: Buy screen protectors.
LOL @ all the people who thought I was crazy for bringing this up at the other article, meanwhile 90% of the comments here say "It's hard to watch", "Painful to see", "This guy sucks", etc.
Doesn't feel so good, does it? XD
Very impressive! I'm a little disappointed the screen is not glass, but this shows there is definitely an upside to the plastic.
@gareth-uk "I'd say the fact that they recorded themselves trashing it is evidence that there's at least £300/$300 that they DIDN'T give to charity."
so why are you wasting your time commenting on a website when you could be volunteering at a soup kitchen? that's two minutes that you DIDN'T give to charity
@Adamario don't be a fool. Time isn't a currency.
@ProjectCafe - I don't think anyone thought you were crazy because these videos are hard to watch. I think everyone thought you were crazy because of all the other stuff you wrote.
@Laxeybobby I'm with you on that one, they could have at least waited for the Switch to have been out a while before they drop test them.
Durability should not be surprising.
Back in the day, X-Play did a test of the three consoles at the time — PS2, Xbox, and GC — to see which one was more durable. They could not kill the GameCube, even dropping from 20+ feet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioWnoOjP9IA
@bimmy-lee
Nope, all the points I made were that mindlessly OBLITERATING new tech for a petty reason is a horrible practice. I'm talking about cutting it with water jets and the like, of course. Drop tests like these can be informal, though doing it on launch day was bad timing. That's all I was trying to get across. Not that hard to grasp.
@ProjectCafe - I understand that part, I would never watch these videos to even give them a view. I think what took people aback was how quickly it devolved into a semi socio rant about hating people, people are scum, people are cancer, etc.
Edit: There was also a lot of comedy involved, so it wasn't all negative. Seething rage is never not funny, especially when it comes out of nowhere on a thread about a happy little message Nintendo printed on their controllers. There were also sweeping accusations about a thread full of tech smashers, which was great, and the best of them all was whiffing on the "grumble video" reference and blaming it on a difference in "dialect".
I couldn't bring my self to watch the video but I suspect the plastic screen would be much harder than a glass one would have been.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Man, I almost shriek like little girl when the guy scratched with the keys!!
Next time, a big warning please for the faint of heart.
And suddenly the plastic screen makes sense.
You can actually do something about the plastic screen for $8, and still retain its benefits.
Can't do anything about a glass screen ready to shatter
the ultimate test would be to get my neighbor to sit on the damn thing. that would be a true test in durability.
you think that thing is compact now...
@AlexSora89 - I knew this would show up in this thread eventually. Love it. Our family GB survived a car crash. But that's a portable device and meant to take the abuse. The Switch is a hom... wait, never mind. Still getting used to the hybrid console.
I felt so bad for the little switch! What if the switch falls off a table while in kickstand mode, with no joy cons protecting it? Please don't test that; this video and videos like that make me cringe. Informative though!
That was horrible to watch.
Considering that the guy was obviously not a Nintendo fan either, it just made me more horrified each time he dropped it. I actually can't think of anything I've seen that offended me so much.
@bimmy-lee
The people rant was a bit much, even though I am half right.
For the last time, I have no clue what the hell a grumble video is. Never heard of it.
@ProjectCafe - You probably are half right. I don't give those buggers my clicks.
@maceng Sorry, I forgot. I did warn people elsewhere that if they're of a sensitive disposition that they should be wary of watching it. I felt so bad. What a waste of a perfectly good unit.
@Talkshowhost Apparently in your world you can't be a fan if you do a durability test to show consumers just how accident resistant the system is?
Nintendo does the same thing in their tests, does that offend you too? It's just valuable consumer information. Nintendo will always make more Switch units.
The guy knew nothing about the Switch and he even committed the Cardinal Zelda sin that we all cringe at: calling Link Zelda
Idiot! You don't do this!
@bimmy-lee
I'm that predictable, I guess. The gif-bringer of the site always delivers.
Id rather see this then the scalpers on eBay.
@gareth-uk he will have millions of views, making lots of money. It's a business for him.
I vomited a little. And felt so triggered. Went to my safe place lol.
Impressive it can take that many drops onto concrete. Yeah the plastic screen doesn't look quite as nice but it's very hard to break apparently.
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