Nintendo appears to be updating some components in its original Switch model, but it's not the sort of upgrade you would probably expect.
According to The Verge, recent filings with the United States Federal Communications Commission suggest the currently available Switch will soon be receiving a new processor and flash storage chips. It goes onto explain how Nintendo has submitted a "Class II Permission Change" to the FCC, allowing it to adjust an existing product without having to get the system recertified for sale within the US.
The document itself makes mention of "SoC" – referring to the Switch's system-on-chip (the Nvidia Tegra processor, containing the CPU and graphics) and the "NAND memory" – aka. the flash storage in the SSD. Nintendo is also unlikely to announce these internal changes publicly, in order to lower the chances of consumers deliberately seeking out newer and better-performing systems.
As The Verge explains, swapping out components in video game consoles is nothing new. Microsoft made some serious changes to its Xbox 360 line to ensure future owners didn't ever have to witness the red ring of death.
This filing is not believed to be tied to the rumoured Switch Pro model and is reinforced by Doug Bowser's recent comment, explaining how a proper upgraded Switch system was not happening right now. In saying this, it could have a connection to the recent chipset rumour, previously linked to the upgraded model.
What are your thoughts about this? Tell us below.
[source theverge.com]
Comments (45)
First upgrade i want to see = WHITE color bundles !!
White Joy Cons, White body tablet, White dock, I love you White Nintendo Switch. 😍
Nice, but still want to see some info on the pro model.
First upgrade I want to see = A Nintendo Switch made entirely out of Cardboard
Also anyone waiting on a Pro model Switch, you're going to have to wait 2-3 more years. Look at how long it took before we got the "New" Nintendo 3DS's
Most likely a way to get rid of the compromised Tegra's currently in Switch's.
@Anti-Matter
Yes, yes, and double yes!
To be honest, I think this does somewhat fit the rumors about a "minor" Switch upgrade. I wasn't expecting anything drastic upgrade-wise this early in the normal Switch's lifespan.
I wonder if these stealth changes to the normal Switch will appear on the market around the same time as the Mini?
This is quite simple. Components need to be produced, NAND and SoCs change constantly and third party producers of these components might not have enough stock for millions of Switch SKUs. So they need to change these.
This often doesn't really change anything about the system. So don't get your hopes up.
My guess is that the Lite is using a newer die shrunk SOC, and Nintendo will be moving that SOC into the Switch Proper. Which means the new models will get better battery life.
@Shade_Koopa Don’t worry! You’ll hear about it after they’ve announced their 2020 holiday lineup.
Isn’t there a chance that this is in reference to the Switch Lite? Especially considering it has better battery life? Maybe it was to speed up when they made it to market.
The Switch is in dire need of a better wifi chip
A die shrink is probably needed - the 20nm process is a burden at this point.
@Shade_Koopa Your comment reads like a pro model is a sure thing. It's not. No evidence has been given to suggest Nintendo will do this. They probably will do at some point – say in late 2010 maybe. I'm putting my money on sometime the year after that. The 'new' 3DS's were nearly 4 years in.
So how can you get some info on 'the pro model' when it doesn't exist yet.
@vio This seems likely, as an actual hardware revision is the only way to fix that issue.
@vio 100% this. No more hacking around and homebrew following this. I'm amazed it took them this long after the major exploit was found last year. "System totally compromised" I believe!
@Blofse Does it harms you in a physical or mental way that people are hacking THEIR Switch?
Just wondering.
People have done this/that with all consoles since the beginning of consoles not just the Nintendo Switch.
Fix the joycons drifting permanently will be a start.
@DavidMac I suspect the Switch Lite actually has a smaller battery, hopefully they won't do the same with Switch Sr.
@Skunkfish Smaller battery or not, Nintendo claims that the Lite has better battery life than the original. It has 3 to 7 hours of life compared to the original's 2.5 to 6.5. They also claim that Breath of the Wild will run for four hours on the Lite, whereas the original will run it for three.
@Skunkfish
I think they use the same battery for Switch Lite, wich explains the slightly better battery life (smaller screen, no rumble etc). The Switch Lite actually have the same or slightly bigger body than the original Switch w/ joy-cons detached, so there is enouch room to use the same components in Lite.
And the hype machine aka supermetaldave is already saying this is a Huge boost in power lol
@patbacknitro18 yes and the Switch is only out for like 2 years? But then again Xbox X and Ps4 came also quite early. Maybe Nintendo won't update the newer model too much and will wait like 2years. End 2020 Xbox scarlett will be brought...and PS5 will be released in 2021. Maybe they will wait for 2 years
If they could at least make Switch handheld / tabletop mode run triple A games at 60fps then I'm fine with the minor upgrade. I don't care about resolution as long as my games run smoothly.
Could this be related to them wanting to switch production to Viet Nam and away from China?
Still don’t understand what people expect with a “pro” Switch. An Xbox one x mid gen upgrade is not gonna happen with Nintendo. The 3DS is still on store shelves! 3DS!
@BrettAwesome Agreed! I can't play it online in our bedroom as there are 2 brick walls and floor boards between the router and the switch... Every other device is fine, including the wii U.
The XBox 360 is mentioned in the article but I have the slim version and still have the red dot of death. Never had a problem with any other console.
@patbacknitro18 My theory is that we will get the pro next holiday packed in with botw 2, or probably a limited edition to coincide with the game
@MasterJay And it won't b called the "pro", just guessing...
@Sim1 yeah I agree
Update that brings more third party games playable on the switch. If it aint Sony or Xbox exclusive it should launch on the switch and not just port 6 months to a year later.
@Rpg-lover If you have JoyCon drift try using contact cleaner - fixed mine in less than a second. Might work for you and it's way cheaper than getting it repaired (and way less Hassel than repairing it yourself) and way cheaper than replacing.
I agree though the issue needs addressed.
@BrettAwesome The switch wifi is abysmal. When it's docked mine refuses to connect, and it's only about 15 feet away from the wireless router, and with a direct line of sight.
@NinChocolate Let the kids dream....
Yeah Switch Pro is gonna be amazing! It won't be as powerful as a PS5 of course, but it'll at least be as powerful as a base PS4! And it'll have 1TB built-in flash! And it'll get 10 hours battery life with an 8" OLED display that folds into an origami crane! It won't have a portable mode, it'll be a powerful home console so they can compete directly with Nintendo and Microsoft! Switch Lite PROVES this! The screen is just so it can be used like a WiiU GamePad so we can finally play Devil's Third properly when it's ported! I mean, Nintendo can't abandon their legacy of perpetually decreasing home console sales forever! Duh!
Joy-con drift was at the top of my list, too. Contact Cleaner works for some, but I had to actually replace the stick (which was still cheaper than a new joy-con).
Now if better components led to longer battery life, that would also be cool, but I'm not going to seek out a slightly improved Switch for a possibly faster experience. If it's a huge improvement with better components, that's a different story - but still not going to seek one out to replace a functional system.
@Anti-Matter @Rocky2418 Let's call it... WiiSwitch
@brunojenso Late 2010? We going back in time now?
Anyways, I know no official announcement has been made. That's why I want them to release some info on the pro model. It would mean there is one coming for sure. Better that having us all wonder if it'll come.
@Skunkfish It might have a smaller battery, but it also has a smaller screen. The screen is the bigger power draw, the SOC is the second biggest with most mobile devices. If the put the die shrunk version that the Lite is probably using in the Switch Proper then you'll probably see slightly improved battery life.
@brunojenso Re. dates I'm always doing that I can't decide if it's my dyslexia or just me being stupid
Sure, I get what your saying – I must admit I've been a bit disappointed by the blurry graphics 'big name' games are using to get stuff working on Switch. So a powerful unit that got us closer to PS4 and XBO visual fidelity would be good. Personally I think games could look a lot better now - if devs worked with it's limitations better. They should lose some details but keep the graphics sharp. As impressive as, say, Doom is – it's still a blurry mess – particularly on handheld. Look at what dev achieved on 3DS with Resident Evil Revelations for instance – it's hard not to think they are not really making the best of Switch's hardware as is.
@sanderev So improved battery life isn't a real change?
@StevenG It's a change but it doesn't affect gameplay.
@sanderev Your switch works after the battery is dead?
Mine only works when the battery still has a charge.
@ennan
I did that. Drifting stopped but the L button ceased to work, so you need to be very cautious in the process.
@Bydlak oh man, that's rough. I'll keep that in mind.
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