Hope I am right that Ninty release a firmeare that allows handheld mode to run orig switch games like they are docked.. (resolution match up to the screen) DF takedown on switch 2 screen is with awareness of strengths and weaknesses of IPS LCDs vs OLED etc.. they intentionally (and misleadingly) refer to earlier Switch consoles in ways that suggests a grim picture of the Switch 2 screen.
the same video above, with a few errors mentioning the Legion Go screen as 120hz (not 144hz), is with fair screen tech comparison.
I use mostly ONLY flagship /reference OLED (calibrated); if Inuse LCD, I opt for colour accurate IPS.
Switch 2 screen is awesome, and a firmeare update to how the console handles Switch 1 titles will improve render to screen timings.. (in time). we all know Ninty give A LOT via firmware updates (eg bluetooth audio); the screen on the Switch 2 has been poorly reported on.
that being said; I have the so called superior 'warm colour profile' LCD is my take . (DF and hardware unbixed had cool colour gamut samples that are measuring, in present firmware, 'worse'
best options BEING SOLD (and we make money off pointing you towards!!)
Best value? hardly....
for HRTF /"headphone surround" a user simply needs the best (sound) quality FLATLINE targetting headphones possible.
at a site like 'head-fidotorg', they would refer to this as a 'studio/flatline' aound profile.
biggest soundfield that has good front to back and left to right (width) staging.
Some classics that have done so, for many years, without charging a 'gaming' tagline consumer rip pricepoint..
AudioTechnica made a range.. with open and closed back designs; (ath Adg1x as examples for 'gaming' market)
open backs leak sound but generally stage much better.. closed backs generally have more bass and less soundstage, but yood for beside partner in bed at night (open backs, by comparison are like speakers into the room..).
Those sold many many years ago. many still work. equivalent audio only sets are half price, but 'no wired microphone'.
Switch 2 has a fairly high powered internal headphone amp, and can even drive AKG k612pro (k701/702/712 etc are upgrades)..
Wireless iems, presently on clearance, include Bowers Pi7 series 2 (Pi7 s2)
app limitations and limited active noise cancelling vs other flagship IEMs, but fantastic audio/soundstage and quality; their case doubles as a BT transmit dongle. The transmission supports Apt X variable, which alters between Low Latency and 'High Def' depending on users usage needs. The Bowers Pi7 using the retransmission case show that the very low quality SubBandCodec Bluetooth protocol that the Switch (/2) uses actually makes bass frequencies seem 'mono' or central in the soundstage. The Pi7 are fantastic for in ear gaming audio (albeit high priced 'modern' solution), and really blow away anything connecting directly to the Switch using bluetooth.
For best headphone surround gaming; need games that have 5.1 linear PCM sound. (Switch store lists this on titles that do) eg Persona 5, 'yes', Persona 4/3, 'no'.
Games with 5.1 speaker sound support can use the new hardware 3D sound built into the console to improve the sense of headphone surround.
Switch 2 is very good, but big audio upgrades by using an external Bluetooth dongle (or case that is a dongle like the Bowers do)
tested a Fiio BT11 and the Bowers case; both big upgrades, even if using SBC BT profile.
Nintendo have set the packet size for SBC BT audio they use as really small. helps lower latency/allows BT for gaming; but easily improves sound quality using 'better' CODECs, or even 'same CODEC' (SBC) at a higher bitrate.. (like a Fiio BT11 uses).
I DO NOT RECOMMEND A FIIO BT11.
I do recommend an Astell SE300 (has bluetooth receive with nearly no latency); portable class A headphone amp and fully discrete ladder DAC, on massive sale also. much more costly than a Switch (or Steamdeck etc),.. but one of the best audio products on the planet. and fantastic for gaming.
@NTELLIGENTMAN Atari Lynx, same generation as the gameboy, was three times the batteries required for around 1/7th the runtime.
PC Engine handheld, the Nomad, and a few other 'better' handhelds failed at battery life/weight balance that can make or break a portable system.
Hence why SteamOS/Bazzite etc makes Windows handhelds a non event. (you can effectively get two years of hardware upgrades by changing Operating System, factoring a 10% GPU upgrade annually, older hardware running a Linux distro like SteamOS will outpunch the same hardware running windowsOS quite noticeably)
Apple used to balance their iPads tech/chip upgrades with enough battery to hit ten hours runtime. If the chip was more efficient, the battery weight could be reduced..
Balance the variables and build the perfect device for everyone? Not likely- some will argue a device could be heavier/some will demand it be lighter (eg PSVR2 controllers)
Batteries add weight. Switch 2 is featherlight compared to PC handhelds, sure.. but it is heavier than the Switch1 it is most likely to be compared against. Someone, somewhere had to make the hard decision.
That being said, it is three cell, rather than two, so a little extra weight given towards battery longevity. (Nice one Nintendo!)
Using the wrong USB output on my Bluetti power station (eg Handsfree1), the console charges slowly. Using the PD USB output? charges quickly even when I am using it.
Not all USB ports deliver the same power, even if they physically look similar.
I noticed 20% more power intake via the bottom USB power. (10w via top, 12watts via underside USB)
The controllers will charge to full from console battery as well, and everyone being keen to be untethered means a lot of 'unexplained' short run times (initially).
I downloaded (and filled) all internal space before plying any games. All updated, firmwares, controllers charged etc..
Around 45% brightness and feeding audio out (line level into car stereo), partner and I played Mario Kart for the first time whilst waiting for a friend in a car park.
Just like my Skyrim runtimes (less than 20% per hour), we gamed four or five online multiplayer races, and barely noticed the battery hit.. (less than 30%)..
Settled consoles and users who understand that large screen/high refresh rate/HDR 'high brightness' sucks power hard! The sound upmixing (downmixing?) 5.1 to virtual surround via two speakers is a hit to power (mild) vut ramping the 'softer' (mixed/'re-encoded' audio up until the speakers sound equally loud as unmixed surround to two channel audio sounds eill mean that speakers and screen (and controllers charging, and 'background' downloads etc) will be lionshare of battery runtime discrepencies between users.
Measured power is 8watt handheld, 18watt docked. If CPU downclocks, eg Mariokart replay or canera in Skyrim 'starte spinning from no user input', wattage consumes drops by 3watts.
This handheld sips power. Users setting the screen and sound (flightmode on etc) can make huge runtime differences.
120hz HDR 'large' screen is a power hog (if set to crazy brightness).
Give the end users the power to play in sunlight? They will,.. and then denounce battery life....
My console might be some magic golden sample (unlikely).. Setting screen brightness to typical level, and using outboard sound (eg bluetooth), helps a lot. So does precharging the system/ controllers (if fresh from box), and acknowledging that the new console can pull 150mpbs via wireless networking..
YourMileageMayVary; depends on the road and how you drive it!
I am not sure how people are quoting such poor runtimes...
Maybe engaging the 3D sound upmixer, running speakers loud, and having an HDR (superbright) screen at maximum brightness.
As someone who tunes PC gaming handhelds to have specific profiles for various games (for max framerate/min power consumption), the Switch 2 is pretty untouchable. (power efficiency).
Maybe, just like a new phone, the backend has to settle?
My runtimes are solid. This device is tiny, with a large screen, at high resolution and refresh rate, and capable of incredible brightness... (yes, a person COULD hose their battery life that way if they wished!!)
Real world useage? This thing destroys portable PCs.. (modding of games not factored) Fun is a dedicated gaming console where entertainment minutes can be actually used for entertainment... (gaming PCs this is seldom the 'real world' experience).
Nintendo really delivered something incredible with this small(ish) lightweight product. Nice. (A+ product)
Comments 6
Re: Video: Digital Foundry Tests Out Switch 2's Free Switch Game Upgrades
Skyrim; that dlss stuff is obvious!
Resident Evil revelations (most hours Inhave played niw, since 3DS multiplayer sessions).
Switch 2 upgrades are so worthwhile.
Most do not seem to be explored or catalogued.
I attempted to look at Skyrim a 'bit' here.
https://youtu.be/pTM3wUTzy-M
Hope I am right that Ninty release a firmeare that allows handheld mode to run orig switch games like they are docked.. (resolution match up to the screen)
DF takedown on switch 2 screen is with awareness of strengths and weaknesses of IPS LCDs vs OLED etc.. they intentionally (and misleadingly) refer to earlier Switch consoles in ways that suggests a grim picture of the Switch 2 screen.
the same video above, with a few errors mentioning the Legion Go screen as 120hz (not 144hz), is with fair screen tech comparison.
I use mostly ONLY flagship /reference OLED (calibrated); if Inuse LCD, I opt for colour accurate IPS.
Switch 2 screen is awesome, and a firmeare update to how the console handles Switch 1 titles will improve render to screen timings.. (in time).
we all know Ninty give A LOT via firmware updates (eg bluetooth audio); the screen on the Switch 2 has been poorly reported on.
that being said; I have the so called superior 'warm colour profile' LCD is my take . (DF and hardware unbixed had cool colour gamut samples that are measuring, in present firmware, 'worse'
Re: Best Nintendo Switch 2 Gaming Headsets
"gaming headsets" (smiles)
best options BEING SOLD (and we make money off pointing you towards!!)
Best value?
hardly....
for HRTF /"headphone surround" a user simply needs the best (sound) quality FLATLINE targetting headphones possible.
at a site like 'head-fidotorg', they would refer to this as a 'studio/flatline' aound profile.
biggest soundfield that has good front to back and left to right (width) staging.
Some classics that have done so, for many years, without charging a 'gaming' tagline consumer rip pricepoint..
AudioTechnica made a range.. with open and closed back designs; (ath Adg1x as examples for 'gaming' market)
open backs leak sound but generally stage much better..
closed backs generally have more bass and less soundstage, but yood for beside partner in bed at night (open backs, by comparison are like speakers into the room..).
Those sold many many years ago.
many still work.
equivalent audio only sets are half price, but 'no wired microphone'.
Switch 2 has a fairly high powered internal headphone amp, and can even drive AKG k612pro (k701/702/712 etc are upgrades)..
Wireless iems, presently on clearance, include Bowers Pi7 series 2 (Pi7 s2)
app limitations and limited active noise cancelling vs other flagship IEMs, but fantastic audio/soundstage and quality; their case doubles as a BT transmit dongle.
The transmission supports Apt X variable, which alters between Low Latency and 'High Def' depending on users usage needs.
The Bowers Pi7 using the retransmission case show that the very low quality SubBandCodec Bluetooth protocol that the Switch (/2) uses actually makes bass frequencies seem 'mono' or central in the soundstage.
The Pi7 are fantastic for in ear gaming audio (albeit high priced 'modern' solution), and really blow away anything connecting directly to the Switch using bluetooth.
For best headphone surround gaming; need games that have 5.1 linear PCM sound. (Switch store lists this on titles that do)
eg Persona 5, 'yes', Persona 4/3, 'no'.
Games with 5.1 speaker sound support can use the new hardware 3D sound built into the console to improve the sense of headphone surround.
Switch 2 is very good, but big audio upgrades by using an external Bluetooth dongle (or case that is a dongle like the Bowers do)
tested a Fiio BT11 and the Bowers case; both big upgrades, even if using SBC BT profile.
Nintendo have set the packet size for SBC BT audio they use as really small. helps lower latency/allows BT for gaming; but easily improves sound quality using 'better' CODECs, or even 'same CODEC' (SBC) at a higher bitrate.. (like a Fiio BT11 uses).
I DO NOT RECOMMEND A FIIO BT11.
I do recommend an Astell SE300 (has bluetooth receive with nearly no latency); portable class A headphone amp and fully discrete ladder DAC, on massive sale also.
much more costly than a Switch (or Steamdeck etc),.. but one of the best audio products on the planet.
and fantastic for gaming.
Re: Poll: Switch 2 Battery Reportedly Lasting Under Two Hours With Mario Kart - How Is Yours Holding Up?
@NTELLIGENTMAN Atari Lynx, same generation as the gameboy, was three times the batteries required for around 1/7th the runtime.
PC Engine handheld, the Nomad, and a few other 'better' handhelds failed at battery life/weight balance that can make or break a portable system.
Hence why SteamOS/Bazzite etc makes Windows handhelds a non event.
(you can effectively get two years of hardware upgrades by changing Operating System, factoring a 10% GPU upgrade annually, older hardware running a Linux distro like SteamOS will outpunch the same hardware running windowsOS quite noticeably)
Apple used to balance their iPads tech/chip upgrades with enough battery to hit ten hours runtime.
If the chip was more efficient, the battery weight could be reduced..
Balance the variables and build the perfect device for everyone?
Not likely-
some will argue a device could be heavier/some will demand it be lighter (eg PSVR2 controllers)
Batteries add weight.
Switch 2 is featherlight compared to PC handhelds, sure.. but it is heavier than the Switch1 it is most likely to be compared against.
Someone, somewhere had to make the hard decision.
That being said, it is three cell, rather than two, so a little extra weight given towards battery longevity. (Nice one Nintendo!)
Re: Poll: Switch 2 Battery Reportedly Lasting Under Two Hours With Mario Kart - How Is Yours Holding Up?
@mr12calvin try using PD USB (power delivery).
Using the wrong USB output on my Bluetti power station (eg Handsfree1), the console charges slowly.
Using the PD USB output?
charges quickly even when I am using it.
Not all USB ports deliver the same power, even if they physically look similar.
I noticed 20% more power intake via the bottom USB power.
(10w via top, 12watts via underside USB)
Re: Poll: Switch 2 Battery Reportedly Lasting Under Two Hours With Mario Kart - How Is Yours Holding Up?
@1UP_MARIO
Nailed it!!
The controllers will charge to full from console battery as well, and everyone being keen to be untethered means a lot of 'unexplained' short run times (initially).
I downloaded (and filled) all internal space before plying any games.
All updated, firmwares, controllers charged etc..
Around 45% brightness and feeding audio out (line level into car stereo), partner and I played Mario Kart for the first time whilst waiting for a friend in a car park.
Just like my Skyrim runtimes (less than 20% per hour), we gamed four or five online multiplayer races, and barely noticed the battery hit.. (less than 30%)..
Settled consoles and users who understand that large screen/high refresh rate/HDR 'high brightness' sucks power hard!
The sound upmixing (downmixing?) 5.1 to virtual surround via two speakers is a hit to power (mild) vut ramping the 'softer' (mixed/'re-encoded' audio up until the speakers sound equally loud as unmixed surround to two channel audio sounds eill mean that speakers and screen (and controllers charging, and 'background' downloads etc) will be lionshare of battery runtime discrepencies between users.
Measured power is 8watt handheld, 18watt docked.
If CPU downclocks, eg Mariokart replay or canera in Skyrim 'starte spinning from no user input', wattage consumes drops by 3watts.
This handheld sips power.
Users setting the screen and sound (flightmode on etc) can make huge runtime differences.
120hz HDR 'large' screen is a power hog (if set to crazy brightness).
Give the end users the power to play in sunlight?
They will,.. and then denounce battery life....
My console might be some magic golden sample (unlikely)..
Setting screen brightness to typical level, and using outboard sound (eg bluetooth), helps a lot.
So does precharging the system/ controllers (if fresh from box), and acknowledging that the new console can pull 150mpbs via wireless networking..
YourMileageMayVary; depends on the road and how you drive it!
Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For The Nintendo Switch 2
Ecosystems compared, the 'import consoles' have the best gaming experiences....
Some ruminations of Switch 2...
https://youtu.be/pTM3wUTzy-M
I am not sure how people are quoting such poor runtimes...
Maybe engaging the 3D sound upmixer, running speakers loud, and having an HDR (superbright) screen at maximum brightness.
As someone who tunes PC gaming handhelds to have specific profiles for various games (for max framerate/min power consumption), the Switch 2 is pretty untouchable. (power efficiency).
Maybe, just like a new phone, the backend has to settle?
My runtimes are solid.
This device is tiny, with a large screen, at high resolution and refresh rate, and capable of incredible brightness... (yes, a person COULD hose their battery life that way if they wished!!)
Real world useage?
This thing destroys portable PCs..
(modding of games not factored)
Fun is a dedicated gaming console where entertainment minutes can be actually used for entertainment...
(gaming PCs this is seldom the 'real world' experience).
Nintendo really delivered something incredible with this small(ish) lightweight product.
Nice. (A+ product)