As we saw last week, Nintendo was planning on adding a few minor revisions to the original Nintendo Switch model, to go alongside the launch of the Switch Lite. Now, we have official confirmation and details from Nintendo on the slight refresh to the line. The new Switch will be given the model number of HAC-001(-01), and will feature an improved battery life. For comparisons sake, the original Switch that launched on March 3, 2017 (model HAC-001) could get about 2.5 to 6.5 hours, and about three hours when playing Breath of the Wild, while the Switch Lite (Model HDH-001) could get just around half an hour more battery life. The upcoming new-old Switch will offer 4.5-9 hours total, with Breath of the Wild likely being playable for 5.5 hours on a full charge. According to Nintendo's official site, these revamped models will have a new serial number, starting with "XKW", and will have a new box design, sporting an overall red color. Nintendo of Japan will be launching these around the end of August, which means the west will likely follow suit shortly after. In the aforementioned previous post, we saw that Nintendo had filed with the FCC to sell a Nintendo Switch that had a slightly modified SoC and storage, which will likely be the case with this HAC-001(-01) console.

Complimenting this reveal is the announcement of two new Joy-Con colorations. Blue and Neon Yellow and Neon Purple and Neon Orange will be releasing on store shelves on October 4th, for typical MSRP.

Source
Battery Comparisons

 

[DSoryu]

3ds all over again where there's multiple different versions with the same box, who knows if you get a revision 1 or a revision 2, or whatever else they throw at us

can they figure out how to not make their joycon analog sticks shit already?
how about they implement analog triggers while they're at it

One thing was that the new 3DS XL IPS screen units were unrecognizable outside the box, it was like a lottery game, but this time you can spot the newer version by the box design and the serial number first letters as stated in the OP. Don't misread things.

 

[Silent_Gunner]

Now that's what I call an improvement in battery life!

Neon Yellow isn't new. I even have a pair of them! That purple and orange pairing doesn't look quite right. I feel like the blue would complement the purple better, the yellow the orange...

 

[AkikoKumagara]

3ds all over again where there's multiple different versions with the same box, who knows if you get a revision 1 or a revision 2, or whatever else they throw at us

can they figure out how to not make their joycon analog sticks shit already?
how about they implement analog triggers while they're at it

Pretty sure with how they're talking about it, it won't be in the same box, or the box will at least state it has the improved battery life on it.

 

[Silent_Gunner]

One thing was that the new 3DS XL IPS screen units were unrecognizable outside the box, it was like a lottery game, but this time you can spot the newer version by the box design and the serial number first letters as stated in the OP. Don't misread things.

I actually got one of these off of eBay. I was that asshole that, because he had a break incoming that would make him unable to bid on the auction, I essentially put up a really big wager in a desperate bid to win. As it turns out, not only did I win, but according to the seller, the other guy who was still bidding got triggered when I bid it up that high! XD

 

[Foxi4]

3ds all over again where there's multiple different versions with the same box, who knows if you get a revision 1 or a revision 2, or whatever else they throw at us

can they figure out how to not make their joycon analog sticks shit already?
how about they implement analog triggers while they're at it

They can't. It's not that the tech is bad, it's just so small that there's very little meat holding it together. It was shrunk from the standard size at the cost of durability.

Damn.. The battery improvement is insane! Probably switched to the newer Tegra which has a smaller transistor size.
Maybe they 'secretly' improved the screen as well. That's the biggest power drain for a device usually. (And silently hoping it's possible to upgrade the screen of my RCM-able switch in the distant future for some extra battery juice as well..)

It's extremely hard to reduce the power consumption of the screen, modern screens already barely consume any power at all. The ones I use for my projects are almost double the size (I use 11.6", this is 6.2") and only consume 5W at maximum, and that's with the driver included. I suspect the Switch screen is half that. Such a significant improvement of battery life entails some deeper changes in this model. It's either a die shrink or a higher capacity battery.

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

>Model 3 has better battery than the Lite

Literally why does the Lite even exist? Lol

 

[kumikochan]

If the housing and dimensions are still the same then it will be possible we will be seeing replacement batteries with a bigger charge quite soon and we can do the same with our original Switch consoles. The ones they're selling now are all 4130Mah and not bigger due to size problems but if the dimension and size is still the same then we could use a 3th party battery with the original switch with a much bigger charge. Probably still gonna be the same 4130mAH battery but lets hope it ain't

 

[Silent_Gunner]

>Model 3 has better battery than the Lite

Literally why does the Lite even exist? Lol

That Sunny D-pad, bro!

 

[8BitWonder]

3ds all over again where there's multiple different versions with the same box, who knows if you get a revision 1 or a revision 2, or whatever else they throw at us ...

The boxes will be different, only confusion might come from second-hand market if sellers don't have the box or don't know how to check a serial.

... According to Nintendo's official site, these revamped models will have a new serial number, starting with "XKW", and will have a new box design, sporting an overall red color. ...

 

[DANTENDO]

Nothing to do with hype it at all. Just wonder. Anyway.. Yeah, I will ignored it anyway. It is useless, really.

More nonsense talk how is it useless to a new switch owner

 

[Foxi4]

>Model 3 has better battery than the Lite

Literally why does the Lite even exist? Lol

Flogging off old stock with a budget model to make room in the warehouse for the new SOC's.

 

[ThoD]

This is great for people who have yet to buy a Switch, since assuming it comes out at the same price it will be much better and will at least give reason to the asshole stores STILL selling the Switch at full launch price to lower the old version prices a bit...

On the other hand, I highly doubt they revised only the battery, pretty sure they did some behind-the-scenes changes to patch out at least most hardmods and whatnot going by experience, but guess we'll have to wait and see...

 

[Foxi4]

If the housing and dimensions are still the same then it will be possible we will be seeing replacement batteries with a bigger charge quite soon and we can do the same with our original Switch consoles. The ones they're selling now are all 4130Mah and not bigger due to size problems but if the dimension and size is still the same then we could use a 3th party battery with the original switch with a much bigger charge. Probably still gonna be the same 4130mAH battery but lets hope it ain't

If it is a higher density battery with the same dimensions then I imagine a lot of people will mod their systems, but if it's a combination of a die shrink and a different battery, I would probably first test the maximum discharge current. If it exceeds the power draw of the old model (unlikely) then it wouldn't be safe to swap - time will tell.

 

[Silent_Gunner]

As someone who just tried (and probably failed hard) to mod one of Joy-Cons and one of his Switches' shells to support a d-pad and look cooler overall, the fact that this new model has better battery life has yours truly reconsidering that and possibly sending it back.

Unfortunately, life circumstances can be a billtch!

 

[kumikochan]

If it is a higher density battery with the same dimensions then I imagine a lot of people will mod their systems, but if it's a combination of a die shrink and a different battery, I would probably first test the maximum discharge current of the new batteries. If it exceeds the power consumption of the old model (unlikely) then it wouldn't be safe to swap - time will tell.

yeah that's true but who knows, maybe we'll be lucky

 

[Foxi4]

yeah that's true but who knows, maybe we'll be lucky

Nintendo is a big manufacturing house, if they're replacing components then they will make them backwards compatible so that they only have to manufacture one type at a time, just for ease of assembly and service, so you're prabably right if that's what's different.

 

[Phenj]

Mariko?

 

[Deleted User]

They can't. It's not that the tech is bad, it's just so small that there's very little meat holding it together. It was shrunk from the standard size at the cost of durability.

but... the analog stick on the vita is fine and doesn't drift after a week of use?? you can reliably shrink stuff like this without it becoming as durable as a feather

 

[Rahkeesh]

That's the nail in the coffin for the business reports on the "improved model" IMO. We got the improved chip, but Nintendo isn't putting it to full use. It will take hackers finding an entryway for us to clock it up to its full potential.

 

[NoNAND]

It's kind of a bummer that this revision of the switch only comes with a slightly larger battery size-wise and with no CPU/GPU improvements.
Might stick to my regular switch until te "true" Switch Pro becomes a thing.

Side note to the joycons. is it just me or the purple/orange combination looks kind of well....awkward.