Hardware Switch Handheld vs Dock mode

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Which Switch has better lifetime?


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Zumoly

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Hi there!
I wanted to know the rate of wear of the Nintendo Switch console when being used either in dock or handheld mode.
I understand the Switch outputs more effort while in the dock as displaying in 60 fps as opposed to 30 fps in handheld mode. In this respect could one assume a Switch in handheld mode is likely to "last more" than the one used in dock mode most of the time?
 
I would agree with your assessment. Also I think having it docked all the time will also negatively impact the battery.
Unfortunately I always use mine in docked mode. :(
 
Last edited by comput3rus3r,
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Hi there!
I understand the Switch outputs more effort while in the dock as displaying in 60 fps as opposed to 30 fps in handheld mode.

Wut? It doesn't do that

Hi there!
In this respect could one assume a Switch in handheld mode is likely to "last more" than the one used in dock mode most of the time?
Also I think having it docked all the time will also negatively impact the battery.
Unfortunately I always use mine in docked mode. :(

No, that's a myth.
 
Of course it has way more lifetime in docked mode. A simple analysis of risks will tell you that the middle life of an exclusively docked console, that stays always in the same place under a roof is way longer than the middle life of an exclusively handheld one, that not only is affected by the wear of being on somebody's hands and being put and taken it from its case, it is also subject to very wide number of possible accidents, each one with its corresponding probability distribution, leading to a lower lifetime average.
 
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Of course it has way more lifetime in docked mode. A simple analysis of risks will tell you that the middle life of an exclusively docked console, that stays always in the same place under a roof is way longer than the middle life of an exclusively handheld one, that not only is affected by the wear of being on somebody's hands and being put and taken it from its case, it is also subject to very wide number of possible accidents, each one with its corresponding probability distribution, leading to a lower lifetime average.

That's a great analysis I hadn't thought of and I agree to it to some degree.
However taking the internal components of the Switch in consideration (heat, fan usage) don't you think the Switch in handheld is likely to last more?
 
That's a great analysis I hadn't thought of and I agree to it to some degree.
However taking the internal components of the Switch in consideration (heat, fan usage) don't you think the Switch in handheld is likely to last more?
If you only considered the heat, it runs hotter docked, so the components should fail earlier.
But I think it will take a lot of time for them to fail due to heat anyway, and it is more probable for the console to fail earlier due to physical wear and accidents.
I believe it may last longer overall if you only used it docked... but I myself would use it however I find it better in a given moment TBH, and if it breaks c'est la vie (e.g. I won't avoid taking it out just because there's the possibility I drop it by accident)
 
Last edited by sarkwalvein,
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