The Nintendo Switch is an intriguing device that we can't wait to get our hands on. It's going to be Nintendo's newest video game console that is actually not designed to compete directly with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
We've learned a lot about the product, however, not much have been said about the battery life and whether or not users will have the option to replace the battery down the line. Gadget owners tend to enjoy having the option to replace a battery, but as mobile devices get smaller and designs become more complex, batteries are being built in.
Apparently, it would appear as if Nintendo is planning to do the same with the Switch. A new FCC report has likely proven that the Nintendo Switch will not have a replaceable battery, and that could be a recipe for disaster seeing as it is both a home console and a mobile gaming system.
We know that when the Wii U's Gamepad was attacked by critics for dying too soon, Nintendo released a battery pack to boost the capacity and allowed the gamepad to power on for up to eight hours. If the company goes with a built-in battery plan here, then it might not be possible to get a battery pack for this thing.
Can't Be Sure About FCC Filing
Here's the thing with the FCC filing. A production prototype was reviewed instead of the final design. However, we have to say that this production prototype is the equivalent to the mass production model, but that still doesn't mean Nintendo is not capable of making changes to the battery before launch.
At the end of the day, we're not counting on the Switch having a user-replaceable battery hardware feature. If we look at the design, it's similar to a small tablet and is quite thin. Chances are, there isn't enough room inside the shell to allow for such things, but we can only hope.
Maybe Nintendo will find a way make a battery pack work. If any company can, it would be Nintendo.
Nintendo formally announced the Switch a few months ago, and the reveal was almost everything the rumors had suggested. The Switch is not your typical gaming console because it's a two-in-one machine. It can be played at home on a TV when docked, and it can also be used as a mobile gaming device when removed from the dock.
The company is taking a different road when compared to rivals Sony and Microsoft, and that might turn out to be a good thing.
