An irresistible handheld game • iGamesNews.com

Who would believe it? The Switch that can't actually switch is an absolute victory-a streamlined reproduction of the hardware, and it is very spectacular to show that in addition to defining the system's hybrid console function, it is always the core of the handheld device-and it is also a wonderful choice. Yes, the new model is cheaper, cheaper, greatly simplified and lacks some nice features, but in a sense, Nintendo hopes to use a dedicated handheld companion product and strive to make it optimal. Is it perfect? no. Is it worth buying? absolute.

When opening the box for the first time, Lite's simplicity was summed up perfectly. In addition to some supporting cardboard, other things include consoles, power supplies, and fragile manuals, and nothing more. Compared to a standard Switch with additional Joy-Con, handles, Joy-Con straps, docking station and cables, you will immediately feel that this is a nonsense, hassle-free option. It's not meant to dazzle you with clever new ideas-it's a simple and simple handheld console.

Taking Switch Lite out of the package, this is obviously not the re-run of the cheap but sturdy almost agricultural "children's handheld" formula we saw in the 2DS series: this is a small, lightweight, and exquisite product design device-decent Matt plastic is not a premium product, but it still feels good. It's hard to be fascinated when the machine is turned on for the first time: the screen may be small, but the picture is sharp, bright and beautiful.

From an empty perspective, the focus and cheaper design of a handheld device does mean that you are losing functionality. Even if it's simple to add-and I suspect it might be included at some point-the lack of docking support for the USB-C port means that even if you want to add TV support, you can't (and be explicit), the unit even Cannot fit into a standard base). If you have a Pro controller, no stand means no table games. The good news is that the USB-C port still supports data transfer, which means that USB peripherals can work properly-just the video output is cut off.

Finally, as a dedicated handheld device, there is no removable Joy-Cons-standard control that is part of the package, and honestly, this is the way I like it. Fewer moving parts means fewer failures, and the proper classic Nintendo d-pad resumes bargaining. However, this does mean excluding games that use HD rumble, IR pointers, or Joy-Con motion controls. If needed, you can pair Joy-Cons wirelessly-you won't be able to charge them. The only other reduction I noticed is that the screen's automatic brightness adjustment feature has disappeared, which indicates that the sensor used in the original Switch is also not used in the lite.

After covering everything that Lite can't do, we should focus on what it actually provides-starting with the cute form factor. In terms of size and volume, the Switch Lite is 22% smaller than the standard model (the thickness is basically unchanged), but what really sets it apart is its lightness: 275g, lighter than the vanilla Switch with Joy-Cons With 123g attachment, the overall weight is reduced by 31%. The simplified design and controller still have a long way to go in miniaturizing the device, but Lite also uses the new T210b01 version of the Tegra X1 processor-codenamed Mariko-which is smaller and cooler than the original chip, More energy efficient version.

Power consumption may be 40% to 50% lower than the original Switch processor, so Nintendo took this opportunity to reduce battery capacity, which is a key factor in reducing the size. The 4310mAh / 16Wh battery of the standard switch can be miniaturized to 3570mAh / 13.6Wh, a reduction of 15%. The good news is that Mariko processors, supported by more efficient LPDDR4X memory, can make up for the lack of battery capacity. Although the lite version cannot accommodate the revised Mariko Switch, it has a longer life than the original model.

Using our standard "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wind" power test, Switch Lite has a 16% longer life than the original model when the screen brightness reaches 50%. When the brightness slider is pushed to its maximum, its use Lifespan extended to 28%. These numbers are impressive, but lower battery capacity also means charging. Although Switch Lite is still slow to charge, the fact is that it can restore you to full capacity 45 minutes faster than the original model. Because it is a USB-C-based charging method, the external power bank can still perform long-term playback well.

There is also good news in terms of heat dissipation. Smaller devices (running the same clock at the same clock as the same processor) and larger similar products (new HAC-001 (-01) model) are more likely to retain heat. However, Switch Lite brings an ingenious trick: although the vents are slightly hot, the actual skin of the machine itself actually feels cooler to the touch, according to the measurement results of the thermal imager.

Nintendo hasn't been able to provide passively cooled Switch-there is still an active fan inside-but even when running demanding games under continuous stress tests, the screen is still at maximum brightness and with battery charging, the device still can't remain silent I put the vent on my ear and I couldn't hear anything. In fact, discerning whether a fan is fully active requires extreme measures: you can't feel anything by placing your fingertips on the vents. Only by licking my knees (more sensitive than my fingertips!) And placing them near the vents, can I feel any movement in the air.

So far, the stacking of the Switch Lite is good. If you're looking for a machine with longer battery life, you can use a revised version of the original model, but the lite version still has better endurance than the transmitter, especially with the brighter display. This shows that the screen is much more efficient and the processor is less.

As for the screen itself-a bit like a gem. Obviously, it is 6.2 inches smaller than the 5.5-inch original Switch display, and it also loses some contrast compared to other models, because the color does not feel so rich, and black does not seem like black. However, in a sense, it is the brightest screen on the screen (at least I have time), and although it may be temperature-adjusted compared to other models, the white point is definitely more "suitable" than any of my "To display other units in white.

The pale yellow of my original Switch did not appear, and the very noticeable red shift of the "new" Switch equipped with Mariko completely disappeared. Screen photography can be a little tricky, but the shots below are a good illustration of how my three Nintendo handhelds stack up when they are stacked side by side. All three images are from the same photo, so you can see what ’s different about the display and how much real estate is lost on the lite compared to the intended design.

In Digital Foundry software reviews, we often see the Switch as a high-end handheld device, not a home console that carries Do-it-all with you. Mobile is the design goal of the core technology and the most effective method, while the integrated screen has almost magic features that can help make the necessary technical compromises required to run on the Tegra X1 look less obvious. Obviously, with Switch Lite, in theory, a smaller area and the same resolution can even help to achieve this effect: the screen of the new model is 267ppi, while the original model is 236ppi, although the screen is smaller, but The details are more dense. Well, this is hard to fix, but even with dynamically zoomed titles such as Wolfenstein and Hellblade, there is some extra sharpness. 720p native skills games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild must have a matching effect of 1: 1 pixels.