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Nintendo Switch specs are official: All the nitty-gritty details

Updated Jan 13th, 2017 7:06AM EST
Nintendo Switch Specs Official
Image: Nintendo

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Just a few hours ago, Nintendo took the wraps off the Switch console — again. But this time around, the Japanese gaming giant actually revealed a bunch of details about the Switch, including pricing, release dates, and announced some of the exciting games that will be available at launch.

Nintendo also listed some of the specs of the new console on its website, but not all of them. Just as expected, they’re not that thrilling — or, at least, Nintendo isn’t making a big deal about specs.

According to The Verge, the Nintendo Switch packs a 6.2-inch 720p multitouch display. That’s 1280 x 720 resolution when the Switch is used in handheld mode. Docked, the console can put out Full HD resolution (1080p) through an HDMI connection to a TV that supports that resolution.

When it comes to processor and RAM, Nintendo said the Switch is powered by a custom Nvidia Tegra processor, without revealing other details. It’s not clear how much RAM the console will have, so we’ll just have to wait for teardowns to learn more about the Switch’s internals.

One disappointing detail concerns storage. The Switch comes with just 32GB of memory, which seems like hardly enough for a console that’s supposed to fight against the Xbox One and PS4 which ship with at least 500GB of storage.

The difference is that the Switch will support microSD storage expansion, which means you’ll be able to add up to 256GB of storage to it. Furthermore, all Switch games will come on physical GameCards. That means you won’t have to worry about storage that much.

Connectivity-wise, the Switch comes with fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi support and will let up to eight Switch consoles connect to play multiplayer games locally. The Switch can also be hooked up to an Ethernet cable, provided you’re using a USB LAN adaptor with the dock. The Switch also has a USB-C port that supports data transfer and battery charging.

Battery life is quoted at between 2.5 hours and 6 hours, depending on the game’s graphics. Nintendo says that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will consume the battery in around three hours.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.