Switch Mini

[A Black Falcon]

So, Nintendo recently announced a slightly smaller, portable-only model of the Switch.  The good is that it's a little bit smaller and is only $200, a full $100 less than the regular switch.  Also the thing has a d-pad instead of buttons on the left side, which is nice.

The bad is that it can't be docked so it is not a "Switch"-able- console, it's handheld mode only and some games don't run well in handheld mode; it is still too large to easily fit into most pockets, as it's smaller than a regular Switch, but larger than a model 1 Vita; it doesn't fold to protect the screen like a DS-line system, meaning scratches are likely if you do carry it in a pocket; the controls are now attached to the system so it does not come with the removable joycons that some games require -- Mario Party, all Labo releases, Starlink (physical), and 1-2-Switch, primarily, though other games that take advantage of separated Joycons like Mario Odyssey or such lose that functionality of course as well; and HD Rumble is gone.

... Yeah, those are some pretty big negatives.  Sure, it cuts the price by a third, and I'm sure the Switch Mini will sell well, but I at least have no interest in this.  I mean, a more portable Switch would be great, but this is not that, it's still far behind the 3DS in that regard.

[Dark Jaguar]

I'm not personally interested, but it really is a more portable switch. It'll fit in a lot more pockets and purses now.

[A Black Falcon]

It probably will, but it's not small enough to be a good portable, it's probably still too large for most pockets -- it's bigger than a model 1 Vita, for instance. I'd have rather seen it be small enough to really be portable (maybe folding?), and with some form of (wire-based I presume) docking function to attach it to a TV... oh well.

[Dark Jaguar]

I'm not sure how folding would work in this instance. The Switch is pretty much dominated by a single screen.

[A Black Falcon]

Controls on the lower part, screen on the upper part, I was thinking. I know there are things that do stuff kind of like that.

Anyway, pairing with this Switch Mini, there is also a new revision of the main Switch which is out now. There is only one change, though -- better battery life, MUCH better better battery life. It uses the same new chipset revision as the Mini to reduce power drain. Depending on the game, this one will get up to 9 hours in handheld mode, and Zelda BotW goes from ~3 hours to 5.5 hours! That's a big improvement, impressive stuff. If I used the Switch portably much and wanted one of these, I'm not sure which of the two to get... it probably depends on if you prefer the slightly smaller size of the Mini or the better battery life of the new Switch.

[Dark Jaguar]

With lower power drain comes less heat, did they finally get to the point where the device can use passive cooling? Not powering a fan extends battery life even further.

[A Black Falcon]

I think it still has active cooling. It just has a much lower power drain new chipset, which Nintendo chose to use for better battery life and not any form of system power improvement. (A lot of people were hoping for a Switch Pro, but no luck, it's just 'the Switch but with better battery life'.)