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Why is everybody complaining about Switch battery life?
- Thread starter Genio88
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Skittzo0413
Member
Please compare the Switch to any other device which plays games (even smartphones/tablets) and tell me whether or not the battery life (for playing games) is piss poor compared to every other similar consumer electronic device.
The point of this is, the Switch's battery is objectively far higher capacity than any other modern gaming device. And it has a similar battery life as any other gaming device (3DS/Vita). Why is it suddenly being treated as piss poor, when it meets or exceeds every similar competitor?
Remember, the range is 2.5 to 6 hours, not <2.5 hours.
Pureauthor
Member
I did, in fact, have trouble dealing with the 3DS' shitty-ass battery life. So it is with personal experience that I can say this: The Switch's battery life is also shit.
LordOfChaos
Member
No one accused the 3DS of having good battery life either.
Dragonslayer_023
Banned
If they're saying 2.5-6, you know it's going to be even less then that. That's probably with wifi off and brightness all the way down.
phones had days of battery life before smartphones came. now we think 2 days of battery is awesome... things do change.
and yes, 3 hours is still a shit battery time, but not because of the reason you gave.
but it will depend a lot on the games. compare the zelda and that snipersomething.
Have you tried playing Uncharted until the console turns off? i guess that would take less than 3 hours straight
th3sicknness
Member
People spend $700 on an iPhone and that thing can barely last half the day when used but people are complaining about the switch a dedicated gaming console not lasting as long but only costs 300 bux..
Keyser Soze
Member
If for some reason I wanted to play Zelda in a open field continuously for near 17 hours non stop it would be worthwhile to nab something like this
I dunno actually. you can compare it to the 3ds and it could be a positive. For starters look at the best 3ds game and then look at BOTW. the fact that I can game with graphics of that quality is INSANE. It's miles above the 3ds and I think having a similar battery is better that a worse battery, which is exactly what I expected when I saw it was producing graphics that good.
There are also going to be great games that aren't intensive like BOTW. I sincerely doubt that games like snipperclips, Bomberman, and Has been heroes are all that intensive and will lean way closer to the 6 hours of power versus the 2.5.
There are also going to be great games that aren't intensive like BOTW. I sincerely doubt that games like snipperclips, Bomberman, and Has been heroes are all that intensive and will lean way closer to the 6 hours of power versus the 2.5.
TBH though I still think its too early to be whining battery life since we don't know what effects Turning off extra stuff like brightness and wireless communications would affect the battery life or what kind of games are really hard on the battery.
axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
Hard reality unfortunately does not match the impossible expectations some had. I'm sure Nyko, etc, will be there with a solution soon - at the cost of portability. The people that expect a thinner Switch revision with bigger battery life also make me laugh.
ViolentP
Member
The battery life is piss poor even when comparing it to other devices whose battery life is piss poor.
Smooth Operator
Member
That's the real problem imo. I'm cool with 3 hours as long as i can change the battery (or even get a more powerful one).
People just want to complaint and shits all over the Switch. It's grating that people keeps making the lowest time of 2.5 hours as the standard rather than median like 4 hours.
Because 3DS battery life sucked, comparing to PSVITA...
Also, 3DS on standby is incredible battery consuming for some reason with all activated, PSVITA is not... I personally hope that at least they solved this.
It's not about playing more than 3 hour straight, it's also about not be needed to charge it so often.
Really, to me the problem is that I can use a lot my PSVITA before put it in charge, I can just play -> standby -> play -> stand by -> play -> charge, 3DS is always play->charge
(N3DS is better though from when I bought, but still not enough)
(also psvita does not lose all my progress if battery drains, 'cause it shut off with a little of battery remaining, and if you are quick enough, that means some hours, the game is still there, 3DS completely shut down instead...)
Are little things, but once you have them, you can't live without
EDIT:
ANYWAY we will see when it is out. I can understand that some games are much more demanding on battery life, I just hope the media will not be so low.
Also, 3DS on standby is incredible battery consuming for some reason with all activated, PSVITA is not... I personally hope that at least they solved this.
It's not about playing more than 3 hour straight, it's also about not be needed to charge it so often.
Really, to me the problem is that I can use a lot my PSVITA before put it in charge, I can just play -> standby -> play -> stand by -> play -> charge, 3DS is always play->charge
(N3DS is better though from when I bought, but still not enough)(also psvita does not lose all my progress if battery drains, 'cause it shut off with a little of battery remaining, and if you are quick enough, that means some hours, the game is still there, 3DS completely shut down instead...)
Are little things, but once you have them, you can't live without
EDIT:
ANYWAY we will see when it is out. I can understand that some games are much more demanding on battery life, I just hope the media will not be so low.
KelpPlankton
Member
I'm not terribly surprised people are complaining about the battery life before the console's release. 3 hours sounds bad even when it's the worst the console can do and 90% of games will be getting much longer battery life than that.
I think once the system's out and people remember that, like with cell phones and other tablets, they can use the device while it's plugged into a wall (or a USB jack) that anywhere they'd be for an extended period of time with their Switch is also a place where they're going to be able to charge it while using it. Airports, airplanes, cars, trains, offices, a friend's place, etc, all have power outlets available (or USB ports available) because everyone needs to charge their devices everywhere now. The battery life isn't great but it's also not really going to be a problem.
That said, Nintendo's sure to release a 2nd version of the Switch in the future with better battery life. It's just what they always do with these things.
I think once the system's out and people remember that, like with cell phones and other tablets, they can use the device while it's plugged into a wall (or a USB jack) that anywhere they'd be for an extended period of time with their Switch is also a place where they're going to be able to charge it while using it. Airports, airplanes, cars, trains, offices, a friend's place, etc, all have power outlets available (or USB ports available) because everyone needs to charge their devices everywhere now. The battery life isn't great but it's also not really going to be a problem.
That said, Nintendo's sure to release a 2nd version of the Switch in the future with better battery life. It's just what they always do with these things.
Nintendo have put the biggest battery in this thing that they can. Battery technology just isn't good enough, you can't blame Nintendo on that.
then you wonder what people who complain about the graphics/cpu in this thing expect. Anything stronger and the battery life would be even worse.
then you wonder what people who complain about the graphics/cpu in this thing expect. Anything stronger and the battery life would be even worse.
Spieler Eins
Member
Other things being crap doesn't make this kind of crap any better. Such a backwards defense.
Pureauthor
Member
Ooh, ooh! I know! I know!
If making a portable Wii U results in the battery life being shit, how about...
Don't make a portable Wii U
Subtervotion
Member
I'm pretty ok with the battery life as it is. I have a 3DS and I've never thought the 3 hour life was bad. I don't mind playing with a charging cable plugged in. And if you're on the go, with no outlet in sight, use one of those spare batteries that works for cell phones.
Skittzo0413
Member
So basically people are complaining because battery technology has not advanced at all like microelectronics? That's a fair complaint, just one that probably shouldn't be directed at Nintendo.
There has been no revolution in battery technology in a long time. It's the same reason every other mobile device has crappy battery life. Yes, your phone can function for a good long time doing nothing but web browsing with screen dimming, but play a graphically intense game or bump the screen brightness to max and it'll drain quickly.
Which isn't to say Nintendo couldn't have made the Switch a little thicker and packed a little extra juice in there. The design obviously caters to the "thin device" aesthetic that smartphone makers have been chasing. But this will continue to be a problem until battery technology has a breakthrough or maybe until people stop making things thin because it looks "sexy".
The official battery life estimates for 3DS and Wii U were accurate. I would imagine that 2.5 is with wifi on and brightness up, tbqh.
I mean, the battery life isn't good at all, 2.5 hours is rather short. But that is a sacrifice I am willing to make if it means I can take games of console quality with me anywhere I want. Battery problems don't really bother me; hell, my phone is so backwards that its battery dies after two hours of regular internet usage. I will just use a power bank for those few occasions where I will actually use the system for more than the available minimal 2.5 hours, which is hardly a monetary setback as power banks are dirt cheap nowadays and, let's be honest, just about everyone has one or more lying around for use already. Only for really long trips, for example an intercontinental flight (10-20 hours), will you need to purchase a really beefy power bank (like 15k-25k mAh beefy), but that is an exceptional case of use and you probably will need one for every other handheld from this decade you would take with you.
And that's not to mention that there is a profound limitation in battery tech that means that one cannot increase the power per volume in a battery, but would need to increase the size of the battery for larger capacity. At one point this simply becomes infeasible, as the Switch is already a pretty large device for a handheld, so you will need to accept at one point that it likely isn't even possible to get a more powerful battery in there at this size. The battery life is probably maxed out at this point, and will only increase if they can get the processing done on a more power efficient architecture in a new iteration of the system.
I personally can't be bothered by it, but if you were looking for the new handheld and nothing else in the Switch, I can see why you would be disappointed: you might have wanted to lose some of that graphical power in favour of extra hours. A valid complaint, but I think many people also want the graphical power to be as high as logistically feasible.
And that's not to mention that there is a profound limitation in battery tech that means that one cannot increase the power per volume in a battery, but would need to increase the size of the battery for larger capacity. At one point this simply becomes infeasible, as the Switch is already a pretty large device for a handheld, so you will need to accept at one point that it likely isn't even possible to get a more powerful battery in there at this size. The battery life is probably maxed out at this point, and will only increase if they can get the processing done on a more power efficient architecture in a new iteration of the system.
I personally can't be bothered by it, but if you were looking for the new handheld and nothing else in the Switch, I can see why you would be disappointed: you might have wanted to lose some of that graphical power in favour of extra hours. A valid complaint, but I think many people also want the graphical power to be as high as logistically feasible.
ViolentP
Member
Everyone that releases a portable device with lackluster battery life tends to get flack. Nintendo is simply next in line.
This is the contact information of Nintendo of Japan:
Please send you free business advice there. I'm sure they can't wait to read it.
whalleywhat
Member
Eh, I get annoyed with my 3DS battery life, but mostly because I forget to charge it, and when it dies I just have to put it down. You're charging the Switch when it's docked, i.e. still using it, and thus will also rarely be left uncharged. What excursions is 3 hours insufficient for? Long plane trips and the like I'd imagine, but this is more of an edge case for a lot of people. Just read a book, you might learn something.
Angel Chay
Banned
shame they didnt switch the battery for better one
Bamboo 竹
Member
On a world of misinformed people where they believe that a portable gaming console with the specs of the Switch needs to have the same battery life of a non dedicated gaming smartphone or tablet, it has a bad battery.
For others it's even better in battery life than its previous generation portable consoles, since it has more battery capacity and quick charge, and you can play on your TV meanwhile it charges.
You can pick your side, depending on the way you look at it and your lifestyle.
For others it's even better in battery life than its previous generation portable consoles, since it has more battery capacity and quick charge, and you can play on your TV meanwhile it charges.
You can pick your side, depending on the way you look at it and your lifestyle.
So because something else sucks, it's OK for this too suck as well?
Skittzo0413
Member
It's funny, I don't recall all that many people calling the Vita's battery piss poor.
And shouldn't people actually be positive on the fact that the Switch is the first portable without a proprietary charger? Meaning you can use any USB C cable and any power bank to supplement the battery life? I swear, even when Nintendo does things right people love to complain... "Oh, so one more accessory to buy??"
I wouldn't wanna be a Nintendo employee on this board
It's not "something else" it's literally everything else. This is a fact of physics- right now we, as a human race, have not solved the problem of energy storage any better than we did 20 years ago.
Sapiens
Member
Mammoth Jones
Member
I mean I don't understand people being apologists for things like this. It's 2017. People expect better battery life from their tech. Not shocking.
Now for me battery life doesn't matter much as I will not be taking my switch out of my house. My use case is docking it for TV play most of the time. But when my wife has dibs on the 65 inch TV I will simply dock it in the bedroom and game in there. Or go into "portable mode" on the couch w/ the family and just have it plugged in.
But when touting this as a "portable" I can see people feeling some kinda way over the battery life.
And to be fair it's a limitation of battery tech more than anything. Physics hit a wall with how much juice can be packed into a space.
Exactly. The alternative would be a larger battery and a thicker Switch. I'm personally fine with that as I hate hate hate the modern expectation of super-ultra-mega-thin electronics. Nothing wrong with a little bulk for the right reasons.
Another alternative would be a user-removable battery and let people buy a bigger juice box if they really wanted.
Now for me battery life doesn't matter much as I will not be taking my switch out of my house. My use case is docking it for TV play most of the time. But when my wife has dibs on the 65 inch TV I will simply dock it in the bedroom and game in there. Or go into "portable mode" on the couch w/ the family and just have it plugged in.
But when touting this as a "portable" I can see people feeling some kinda way over the battery life.
And to be fair it's a limitation of battery tech more than anything. Physics hit a wall with how much juice can be packed into a space.
Exactly. The alternative would be a larger battery and a thicker Switch. I'm personally fine with that as I hate hate hate the modern expectation of super-ultra-mega-thin electronics. Nothing wrong with a little bulk for the right reasons.
Another alternative would be a user-removable battery and let people buy a bigger juice box if they really wanted.
killatopak
Member
Because it sucks?
3ds battery sucks as well.
3ds battery sucks as well.
shouamabane
Member
It is pretty shocking. 3DS was rated at 3 hours at launch and it was fine.
RowdyReverb
Member
I mean, what is the standard for portable gaming devices with 3D graphics? What set the bar?
bemusedchunk
Banned
I see the switch as a home portable device.
There is no way you are going to take this thing on the go with you, unless you are traveling to a place where you can also charge (like commuting to work for an hour).
The joycons alone seem cumbersome. This isn't a 3ds/vita type portable device. It's more like an ipad mini - except with two controllers tacked on.
I dunno...I'll be satisfied sitting on the couch playing this thing while my girlfriend watches her Flip or Flop or SVU marathons. But thats just me...
There is no way you are going to take this thing on the go with you, unless you are traveling to a place where you can also charge (like commuting to work for an hour).
The joycons alone seem cumbersome. This isn't a 3ds/vita type portable device. It's more like an ipad mini - except with two controllers tacked on.
I dunno...I'll be satisfied sitting on the couch playing this thing while my girlfriend watches her Flip or Flop or SVU marathons. But thats just me...
What? No it wasn't. Especially after the amazing battery life of the DS.
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
I honestly dont get it either but its not a big deal for me. never seen anyone playing vita or 3ds outside for 3 hours at a time.
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