Nintendo Switch Specs & Price

Nintendo Switch is a new hybrid gaming device that is aimed at offering multiple gaming experiences. It can be a handheld gaming device, a table-top gaming device, or a stand-alone gaming console for playing on your full HD TV. Like the Nintendo Wii, the Nintendo Switch is not about power like the PS4 or XBox, but focuses more on usability and flexibility.

Where to Buy Nintendo Switch

Jumia Nigeria – See Offers | Jumia Kenya – See Offers

Nintendo Switch Key Specs & Features

NVIDIA Custom Tegra Processor
6.2-inch LCD Touch Display, 1280 x 720 pixels
Full HD Video Support
2 x Joy-Con Wireless Controllers Included
32GB microSD card Included, supports 2TB
Motion Tracking via IR Camera
4310 mAh Li-ion Battery
Dual-band Wi-Fi

The Design

Nintendo Switch lives up to its name. It comes with a design that enables you switch between gaming modes. In its most basic form, the Nintendo Switch is a tablet with a 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution.

Nintendo Switch Joy Con — Joy-Con Wireless controllers (two included)

Then you have the two wireless controllers (called Joy-Con controllers), which you can use to play wirelessly or attached to either the console or Joy-Con grip depending on the gaming mode.

Handheld Gaming

To use the Nintendo Switch as a handheld gaming console like the Sony PlayStation Vita, you attach the two Joy-Con controllers to the left and right edges of the console tablet. One to each end.

Once this is done, you can play your games on the move without any limitation except of course for the battery. However, if there is a power point nearby, you can plug-in the console while you play for extended game-play.

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Tabletop Gaming

You can also use the Nintendo Switch in table-top mode. In this mode you stand the console on the table or any flat surface and you support it using the kickstand attached to the back of the console.

In tabletop mode, you have to detach the Joy-Con controllers from the edges of the Nintendo Switch console tablet and use them as wireless controllers to control game play. Each Joy Con controller can be used as an individual wireless game controller or you can connect the two controllers to the Joy Con Grip for a more versatile control of game play.

When connected to the Joy-Con Grip, the controller looks more like a normal wireless controller like say, the DualShock 4 controller that comes with the Sony PS4.

Joy-Con wireless controller attached to the Joy-Con Grip — Two Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers attached to the Joy-Con Grip

If you prefer to use the Joy-Con controller as an individual controller like if you want to do local multiplayer gaming with a friend, you have to attach each controller to the Joy-Con strap.

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Each Joy-Con attached to a Joy-Con strap form two individual game controllers — Each Joy-Con attached to a Joy-Con strap to form two individual game controllers

Do not worry, the Nintendo Switch comes with all the accessories included in the box. So, you do not need to buy any accessory to get started.

Standalone Console

In standalone mode, you attach the Nintendo Switch to the included dock. The dock has an HDMI port which you use to connect the console to your TV. Nintendo Switch can deliver full HD content to your TV.

As for the Joy-Con wireless controllers, you use them the same way they where used in the tabletop mode. You either use them individually with the Joy-Con strap or you use them together with the Joy-Con grip. Again, all the accessories are included in the box. So, you have all you need to get started.

However, if you want a full fledged wireless controller that truly competes with the wireless controllers of consoles like the XBox One or PS4, you should buy the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. The controller currently sells at around $70.

Transition between modes is also seamless. You could be playing in handheld mode and you can switch to standalone console mode simply by attaching the Nintendo Switch to the dock.

The Performance

Nintendo Switch is not competing on graphics capacity with powerful consoles like the Sony PS4 Pro or the XBox One S. Its power is its versatility and flexibility. You are not tied down to playing in front of your TV. You can play while on the move.

Nintendo Switch is powered by a custom NVIDIA Tegra processor. The processor offers enough juice to make things run smoothly whether you are playing in handheld mode at 720p HD on the console screen or playing in standalone console mode at full HD on your TV.

Nintendo Switch offers a game card slot that will enable you slot-in game cards, though you will not be able to use game cards of older Nintendo consoles like the Nintendo Wii U. You can also download games into a microSD card. The Nintendo Switch also has a dedicated slot for microSD slots for storing downloaded games.

It comes with a 32GB microSD memory card included, but can support up to 2TB microSD memory card if you can find one. Nintendo Switch delivers stereo audio via the speakers or headphones. When attached to the dock, the console can deliver 5.1 surround sound to the TV.

Nintendo Switch comes with a 4310 mAh battery, which can support between 2.5 hours to 6.5 hours of gameplay depending on the game. According to Nintendo, the console can play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for about 3 hours when fully charged. Of course you can connect the game to a power point while playing in handheld mode and standalone console mode for extended gaming.

However, because of the configuration it is difficult to connect the console to a power point in table-top mode, because facing down the power connector is blocked by the surface of the table.

The Joy-Con controllers came with their built-in batteries and can last for up to 20 hours once fully charged.

Nintendo Switch Games

Games are what the Nintendo Switch lacks at this stage. One of the most exciting game available so far is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. There is also the 1-2 Switch game card with a couple of mini games to play.

Other games available for the Nintendo Switch include Just Dance 2017, Skylanders Imaginators, World of Goo, Little Inferno, Human Resource Machine,
Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!, Super Bomberman R, Fast RMX, I am Setsuna, and Shovel Knight.

Game titles expected to launch for the Nintendo Switch before the end of the year include FIFA18, NBA 2K18, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Sonic Mania, Splatoon 2, Arms, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Nintendo also announced that over 60 indie games will be available for the Nintendo Switch by the end of the year.

Pricing and Availability

Nintendo Switch price starts at $299. Nintendo Switch is available in Nigeria and Kenya. You can buy the gaming console at leading online stores in your country. Nintendo Switch price in Nigeria ranges from 167,000 Naira to 300,000 Naira. In Kenya, price starts at 65,000 KSh.