22 MAY 2017 http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
VALUERetailers are bringing the Switch into the country
for about PHP 25,000, with one game. This is a
little steep, but expected for being a product
that is independently imported, this early in the
cycle. That’s a lot of money for what is essentially
one game. If it were closer to the PHP 15,000 it is
worth in the US, and if there were a few more titles
available, this score would jump up to a solid 5, just
because there’s nothing like it. Wait for the price to
drop, and more titles to come out, and you won’t
regret it.the 768 MHz clock speed, which throttles down
to a calm 384 MHz maximum.USER EXPERIENCEOh man, where do we start? As a handheld, it’s
great! Tipping the scales at under 300 grams, or
less than a DSi XL, it looks a lot heavier than it
actually is. There’s no getting around the overall
size, but it’s a fair price to pay for the large screen
that comes with it. It’s plenty sharp enough
to enjoy your games, and works fine in some
sunlight, though you’re probably going to want to
get seated somewhere comfortable for a gaming
session. The controllers snap on to either side
of the device, and are all you hang on to while
playing. This might seem a little unnerving on
paper, but the connection is solid, and the fit is
snug. It’s comfortable enough, and despite being
a little wide, feels fine even for extended periods.On battery, and playing Breath of the Wild, we
normally get upwards of two and a half hours of
play, and to be honest, we’re a little too old to be
playing for much longer than that on a handheld.
There’s a lot of muscle in this little box, particularly
for a portable gaming console, and it shows in the
gameplay, which is basically a perfectly scaled-
down version of the playing on a big TV. You could
leven prop it up while you’re outside, disconnect
the controllers, and use it like a tiny little console/
TV combo on the go. Pretty cool.Docked, the Switch really shines. Even though it’s
not the most powerful console on the block, it’s
no slouch. Game effects, speed, and immersion
are all top-notch, even though this isn’t really
what the Switch is about. This is a device that
gives a unique gaming experience, and it does it
well.1-2-Switch, one of the titles available for the
console, is a great showcase of the abilities of
Nintendo’s newest wonderchild. The gyro and
accelerometer system on the little tiny controllers
are amazing. They allow such a fine level of
control and feedback, that it’s just absurd the kind
of things it lets you do. It’s a much, much more
refined Wii, and all the better for it.The main problem with the Switch right now is
the lack of titles. There’s really only Breath of the
Wild right now, and the rest of the titles are party
games. Granted, those are really quite fun, but
they aren’t games you’d really sit down and play
on your own. Time will definitely change that, so
just give it a wait, and the value proposition will
increase, no doubt.DESIGNThe design of the Switch is very much a
compromise. It’s no secret at this point that it’s a
combination home console and portable console
in one device. These have conflicting requirements,
so copious compromise is expected. It’s a few
devices that snap together, depending on your
particular need at the moment. You have the left
and right controllers, the switch console, which
includes its own screen, and the dock, which
includes the charging and A/V interface. You also
get what is essentially a holder for the L and R
controllers, which allows you to configure them in
a more traditional PlayStation-style. Want to play
on the big TV? Dock the Switch, then snap the
controllers on the holder, and get going. Suddenly
need to go out for a spell? Grab the Switch, snap
the controllers on to the sides, toss it in your bag,
and go.The compromise is in pocketability. It’s not all that
large, but you’re not realistically going to put this in
any pocket. It’s too large, and the nubby joysticks
that come out the front of the device are going
to be a hindrance. Even in a bag, you’re going to
have to be mindful of the sticks, as a controller is
going to run you upwards of a thousand bucks.
I’d probably devote an inner bag pocket for the
Switch.I’m also not the biggest fan of the dock. When
docked, the console sits inside what is essentially
an enclosure, completely covering the screen,
while leaving the sides open for locking the
controllers in place to charge. It looks a little
cobbled together, and isn’t anywhere as sleek as
the previous devices, save maybe for the Wii U. It
just looks better as a handheld.HARDWAREThe Switch isn’t a powerhouse of a machine by a
long shot. While the competition has hardware
that’s pushing the limits of processing technology,
the Switch is happy with an Nvidia Tegra X1 SOC,
an octa-core processor going at a cheerful 1.020
GHz, and 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. Remember though,
that the device is portable, and gameplay is more
than just brute force, so it’s not a deal-breaker in
the least.The screen is a plentiful 6.2-inch affair, with a
resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, giving you a
reasonably sharp 237 pixels per inch, or more than
enough to enjoy a little gaming on the go. When
docked, you get a maximum of 1080p out of the
HDMI port on the dock. This makes the most use ofNintendo
Switch
BottomLINE
You should own one, but maybe not yet.
Reviewed by Ren AlcantaraSPECIfICAtIoNS:
System-on-chip: Nvidia Tegra X1
CPU: Octa-core (4×ARM Cortex-A57 & 4×ARM
Cortex-A53) @ 1.020 GHz
Memory: 4 GB LPDDR4
Storage: 32 GB Internal flash memory
Removable storage: microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC
up to 2 TB
Display: 6.2-inch, 1280 × 720 LCD @ 237 ppi up to
1080p via HDMI while docked
Graphics: Nvidia GM20B Maxwell-based GPU @ 307.2- 384 MHz while undocked, 307.2-768 MHz while
docked
Stereo speakers
Headphone jack
Connectivity: 2.4/5 GHz 802.11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 4.1
1 × USB 3.0 (on dock)
2 × USB 2.0 (on dock)
1 × USB Type-C (on unit)
Power: 4310 mAh, 3.7 V lithium-ion battery
Dimensions: 23.9 by 10.2 by 1.4 centimetres (9.41 in ×
4.02 in × 0.55 in) (Console only)
Weight: 297 grams (10.5 oz) (Console only)
What’s Hot:- A wonderful refinement of the Wii
- Both portable console and home console
- Will have lots of exclusives
What’s Not:- Local price is a little absurd
- No titles yet
Nintendo shook up the gaming world when it released the Wii over a
decade ago. The new control scheme, the accessibility, and the ability to
game in ways players had never really gotten to before, all lent themselves
to an experience that is remembered fondly by all those who got to try
it. Fast forward to 2017, and skip one generation ahead, and we have
the Nintendo Switch. In practice, it’s a refinement of the Wii, but with the
addition of portability. Does it give up too much to be portable, or is it the
true evolution of the home console?