Released globally on March 3, 2017, the Nintendo Switch is a video game console developed by Nintendo that targets the increasing traffic of mobile handheld gaming. The software on the Nintendo Switch supports online gaming via the Internet as well as by establishing a LAN with other consoles. The games and software are available on physical cartridges as well as digitally via the Nintendo eShop. Nintendo Switch is a hybrid console, it is a tablet that can be docked and used as a main gaming machine or as a portable device. Unlike traditional Joystick controllers, Nintendo Switch has what they call “Joy-Con” controllers that are wireless and feature standard buttons as well as directional analogue sticks.
What was touted as the successor to the disappointing Wii U, development for a more compatible handheld console began in 2012. The first concept was unveiled in 2016 then titled NX. The team began the development, closely monitored the market and used widely available electronics to build the new console. They also partnered with developers to establish a game rich library for the console, As many as 320 titles were launched across multiple tiers of developers by the end of 2017
The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite sold nearly 104 million units worldwide as of December 2021, making it Nintendo's best-selling home console and the fifth-best selling game console of all time.
The exclusive releases like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokémon Sword and Shield, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons have been heavily influential for the success of this console.
Specs
| System-on-chip | Name | Nvidia Tegra X1 | |
| Process | 20 nm, 16 nm | ||
| CPU | Type | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A57 | |
| Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 | |||
| ISA | ARMv8-A | ||
| Clock speed | 1.02 GHz | ||
| L1 cache | 48 kB + 32 kB per core | ||
| 32 kB + 32 kB per core | |||
| L2 cache | 2 MB | ||
| 512 kB | |||
| GPU | Type | Nvidia GM20B Maxwell-based | |
| Clock speed | 307.2-768 MHz | ||
| Stream processors | 256 (157-393 GFLOP/s) | ||
| TMUs | 16 (4.9-12.3 GTexel/s) | ||
| ROPs | 16 (4.9-12.3 GPixel/s) | ||
| Compute units | 2 | ||
| Memory | Total | 4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM @ 1600 MHz | |
| Bandwidth | 25.6 GB/s | ||
| Storage | Main | 32 GB eMMC NAND flash memory (base model) 64 GB (OLED model) | |
| Removable | microSD/HC/XC (up to 2 TB) | ||
| Media | Name | Nintendo Switch game card | |
| Capacity | 1-64 GB | ||
| Display | Main | 6.2-inch, 720p LCD screen @ 237 ppi (base model) 7-inch, 720p OLED screen @ 210 ppi (OLED model) | |
| External | 1080p, 720p and 480p via HDMI 1.4b |
