The new Switch model is out in the wild, and it can run Zelda for five and a half hours
The new model of the Switch with improved battery life is available in some markets, and we're getting a sense of how much longer it can last.
The new model of Switch has appeared for sale in Australia and Hong Kong so far, and so there's now some evidence that the battery does, indeed, last longer than it used to.
This video (shared by VideoGamesChronicle) shows a new model of Switch running The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in handheld mode, just to see how long it will last.
The verdict? It last almost exactly as long as Nintendo promised.
In the video, we see that Zelda can be played in handheld mode for five hours and 36 minutes, well up on the three and a half hours the launch model is generally capable of. This is a substantial bump. While the video is sped up, it's clear that the system was being played for the full length of time.
Is that enough to justify a system upgrade? Probably not. But we sure would like to be able to replace the battery inside our own Switches.
The Switch Lite, meanwhile, promises slightly boosted battery life too, although not quite as good as the new model.
The new model of Switch will be available in US shops from mid-August, and in the UK by September.