Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch: A game console that transforms into a portable handheld game machine.
Here's our first look at the final hardware, days ahead of its March 3 release -- and some surprising size comparisons with previous Nintendo systems.
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch
With a bright, colorful 6.2-inch touchscreen at 720p resolution, the Switch looks like what the Wii U Gamepad should have been.
Nintendo Switch
All the same buttons in all the same places... plus a few extras. (The little plus sign is a start button.)
Nintendo Switch
Just because it's portable doesn't mean it has a flush, fiddly sliding joystick like the Nintendo 3DS. There's some depth, and the sticks have their own clicky buttons inside when you press down.
Nintendo Switch
But here's the big surprise: The side controllers can snap right on and off. (It's a satisfying snap, too.)
Nintendo Switch
That's because the two Joy-Cons, as they're known, are wireless motion controllers with their own internal batteries, advanced haptic feedback and more.
Nintendo Switch
You can prop up the touchscreen tablet by itself, and play without the Joy-Cons connected.
Nintendo Switch
There's a handy (if limited and lopsided) kickstand to keep the tablet upright, and rigid metal attach points on either side to keep the Joy-Cons relatively rigid once they're snapped into place.
Nintendo Switch
Here's the button you press to unlock the Joy-Cons and slide them out. There's one such button on each side.
Nintendo Switch
A closer look at the metal groove.
Nintendo Switch
A closer look at the Joy-Cons. They have dedicated home and social sharing buttons, too.
Nintendo Switch
Each has a bumper and a trigger. They're shallow and clicky, without a lot of pull.
Nintendo Switch
There are buttons on the inside of each Joy-Con, too, so you can use just one and give the other to a friend.
Nintendo Switch
Or, you can snap both of them into a Joy-Con Grip for a larger, more traditional-feeling controller.
Nintendo Switch
While the buttons are different, the grips feel a bit like a GameCube pad.
Nintendo Switch
One of the Joy-Cons has an IR camera for detecting motion, and another has NFC for connecting Nintendo's Amiibo toys.
Nintendo Switch
An SD card slot is hidden beneath the kickstand.
Nintendo Switch
Here's the power button and volume rocker, on the top edge of the system.
Nintendo Switch
You'll also find the headphone jack and cartridge slot there.
Nintendo Switch
Here, we've popped out the spring-loaded cartridge bay.
Nintendo Switch
My, how Nintendo's removable media has shrunk over the years!
Nintendo Switch
The game boxes are smaller and sleeker, too.
Nintendo Switch
Here's the main vent, next to the headphone jack on the top edge.
Nintendo Switch
If you angle it right, you can see a copper heatpipe inside that likely keeps the Nvidia Tegra chip cool.
Nintendo Switch
The dock has a folding door at the back. You can see it routing cables in the next slide.
Nintendo Switch
And inside you'll find an extra USB port.
Nintendo Switch
There are two more USB ports on the left edge. You can connect a USB ethernet adapter, a gadget to charge or presumably some external storage.
Nintendo Switch
If you want to charge the Switch and attached Joy-Cons without the dock, you can plug the standard (!) USB-C cable directly into the Switch instead.
Nintendo Switch
Here's what the connector inside the dock looks like.
Nintendo Switch
Together with the dock, the Switch is still far smaller than the already-small Nintendo Wii.
Nintendo Switch
Here it is, properly blocked off for a size comparison with the Wii and GameCube.
Nintendo Switch
All of these Nintendo game systems are barely bigger than the original Game Boy.
Nintendo Switch
Bet you didn't think you'd see this comparison, huh?
Nintendo Switch
But it's the thickness where Switch has OG Game Boy totally trounced.
Nintendo Switch
Speaking of which: if you thought the Switch was the size of the Wii U Gamepad, think again.
Nintendo Switch
So much thinner.
Nintendo Switch
It's practically tablet-thin.
Nintendo Switch
Sure, you lose a little height on the sticks and buttons compared to the Wii U Gamepad.
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo's motion controllers have evolved. No more nunchaku-like tether needed.
Nintendo Switch
Press two Joy-Cons together, and they're roughly the size of an NES Classic pad.
Nintendo Switch
The history of Nintendo controllers (at least, the main ones without screens attached).
Nintendo Switch
Here's the Switch next to Nintendo's 3DS XL. Not so big, eh?
Nintendo Switch
Four generations of portable Nintendo consoles.
Nintendo Switch
The Switch makes the Nvidia Shield portable look chunky and awkward by comparison. Both house Nvidia Tegra chips.
Nintendo Switch
Only Nintendo's own shrink ray can make the Switch look gigantic by comparison. The Switch dwarfs the $60 NES Classic Edition.
Nintendo Switch
One last picture of the Nintendo Switch.