Is the Nintendo Switch a Console, Handheld or Both?

[isturbo1984]

I know the answer, lol. Do you? I wanted to take a quick poll and see what the community thinks and see what a debate on the subject will yield. No name calling, please. I've seen this quite a bit on the subject. But before you click and answer, hopefully you will read my 5 reasons and maybe change your mind on why the Switch is not only a handheld, but not even a hybrid. Before I begin, it is important to note the difference between a "console" and a "system or device." And it is also important to note that this isn't just about what the Switch or handhelds can't do that consoles can, but also what console cannot do that handhelds can.

6 Reasons the Switch is Definitively a Handheld

1. Independent screen

• Consoles don't have screens attached to them. They don't need them. They plug in and play on a separate, big screen.
• Handhelds would have to require this function to be a "handheld" machine. There hasn't been a handheld without one.

2. Big TV mode

• Consoles connect directly to a larger television or monitor to play in "big tv mode" as their main mode of play.
• Handhelds require an external accessory to do this. The Switch isn't even the first handheld that can do with is the help of an external accessory.

3. Battery power

• Consoles do not have an internal source of power and need to be plugged into an external source, usually the wall.
• Handhelds house their own internal battery in the system to allow portable play and do not require to be plugged in at a source to function.

4. Portability

• Consoles are made to be stationary, grounded to a bigger screen and power source with no option of portability without mods or hacks. No official "lite" version exists.
• Handhelds are made to be portable. Detached from any cords, cables or docks. Any functionality that of a console comes via the help of accessories or mods.

5. Sacrifice in raw power

• Consoles do have to sacrifice power unless it is to help power additional tech.
• Handhelds are forced to lose a lot of power in order to utilize lighter materials and make room for an internal battery.

In conclusion, not only do I think the Nintendo Switch is a handheld, but any argument of it even being a hybrid is ridiculous. From where I sit, not only does the Switch not do anything new that would consider it a hybrid... but as you all can see, consoles and handhelds seem to be mutually exclusive, one being the very definition of what the other cannot do. Agree, disagree? Tell us why or why not. Did I miss anything? Don't forget to vote.

[isturbo1984]

On the topic, I just wanted to add that while consoles and handhelds right now are mutually exclusive, I think under the right circumstances a true hybrid can be achieved. As of right now, I don't think it is possible to achieve "hybrid" status, unless we go back and do some sort of hardware revision of an older system. Mostly because of the sacrifice in hardware power. Traditionally, next gen machines can't afford to sacrifice anything to be portable, likewise, handhelds can't afford to bulk up their machines. But a hardware revision of an older system, even as early as the start of this current generation, may be possible. So what would that look like?

Let's take the SNES, for instance. Older machine. Obviously Nintendo has slimmed down the hardware for the Mini or Classic console. This would not be that difficult to make a hybrid out of it, granted it ticks most of the boxes in my 5 Reasons, listed above. A simple controller attached to a screen would pretty much make it a functional SNES handheld. With a portability factor, its own independent screen and internal battery, nobody would argue. And as long as it still retained the ability to be plugged directly into a big screen without a dock, the option to plug in and play without draining a battery indefinitely, no sacrifice in power and a controller mode that detaches, much like the Switch... I think a true hybrid can be achieved. Unfortunately, the Switch only manages to be able to play with a detached controller. But it is a step in the right direction.

[TwinsUltra64]

I use my switch as a home console, so therefore I voted home console.

[isturbo1984]

I use my Switch almost exclusively in docked mode too

[Kashimi]

The switch is absolutely a hybrid between a handheld and a console. It doesn't need to do anything better than an xbox or a ps in order to qualify as a console. A video game console in the traditional sense is a boxed unit that is sold as an all-in-one unit that doesn't require upgrades like a pc does, but offers a library of video games. Simply put, the switch does exactly that. There's no caveat to being a console so long as the internal hardware is consistent and offers no variant, and there is an option to play games from a library of many games.

[isturbo1984]

Why would the Switch need to be "better" than a Xbox or PlayStation to be a console... if a Xbox and PlayStation are already consoles to begin with?

[Kashimi]

Image if Nintendo created a box with the exact same connectivity (bluetooth / wifi), ports, and internal components as the Switch but literally just removed the buttons and the screen from the switch and screwed the dock on to the actual unit. It would literally just be a console, not a handheld. Then there would be nothing left to argue. Aside from the added benefit of actually having the screen and buttons and being able to be played in a handheld mode, the unit functions exactly the same way a console would.

[RepentantSky]

It's a Hybrid, regardless of how you play on it. That's why it can be docked to connect to a TV, held like a handheld and has a wireless control option while being on a stand. It does everything that a home console and a handheld do.

[isturbo1984]

It just does everything, minus thing things in my list, right?

[venraptor]

It's hybrid nature became really REALLY clear to me when I bought TWEWY for it - I can't play BoTW well in handheld because everything is so tiny, but I can't play TWEWY on a TV because of cotrols, and both games work amazing when used in another mode. But most games you can just play - my daily commute is over an hour of public transport, so I can just play something in the evening, and then in the morning I would just pick the Switch up from the dock and later play it on the bus from the same place, it is super convenient, and that's probably why my Switch library is already 4 times the size of my WiiU library, and I had WiiU from the launch day.

[isturbo1984]

It's a point of complaint for a lot of people, but one of my favorite things about my Switch is all the Wii U ports. I think the Wii U console is one of the best Nintendo systems ever going just by the exclusive library. I'm double dipping in almost every game ported to the Wii U. So far, I've re-purchased: Mario Kart 8, Pokken Tournament, Hyrule Warriors, Captain Toad and Donkey Kong. The games were so good. Do not sleep on Pokken Tournament, btw.

[venraptor]

Yes, the ports are great, I've bought games for switch that I skipped on WiiU just because I thought I wouldn't have any time to play them at home, and on top of that Switch ports are just better at most things. Bayo 2 works much better on Switch IMO. I have Hyrule Warriors, Bayonetta 2 and Mario Kart 8. I would really love to see Xenoblade Chronicles X port too, I never finished it before I sold my Wii U.

[isturbo1984]

That would be cool to see. I think I'll skip XBCX though. I haven't even started XBX1 yet.

[Yoshi]

On the topic, I just wanted to add that while consoles and handhelds right now are mutually exclusive, I think under the right circumstances a true hybrid can be achieved.

You mean like the Sega Nomad in 1995?

[isturbo1984]

Kinda. I would almost consider that a true hybrid. But it can do better with dual functionality.

[grayfox313]

It's both.
source: Switch addict

[venraptor]

I like that you are going physical, it's the real way to go

[Baron Baldric]

To say that a tablet with HDMI port is a hybrid console is just a marketing strategy.

It's ridiculous that an AMD Athlon 200GE has twice as much graphical power as Switch.

Nintendo made it to continue in a very competitive market, is not good as a home console and is not good as a handheld console. Different would have been if they included an active dock with a GPU.

[Teratus]

Technically it's mostly a handheld device as the dock part doesn't really contain any additional hardware.

But i'd still call it a hybrid since while all it's hardware is in the handheld part of the console.. it was designed to be both a home console and a portable handheld.

If the dock had come say a year later and Nintendo had said look you can play the switch like a console now then I'd call it a handheld but it's the way it is so Hybrid it is.

[PriestTroit]

I agree. I don't remember how I did it, but way back I used to play Pokemon Blue version on my TV screen in the living room using the N64. The Switch's gimmick isn't exactly new.

[Clyde Frog]

Handheld IMO. My youngest son, who I bought it for, mainly uses it in that mode, as well as his friends who have it. We do put it on the big screen for Smash, Kart, and Party though. So maybe it is a hybrid.

[Borghir]

The Nintendo Switch is a Handheld Game Console with a docking station that allows it to become a Home Console.
But does anyone really care?

[isturbo1984]

The Nintendo Switch is a Handheld Game Console with a docking station that allows it to become a Home Console.
But does anyone really care?

Care in what context? Obviously people do.

[Borghir]

Care as in: It does not matter. You can argue, but even if we all agree in the end, nothing will happen.

[isturbo1984]

What do you mean? This isn't a petition, lol. Nor is it an argument.

[zekromfan1]

Honestly I would say it’s a fusion of the two, I pretty much only play it in handheld mode. But my only problem with using is in docked mode is how quickly it tends to overheat, I haven’t had to deal with it warping, but I know it has a tendency to do so. So I prefer to watch over it in handheld mode, but I hate how short the battery is when playing the big titles.