- Nintendo Switch Model HAC-001(01) at Amazon
- Nintendo Switch Model HAC-001(01) at Best Buy
Nintendo Switch: Model Number Difference
At a glance, there's no way to tell the difference between the original Nintendo Switch and the upgraded version with the dramatically improved battery life.The original Nintendo Switch, out since its March 3, 2017 launch, have a HAC-001 model number. The new and improved Switch, which Nintendo said is coming mid-August, is stamped with model number HAC-001(-01). Here's a photo of the current Nintendo Switch model number and where to find it:
Serial numbers for the original Switch model begin with "XAW," while serial numbers for the model with better battery life begin with "XKW." Here's a photo of where to find the serial number on your Nintendo Switch:
You can also check the serial number of a Nintendo Switch when it's still in the box by taking a peek at the window built into the packaging itself. Check out the photo below, and the serial number can be checked without the box being opened at all, so don't let this image grab from our Switch unboxing mislead you. I just don't have an unopened Switch handy.
That brings us to the next big, obvious differentiating feature of the new Switch model and the original Switch model: new packaging.
Identify a Newer Nintendo Switch Model From Its Packaging
On its own website, Nintendo lists all the various Switch models available in the past, as well as the upcoming Switch revision with longer battery life. You don't even need to check the numbers to know instantly you're getting the newer version. Take a look at the new packaging below:Updated Nintendo Switch Model Box
Current Nintendo Switch Model Box
Keep in mind, however, it's probably still worth double-checking the model and serial numbers if there's a special edition or bundle with special packaging and you want to ensure you get the newer one.
Nintendo Switch Battery Life Difference
The main draw of the new Nintendo Switch hardware revision is its dramatically better battery life. The older HAC-001 models have "approximately 2.5 to 6.5 hours" of battery life, according to Nintendo. As a real-world example, Nintendo says the HAC-001 Switch model lasts "approximately 3 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild."The new model of the original Nintendo Switch gets 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life
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The Nintendo Switch Lite, on the other hand, beats the original Switch model but comes up way short against the new Nintendo Switch model, giving you between 3 and 7 hours and around 4 hours of Breath of the Wild play time.
