Just shortly after announcing the incoming Switch Lite, Nintendo went ahead and quietly revealed that another new Switch model was on the way. This time, it would be a revision of the original, or ‘flagship’ Switch that would offer a significantly improved battery life over the initial variant. This new revision possesses a change in the model number; in the US, they’re identified by the number HAC-001(-01) and the serial code starts with XKW.
The easiest way to identify the revised model is by the change in packaging design. The new boxes are all red (the original was red and white) and show the system at a different angle.
This revised model of the Switch was set to begin making its way out into the public by August. Now that it’s officially August, sightings have begun to surface. The revision has already made it to Hong Kong, and even Australia. As the revised units become more prevalent around the world, it would seem likely that the original model will be gradually phased out.
Revised Joy-Con, too?
I got the new Nintendo Switch with the extended battery life today. Testing it tons tonight. It also has the new joy-cons on it. Will talk about it in a vid tomorrow cause Im rather surprised by it. pic.twitter.com/CsBC23ZrhL
— DreamcastGuy (@DreamcastGuy) August 3, 2019
Recently, US-based YouTuber ‘DreamcastGuy’ tweeted out a picture of him holding a box with a revised Switch. In his caption, he also claims that the Joy-Con also feel “a little different”. In a comment, he elaborates that it appears there’s been a change in material and thus thinks Nintendo has now “built them to be stronger.” He then mentioned that he’d elaborate on this point a little bit more in the future.
Yeah, they feel a little different. It seems like they are made of a different material or something. Will explain more in the video but I think they built them to be stronger.
— DreamcastGuy (@DreamcastGuy) August 3, 2019
If DreamcastGuy’s hunch about the Joy-Con being revised is true, then it shows that Nintendo really has been listening to the criticism that’s been brought up about the arguably shoddy build quality of the controllers. Seeing that the company went far enough to improve the battery life of the Switch itself, which has also been a point of controversy in the past, I’m not surprised if improvements to the Joy-Con really have been made.