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Switch 2 for outdoor gaming?

TheAssist

Member
I'm currently thinking about buying a switch 2, since I have not owned a Nintendo console for decades, so there is a lot to catch up on.

However I mostly want to use it while traveling and also while outside hiking. Sometimes I just want to combine these two hobbies and the vibe of hiking in the mountains and forests is the real life equivalent of playing a old-school pokemon game.

However I read the maximum brightness of the screen is 450 nits, which does not seem to be a lot for outdoor gaming. I am not expecting it to work in direct sunlight, but like sitting under the shadow of a tree or something like that.

Does anyone have any experience with that use case?
 
I can tell you (for me) it is not worth it.
Switch 2 works best docked, or as an handheld when you have a power source nearby.

Full Brightness eats battery charge like crazy. If you want to game more than 1 1/2 hours outside you need a power source (powerbank or power outlet)
 
I can tell you (for me) it is not worth it.
Switch 2 works best docked, or as an handheld when you have a power source nearby.

Full Brightness eats battery charge like crazy. If you want to game more than 1 1/2 hours outside you need a power source (powerbank or power outlet)
This is why powerbank's exist, most mobile devices eat battery life when playing videos, games etc.
 
I'm currently thinking about buying a switch 2, since I have not owned a Nintendo console for decades, so there is a lot to catch up on.

However I mostly want to use it while traveling and also while outside hiking. Sometimes I just want to combine these two hobbies and the vibe of hiking in the mountains and forests is the real life equivalent of playing a old-school pokemon game.

However I read the maximum brightness of the screen is 450 nits, which does not seem to be a lot for outdoor gaming. I am not expecting it to work in direct sunlight, but like sitting under the shadow of a tree or something like that.

Does anyone have any experience with that use case?
I would say go ahead with it, used even the original Switch in a similar setting and it was not horrible.

On one hand I would have said to wait for the OLED revision, you will want it, but then again prices for Switch 2 might rise and so would a new "premium" model with an OLED screen so it would depend how much disposable budget you have.

If you are willing to pay for Nintendo Online and the Expansion pack for it (and the GCN and N64 controllers for Switch / Switch 2, which are amazing 🤩), you have access to basically all their history and lots of BC games from first and third parties.

There are also lots of affordable legacy game collections (Jurassic Park, Street Fighter [2D] anthology, Spider-man / Xmen, TMNT collection, etc…) and lots of remastered and sequels to 2D classics.
Do not forget to check the feature switch in the OS forcing Switch 1 games to play on docked mode (essentially) on Switch 2 when you are using it in handheld or tabletop mode.
 
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This is why powerbank's exist, most mobile devices eat battery life when playing videos, games etc.
Come on, you do not have to defend their honour like this 🤣 .

It was and is a valid criticism for the price of the console they could have used a bigger battery (and a more advanced manufacturing node for much reduced power consumption). Sure power consumption depends a lot on the title you will be playing and for many 1-2 hours might be enough for some.

iY1mUjNQdDQVuavR.jpeg

Just use a power bank / carry more spare batteries with you… said no-one but the most hardcore SEGA fans… I am curious if you ran to its defense… something tells me… no… (despite the technical specs and capabilities).
 
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Eh, max brightness will suck out the juices even more than it normally does. A power bank is a good option, but realistically don't expect more than a good hour of gameplay on its own.
 
I did it once. I was in the shade of a tree on a sunny day, not quite full Nintendo commercial of after a basketball game with the boys on a roof but close. It isn't really bright enough to handle it well. But you know even the newest iphone has trouble keeping up on bright days so I dunno. For me handheld mode is just to be more comfy and play in bed when I'm sick or something, maybe in the summer to prevent the heat the TV generates.
 
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Come on, you do not have to defend their honour like this 🤣 .

It was and is a valid criticism for the price of the console they could have used a bigger battery (and a more advanced manufacturing node for much reduced power consumption). Sure power consumption depends a lot on the title you will be playing and for many 1-2 hours might be enough for some.

iY1mUjNQdDQVuavR.jpeg

Just use a power bank / carry more spare batteries with you… said no-one but the most hardcore SEGA fans… I am curious if you ran to its defense… something tells me… no… (despite the technical specs and capabilities).
Not a defence just reality.. We want these machines to be able to play home console games, be small and compact. And then run for ages. You are simply not living in the real world.
 
I can tell you (for me) it is not worth it.
Switch 2 works best docked, or as an handheld when you have a power source nearby.

Full Brightness eats battery charge like crazy. If you want to game more than 1 1/2 hours outside you need a power source (powerbank or power outlet)
I mean something between 1 and 2 hours would actually be fine. I am not going to play any major story games outside. Just sit down for while and play something small for like 30 to maximum 60 minutes. Honestly I hate running around with power banks haha. Doesnt feel mobile anymore
 
I mean something between 1 and 2 hours would actually be fine. I am not going to play any major story games outside. Just sit down for while and play something small for like 30 to maximum 60 minutes. Honestly I hate running around with power banks haha. Doesnt feel mobile anymore
The Switch 2 is not as good with the battery as the Switch OLED, but in fairness the original Switch launch model was also not too good. Nintendo did release an updated model Switch with an improved battery, very early on. And obviously the OLED further down the line. If you are looking for 30 mins to and hour you should be fine.... even on performance mode.

I never take the Switch 2 outside, and pretty much play docked. But I do have a quick blast if the wife is monopolising the TV.
 
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Not a defence just reality.. We want these machines to be able to play home console games, be small and compact. And then run for ages. You are simply not living in the real world.
I am, I just do not pretend Nintendo went all out to maximise battery life despite the price of the console but profit margins first…

(battery capacity and the manufacturing of the chip, which was finalised more than 2 years before launch, were not beyond their control but just speak of the low bar fans have for them where it almost makes you sound like any crumble they throw your way should be thanked for… that is why I referenced the Game Gear which was for its time much much much much closer than the Game Boy to home console games in handheld format and had some kick-ass extensions like the TV Tuner… it burned through batteries and people torn it apart for it, but I do not see those defending Nintendo's honour on this subject defending that console and hand waving battery life issues away with a "just buy a power bank you plebs!")
 
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Come on, you do not have to defend their honour like this 🤣 .

It was and is a valid criticism for the price of the console they could have used a bigger battery (and a more advanced manufacturing node for much reduced power consumption). Sure power consumption depends a lot on the title you will be playing and for many 1-2 hours might be enough for some.

iY1mUjNQdDQVuavR.jpeg

Just use a power bank / carry more spare batteries with you… said no-one but the most hardcore SEGA fans… I am curious if you ran to its defense… something tells me… no… (despite the technical specs and capabilities).
Rechargeable batteries already existed in the 90s. You would charge them overnight. You could also use the AC adaptor at home. It's not like the Game Gear was unplayable. Stuff is always so exaggerated. The Switch 2 battery is worse, and battery life hasn't been exactly great since the 3DS for Nintendo consoles. Certainly in the same ball park as the Game Gear, but now it's the norm so it's okay lol.
 
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I am, I just do not pretend Nintendo went all out to maximise battery life despite the price of the console but profit margins first…

(battery capacity and the manufacturing of the chip, which was finalised more than 2 years before launch, were not beyond their control but just speak of the low bar fans have for them where it almost makes you sound like any crumble they throw your way should be thanked for… that is why I referenced the Game Gear which was for its time much much much much closer than the Game Boy to home console games in handheld format and had some kick-ass extensions like the TV Tuner… it burned through batteries and people torn it apart for it, but I do not see those defending Nintendo's honour on this subject defending that console and hand waving battery life issues away with a "just buy a power bank you plebs!")
You are simple not comparing apples with apples here. Like I said not defending Nintendo here. Nintendo are a business and of course are going to want to make a profit on their hardware. But somehow pretending there was a magic wand that can be waved here is ludicrous. The consoles size and power was always going to be tough on the battery. And I am not suggesting people are being fools for buying a powerbank, but we are where we are.
 
Rechargeable batteries already existed in the 90s. You would charge them overnight. You could also use the AC adaptor at home. It's not like the Game Gear was unplayable. Stuff is always so exaggerated. The Switch 2 battery is worse, and battery life hasn't been exactly great since the 3DS for Nintendo consoles. Certainly in the same ball park as the Game Gear, but now it's the norm so it's okay lol.
The 3DS was not letting you play home console type games on the go, and had a much smaller screen. My wife and daughter both have the latest i phones, and always go out armed with a powerbank, I never hear them moaning about it. Like I said we want these devices to play modern games and have large screens, but then moan when they consume power... ;)
 
Rechargeable batteries already existed in the 90s. You would charge them overnight. You could also use the AC adaptor at home. It's not like the Game Gear was unplayable. Stuff is always so exaggerated. The Switch 2 battery is worse, and battery life hasn't been exactly great since the 3DS for Nintendo consoles. Certainly in the same ball park as the Game Gear, but now it's the norm so it's okay lol.
Mate, you touch a sore spot, after the C64 and Amiga era (I was super lucky because my father did his engineering work on them and had a home office :D) I was a Mega Drive and Game Gear guy. Yep had rechargeable batteries, the TV Tuner, and the power bank, I really liked that little console that could ;).
 
Mate, you touch a sore spot, after the C64 and Amiga era (I was super lucky because my father did his engineering work on them and had a home office :D) I was a Mega Drive and Game Gear guy. Yep had rechargeable batteries, the TV Tuner, and the power bank, I really liked that little console that could ;).
Love the console. I even released a brand new game on it (Sword of Stone). Also fixed the Stage Fataily bug in MKII (romhack) because I love this port.
 
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You are simple not comparing apples with apples here.
I am, just you failing to acknowledge that speaks volumes as you would have torn the Game Gear apart for what you are making excuses for now.

Like I said not defending Nintendo here.
You are twisting into knots to make excuses for them and lowering the bar to make what they have done to be "the very best that could be done". It was not the very best that could be done, but it helped them get higher profit margins, it helps them make space to sell you a revision with better battery life, and then a revision with a good screen (OLED) that also consumes a lot less power.

I am not saying Switch 2 is junk and that we should join in a class action suit against them, but come on mate.
 
Love the console. I even released a brand new game on it (Sword of Stone). Also fixed the Stage Fataily bug in MKII (romhack) because I love this port.
I will need to get my parents dig it out of storage (never sold the thing) as I want to play with it again. Would love to try your game… how would one buy it?
 
I will need to get my parents dig it out of storage (never sold the thing) as I want to play with it again. Would love to try your game… how would one buy it?
Your only options now are the rom on itch.io (and play with an Everdrive or on other hardware/emulator) or on Evercade, you get the game if you subscribe to their newsletter normally.

If your console was not used in a long time, it will most likely need to be revised. The Game Gear ages pretty badly, and requires some effort. A complete recap is pretty much unavoidable, but it's worth it. Great console !
 
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I am, just you failing to acknowledge that speaks volumes as you would have torn the Game Gear apart for what you are making excuses for now.


You are twisting into knots to make excuses for them and lowering the bar to make what they have done to be "the very best that could be done". It was not the very best that could be done, but it helped them get higher profit margins, it helps them make space to sell you a revision with better battery life, and then a revision with a good screen (OLED) that also consumes a lot less power.

I am not saying Switch 2 is junk and that we should join in a class action suit against them, but come on mate.
l said the battery on the original Switch was not great and the new one was worse. But this is not a totally uncommon situation for these types of handheld devices. Nintendo could have opted for a more thicker for factor, but to be honest I like the sleek look of the Switch 2. I think somebody tested it and got around 2.5 hours out of Cyberpunk on max settings, which sounds reasonable to me.

Not sure I am saying what you are suggesting, I am just being realistic here.
 
It certainly depletes faster than the OG switch, but doesn't mean much for OP.

I'd say you rarely can get out more of 3h out of it. If you're playing it for that sitting on a rock while hicking i'd say you're gaming a bit too much on your hike and that your ass is gonna hurt after.

If you're taking it for a long plane trip, powerbank it.

All in all, it's not super great but good enough imo.
 
I'm currently thinking about buying a switch 2, since I have not owned a Nintendo console for decades, so there is a lot to catch up on.

However I mostly want to use it while traveling and also while outside hiking. Sometimes I just want to combine these two hobbies and the vibe of hiking in the mountains and forests is the real life equivalent of playing a old-school pokemon game.
Bro, enjoy the hiking while hiking. It's an excellent opportunity to get away from tech and displays and let your brain rest. Get a hobby like woodcarving or mindfulness whilst roaming the woods. Try to identify different birds, that would be more Pokemonish. Or take a small, but good camera with you and polish your photographing skills.
 
I don't really use mine outside much but I do use it a lot while traveling on vacation. Any downtime in the mornings or evenings where my wife and kid are still sleeping, I'm getting a lot out of my Switch 2.
 
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Not a defence just reality.. We want these machines to be able to play home console games, be small and compact. And then run for ages. You are simply not living in the real world.
The S2 battery is pathetic at just 4500 mAH. A classic case of Nintendo pinching pennies. There are much cheaper and smaller budget android phones with insanely bright >1000 nit OLED displays and 8000 - 10000 mAH batteries. These phones are much better for gaming on the go, just install game hub or game native and enjoy your steam library without a dim display and battery anxiety.
 
The S2 battery is pathetic at just 4500 mAH. A classic case of Nintendo pinching pennies. There are much cheaper and smaller budget android phones with insanely bright >1000 nit OLED displays and 8000 - 10000 mAH batteries. These phones are much better for gaming on the go, just install game hub or game native and enjoy your steam library without a dim display and battery anxiety.
I think the clue was when you stated smaller budget android phones.... Not really the same things. ;)
 
I'm currently thinking about buying a switch 2, since I have not owned a Nintendo console for decades, so there is a lot to catch up on.

However I mostly want to use it while traveling and also while outside hiking. Sometimes I just want to combine these two hobbies and the vibe of hiking in the mountains and forests is the real life equivalent of playing a old-school pokemon game.

However I read the maximum brightness of the screen is 450 nits, which does not seem to be a lot for outdoor gaming. I am not expecting it to work in direct sunlight, but like sitting under the shadow of a tree or something like that.

Does anyone have any experience with that use case?
To the people telling you that you'll only get an hour gameplay, just ignore them, also it's not necessary to use peak brightness when gaming in the shadows. You'll get 2 maybe 2.5 hours with Switch 2 games and longer if you play switch 1 and don't use boost mode.
I would recommend a good powerbank if your planning to be longer outside or want to game in a plane cause the USB ports in a plane can't charge the thing, they even have problems with a switch 1
 
I'd probably take Switch 1 with me for something like this because it's smaller, lighter and has better battery life. But it's not like Switch 2 would be completely useless either.
 
I game on my back patio with my Switch 2 most nights. I have a ceiling fan installed above and a tv mounted on the wall, for sports.
 
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I use it outside and on trips often. It's great. But like others have said, you'll want a battery bank for long gaming sessions.
 
I got a Razor Kishi v3 for my iPhone that works pretty well.

But I want to know more about these Glasses and gaming.


years later and they still don't have a solution with Switch/2 and connecting directly to these glasses and since that video they've put out like 4-5 different revisions of glasses. It's something to do with how Switch handshakes devices and cables for power management or something, It's a real shame because they work so well with Steam Deck.
 
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I bought a fancy Satisfye case to go along with the zen grip, and after that I determined the thing is never leaving my house. I'll let my son have my case, since he's out and about much more often than I am.
 
It certainly depletes faster than the OG switch, but doesn't mean much for OP.

I'd say you rarely can get out more of 3h out of it. If you're playing it for that sitting on a rock while hicking i'd say you're gaming a bit too much on your hike and that your ass is gonna hurt after.

If you're taking it for a long plane trip, powerbank it.

All in all, it's not super great but good enough imo.
I was thinking about getting one of these lol:

 
I bought the Switch because it's portable, but everywhere I took it I ended up connecting it to a TV and playing that way. Playing in handheld mode for long periods gets uncomfortable, the case is quite bulky, and you basically need to carry it in a bag.

If I were you, I'd install an emulator on my phone(it's perfect for ds games), buy games from the store, or get a retro handheld instead. Lately I've had my eye on the Ayn Thor Lite. I also have tons of games installed on my phone — from Final Fantasy Tactics to Heroes 3 and XCOM 2.
 
Rechargeable batteries already existed in the 90s. You would charge them overnight. You could also use the AC adaptor at home. It's not like the Game Gear was unplayable. Stuff is always so exaggerated. The Switch 2 battery is worse, and battery life hasn't been exactly great since the 3DS for Nintendo consoles. Certainly in the same ball park as the Game Gear, but now it's the norm so it's okay lol.
I had this.
$_57.JPG
 
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