Comparison Nintendo Switch Lite vs Nintendo Switch

The official release year of the game console. Usually, it is indicated by the date of official sale. This information allows you to determine the "age" of the device — and, accordingly, its functionality (to some extent), including within its own platform. So, for example, the difference between the Xbox One S and Xbox One X in terms of name is not particularly obvious; but knowing that the first was released in 2016, and the second — in 2017, you can definitely determine which model will be newer and more advanced. Accordingly , the novelties of 2020 and 2019 will be even better.

The number of gamepads supplied with the console.

Recall that the gamepad is a game manipulator in the form of a small remote control with buttons, levers and other controls. Such devices are used as standard controllers in most desktop consoles (see "Form Factor"). And the number of gamepads corresponds to the number of players who can simultaneously use the console. Most often, there is only one controller in the kit, but many models come with 2 gamepads at once — based on multiplayer for two players, for example, football, fighting or cooperative shooting.

Please note that some models may have specific gamepad counting rules. So, for the Nintendo Switch (see "Form factor — portable / desktop"), a pair of controllers, which in desktop mode is combined into one manipulator, is still considered exactly two gamepads.

The diagonal of the set-top box's own display. The display is by definition found in handheld models and game pads (see Form Factor); in desktop models, this element of equipment is quite rare and is usually installed not in the set-top box itself, but on standard controllers (which sometimes can even work as separate devices).

The larger the display size, the larger, respectively, the overall size of the image that the user sees on the screen. However, it is worth considering 2 points. Firstly, an increase in the display size has a corresponding effect on the dimensions of the set-top box itself, and therefore even in advanced tablets it does not exceed 7". Secondly, the image quality depends not only on the size of the display, but also on its resolution (see below). Moreover, at the same resolution, the picture on a larger screen will be less clear and more "grainy" due to the larger pixel size.

— mini-Jack (3.5 mm). General purpose connector, most commonly used as an analogue audio output. Simply put, in set-top boxes, such an interface is usually designed to connect headphones, speakers and other external audio accessories — a lot of such devices use a 3.5 mm plug, and there are corresponding adapters for other interfaces. At the same time, the specific functionality of the mini-Jack connector may be different. So, in some models it works only as an output, in others it can be used to connect a headset with a microphone or even a separate microphone. In addition, this connector can be combined with an optical S / P-DIF output (for more details, see "Additional").

— miniHDMI. A smaller version of the HDMI interface detailed below. It is installed in portable consoles and game pads (see "Form factor"), does not differ from the full-size version, except for the dimensions of the connector, and is used for the same purpose — to connect to a TV or other screen and transmit video and audio signals.

— HDMI. A digital interface that allows you to simultaneously transmit high-definition video and multi-channel audio up to 7.1 over a single cable (in addition, in high quality and with a minimum of interference). It is one of the most common in modern video technology, the vast majority of TVs and monitors have at least one HDMI input. At the same time, for working with resolutions from...HD (1280x720) and higher, this connection interface is considered optimal today. Therefore, the presence of HDMI is almost mandatory for desktop consoles with support for high-definition video (portable models do not use a full-size connector due to their relatively large dimensions).

— microUSB. A reduced (actually, the smallest to date) version of the USB interface, widely used in computer technology for connecting external devices; completely identical to the full-size version, except for the shape and dimensions of the connector. Appeared due to the fact that the original USB connector has rather large dimensions, poorly suitable for pocket-sized equipment; accordingly, among consoles it is usually found in portable models and gaming tablets (see "Form factor"). The microUSB connection is designed for the set-top box to work as a connected device, slave (for more details, see "USB 2.0"). With it, you can, for example, download new games to your device or update the firmware.

— micro USB (MHL). Connector that combines the capabilities of microUSB and HDMI (see above). It is completely identical in shape and size to microUSB, it is also compatible with a conventional USB interface and provides the same features; however, MHL can also be used for high-definition video and multi-channel audio. Such a transfer is provided through a simple adapter cable with a microUSB plug on one end and HDMI on the other; with this connection, the set-top box battery can even be recharged. MHL was created as a mobile standard and it is used, respectively, in portable models (see "Form factor"). It eliminates the need for manufacturers to provide a separate miniHDMI output for video output, which has a positive effect on compactness. However for normal operation in video transmission mode, it is necessary that the TV or other external screen also has MHL certification; however, in extreme cases, the situation can be corrected with a simple adapter.

— USB-C. A kind of USB connector, positioned simultaneously as a replacement for full-size USB and for compact microUSB. It is comparable in size to microUSB, which is why it is found mainly in portable and hybrid consoles (see "Form factor"). One of the features of this interface is a two-way connector that can be inserted into the socket by either side (unlike previous types of USB connector). In terms of purpose, USB-C is in most cases similar to microUSB; and in terms of data transfer speed and other characteristics, it usually corresponds to USB 3.0 or 3.1 (see below).

The capacity of the standard battery of a portable set-top box or game pad (see "Form factor"). Theoretically, the higher the capacity, the more energy the battery can store and the longer the device will last on a single charge. However, in fact, battery life is determined by a wide range of other factors, ranging from diagonal and display type to supported games. Therefore, the battery capacity is more of a reference value and is rather weakly related to specific indicators of battery life — it is better to clarify them according to official characteristics (or other sources, for example, user reviews).