It's the physics, stupid
The eternal struggle between performance and battery life
The new Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has won over critics and gamers alike. But the stylish cel-shaded graphics and the amazing physics engine can’t quite paper over the middling performance. While the game mostly maintains 30fps, it occasionally drops down to 20fps. To improve performance, some users have taken to extreme measures like hacking the Switch, or emulating the game on PC.
But the Nintendo Switch works as a handheld console partially because of its battery life. What happens if you increase the processing power? You’ll get something like the Asus ROG Ally, which handily outperforms the Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck, but will also run out of power before its competitors. For the Ally and Steam Deck, you can optimise for different scenarios by tweaking the graphics settings or power profiles. But ultimately, the handheld’s battery size is the limitation here.
In other words, it’s basic physics. Until there’s another breakthrough in battery tech, we’ll be mostly relying on more efficient chipsets for better battery life. Which is a roundabout way of saying: Don’t expect too much from the rumoured Nintendo Switch 2. Unless you want a gigantic handheld, there’s only so much space for the battery. But here’s a reasonable request: Add a graphics chip to the Switch 2’s dock for better gaming performance when docked. Or is it too much to hope for 4K 60fps like all the other game consoles?
This week, we tested Redmi’s latest mid-range smartphone, a cool smart water dispenser from local brand Steriluxe, and Razer’s new big gaming laptop.
The Redmi Note 12+ Pro 5G pushes the envelope for smartphone photography in the mid-range segment with a 200MP sensor. Not only can it capture more details, the main camera also has OIS to counter shaky hands and improve low-light photography. Throw in its outstanding 120W charging speed, and 120Hz OLED screen, and you’ll get a solid mid-range contender.
For all your drinking water needs, check out the Steriluxe Aurra Pro 2. This smart water dispenser has an app that lets you track your water consumption, and also alerts you when the filters need to be replaced. Steriluxe also plans to add rewards for drinking water which you can claim with F&B merchants.
Razer’s latest Blade 18 gaming laptop is huge, powerful, and hot. While the design remains as minimalist as ever, the touchpad is now extra-large. The audio, too, is top-notch, thanks to its front-facing speakers. But be prepared to pay a hefty fee for it.