E3 2012: Wii U GamePad charge lasts 3-5 hours

Nintendo has confirmed that the Wii U GamePad will run for between three and five hours per charge.

That puts it roughly in line with the Vita and 3DS and means that dedicated gamers will likely have to spend much of their game time tethered to their consoles while recharging.

Remember – the Wii U GamePad isn’t actually processing data, despite it displaying games on-screen. The computing is being handled by the Wii U console, with the information then streamed to Nintendo’s flashy new peripheral.

Other GamePad details have also been confirmed.

It weights 500g, making it lighter than an iPad. Its screen is 6.2 inches but does not support multi-touch, meaning users are restricted to one digit at a time. It has a standard 16:9 ratio, just like an HD TV. The resolution of the display has not yet been revealed. 720p (1280×720 pixels) or 1080p (1920×1080) is the hope, but seems a little unlikely.

Packed inside are an accelerometer, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor, as well as the much-vaunted Near-Field Communication (NFC) chip that you’d find in an Oyster Card. Rumble is also supported.

Also included in a front-facing camera (with an as-of-yet unspecified resolution), microphone, sensor bar and stylus. Twin stereo speakers are also incorporated.