Cliff Notes – Nintendo Switch 2 battery life almost identical to original console
- The Nintendo Switch 2 features a 5220mAh battery, which is a higher capacity than the original Switch, but power consumption balances out, resulting in similar battery life estimates of two to six and a half hours.
- Graphically intensive games, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, will drain the battery faster than simpler titles, making game choice crucial for undocked play sessions.
- The new Joy-Con controllers are designed to improve wireless connectivity and reduce issues like Joy-Con drift, a common problem with the original Switch’s controllers.
Nintendo Switch 2 battery life almost identical to original console
In the wake of the big Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, further details about the console have been shared, such as its battery life and improved controllers. Be aware of which Switch 2 games you choose to play while undocked.
While yesterday’s Nintendo Switch 2 showcase unveiled a lot of information about the upcoming console, including its release date and price, there were still a few details left unexplained.
Some time was spent on the Switch 2’s specifications, such as how it can run certain games at upwards of 120 frames per second, but one thing Nintendo didn’t comment on was the console’s battery life.
A more detailed breakdown of the Switch 2’s technical specifications has since been shared on Nintendo’s website, revealing how long the console’s battery will last when undocked… and it’s pretty much identical to the original Switch model.
Over on the Japanese Nintendo Switch 2 website, a section on the console’s specs says that it comes with a 5220mAh lithium-ion battery. In layman’s terms, this is a higher capacity battery than the ones housed in the original Switch and its alternate models.
So, does this mean Switch 2 play sessions in handheld mode and desktop mode will last for much longer? Unfortunately, no. Its battery is better but the console uses more power, so things end up balancing out almost the same as they were before.
According to Nintendo’s own estimates, the Switch 2 can last for anywhere from two hours to six and a half hours, which is just how it was with the original Switch’s battery life.
As detailed on Nintendo’s support website, the Switch can last from two and a half hours to six and a half. More modern models, including the OLED model, improved this approximation to four and half hours to nine hours.
The portable-only Switch Lite also has a superior battery life, capable of running for three to seven hours.
Maybe don’t save Cyberpunk 2077 play sessions for long train journeys
This is, of course, entirely dependent on what games you happen to be playing. Something more graphically intensive, like the Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 ports, will drain the battery quicker than a game with simpler visuals.
Games built for Switch 2 need more power than original Switch games, so that’s part of the factor too. With any luck, this’ll mean Switch 1 games won’t be as demanding when running on Switch 2 through backwards compatibility.
Additionally, the amount of time it takes to charge up the Switch 2 is identical to the Switch 1, at approximately three hours – as long as the console is docked and in sleep mode.
The Switch 2 shouldn’t suffer from any Joy-Con drift
Although the battery situation is back to square one, the Switch 2 shouldn’t suffer from any Joy-Con drift issues. This became such a widespread problem for the Switch 1 that Nintendo had to start offering free repairs, especially in the first year or so.
It was suspected that Joy-Con drift would be a thing of the past thanks to the Switch 2’s new Joy-Con controllers. In a recent roundtable interview, design lead Tetsuya Sasaki highlighted how the wireless connection between the Switch 2 and its controllers is an improvement over the original Switch.
‘The new Joy-Con 2 controllers for the Nintendo Switch 2 have really been designed from the ground up, from scratch, to have bigger movement and smoother movement,’ explained Sasaki.
He also suggested the Switch 2 has bigger wireless antennas, adding, ‘The bigger the antenna, the better the connection. And as we’ve been able to do that, I think you’ll find the connection is improved.’