What’s the Switch 2 Battery Life? (& How to Improve It)

The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 represents a significant advancement compared to its predecessor that debuted in 2017. It boasts capabilities for 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, features a larger, brighter display, an enhanced stand design, and offers mouse control compatibility with the Joy-Con controllers. Gamers can anticipate continued enjoyable experiences with this innovative device.

One potential rephrasing for your sentence could be: “One of the primary concerns with the initial Nintendo Switch was its short battery life, leading many fans to question if its follow-up model has made advancements in this area too. Here’s information on the expected battery life of the Nintendo Switch 2, along with some suggestions for enhancing it.

How Long Does the Nintendo Switch 2 Battery Last?

A Big Range

As per Nintendo’s technical specifications, the estimated battery life for the Switch 2 varies from 2 to 6.5 hours. However, it is important to note that these figures are rough estimates and actual battery life may differ based on the games played. In simpler terms, if you play less resource-intensive games like ‘Balatro’, the Switch 2’s battery should last longer compared to playing more demanding games such as ‘Mario Kart World’.

Based on my experience with the Switch 2 thus far, I’ve noticed that it can run Mario Kart World for approximately three hours. This duration includes exploring the Free Roam mode, participating in several Grand Prix events, and tinkering with different menus and adjusting settings.

Meanwhile, as for me, my fellow Game Rant writer, Erik Petrovich, spent three hours playing The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, leaving him with only 60% battery power remaining.

Playing games with less detailed graphics, like those from the GameCube era, might extend the Switch 2’s battery life to its maximum potential, as suggested by the upper limit of the battery life estimate provided by Nintendo in their official technical specifications.

During my gaming sessions of about 2-3 hours on Mario Kart World with my Nintendo Switch 2, it’s worth noting that online gameplay tends to consume more power, potentially shortening the battery life even further.

In summary, here are some adjustments within the system settings of the Switch 2 that gamers can make to potentially extend their battery usage.

How to Make the Switch 2 Battery Last Longer

In the settings of the Switch 2, you’ll find several options that can be turned on and off to conserve battery power, which is particularly useful for those prioritizing battery life. However, these adjustments might not always be necessary or desired by all players. But if prolonging battery life is a concern, these settings will certainly make a noticeable difference.

  • Flight Mode
  • Auto-Sleep
  • Lower Screen Brightness
  • Turn Off Joy-Con Rumble
  • Stop Charging Around 90%

Turn on Flight Mode

If you find that your Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t being used for downloading games or playing online, enabling Airplane Mode can significantly extend its battery life. This feature turns off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity on the device.

In handheld mode, you’ll find that it doesn’t support wireless data transmission, which consumes a lot of power. Therefore, you might observe the most significant change in performance when disabling this feature compared to other options listed here.

Auto-Sleep

For gamers who often doze off during gameplay or forget to turn off their Switch 2 when stepping away, an automatic sleep feature is designed to automatically put the Switch 2 into sleep mode after a specified duration of inactivity.

Reducing the allocated time decreases the console’s power consumption. Since prolonged inactivity often implies the system doesn’t require full power, this energy-saving setting can extend your playtime for each charge significantly.

Adjust Screen Brightness Settings

On the new Switch 2, you’ll find an expansive and captivating screen, however, this larger display consumes more power compared to the original Switch. To prolong the battery when using it in dimly lit indoor spaces, consider reducing the screen brightness level.

As a gamer on-the-go, I appreciate the convenience of the Auto-Brightness feature. It automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on my surroundings, whether I’m gaming indoors or outdoors. This means I don’t have to constantly tweak settings to get the right brightness level for optimal gameplay. It’s a fantastic addition that enhances my gaming experience.

Turn Off Joy-Con Rumble

Nested within the ‘Controllers & Accessories’ setting’s menu, you’ll find an option called ‘Controller Vibration’. As the title implies, activating this setting disables the Joy-Con (or Pro Controller) from utilizing its HD Rumble function to react to various occurrences in your game.

You’ll find a more pronounced change in the gaming experience, yet this enhanced feature relies on a motor for the Joy-Cons to vibrate. This continuous operation of the motor takes its toll on the battery life of the upcoming Switch 2 model.

Shutting down the controller vibration function will deactivate it on all controllers simultaneously. However, for those using a Pro Controller, this setting won’t affect the battery life of the Switch 2 directly because the Pro Controller has its own separate power source.

Stop Charging at 90%

This setup emphasizes the endurance of the Switch 2’s battery span, contrasting with the length of playtime from a single charge for practical purposes. Within the Settings menu, users will discover an option titled ‘Stop Charging at 90%’.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that my gaming device tends to run out of juice faster these days. The reason behind this is because it doesn’t quite reach 100% charge each time. While this might seem like a hassle for my playtime, it’s actually a precautionary measure designed to prolong the life of the battery.

Over years of full charges, batteries can degrade due to wear and tear. To prevent this from happening too quickly, the device has been set not to do full charges. This way, I can enjoy my gaming sessions while also ensuring that my battery stays healthier for longer.

Are There In-Game Settings That Help Extend Battery Life?

As I write this, it’s important to note that the current Switch 2 games do not offer adjustable settings for battery life conservation or performance enhancement. However, when the Switch 2 is docked and connected to a TV, it performs games more efficiently. It remains to be seen if future Switch 2 games might include more flexible graphics settings.

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2025-06-06 18:44