The Switch 2 Battery Life Is Worse Than The Original Switch

by

It appears that the enhanced capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2 might be accompanied by a higher price tag.

During the latest Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation, there were several details about the upcoming console that Nintendo chose to keep somewhat vague.

Among the aspects discussed, it turned out that the cost for the console itself is approximately $449, which seems quite fair considering some game prices might appear somewhat steep.

Nintendo didn’t delve deeply into the topic of the console’s battery life during their discussion, and it appears they may have had a valid reason for this – it seems to offer less playtime compared to expectations, ranging from 2 to 6.5 hours, which is somewhat underwhelming and might even be inferior to the original Nintendo Switch.

More Capacity, But Shorter Life

Based on the specifications released by Nintendo for the upcoming Switch 2 model, it appears that the new device will boast a larger battery capacity compared to its predecessor. Specifically, the battery in the Switch 2 is rated at 5220 milliampere-hours (mAh), which represents an improvement over the 4310 mAh battery found in the original Switch.

As a point of comparison, the iPhone 16 boasts a significantly larger battery capacity than most contemporary smartphones – it’s equipped with a 3561 mAh power source. Interestingly, this is roughly on par with the one found in the Steam Deck, which comes with a 5200 mAh battery pack.

Compared to the initial Nintendo Switch, which they estimated would last between 2.5 to 6.5 hours on a single charge, the anticipated battery life for the Switch 2 is slightly shorter at approximately 2-6.5 hours. On the other hand, the Switch Lite offered playtime of around 3 to 7 hours. Both the revised 2019 model of the Nintendo Switch and its subsequent OLED version have extended the playtime to between 4.5 to 9 hours.

Despite this, the battery life is comparable to that of other portable gaming devices. Specifically, the Steam Deck offers an estimated battery life of 2 to 8 hours (for the LCD version) and slightly more for the OLED model as well as the Asus ROG Ally.

Regarding the upcoming Switch 2, if you primarily intend to use it in handheld or tabletop mode, be prepared to stay close to a power outlet frequently to keep the battery charged, similar to other modern portable gaming devices. However, one advantage is that you can charge it while using it in tabletop mode through the top USB-C port – a feature not available with the original Switch.

Read More

2025-04-03 00:09