The Nintendo Switch 2 has a larger battery but worse battery life than the Switch 1
During the Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo revealed some technical specifications of the new console but also kept a tight lip on others; and among the latter is the battery capacity and battery life of the new handheld. However, a Q&A with key developers of the Switch 2 have revealed information pertaining to the battery capacity and battery life.
According to Kouichi Kawamoto, the producer, the battery life of the Switch 2 was an important feature to consider thanks to the new high-performance processor and large system memory, both of which consume a lot of power. They also had to factor in the fact that many owners will use the Switch 2 on the go.
To achieve a balance, they decided to increase the battery capacity of the Switch 2 by 1.2 times that of the Switch. Since the Switch and (Switch OLED) has a 4,310mAh battery capacity, it should mean the Switch 2 has a battery capacity of 5,172mAh. However, IGN reports that the Switch 2 actually has an internal battery capacity of 5,220mAh.
However, the bigger battery doesn't translate to better battery life as Kawamato added that they had to make various efforts to ensure the battery life wouldn't be reduced significantly. IGN also states that the Switch 2 has a battery life of between 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game. In comparison, the Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED have a battery life of 4.5 hours to 9 hours depending on the game being played. It has also been reported that the Switch 2 takes about 3 hours to charge when in sleep mode.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled for release on June 5, 2025 and has a $449.99 price tag.
