Summary
Nintendo has confirmed that theSwitch 2will have a worse battery life on average than the original Switch console. TheNintendo Switch 2is a powerful new home console/handheld hybrid that is set to launch on June 5. The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch with exclusive games likeMario Kart WorldandNintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, with a wide variety of multi-platform third-party titles also set to be available on the system.
In terms of power, the Switch 2 is a significant upgrade over its predecessor. It also boasts a larger screen, the ability to play some games at up to 120 frames per second, 4K resolution when docked, and all kinds of other bells and whistles. The console’s fancy new features come with a premium price tag to match, with theSwitch 2 retailing for $449.99when it launches on June 5.
TheSwitch 2 is superior to the original Switchin nearly every way, except one. It’s been confirmed that the Switch 2 battery life is a downgrade when compared to the original Switch. According to Nintendo,the Switch 2 battery life is approximately 2 to 6.5 hoursdepending on the game being played. Less-demanding games won’t be as much of a drain on the Switch 2 battery life, but playing bigger, more graphically-intensive titles likeCyberpunk 2077for instance, will drain the battery a lot quicker.
Switch 2 Battery Life
The Switch 2’s battery life is slightly worse than what the Switch 1 launch model’s battery life was back in the day. Theoriginal Switch’s battery lifewas estimated to be 2.5 - 6.5 hours, while later models managed to improve the battery life to 4.5 to 9 hours. With the Switch 1’s battery life having improved so much with the newer models, it’s definitely disappointing to be taking a step back with the Switch 2. That being said, those that plan on playing Switch 2 docked won’t be impacted by this at all, which is one of the benefits of the system being a home console/handheld hybrid machine.
It’s possible future Switch 2 hardware revisions will improve the console’s battery life, not unlike what we’ve seen happen with the original Switch. TheSwitch 2 doesn’t have an OLED screen, so maybe the eventual Switch 2 OLED will come with better battery life compared to the launch models. Regardless, those getting a Switch 2 at launch will have to keep the battery life in mind when taking big games on the go.
