2 to 6.5 Hours Battery Life
Nintendo has officially confirmed the battery specs for the upcoming Switch 2, and the numbers are far from impressive. With an estimated 2 to 6.5 hours of gameplay (depending on the game and usage conditions), the console struggles to justify its handheld-focused design—especially when running demanding titles like Cyberpunk, Elden Ring, or Mario Kart.
Key Concerns:
Weak Battery Performance: The 5220 mAh battery offers significantly lower endurancecompared to some current Switch models (e.g., OLED lasts 4.5-9 hours).
Handheld Experience at Risk: If high-end games drain the battery in just 2-3 hours, the “portable” aspect of the Switch 2 becomes questionable.
No Major Upgrade Over Original Switch: The base model (2017) already offered 2.5-6.5 hours, meaning the Switch 2 barely improves despite more powerful hardware.
Frustration Among Fans: Combined with high game prices, expensive accessories, and now poor battery life, the Switch 2 risks backlash before launch.
Will Nintendo Fix This?
While the strong third-party support (seen in the recent Direct) excites gamers, the battery life could ruin the experience. Hopefully, Nintendo will release an improved model or offer a performance/battery optimization update before launch.
If the Switch 2 can’t last even half a day on a single charge, is it really the next-gen portable console we were hoping for?