Though Switch 2’s design might not be surprising, a minor tweak in the settings could make all the difference for users in the long run.
As quietly revealed through the Nintendo Today mobile app and shared by industry insider Stealth40K, the Switch 2 introduces a battery preservation feature that lets players stop the system from fully charging past 90%.
It may seem like a minor adjustment at first, but it’s grounded in smart, modern tech maintenance that users have long been hoping for. The new setting (aka “Stop Charging Around 90%”) is optional and found in the console’s system settings menu.
When activated, it tells the Switch 2 to slow down its charging rate as it nears 90%, and then stop charging altogether once it reaches that threshold. The goal is to preserve the lithium-ion battery's health by ensuring it stays within a safer charge range.
This isn’t a gimmick. It’s becoming clear that Nintendo is finally aligning with best practices that have been standard in the tech world for a while. Devices like Samsung phones, MacBooks, and Teslas have long allowed users to cap battery charge for health reasons. Switch 2 now joins that club, even if a bit later than others.
Anyone familiar with battery science—or just tired of phones and laptops losing stamina over time—knows that consistently charging a battery to 100% and leaving it plugged in accelerates wear. It’s especially bad when the device stays docked or plugged in for hours on end, which is exactly how many Switch owners play.
For people who mostly play docked, this setting could be a game-changer. Instead of slowly degrading the battery while the console stays fully charged and unused in handheld mode, the system simply stops charging when it’s not needed.
That means that even if you only take your Switch 2 out of the dock once a month, the battery will still be in good condition when you do. Those who favor handheld play will find this feature just as useful. Although it may slightly reduce playtime by 30 to 60 minutes per charge, depending on the game, it could potentially increase the battery’s overall lifespan by years.
Players can always toggle the setting off if they know they’ll be away from a charger and need the full 100%. Nintendo included a video tutorial in the Nintendo Today app showing how to enable the option, making it easy to use from day one.
The company confirmed that the battery will take about three hours to charge under normal conditions, though the setting could slightly affect that time depending on use. Longevity, convenience, and user control are top priorities—things many dedicated fans will value.
Most people don’t buy a console with battery degradation or long-term wear in mind, but eventually, those issues will catch up, especially with heavy use over time. The 90% cap for charging on the Switch 2 might not headline a big announcement, but it’s the kind of smart design upgrade that puts the user first.
And when you’re five years deep into owning a Switch 2 and still getting decent battery life? That’s when the value of this change will really show.