The Switch 2 will be packing a ton of power when it comes out, playing games like Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 with ease. However, that power might come at a cost, since its battery doesn’t seem to be that powerful. Nintendo claims this console will last 2 to 6.5 hours, depending on the game.
With that amount of time in mind, how does the Switch 2’s battery compare to other relevant handhelds? Gamers who prefer playing on handhelds value their time, so they will want systems that can last long after a fresh charge. For now, we’ll compare the system’s battery to other handhelds to see how it fares.
Is the Switch 2’s Battery Stronger than the Original Switch’s?
If we’re only counting the V1 Switch, they’re about the same. However, when you factor in the V2, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED, the answer is no.
Both the Switch 2 and Switch V1 will last 2.5 to 6.5 hours, depending on the game being played. Meanwhile, the Switch V2 and OLED last for a staggering 4.5 to 9 hours, which is very impressive. The Switch Lite’s battery only lasts a little bit longer, ranging from 3 to 7 hours, which is still better than the Switch 2.
Is the Switch 2’s Battery Stronger than the Steam Deck’s?
This is where things get tricky. Valve claims that the original Steam Deck LCD lasts between 2 to 8 hours, depending on the game, while the Steam Deck OLED lasts between 3 to 12 hours.
On paper, that makes these systems last a lot longer than the Nintendo Switch 2. However, in practice, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Admittedly, indie games and emulated titles can run for a long time on the LCD model, but AAA titles are lucky to last an hour, let alone more. The OLED model can make AAA games run for maybe two hours at best.
It will be interesting to see how the Nintendo Switch 2 can handle AAA games once the device is released. Fans claim that they were able to get 2 hours and 40 minutes from Breath of the Wild on their Switch V1. If the Switch 2 is able to do that with more powerful games, it’s going to be one hell of a handheld console.
Is the Switch 2’s Battery Stronger than the ROG Ally’s?
Possibly. While they haven’t been directly compared, the Z1 and Z1 Extreme models usually get an hour and 30 minutes at most from AAA games. The ROG Ally X can last an impressive 3 or so hours, but that model is also more expensive.
Many fans consider the ROG Ally X to be the pinnacle of handheld power right now, dwarfing Valve’s Steam Deck by quite a bit. Because of this, we’re not that surprised that it will likely beat Nintendo’s Switch 2 as well, in terms of pure power. However, that power comes at a price, and it’s one most gamers won’t be willing to pay.
The Switch 2 isn’t exactly cheap, but when you consider how it requires little to no tinkering and can play plenty of powerful games, it might be the better option. While this system’s battery isn’t stronger than the ROG Ally X, it can seemingly beat the first two models without much issue.
Of course, this is assuming Nintendo is correct about the supposed 2.5 to 6.5 hours. Let’s wait and see.
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