Nintendo Switch 2 tech specs confirm a shorter battery life than Switch 1
by Stefan L · tsaNintendo has released the technical specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2, putting all the important stats and details into a nice table for you to refer to, and also revealing their all-important estimates for the new console’s battery life.
The good news is that you can get up to 6.5 hours of gameplay out of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its 5220mAh battery. The bad news is that when it’s pushed to its limits, you’ll get just 2 hours of play before needing to recharge. That’s potentially shorter than even the first revision of the Nintendo Switch.
That compares poorly to the current line up of Nintendo Switch consoles, with the OLED and the “Better Battery Life” models of the Switch 1 both able to game for 4.5 – 9 hours – they quote 5.5 hours for Breath of the Wild. It’s a closer run thing to the original Switch model, though, which was quoted for around 2.5 – 6 hours of play.
On the other hand, it’s not that dissimilar to the original LCD Steam Deck, which had a 2-8 hour battery life window.
So why the big drop in battery life? Chances are it’s mostly down to the screen. The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a larger 7.9″ LCD screen, which will require more power to run than the older consoles, and that’s before you consider that it’s capable of playing at 120Hz and HDR. Combine that with a more powerful Nvidia chipset that needs to push for 1080p instead of 720p, and you’ve got a recipe for shorter game times.
It will be interesting to see what kinds of game options are made available to players. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, for example, will have a 1080p 120Hz mode, but turning that down to 60Hz could help play the game for an extra hour, perhaps.
Elsewhere in the tech specs, we get confirmation of the various details from the Nintendo Direct. The Switch 2 is larger, and a bit heavier than the original Switch. It comes with 256GB of internal storage, expandable with the new MicroSD Express card format – it will not play games from old MicroSD cards – it has two USB-C ports at top and bottom for power and accessories, and the built-in microphone is enhanced with noise cancelling. There’s now WiFi 6 built in, and there’s still support for ethernet via the dock.
The screen is a 1080p 120Hz HDR10 capable display, but when docked the maximum output to a TV is 4K at 60fps. 120fps is supported when playing at either 1080p or 1440p.
Here’s the tables
Nintendo Switch 2 Specs
| Size | Approximately 4.5 inches tall x 10.7 inches wide x .55 inches thick (with Joy-Con™ 2 controllers attached). *The maximum thickness from the tip of the control sticks to the protruding parts of the ZL/ZR buttons is 1.2 inches. |
|---|---|
| Weight | Approximately .88 lbs (Approximately 1.18 lbs with Joy-Con 2 controllers attached) |
| Screen | Capacitive touch screen 7.9-inch wide color gamut LCD screen 1920×1080 pixels HDR10 support VRR up to 120 Hz |
| CPU/GPU | Custom processor made by NVIDIA. |
| Storage | 256 GB (UFS) *A portion of the storage is reserved for use by the system. |
| Communication features | Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi 6) Bluetooth In TV mode, Nintendo Switch 2 can be connected using the wired LAN port on the dock. |
| Video output | Output via HDMI connector in TV mode Maximum of 3840×2160 (4K) resolution at 60 fps (TV mode) Supports 120 fps when 1920×1080/2560×1440 resolutions are selected Supports HDR10 *Maximum 1920×1080 resolution in tabletop mode and handheld mode, following screen resolution. |
| Audio output | Supports linear PCM output 5.1ch Output via HDMI connector in TV mode *Surround sound effect can be applied when outputting to headphones or to the built-in speaker (surround sound effect when outputting to the built-in speaker requires a system update). |
| Speakers | Stereo The independent enclosure structure provides natural, clear sound quality. |
| Microphone | Built-in microphone (monaural) Noise cancellation, echo cancellation, and auto gain control provide a more comfortable voice chat experience. |
| Buttons | POWER Button/Volume buttons |
| USB-C® Ports | 2 USB-C® Ports The port on the bottom is used to charge the console and connect to the Nintendo Switch 2 dock. The port on the top is used to connect accessories and/or charge the console. |
| Audio jack | 3.5mm 4-contact stereo mini-plug (CTIA standard) Please note: Nintendo cannot guarantee functionality with all products. |
| Game card slot | Both Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch game cards can be inserted. |
| microSD Express card slot | Compatible with microSD Express cards only (up to 2 TB) *microSD memory cards that are not compatible with microSD Express can only be used to copy screenshots and videos from Nintendo Switch. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, and mouse sensor located in Joy-Con 2 controllers Brightness sensor located in console |
| Operating environment | 41-95 degrees F / 20-80% humidity |
| Internal battery | Lithium-ion battery/5220mAh |
| Battery life | Approx. 2 – 6.5 hours *These are rough estimates. The battery life will depend on the games you play. |
| Charging time | Approximately 3 hours *While the system is in Sleep mode. |
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Specs
| Size | Approximately 4.5 inches tall x 7.9 inches wide x 2 inches thick The height includes the .08 inches added by the feet on the bottom of the dock. |
|---|---|
| Weight | Approximately .84 lbs |
| Ports | 2 USB Ports (USB 2.0 compatible) on the side System connector AC adapter port HDMI port LAN port |
Joy-Con 2 Specs
| Size | Approximately 4.57 inches tall x .56 inches wide x 1.2 inches thick *The maximum thickness from the tip of the control sticks to the protruding parts of the ZL/ZR buttons is 1.2 inches. |
|---|---|
| Weight | Joy-Con [L] 2.3 ozJoy-Con [R] 2.4 oz |
| Buttons | Joy-Con [L] Left Stick (pressable) Up/Down/Left/Right/L/ZL/SL/SR/- Buttons Capture Button Release Button Sync ButtonJoy-Con [R] Right Stick (pressable) A/B/X/Y/R/ZR/SL/SR/+ Buttons HOME Button C Button Release Button Sync Button |
| Wireless | Joy-Con [L] Bluetooth 3.0Joy-Con [R] Bluetooth 3.0/NFC |
| Sensor | Joy-Con [L] Accelorometer Gyroscope Mouse sensorJoy-Con [R] Accelorometer Gyroscope Mouse sensor |
| Vibration | HD rumble 2 |
| Internal battery | Lithium ion battery / battery capacity 500mAh |
| Battery life | Approximately 20 hours *Battery life may vary depending on the usage. |
| Charging time | Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes *Joy-Con controllers are charged when attached to the system or Joy-Con 2 charging grip. |
Source: Nintendo
Tags: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2