(Credit: Nintendo)
The Nintendo Switch 2 will get a new software feature to help its battery last longer over the lifespan of the console. Batteries inside all gadgets diminish over their lifetime, and a way to slow that process down can be to not fully charge the device every day.
The new feature on the Switch 2 is appropriately called “Stop Charging Around 90%” and can be found within the System Settings. When turned on, it’ll slow the charging speed down when it's nearing full and only start charging again when the battery drops.
We’ve seen this feature on smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets over the last few years. On modern iPhones, Apple has a feature called Charge Limit that works as an opt-in feature limiting your phone to 80% charge to help reduce the deterioration of the battery.
You'll be able to turn the feature off on the Switch 2 for scenarios where you’ll want that extra 10% of battery life, such as taking it away on a trip.
Many people will play the Switch 2 as a home console in its charging dock, and that means it'll be on charge consistently throughout its life. If that's how you intend the play the console, it makes sense to turn on this feature.
Nintendo doesn’t give us an estimate of how much longer it expects the battery to last. The original Switch launched in 2017 meaning the console has been in many people's lives for over seven years.
Battery life on the Switch 2 is already an uphill battle as the company says it estimates between two and six and a half hours of usage on the new console. The original Switch model had a similar battery life, but models released later in the console’s lifespan increased it to up to nine hours.
Many have experienced bad battery life on original Switch models. Nintendo has said on the original Switch, “After about 800 charge cycles, the system battery life will decrease to about 80% compared to the battery on a new system.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to release in less than a month’s time on June 5. The console costs $449.99 in the US, and preorders for the console are open now but you’ll likely struggle to buy one as it's sold out at multiple US retailers.