The Nintendo Switch is set to have its global launch on March 3, with demand so high that supply shortage issues are expected for the upcoming hybrid console.
It is easy to understand why gamers are eager to get their hands on the Nintendo Switch though, as it offers the capability of functioning as both a tabletop gaming console and a portable gaming device. However, will the Nintendo Switch's battery be powerful enough to allow it to deliver on its promise of a hybrid console?
Nintendo Switch Battery Life Revealed
It has been previously revealed by Nintendo itself that the battery life of the Nintendo Switch will range from at least two-and-a-half hours to up to six hours, depending on the graphics requirements of the title being played by gamers while the hybrid console is in portable mode.
As a reference point, Nintendo said that when playing highly-anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch, the hybrid console's battery will last for about three hours.
Gamers who are planning to heavily use the portable mode of the Nintendo Switch will then need to take into consideration the games that they will be playing while on the go. For short commutes, playing games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will not be a problem, but for long flights, titles with simpler graphics will be required, or at least a fully-charged power bank or two.
Nintendo Switch Battery Analysis
In a pair of TweakTown articles, the battery of the Nintendo Switch was further analyzed to offer gamers with a clearer view of what to expect from the hybrid console.
The 4,310 mAh rechargeable 3.7V lithium-ion battery of the Nintendo Switch would have been better off as a 5,000 mAh battery, but it will have to do. In addition, it was revealed that a Nintendo Switch with a completely empty battery will require a recharging time of three hours to get back up to full charge.
It was also found that the battery of the Nintendo Switch may take longer to charge if being done so by placing the hybrid console in its dock, which is capable of transferring 5V DC across a current of 2.6A for 39W. In comparison, plugging the Nintendo Switch on the wall socket through its AC adapter will result in as much as between 100W and 240W of power for a faster charging time, though it will likely not draw in that much wattage.
Nevertheless, the stated three-hour charging time of the Nintendo Switch means that it will not be supporting any form of USB Type-C quick charge technology. However, the USB Type-C protocol itself supports USB Power Delivery 2.0, which delivers up to 100W of power through a USB Type-C cable.
Further analysis considered other configurations for the Nintendo Switch aside from its portable mode, as it can also be played as a portable device but with accessories in addition to its TV mode wherein it is docked in its console. How much power the Nintendo Switch will draw in when charging while in these different modes has not yet been revealed, but will surely affect how long it takes for the internal battery of the console to recharge.
In addition, the number of accessories that will be used at a time when playing the Nintendo Switch will likely affect recharging times as well.
Nintendo will likely not release battery recharging information for these set-ups, but at the very least it has been open to revealing some information regarding the Nintendo Switch battery.
