Nintendo Switch 2 Battery Optimization Feature Will Extend Console Lifespan

Nintendo has announced a new hardware feature for its highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, focusing on improving device longevity with an advanced battery optimization setting.

Detailed during a recent news update via the Nintendo Today app, the feature allows players to adopt a charging protocol similar to those found on Apple iPhone devices, reflecting growing industry emphasis on device sustainability and user-centric customization. The Switch 2, Nintendo’s next-generation hybrid console, will launch with a system settings option titled "Stop Charging Around 90%." According to official details, enabling this setting will halt battery charging once it reaches approximately 90% capacity.

The system then slows down the charge as it nears this threshold and maintains the battery just below full capacity.

This move is designed to address a well-documented behavior in lithium-ion batteries, where limiting total charge and discharge extremes can significantly reduce long-term battery deterioration—a critical consideration for portable hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2. A Nintendo spokesperson explained in the update that "the Nintendo Switch 2 system stops charging when it reaches about 90% remaining battery.

Pausing the charge at around 90% reduces deterioration to the battery.

If the ‘Stop Charging Around 90%’ option is enabled, the system will gradually slow the charging speed as the battery approaches this level." By preventing constant charging to 100%, Nintendo aims to offer players a longer-lasting battery and, by extension, a more reliable gaming experience. Lithium-ion battery experts and industry publications, such as CNET, have frequently recommended keeping devices between 20% and 80-90% charge whenever possible to maximize lifespan.

Nintendo’s embrace of this technology places the Switch 2 among a select lineup of consumer electronics—like Apple’s iPhones—that actively empower users to preserve their device batteries.

This is especially impactful given the Switch 2’s requirement to connect to external power for TV mode, making battery health vital for both portable and docked play sessions. The Nintendo Switch platform, originally launched in 2017, has set records for hardware and software sales worldwide and become renowned for its user-friendly interface and durable design.

With features like the "Stop Charging Around 90%" option, Nintendo signals its continued commitment to supporting the longevity and quality of its console hardware, ensuring that players can enjoy flagship titles from the eShop and major releases—including recent confirmations such as Virtua Fighter 5 REVO and Final Fantasy VII: Remake—for as long as possible. For more on the latest Nintendo Switch 2 updates, stay tuned to official Nintendo Direct presentations and news delivered straight to the Nintendo Today app.

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