Nintendo Switch 2 Battery Life Tested: How the New Console Stacks Up Against Rivals

With the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, fans and industry analysts have turned a keen eye to how Nintendo’s latest handheld-console hybrid performs—especially regarding battery life, a critical factor for portable gamers.

The Nintendo Switch 2 arrives with significantly upgraded hardware, delivering improved graphics and processing capabilities over its predecessor.

However, these advancements have naturally prompted questions about the impact on the system’s battery endurance, particularly in comparison to other popular handhelds like Valve’s Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally. To assess real-world battery performance, our team conducted extensive play tests using both first-party and third-party titles that push the system’s capabilities.

Video producer Alex led a focused evaluation, playing flagship releases and popular demanding titles to determine the range of battery longevity players can expect. For a flagship test, Mario Kart World—a marquee launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2—was played from a full 100% charge down to complete battery depletion.

Under these intensive gaming conditions, the system sustained over 2 hours and 10 minutes of continuous play before powering down.

This result underscores how graphically intensive, system-optimized games impact battery drain on the new hardware. The study didn’t stop with just one title.

Additional play sessions featured games from a range of developers and genres, including CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Sega’s classic Sonic Mania, the fast-paced Metroid Dread from Nintendo, and the timeless Super Mario World.

Testing across these varied experiences, battery life fluctuated between just above 2 hours and up to 5.5 hours.

These figures are approximations based on direct observation of battery usage over consistent 20-minute intervals. In summary, the Nintendo Switch 2 offers battery performance that falls in line with expectations for a device boasting more advanced specs.

While playtime will vary depending on the game—graphically intensive titles will deplete the battery faster, while retro or less demanding games can extend sessions—these results place the Switch 2 alongside other current-generation handhelds such as the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. Nintendo’s ongoing innovation and history of revising hardware suggest that future iterations may further optimize battery efficiency.

For now, fans can expect battery life broadly on par with industry competitors—delivering versatility without significant compromise, but leaving room for future enhancements.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch Nintendo Steam Deck Steam Switch 2 Switch Asus ROG Ally Mario Kart World Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition Sonic Mania Metroid Dread Super Mario World Asus ROG Ally