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How Long Does A Switch Battery Last Before Needing Recharged? (A Real Test)

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If you are looking at owning a Nintendo Switch you have probably wondered what if any downside there is to it. Because most gaming consoles have things wrong with them, you may be wondering what people who already own a Switch do not like about the console. 

Although some people do not like Nintendo consoles in general, once you own the Switch, your opinion may change. This is because the Switch is unlike any other gaming console ever made by any company in the world. 

Although there have been many other companies that have tried to create a product similar to the Switch, Nintendo was the first ever successful one to create a gaming console that can be used on the go and in your house with ease.  The Switch is unlike anything you have ever used, and it will blow your mind with all of its power and amazing things you can do with it.

Because you can take it on the go though, you may be wondering how long it will last when it is not on the charger. This is a very technical question, and really depends upon what game you are playing and what you have your device settings on. 

With the JoyCons connected to the Switch controller the battery on the Switch will last almost exactly 5 hours while actually playing a game. You can increase this time slightly by putting the Switch into airplane mode but that will only add a slight amount to the time frame. 

This test was done after letting the Switch sit in sleep mode overnight prior to use (as most people will likely do) and also broke the gaming up into two different segments rather than playing 5 hours straight. There was about a three hour break in between the plays with the first being 3 hours and 20 minutes and the second play lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes before the battery died entirely. 

This test was also performed while on the road so the Switch was not connected to the internet at all during this test. 

Giving the Nintendo Switch a battery that would last a long time is something that Nintendo did as they knew that the people who purchased the Switch would want to use the device on the go quite often. Other on the go gaming consoles do not last nearly this long, and Nintendo is proud of the fact that the battery on the Switch outperforms many of its competitors. 

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How long does it take for a dead Switch to fully charge?

If you are using the Nintendo Switch and the device dies while you are using it, you will probably want to get it on the charger fairly quickly. This is because you were probably in the middle of a game and there is nothing more frustrating than being in the middle of something and not being able to finish it. 

When you Switch first dies, your instinct might be a little bit of panic thinking that you broke the game somehow. Once you realize the battery is just dead, you will want to charge it back up; but how long will that take?

To fully charge a Nintendo Switch using the charger that comes with the device, it will take about 4 hours. This can take longer depending upon if you start playing your game again while it is plugged in or just let it sit while it is charging. 

If you stop playing your game before the Switch is completely dead, you will be able to put it on the charger and come back three and a half hours later to find it fully charged. While no one wants to necessarily wait around for their device to charge, you will probably want to wait on the Switch otherwise it will just die in the middle of your game. 

If you have a portable charger and you are playing the Switch in the car, you will be able to play all of your favorite games without the device ever dying. This is because you can play the Switch while it is plugged in without any problems. 

What can I do to make the Switch battery last longer?

When you are gaming on the Switch you may think about the battery life of the device and try to plan your trip according to how long the battery will last. If you are going on a cross country road trip, it is best to purchase a car charger that will charge your switch while you are on the go. 

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If you are not going to be in a car, or a place that you can plug in your Switch, you may want to find ways to increase your battery life. This can be done in many different ways which we will go over below. 

The easiest way to make your battery last longer on your Switch is by not having it connected to wifi, and having the brightness turned down on the device. Putting your Switch in airplane mode will also increase the battery life slightly. 

If this still does not give you enough battery power, you can purchase a battery charging case which will give you 2.5 times the battery life by clicking here. 

There is nothing wrong with wanting the battery on your Switch to last longer; after all you are playing the device to pass time and have fun. While some people simply turn down the brightness, it is far easier to purchase the battery pack case for the Switch. 

A battery pack or power bank will give you far more battery than you get by turning down the brightness, and the best part is you will still be able to see the screen in the day. The battery pack is extremely comfortable and not even that noticeable when you have it attached to your device. 

Conclusion

Now that you know about the Nintendo Switch you can see why everyone is talking about it. Even years after it has been released, it’s still extremely popular. Everyone wants to own a Nintendo Switch, and because it’s hard to find, if you own one you should be thankful. 

Now that you know exactly how long the battery will last when you are using the Switch on the go, you can plan your next car ride down to the exact minute of when you will run out of power. This is extremely useful if you have kids and you are taking a road trip and they are going to be playing on the Switch. 

Because you know how long the Switch should charge after it is dead you can see that Nintendo made the charging process considerably faster than the time it takes for it to die. This is just another way that Nintendo was thinking about their customers when they designed the Switch. 

Because you can charge the Switch and play with it at the same time, many people will just purchase a car charger for their device, but others prefer to use a battery pack since the cord can be annoying.

No matter if you prefer the device to be plugged in, or using a battery pack, Nintendo has made it very easy for you to charge the device on the go so you never have to worry about the device dying again.