Nintendo will let Switch 2 owners opt into a setting that stops their system’s battery from charging once it reaches “around 90%” as part of an effort to preserve the system’s battery life. Nintendo revealed the new feature in its Nintendo Today app Monday.
“The Nintendo Switch 2 system stops charging when it reaches about 90% remaining battery” with that setting turned on, Nintendo said. “Pausing the charge at around 90% reduces deterioration to the battery.” Nintendo added, “If ‘Stop Charging Around 90%’ is turned on, the charging speed will slow down around 90%.”
The feature can be turned on from the main Switch 2 interface and selecting System Settings > System > Stop Charging Around 90%.
Similar options are available on smartphones, tablets, and laptops, letting users limit the maximum charge on lithium ion batteries, typically at 80-85%, to extend the lifespan of batteries. Valve is testing a similar feature for the Steam Deck in a beta client update. “Limiting the charge limit to 80% can be beneficial for long term battery health,” Valve said in patch notes last week. “This can be useful if your Steam Deck is constantly being charged (i.e. docked), or very rarely has its battery depleted.”
Switch 2 owners will likely find themselves in the situation Valve describes if they play their systems docked and connected to a television, or are playing it regularly enough to not deplete the battery fully.
Nintendo says that Switch 2’s battery will last between 2 and 6.5 hours, depending on the software being played, according to hardware specs released in April. That’s a little less than the original launch Switch models, which can run from 2.6 to 6.5 hours, and considerably less than updated models that last 4.5 to 9 hours.
Nintendo will launch Switch 2 on June 5.
The post Switch 2 has a new charging setting to preserve your battery’s life appeared first on Polygon.
