One of the best Nintendo Switch features is its versatility. When at home, you can play away just like any other home console. When away from home, the Nintendo Switch can come with you, providing a way to ensure the gaming never stops. That is, unless you run out of battery which makes having a reliable back up power plan an important part of the Switch experience.
While the Nintendo Switch has proven immensely popular, the battery life is likely to be one of the biggest consumer pain points. In fact, even the battery experience is not something that’s static considering different games consume the battery faster than others. Although this does inevitably mean that the battery life will vary by user and based on their individual game preferences, the company does use The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to explain the average battery expectations. For example, with the original Switch playing Breath of the Wild, the battery is expected to last for 3 hours and this compares to the newer model and its 5.5 hours of gameplay. For reference, the Nintendo Switch Lite is rated to last 4 hours when playing Breath of the Wild.
With Switch gaming at home there’s going to be less of a need to keep the battery topped up, but doing so will ensure that when you do come off the charge, the battery is fully ready to go for the most time possible. In addition, some accessories can even create a more comfortable environment for playing at home, while still keeping the battery topped. For example, there is the adjustable charging stand for Nintendo Switch. This $20 accessory allows the Switch to remain docked and connected to the power supply. Compared to the main dock, this one positions the Switch in tabletop mode, making it easy to continue playing and viewing the screen while being charged. In addition, the stand can be adjusted to further improve the viewing angle.
Nintendo Switch Charging While On The Go
When away from home, one option to consider picking up is a reliable power bank. Now, there are multiple power banks available through online retailers like Amazon, and at varying price points and in principle, any power bank will do as long as you have the Nintendo Switch cable to connect to the power bank. However, the company does officially endorse the PowerCore power banks from Anker, citing how they have been “certified by Nintendo for flawless compatibility.” There’s two options available, priced at $69.99 and $79.99, and the main difference is the mAh capacity. The cheaper power bank is expected to offer up to ten hours of additional gameplay, while the more expensive model extends the battery life by another 5 hours, to 15 hours.
If you plan on being in the car for any length of time then a car charger is just as useful for keeping the Switch's power topped up. As this is a USB Type-C device, there are many car chargers you can buy which will be compatible with the Switch. Although, just like the price will vary, so might other aspects, such as the charging speed and time. If you want to go down the official route to ensure the smoothest of experiences then the HORI car charger is likely to be the best bet. This is an officially licensed product that promises quick Switch charging and comes with a 6-foot cable.
Alternatively, you could combine the best of both worlds with something like the ZeroLemon Nintendo Switch battery charger case. While bulky, the case comes with its own rechargeable 10,000 mAh capacity battery so whether at home or on-the-go, the charging case will make sure the Nintendo Switch gaming continues for many more hours.