Nintendo Switch is a portable game console that costs only $299. It has a lithium-ion battery with a 3570 mAh capacity. Like the current trend for non-removable batteries, the Nintendo Switch has a battery hidden in the back case, so you need to make some manipulations to replace it.

However, it’s best to know a few things about how much you need to charge your Nintendo Switch for the battery to last as long as possible. Here’s what you need to know.

How long does it take to charge a Nintendo Switch?

It’s hard to give specific numbers here. The charging speed depends on many factors: whether the console is in use at the time, the state of the battery, and whether the console has been completely discharged. That’s why I can’t give you exact figures to the minute. However, most of the numbers in this article are either taken from Nintendo Switch tech specs, from official Nintendo websites, or we obtained them ourselves through tests.

On Nintendo Switch tech specs, the time to charge is indicated as 3 hours in sleep mode.

Here’s the table with the approximate time to charge in different conditions. All numbers are given for Nintendo Switch HDH-001, the most widespread variant of Nintendo Switch (if the % of battery condition isn’t specified, it’s taken as 85-95%):

How long does it take to charge Nintendo Switch from dead to 1 percent?

The device usually reaches from dead to 1 percent in 10-15 minutes.

But this figure is very much dependent on the health of the battery. The worse the condition, the longer it takes to charge; sometimes, it can even take 20-25 minutes to reach 1 percent.

Also, it depends on whether you’re using the charger or the Dock. The Dock usually takes 2-5 minutes longer. I don’t think it matters, but if you want to get the 1 percent as fast as possible (and consequently get your Nintendo Switch turned on), it’s better to use a wired charger.

How long does a Switch take to charge?

As indicated on Nintendo’s official website, Switch takes approximately 3 hours to charge in sleep mode.

Above, in the table, I give slightly different numbers based on my experience with the Nintendo Switch.

In my experience, the Switch takes around 4 hours to charge from dead to 100% in sleep mode. But this figure decreases over time as the health of the battery deteriorates.

Charging to 75% takes about 3 hours.

How long does it take to charge Nintendo Switch before it turns on?

If the battery health is normal, Switch turns on as soon as the battery reaches 1%. Nintendo Switch takes 10-15 minutes to charge before it turns on from the dead. However, if the battery is in poor condition, the charging time before it turns on can increase to 25-30 minutes.

Sometimes batteries at 60-70% state can require a charge of up to 3-5% before the Switch can turn on.

How long will the battery last during the time you play

Nintendo has used different batteries, which can be checked by looking at their serial number, in their devices:

• If the serial number starts with XT (Nintendo Switch OLED), the console can work for around 4.5-9 hours.
• If the Switch serial number starts with XA, the device can work for about 2.5-6.5 hours.
• If the Switch serial number starts with XK, the device can stay charged for about 4,5-9 hours.
• The Nintendo Switch Lite has a battery life of 3-7 hours.

What is Nintendo Switch battery life?

Like any lithium-ion battery, the Switch it degrades over time and loses its volume. That is, if the original battery capacity of the Nintendo Switch is 3,570 mAh, it decreases over time. It’s generally accepted that every year the battery degrades by 10%. But this number is affected by many factors: conditions you store the device in, how you charge it, whether you discharge it to a dead battery, and so on.

Also, the battery degrades with each charge cycle. One such cycle degrades the battery by about 0.025%. Seems insignificant, right? But over 1000 cycles, the battery will lose about 25% of its life. Again, these are only approximate numbers because a lot depends on how you use and charge your device.

And if you want the Nintendo Switch’s battery not to degrade as quickly as it can, here are a few things to look out for.

How to save Nintendo Switch battery health

You may extend the battery life by doing simple things, and the device will work on you for years and years. Here are some tips:

• Keeping the unit and battery at room temperature will help your battery live longer, as heat can damage it quickly. The best temperature is 70-77 degrees Fahrenheit (20-25 degrees Celsius). This means that the device shouldn’t be subjected to extreme temperatures, as that damages your Switch’s battery.
• You shouldn’t use the device till the dead battery. Lithium-ion batteries don’t have a charge memory, so they shouldn’t be completely drained. Usually, the best solution is to charge your Switch once the battery reaches 15-25%. But after 25-35 charging cycles, it’s recommended to use it to the dead and charge it to 100%.
• Also, it isn’t recommended to charge it to 100% every time; 85-95% of the charge would be enough.
• If you need to keep your device without using it, you shouldn’t leave it charged, as a high charge has the highest oxidation, which is harmful and can slowly break things down. The best way is to discharge your Switch to 25-30% and place it somewhere within the 70-77 degrees Fahrenheit temperature.

Of course, that’s a bit obvious, but many people don’t know about simple ways to make their Switch last longer, so I think that can be helpful.

Can you replace the Nintendo Switch battery?

Yes, you can even replace it with your own. It takes around 15 minutes and a pair of screws. However, if you aren’t sure you can do this – it’s better to take your Switch to the service. If you want to do this at home, here’s a good guide on iFixit.