Best power bank for Nintendo Switch 2 - how many watts it really draws

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Best power bank for Nintendo Switch 2? Short answer

Buy a power bank with USB-C Power Delivery rated at 45 W and a capacity of 20,000 mAh. In handheld mode, the Switch 2 draws about 16 W while charging, and when you play and charge at the same time, the draw reaches up to 25 W. So 45 W gives you plenty of headroom.

A capacity of 20,000 mAh is enough for about 2.5 full charges of the console. If you only take short trips, 10,000 mAh is enough, which is roughly one charge.

This article covers handheld mode, because that is the one with available measurements.

How many watts the Switch 2 really draws

ChargerLAB measured the draw with a meter in handheld mode. The original 60 W adapter delivered 15.14 V and 1.07 A, which is 16.14 W. The original adapters with a cable peaked at around 16.8 W. The CUKTECH 140 W charger delivered 16.77 W, and the CUKTECH power bank 16.35 W.

It turns out the console limits its own draw and will not take more than it needs. A more powerful charger will not make it charge faster.

A higher draw appears only when you play and charge at the same time. techtest.org recorded a maximum of 25 W in that case. In sleep mode, the console charged at around 12 W.

The recommendations are similar. techtest.org says a power bank of 18 W or more works, and 30 W or more with USB PD is a sensible choice. SlashGear writes that the draw is usually below 25 W, so around 30 W with USB PD is enough. BGR gives a minimum of 20 W. With a 25 W peak while gaming, 20 W is the lower limit, so 45 W is the more comfortable choice.

If the console draws 16 W, why does Nintendo include a 60 W adapter? In handheld mode, the console uses only part of its power. For you, the conclusion is simple: when traveling, you do not need to look for a power bank with the same output as the adapter.

In ChargerLAB's comparison of almost 100 chargers and power banks, the console had no compatibility problems. Power banks with USB-C PD usually just work.

Below, we have gathered USB-C power banks with at least 45 W from a single port and capacities of 10,000 and 20,000 mAh, which fall within the range of the recommendations above.

Recommended power banks for Nintendo Switch 2

10,000 or 20,000 mAh

The Switch 2 battery is 5220 mAh. A full charge from 5 to 100% took about 2 h 50 min in techtest.org's measurement and used 24.2 Wh. Nintendo states that charging in sleep mode or when powered off takes about 3 hours, and longer while the console is in use.

In practice, 10,000 mAh is about one full charge, and 20,000 mAh is about 2.5. According to Nintendo, a single battery charge lasts from about 2 to 6.5 hours of play, depending on the game. With a 20,000 mAh power bank, you can extend your play by several such sessions.

The right choice depends on how you travel:

• 10,000 mAh: small and light, for commuting to work or school, one top-up during the day.
• 20,000 mAh: for a weekend, a train ride, a long flight, or when you also charge your phone from the same power bank.

If you are flying, check the capacity. BGR gives a range from 10,000 to 27,000 mAh to stay within TSA rules for carry-on baggage. Power banks of 10,000 and 20,000 mAh fall within this range. Pack the power bank in your carry-on baggage.

Fun fact: in Europe, from October 2026 Nintendo sells a version of the Switch 2 with a user-replaceable battery. It has 5172 mAh instead of 5220 mAh and weighs about 411 g instead of 401 g, and the features are the same.

What you do not need to buy

Do not look for a 100 W or 140 W power bank just for the console. The console will draw its 16 W anyway, and up to 25 W when you play while charging. Higher power will not speed up charging, and the power bank will be more expensive and heavier than it needs to be.

A more powerful model makes sense when you also charge a laptop from it. The Switch 2 will charge from such a power bank too, but it will not use all of its power. In that case, look for a model with a more powerful port, for example up to 65 W.

If you do not charge a laptop, 45 W is a choice with headroom. Pay attention to the additional ports. When you connect a phone to a second port, the power bank's output is split between both devices. The console will still get what it needs, but charging may take longer.

Fun fact: the adapter included with the console is rated at 60 W, and in handheld mode ChargerLAB measured about 16 W with it. The adapter is therefore much more powerful than what the console draws from it.

Most common questions about a power bank for the Switch 2

How many watts does the Nintendo Switch 2 draw?

In handheld mode, ChargerLAB measured about 16 W while charging, with a maximum of about 16.8 W. When you play and charge at the same time, techtest.org recorded a maximum of 25 W. In sleep mode, the console charged at about 12 W.

Is a 20 W power bank enough for the Switch 2?

Yes, BGR gives 20 W as the minimum. When playing while charging, the console can draw up to 25 W, so 20 W is the lower limit. It is more sensible to choose 30 W or more with USB PD, and 45 W is the most convenient.

How many times will a 20,000 mAh power bank charge the Switch 2?

About 2.5 times, according to techtest.org's calculations. A 10,000 mAh power bank gives roughly one full charge. The exact result depends on whether you play during that time.

Can you play on the Switch 2 while charging from a power bank?

Yes, you can. The console then draws up to 25 W, according to techtest.org's measurement. A 45 W USB-C PD power bank has headroom for that, so you can play and charge at the same time.

Will a more powerful power bank charge the Switch 2 faster?

No. The console limits its draw to about 16 W in handheld mode, so 45 W gives you what you need with headroom, and more power will not speed up charging. Higher power makes sense only when you charge a laptop from the same power bank.

See also

• Best microSD card for Nintendo Switch 2 - only microSD Express works
• Best charger for Nintendo Switch 2 - will the old Switch adapter do?
• Best dock for Nintendo Switch 2 - which third-party docks actually work
• Best power bank for Steam Frame - play past the 90-minute mark
• Best power bank for ROG Xbox Ally X - 65 W to charge while you play

Sources

• Nintendo Support: How long does the Nintendo Switch 2 battery charge last? - manufacturer page (en-americas-support.nintendo.com)
• Nintendo UK: Upcoming battery-related revisions to some Nintendo products - manufacturer page (nintendo.com)
• ChargerLAB: Compatibility test of Nintendo Switch 2 (handheld mode) - industry article (chargerlab.com)
• SlashGear: Extend your Nintendo Switch 2's battery life - industry article (slashgear.com)
• BGR: Best portable battery packs for Nintendo Switch 2 - industry article (bgr.com)
• TechRadar: Chargers recommended for the Nintendo Switch 2 - industry article (techradar.com)
• Techtest: Welche Powerbank für die Nintendo Switch 2? - industry article (techtest.org)