How Much to Replace Nintendo Switch Battery [ How to Fix it]
Nintendo hit the jackpot with the Switch – it’s a console we all want to have! The problem is we are talking about a system that was released in 2017, as of now, many Nintendo Switch batteries are feeling the test of time.
If you believe your Nintendo Switch battery is underperforming, then it might be damaged.
It can be worse – your console does not turn on whatsoever, and it’s because the battery is completely broken.
In this guide, Gaming Power Up will check worldwide and budgets to determine how much to replace Nintendo Switch battery.
The average cost of replacing the Nintendo Switch console battery is between 80 and 100, whether you use Nintendo’s Official Technical Service or take the Switch to a Third-Party location. Only the battery the tool kits to repair it by yourself cost around 50. However, Nintendo might replace the battery for free if your console is still under warranty (12 months from the moment of purchase).
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Yes, you can replace the Nintendo Switch battery if it goes bad, but Nintendo says that opening the Switch console by yourself just to replace the battery is forbidden.
My opinion is that regular gamers should not attempt to replace the Switch battery at home.
Instead, sending the Nintendo Switch to a specialized technical service is the best way to completely replace the Nintendo Switch system battery.
What Is the Lifespan of a Nintendo Switch Battery?
According to official information provided by Nintendo, the lifespan of the batteries inside the Nintendo Switch console and Nintendo Switch Lite console is estimated to be around 800 charges.
After approximately 800 charge/discharge cycles, the battery capacity will be approximately 80% compared to that of a newly purchased console. This means that the battery’s capacity will gradually decrease over time as it undergoes charge/discharge cycles.
If we translate this information into years, the lifespan of a Nintendo Switch battery is between 5 and 10 years.
Since the first Switch consoles were released over 6 years ago, the battery life of some consoles might be close to an end.
We believe that getting a Nintendo Switch in 2023 is completely worth it, but opting for the OLED or 2019 Standard Model is the way to go.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Switch Battery With Nintendo Technical Service?
The first option to replace the Nintendo Switch battery is to do it via the official Nintendo Technical Service Team.
They can replace Nintendo Switch fan, joycons, and, of course, the battery.
- If your console is still under warranty, repairing the Nintendo Switch battery is entirely free. The process takes a while, but you will not spend a dime!
- If your Nintendo Switch console is no longer under warranty, Nintendo might charge you from 80 to 100 to replace the battery of the Nintendo Switch, including shipping costs.
All the in this guide are in USD. However, it is worth noting that some Reddit users believe that Nintendo sent them an entirely new refurbished console after asking for a battery replacement.
It is hard to determine the exact price for out-of-warranty Switch consoles as Nintendo does not provide official costs until they examine the console, which only happens after shipping it.
Double jump to specific section!
Yes, you can replace the Nintendo Switch battery if it goes bad, but Nintendo says that opening the Switch console by yourself just to replace the battery is forbidden.
My opinion is that regular gamers should not attempt to replace the Switch battery at home.
Instead, sending the Nintendo Switch to a specialized technical service is the best way to completely replace the Nintendo Switch system battery.
What Is the Lifespan of a Nintendo Switch Battery?
According to official information provided by Nintendo, the lifespan of the batteries inside the Nintendo Switch console and Nintendo Switch Lite console is estimated to be around 800 charges.
After approximately 800 charge/discharge cycles, the battery capacity will be approximately 80% compared to that of a newly purchased console. This means that the battery’s capacity will gradually decrease over time as it undergoes charge/discharge cycles.
If we translate this information into years, the lifespan of a Nintendo Switch battery is between 5 and 10 years.
Since the first Switch consoles were released over 6 years ago, the battery life of some consoles might be close to an end.
We believe that getting a Nintendo Switch in 2023 is completely worth it, but opting for the OLED or 2019 Standard Model is the way to go.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Switch Battery With Nintendo Technical Service?
The first option to replace the Nintendo Switch battery is to do it via the official Nintendo Technical Service Team.
They can replace Nintendo Switch fan, joycons, and, of course, the battery.
- If your console is still under warranty, repairing the Nintendo Switch battery is entirely free. The process takes a while, but you will not spend a dime!
- If your Nintendo Switch console is no longer under warranty, Nintendo might charge you from 80 to 100 to replace the battery of the Nintendo Switch, including shipping costs.
All the in this guide are in USD. However, it is worth noting that some Reddit users believe that Nintendo sent them an entirely new refurbished console after asking for a battery replacement.
It is hard to determine the exact price for out-of-warranty Switch consoles as Nintendo does not provide official costs until they examine the console, which only happens after shipping it.
How Much to Replace Nintendo Switch Battery With Third-Party Technical Service?
Third-party technical services are also a great alternative to getting the Nintendo Switch battery replaced.
These technical services are unofficial, and they all operate differently. However, people that work there are often specialized in repairing Nintendo Switch consoles, so they know what they are down.
The average price of repairing the Switch battery with a third-party technical service is between 80 and 100.
On the other hand, only the battery costs around 20-30, according to Amazon.
If you attempt to repair the Nintendo Switch battery by yourself, you will need to spend around 25 for the battery plus 25 in tool kits – that’s 50 to replace the battery by yourself.
I’d never attempt to get the Nintendo Switch battery fixed by myself as I don’t have the required knowledge to do so, but if you are savvy enough, you can try to fix it by following online tutorials.
Can You Fix the Nintendo Switch Battery Not Working?
There are a few things you may do to repair the Nintendo Switch battery not working. According to Nintendo Support, certain homemade fixes can get the battery up and running again.
We once showed you how to fix corrupted data on Nintendo Switch, and now, let’s take a look at the best ways to fix Nintendo Switch battery not working at home.
Fix #1: Hard Reset the Nintendo Switch
Sometimes, when the Nintendo Switch battery does not work as it should (i.e., the console is not charging or not turning on properly), the issue might be caused due to a software glitch.
In this case, Nintendo recommends performing a hard reset on the Nintendo Switch. Some of your data will be lost, but that’s the price to pay to repair the Switch battery at home. This is how you hard reset a Nintendo Switch console:
- Press the HOME button on your Switch and go to System Settings.
- Select “System,” and navigate to “Formatting Options.”
- Choose “Initialize Console” – this will delete all data on the console.
- Complete the on-screen steps, sign into Nintendo Online with your account, and attempt to charge the Nintendo Switch.
- If the battery works now, excellent! Otherwise, move on to the following fix.
Fix #2: Use a Different Nintendo Switch AC Adapter
Third-party Nintendo Switch chargers are cheaper, but they are not better.
Nintendo is highly against using unofficial Nintendo Switch AC adapters, so do not use them!
If the battery of the console is not charging or working as it should, then buy an original Nintendo AC adapter and see if this resolves the problems.
The AC adapter for Nintendo Switch is only 29, so it’s cheaper than getting the entire battery replaced.
Fix #3: Try Different Charging Methods
There are three different ways to charge the Nintendo Switch console, and all of them should work. These are the alternatives players have at hand:
- AC Adapter: The primary and recommended method is to use the AC adapter that comes with the console. Simply connect one end of the AC adapter to the USB Type-C port on the bottom of the console, and the other end to a power outlet. The console can be charged both while in use and in sleep mode.
- Charging Dock: The Nintendo Switch can also be charged by placing it in the official Nintendo Switch Dock. The Dock connects to the AC adapter, and the console slides into the Dock, allowing it to charge while connected to a TV or in tabletop mode.
- USB Type-C Cable: The Nintendo Switch can be charged using a USB Type-C cable connected to a power source, such as a USB wall adapter or a USB port on a computer. However, it is important to use a certified USB Type-C cable that is compatible with the console to ensure safe and optimal charging.
Switch between charging methods, and see if some of them work. If, for instance, you can’t change the console while docked, but the battery is successfully charging when you connect the AC adapter directly to the console, then the problem is related to the dock.
Now, if the battery does not work regardless of what you do, then move on to the next section.
New Nintendo Switch offers 2 hours of extra battery life
A week after introducing a new Nintendo Switch Lite handheld game console (without removable controllers or a TV docking station), Nintendo has unveiled an update to the original Nintendo Switch.
It’s the same as the original in most respects, but according to the Nintendo website, the new model will get 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life (up from 2.5 to 6.5 for the original).
The new Nintendo Switch HAC-001(-01) will be available starting in mid-August.
Interestingly, Nintendo isn’t changing the battery capacity at all. The new model has the same 4310 mAh Lithium-ion battery as the original, and it still takes 3 hours to fully charge the battery.
The new model still measures 9.4″ x 4″ x 0.55″ and weighs about.66 pounds (or.88 pounds when the Joy-Con controllers are connected). And it still has a 6.2 inch, 1280 x 720 pixel display.
So what’s different? Nintendo isn’t saying — but all signs point to a new, more energy-efficient version of NVIDIA’s Tegra X1 System-on-a-Chip (SoC) and possibly a new type of storage.
A recent FCC filing suggested Nintendo was working on a minor update to the Switch with a “change of SoC” type and “Change of NAND Memory type.”
Meanwhile, the recently unveiled Switch Lite may also have these updates. Despite having a smaller battery (3,570 mAh), it’s expected to get slightly longer battery life than the original Switch (3 to 7 hours), although the Switch Lite also has a slightly smaller display (5.5 inches rather than 6.2) and lacks some features such as an IR camera and HD rumble support. So that could also account for some of the difference.
The new Nintendo Switch is expected to be available in mid-August for about 300, while the Switch Lite will start shipping September 20th, and sells for 200.
Is the New Nintendo Switch Worth Upgrading?
TV vs Handheld Mode
If you mostly play with the Switch docked, then no. All the benefits center around better battery life. Which doesn’t matter when your Switch lives in its dock. It can run cooler with less fan noise. But there are no performance improvements.
If you mostly play handheld, then maybe. It comes down to how much-increased play time is worth to you. Because at the end of the day you’ll still be playing the same games.
For Travelers
With the original model, many owners carry a power bank when traveling. Unless you only play less power-hungry games the Switch’s battery wouldn’t carry you from coast to coast. Not to mention time at the airport and potential delays.
With the new model, you can play Zelda through a coast to coast flight. And still have ~90 minutes for delays or if you can’t get to a power output outside your gate. But you do need to reduce screen brightness to ~50% and turn on airplane mode.
You can buy a power bank for less than trading in your Switch. The original Switch and a 10,000mAh power bank will get you at least 7 hours of playtime. But consider that the same power bank gives the new Switch even more added playtime. At least 10 hours, to be exact. And that’s with max screen brightness.
Being able to do without a power bank lightens your bag. And gives you one less thing to keep up with and charge. And if you do need to extend your playtime it takes less power bank to get more time.
For Myself
Would I have personally bought it if I wasn’t doing testing? No. I mostly play at home or in the homes of friends and family. So there’s usually a wall outlet available. When I travel the original battery life plus a compact power bank is more than enough for me. Should I go on a longer flight then it would be more cost-effective to use a larger power bank than get a new console.
But my needs are not universal. Consider your own priorities. And if you have a GameStop nearby is the better battery life worth 75 to you?
Is the New Nintendo Switch Worth Buying if You’re Considering a Switch?
Now is a great time to buy a Nintendo Switch if you’ve been considering it. We just had a model refresh, so it is like buying the original Switch on launch day. Nintendo has promised no new hardware announcements for the rest of 2019. The new Pokémon game comes out this year. And all your other Nintendo favorites have titles on the Switch.
If you expect to only play in handheld mode then you may want to wait for the Nintendo Switch Lite to be released. And then see how it compares. We know it’ll be power efficient. Likely using a lot of the same components found in the new Switch. But it has a smaller battery to save weight and cost, so less total playtime. But it will also be 100 cheaper.
There is speculation of a “Switch Pro” coming in the future. But there are no details or facts to back that up. Obviously, Nintendo will do something new with the Switch at some point in the future. They released this revised version two years after the original release. But waiting for a theoretical version of the Switch for an unknown amount of time doesn’t help you play Smash Bros in the here and now.
Where Can I Find the New Nintendo Switch?
The new Nintendo Switch is available on Amazon.
Best Buy is also offering it with free shipping or store pick up.
Many GameStop stores have it in inventory. But it isn’t available on their website yet.
Target, Walmart, and other retailers are putting out the new model as the older model sells. Look for the telltale red box in their display cases. Or ask the employees if they have any in the back they can pull for you.