The Nintendo Switch is such a delightful console not just because of the magical games that come to it but also because of its portability, which lets you take all of those games with you anywhere. But, that portability also leads to one of the Nintendo Switch's problems: battery life. Even with the latest iteration of the Nintendo Switch improving the battery life over the first model, you can still find yourself running out of juice if you're playing a lot away from the charger. But, all it takes is a Switch battery case to save yourself from a lot of that battery anxiety.
Switch battery cases can give you a substantial extension to your playtime away from power outlets. Some even strap themselves right onto the switch itself, giving you a complete solution that won't add considerable bulk to the Switch but will add considerable runtime. We've selected a range of batteries for the Nintendo Switch, giving you plenty of options to find which will work best for you. See the larger capacity models for longer playtime or the low-profile cases for a discreet upgrade that won't get you tangled up in charging cables.
TL;DR — These are the Best Nintendo Switch Battery Cases:
- Nyko Power Pak
- HyperX ChargePlay Clutch
- Bionik Power Commuter
- Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux
- Marval Power GuliKit Battery Master
- ZeroLemon Extended Charging Case
- Nyko Boost Pak
1. Yobwin Portable Backup Charger Station
Best Nintendo Switch Battery Case
A battery case will of course add some extra power onto your Nintendo Switch, but it’s going to come with a bit of added bulk, too. What makes the Yobwin Portable Backup Charger Station so awesome is that it makes excellent use of that extra bulk. This battery case adds a beefy, 10,000mAh battery onto your Nintendo Switch. That’s no small backup, and it can stretch the battery life of your console considerably — an extra eight hours or 1.7 full charges. You can see how much charge is left with four LED indicators, and rapidly recharge it with 18W PD fast.
The Yobwin case throws on an extra kickstand in the back so you can still use your Switch in tabletop mode, but the real treat is the add-on controller grips. The grips attach to your Joy-Con and add a bit more girth to hold onto for improved ergonomics. Cleverly, the grips also include slots to stow game cartridges.
2. Nyko Power Pak
Best Slim Nintendo Switch Battery Case
Love everything about playing your Nintendo Switch on the go but just wish it could last a little bit longer? Then you'll want the Nyko Power Pak. This battery case will let you keep playing with your Switch virtually unaltered. It doesn't cover up the Joy-con, doesn't block any ports or vents, and it only adds a half-pound onto the device. It does cover the Switch's built-in kickstand, but it makes up for that with a kickstand of its own.
Once you have the Nyko Power Pak strapped onto your Switch, you'll get an extra 5,000mAh of battery capacity for all your mobile gaming needs. Nyko suggests that this can almost double the battery life of your Switch, letting you really grind out the levels when you're nowhere near a power outlet. When you need to charge up the Nyko Power Pack, you can do so with the same USB-C cable you'd use to charge your Switch outside of the dock. That all makes for a pretty strong product, especially given it costs just about $20.
3. HyperX ChargePlay Clutch
Best Mid-Size Nintendo Switch Battery Case
HyperX won’t just give you more battery for your Nintendo Switch, it’ll also give you a better grip on your handheld console. The HyperX ChargePlay Clutch really does everything the name suggests it will. This case plugs into your Nintendo Switch to let you play while it charges your console back up with its 6,000mAh battery pack. The case wraps around the outside of your Switch Joy-Con to provide some extra ergonomics as well, giving your thumbs more room to move and reach the controls.
The ChargePlay Clutch’s battery is enough juice to extend the playtime of your Switch by five hours, helping you really go the distance if you’re playing on the move. If you prefer to play in tabletop mode, the ChargePlay Clutch has its own kickstand to hold up the Switch. And, the controller grips are detachable, so you can continue to use them while playing in handheld mode. They’ll even let you even connect the grips together for an on-the-go alternative to the official Joy-Con Comfort Grip that links the Joy-Con into a single controller.
4. Bionik Power Commuter
Best Nintendo Switch Carrying Case With a Battery
You can get a carrying case and an on-the-go battery pack for your Nintendo Switch all in one with the Bionik Power Commuter. This carrying case is designed to fit your Switch and a handy assortment of extras safely inside while providing a 10,000mAh battery pack to charge up your console (or your phone for that matter) between play sessions when you’re on the move and can’t get to a wall outlet.
The case has a main pouch for the Switch to slot into, and there’s a second compartment for accessories. You can store a bunch of game cartridges in a built-in organizer, and there’s a pocket to hold extra Joy-Con. The case itself is padded and uses water-resistant YKK zippers, helping keep all your gear safe. There’s a simple carrying handle on the case, but it can also attach to the straps of a backpack or sling, or you can attach the included shoulder strap for hands-free transport.
5. Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux
Best Nintendo Switch Power Bank
Power banks made specifically for the Nintendo Switch can be handy for their ability to attach and almost integrate with the portable console, but they may lack some of the flexibility and capacity (and often the price) of more universal power banks. Anker's PowerCore 10000 PD Redux is an example of how much you can get for a good price.
This power bank offers 10,000mAh of juice, and it can pump that out at up to 18W, letting you keep charging your Nintendo Switch even as you play. The battery pack has both a USB-A port and a USB-C port, so you can charge your Nintendo Switch and a secondary device (maybe your Pro Controller) at the same time. That USB-C port also handles recharging the power bank, which you can do with the very charger that your Nintendo Switch came with. Anker even includes the USB-C cable needed to make the most out of this power bank with your Nintendo Switch.
6. Marval Power GuliKit Battery Master
Best Attachable Battery
Marval Power's GuliKit Battery Master is a simple yet effective solution to extend your Nintendo Switch's battery life. It rather plainly straps a battery pack onto the rear of your handheld console. The battery offers up 10,000mAh for plenty of extra juice, and it can pump out 15W of power, keeping your Switch topped up even when it's running demanding games.
The battery has a built-in USB-C cable that makes it easy to plug into your Switch without any cable management or needing to remember a cable in the first place. There's also a USB-A and USB-C port, so you can charge up a phone or other device without needing to unplug your Switch.
7. ZeroLemon Extended Charging Case
Best High-Capacity Nintendo Switch Battery Case
ZeroLemon's battery pack for the Switch includes a 10,000mAh battery that the company claims will add a righteous 10 hours of runtime to your Switch. Other handy features include a kickstand, MicroUSB port, USB-C port, and a card slot with enough room for three game cartridges. The only potential downside to the ZeroLemon case is its size. Compared to similar battery packs, this particular case is a bit bulky, but that's par for the course for such a massive battery.
8. Nyko Boost Pak
Best Compact Nintendo Switch Battery Pack
If you like the idea of having a little extra battery pack that can attach to your Nintendo Switch but don't see yourself needing something that adds a ton of extra power at the cost of taking up space, then the Nyko Boost Pak will be right up your alley. This slim unit latches onto the bottom of the Nintendo Switch, connecting right into the USB-C port and adding virtually no thickness (though it will make your Switch a bit taller). It's actually slim enough that you can keep it attached even when docking the Switch. And, when you're on the go, it only weighs 55 grams, so you'll hardly notice it.
The Nyko Boost Pak adds on a modest but useful 2,500mAh of battery power. And, rather than just always running when it's attached, the Boost Pak has a power switch, so you can decide when it kicks into gear. Perhaps best of all, this is one of the cheapest Nintendo Switch accessories you'll find. The unit costs less than $10.
What to Look For in a Switch Battery Case
There are a couple things to keep in mind before pulling the trigger on a battery case for your Switch. First, the original Switch’s internal battery is 4,310mAh and typically lasts about three hours when undocked (depending on the game). The new Switch lasts a bit longer between four to five hours in our experience, though Nintendo has yet to reveal the exact capacity of the larger battery.
Most of the packs I found are around 10,000mAh, so nearly all of them promise to double the life of your Switch, but that won't always be the case.
There are a lot of factors that go into the efficiency of an external battery pack, so don’t be disappointed if that 10,000mAh battery doesn’t triple your Switch’s battery life. With that said, all of them will still provide quite a boost.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
