We already reported back in early June this year.Nintendo is about to launch the Switch 2 with replaceable batteries in the EU.Now that everything has finally settled. Recently, Nintendo announced the full line of Switch 2 hardware on its official European support page.Redesign planFrom the console, Joy-Con 2, and Pro Controller to the N64 and GameCube replica controllers, all will be switched to user-replaceable batteries. The redesigned products will launch gradually starting in summer 2026, completing the full transition before the new EU battery regulations take effect in February 2027. Reddit Online users have already obtained the new European version of Switch 2 and conducted a teardown comparison. The teardown results show that the new console’s heatsink no longer covers the battery area, so replacing the battery does not require removing or reapplying thermal paste, greatly reducing repair difficulty.
EU regulation push: From 2027, portable device batteries must be user-replaceable.
The driving force behind this wave of revisions comes from the EU Battery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1542), which will take effect in mid-February 2027 and requires that batteries in most portable electronic devices sold in the EU be removable and replaceable by users. This follows the same logic as the EU’s earlier mandate to unify USB-C charging ports, with the aim of reducing electronic waste and extending product lifespan.
iFixit noted in its analysis that battery replacement on the previous Switch 2 required a 63-step disassembly process, making it nearly impossible for the average user to do on their own. EU regulations forced Nintendo to redesign the product structure, making battery replacement simple and practical.
Nintendo is not the only manufacturer affected. Amazon’s Kindle e-reader is also reportedly preparing a version with a replaceable battery, and earlier, Apple had to switch the iPhone from Lightning to USB-C due to EU regulations. This set of EU rules stems from part of the European Green Deal passed in 2022, aimed at reducing electronic waste and allowing consumers to extend the lifespan of their devices, rather than being forced to buy a brand-new device after battery degradation.
Switch 2 Console Revised Specs: Battery Reduced by 1%, Weight Increased by 10 Grams
In Nintendo’s announced spec change list, the most attention-grabbing item is the Switch 2 console itself. In the revised version, the battery capacity drops from 5,220mAh to 5,172mAh, a reduction of about 1%. The console weight increases from 401 grams to 411 grams, adding 10 grams. When paired with the Joy-Con 2 controllers, the total weight rises from 534 grams to 548 grams, an increase of 14 grams.
Nintendo emphasized that the revised product is functionally identical to the existing version, with the only difference being that the battery can be replaced by the user. The battery replacement kit will be available for purchase on the European Nintendo Store in the future.
The following are the complete specification changes for each product:
- Switch 2 console(Fall release): Battery 5,220mAh → 5,172mAh (down 1%), weight 401g → 411g (up 10g)
- Switch 2 + Joy-Con 2 (Connected): Weight 534g → 548g (+14g)
- Joy-Con 2（L）Weight: 66g → 68g (+2g), battery capacity unchanged.
- Joy-Con 2（R）: Weight 67g → 69g (+2g), battery capacity unchanged
- Switch 2 Pro Controller(Winter launch): Battery 1,070mAh → 897mAh (down 16%), weight 235g → 228g (down 7g)
- N64 controller(Early 2027): Battery capacity unchanged, weight 233g → 234g (+1g)
- GameCube Controller(Early 2027): Battery 500mAh → 525mAh (+5%), weight 210g → 215g (+5g)
Among them, the Pro Controller has the biggest change, with battery capacity shrinking 16% from 1,070mAh to 897mAh. The community estimates this will cut battery life from around 40 hours to about 33 hours. While still excellent, the reduction is the most pronounced of all the revised products.
Timeline: Rolling out in phases from this summer through early 2027.
The revised products will be rolled out in batches by product category, rather than all at once. Due to factors such as manufacturing and logistics, actual arrival times may vary across different European countries.[1]
- Starting from July 16, 2026Joy-Con (initial versions, some color variants) launch first, with battery and weight unchanged.
- Autumn 2026Switch 2 Revised Console Launches
- 2026 WinterJoy-Con 2 controllers and the revised Switch 2 Pro Controller are now on sale.
- Early 2027N64 Controller and GameCube Controller Revised Editions Released
Switch 1 becomes history in Europe.
Nintendo also announced that the original Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED Model will not receive replaceable battery versions. Instead, these products will be discontinued in Europe after mid-February 2027. From its launch in March 2017 to its retirement in February 2027, the Switch 1’s lifespan in Europe will be just shy of ten years.
However, Nintendo also stated that the Switch 1 will continue to be produced throughout 2026, and existing users can continue to enjoy the games they have purchased. Services such as the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online will also remain operational. Meanwhile, accessories like the NES controller, SNES controller, SEGA Mega Drive controller, and Pokémon GO Plus+ will stop being sold in Europe after February 2027, and no replaceable-battery version will be released.
Only available in Europe.
Nintendo currently has no plans to release the replaceable battery version outside of Europe. In Nikkei’s March report, it was mentioned that “if consumer awareness of the right to repair increases in Japan and the U.S., Nintendo may also implement similar policies in those markets.” The reason Nintendo chose to release the revised version only in Europe could be cost considerations or production ramp-up, and it’s also possible that amid continuously rising hardware costs, the company is only doing the bare minimum for regulatory compliance. Another possibility is that once other countries push similar right-to-repair regulations, Nintendo can directly port the European version over without needing to redesign it.
For Taiwanese gamers, this means they won’t be able to buy a Switch 2 with a replaceable battery in the Taiwan market in the short term. But as the global right-to-repair movement gains momentum, and with the precedent set by EU regulations, the possibility of such designs expanding to more markets in the future is growing. So, would you want a Switch 2 that has a smaller battery but lets you swap it out yourself?
Battery Revision is out in Europe. And like predicted its a different internal design. Now anyone can change the battery with a simple Phillips-head screwdriver, its much much easier to access the battery compared to Switch 2 V1. The battery is indeed smaller in size but only has 5% less capacity.
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Source: KOCPC Chinese