New Nintendo Switch 2 Could Lead the Way for Replaceable Batteries

Nintendo is reportedly planning to introduce a Switch 2 revision in the EU that allows for easier battery replacements, as reported by Nikkei. This adjustment is in response to upcoming EU regulations set to take effect in February 2027, mandating that devices facilitate user-friendly battery swaps. The existing Switch 2 model has a glued-in battery, but the new model will enable users to switch batteries independently. The revision will launch “soon,” with both the console and Joy-Cons featuring replaceable batteries, per Nikkei. In Japan, however, specifications will remain unchanged. Nintendo has not yet provided a comment to The Verge. If the EU-exclusive update occurs, it aligns with similar strategies from other manufacturers such as FujiFilm, whose Instax Mini Link 3 offers a user-replaceable battery only in Europe. Many hope for a broader release of this updated feature, following trends in the tech industry towards more repairable devices, partly due to right-to-repair laws. With gaming consoles now having lengthy life cycles and spanning nearly a decade, making devices more repair-friendly without costly interventions would be welcomed.