The Best Nintendo Switch Chargers of 2024

Outputting 18 watts of power, the 20,000 mAh Anker PowerCore Essential 20000 PD charged the Nintendo Switch four times and the Switch Lite five times. It continued to charge the console as we actively played, too. This allowed us to spend hours exploring the lush lands of Hyrule in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Once depleted, the Anker took about five hours to recharge with the Nintendo Switch wall charger (USB-C). That’s not surprising given the large size of the battery. Not only does it hold a ton of charge, but the hardware is top quality.

We like the battery’s power level LEDs, which are built into the large power button on top of the power bank. They’re bright and easy to see. The battery pack’s USB-A and USB-C ports also allow you to charge two devices simultaneously—so you can explore the world of The Witcher 3 on your Switch while charging your smartphone.

That said, if you’re charging two devices at once, the power bank loses its fast charging capability. Fast charging strengthens the current and increases the amount of electricity going into the device you’re charging.

Weighing twelve ounces and measuring 6.2 x 2.9 x 0.8 inches, it’s not the most portable charger around. But its heft makes for a well-built battery that can take the casual abuse it might encounter while being carried around in a backpack. You should know that its plastic shell is a little slippery.

After removing the power bank from its box, it slipped from Ashley’s hands and landed on her foot (ouch). Just make sure you’ve got a good grip on it when handling. Drawbacks aside, this is a great device, as it’s both dependable and durable.

The Nyko Power Pak battery case is lightweight and designed with portability in mind. Its 5,000 mAh, 10.5 Watt battery charged the Nintendo Switch once. It continued to charge the console as we played a few rounds of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Once depleted, it took about three hours to recharge.

The Power Pak is a thin plastic shell that encases the back of the Nintendo Switch. Weighing about half a pound, it doesn’t add much bulk to the console. We found it pretty comfortable to hold, too.

While it’s lightweight and portable, the black matte plastic material is also prone to smudging and scratching. Our review unit definitely came away with a few noticeable marks.

The removable top piece, which is designed to clamp down on the console and hold it in place, is awkward to handle. To insert the Switch, you have to pop out the top piece (it’s small and easy to lose) and then slot it back into place when the console is seated in the case. Drawbacks aside, when the Switch is inside of the case, it feels really secure.

The Power Pak’s kickstand design is a bit strange, as it’s narrow and positioned slightly off-center. It'll hold the Switch up on a flat surface, but we’d prefer a wider kickstand, as we feel they provide more stability when using your console in tabletop mode. Additionally, the kickstand proved prone to swinging open, when not in use during testing.

If you accidentally pull the kickstand off of the case, there’s no need to worry. We pulled it off during testing (whoops) and were able to easily snap it back into place.

Newdery’s 10,400 mAh battery case for the Nintendo Switch Lite provides 18 Watts of power and proved capable of charging the console twice while it sat idle. It continued to charge the console as we fought our way through the treacherous Underworld in Hades, too.

As for the recharge time, it took a little over six hours. The Newdery can also charge other devices. If you’ve got a USB-C charging cable, you can use it to top-off your smartphone or tablet. It’s a well-rounded option, that’s for sure.

That said, there were a few things that gave us pause. Ashley found the battery case a little awkward to handle, as the grip’s shape works better for those with larger hands. The premium matte black plastic that the case is made out of is both smooth and soft to the touch. The inside of the case is lined with a soft material that helps to prevent damage to the Switch light, as it’s slid in and out.

This case comes with an adjustable kickstand, but it’s average, at best. We found it was able to prop up the Switch Light when using it on a tabletop. However, the stand is narrow, so a bump to the table could see the game console topple over. A wider kickstand would have been preferable, However, this issue isn't a deal-breaker.

We had some trouble inserting the Switch Lite into the Newdery case. It’s similar to the other battery packs in that you line up the game console with the edges of the case and push down. However, Ashley had to use more force than she was comfortable with in order to lock the Switch Lite into the case. However, once locked in, the Switch Lite felt very secure.