The new addition of handheld boost on the Nintendo Switch 2 is great for when you are playing original Nintendo Switch games as the system acts as if you are playing in docked mode, bringing with it improved resolution and framerate but as several videos have attested it can effect the battery life. One Reddit user noticed that playing Doom (2019) on the Nintendo Switch 2 with handheld boost on give them three hours and 43 minutes as opposed to 5 hours and 5 minutes with handheld boost turned off. So if you are playing while traveling etc it might be worth bearing this in mind. You have to manually turn on handheld boost if you want it and it can be found in settings.
Nintendo Switch 2 handheld boost mode is great but it does impact battery life
It’s expected. And it’s gonna get better anyway, I’m glad they did this cause it’s an insanely good update to have on the switch 2
Handheld Boost Mode is killing it!
I read on another site (but not very reliable in my opinion) that the update affects SD Express cards, making them unreadable by the console, but this only concerns one brand; I haven’t had any problems myself…
I’m so happy they did this to make the handheld graphics more fresh and smooth. I don’t have any problems with it yet.
Well, yeah because when you play in dock mode the console takes in more power. This isn’t usually impactful because the console is supposed to be plugged into the wall while in docked mode, but a handheld playing games as if it were docked is inherently going to use more battery life to sustain that output.
Still, it’s good to make an article about this seeing as how a casual understanding of the system likely won’t include this detail.
Sorry just have to say “no really?!” on this one! Of course it does – isn’t that the only use the dock has in the first place?
I’d report more on the touch screen disabled drawback of using it.
“No shit Sherlock” moment. I’d be way more surprised if handheld boost did NOT impact battery life.
Wait, using more power makes the battery not last as long?? No way!
Seriously, how is this even an article? They literally tell you this before you toggle it on… must be a slow news day.
You mean, business as usual? Most of the time is slow day here.
Not sure why some people are surprised by this, even gaming laptops do it.
You mean, like a Switch 2 game?
What a ridiculous take. Its just doing closer what it was designed too. Lol
It’s talking about playing switch 1 games on a switch 2 in handheld mode. With the boost mode, it increases the resolution for switch 1 games in handheld mode but will drain faster. I don’t like being the guy who always is replying to everything, but I just needed to correct you.