Switch 2 replaceable battery: what changed, how to spot it

Nintendo has quietly started selling a new version of the Switch 2 in Europe, and the big change is inside: the battery can now be swapped out at home with a small screwdriver, no glue and no repair shop needed. Nintendo says the console otherwise works exactly the same.

A teardown published on October 18 backs that up. The revised console keeps the same NVIDIA chip, the same 12GB of memory and, to the disappointment of some fans, the same LCD screen. Here is what changed, how to tell which Switch 2 you are buying, and whether this model is coming to the US.

What is the new Switch 2 model?

The revised console carries the model number BEE-001(-01). The original Switch 2 is BEE-001. Nintendo of Europe lists the new model's earliest Nintendo Store availability as October 2026, and German Nintendo site ntower reported on October 15 that Nintendo's own store had started selling it this month.

Nintendo is making the change to meet a new EU law. Under the EU Batteries Regulation, products with portable batteries sold in the EU from 18 February 2027 must let the owner remove and replace the battery using commercially available tools. Nintendo says there is "no difference in functionality" between the current and revised products.

Nintendo says the new versions will replace the old ones on a rolling basis, so on Nintendo Store you cannot choose which version you get. When the old stock sells out, the new model takes its place. Retail stock may switch over at different times in different countries.

What actually changed: battery, weight and Joy-Con 2

According to Nintendo's official support page, the new console's battery is rated at 5,172mAh, about 1% smaller than the 5,220mAh battery in the original. Battery life should be almost identical in practice, though Nintendo has not published new battery-life figures.

The console is a little heavier. Nintendo lists it at about 411g, around 10g more than the original's 401g. With both Joy-Con 2 controllers attached it weighs about 548g, up from 534g. The Joy-Con 2 controllers that come in the box also have user-replaceable batteries.

Nintendo is also revising its controllers for Europe. A new Joy-Con 2 pair and a new Switch 2 Pro Controller are due this winter. The Pro Controller's battery shrinks from 1,070mAh to 897mAh, about 16% smaller, which may mean shorter play time per charge. The GameCube Controller for Switch 2 gets a slightly bigger 525mAh battery in early 2027.

What the teardown found: same chip, same screen

Polish console technician modyfikatorcasper took apart one of the new European units and compared its OSM-CPU-01 motherboard with the original BEE-CPU-01 board. VideoCardz and Notebookcheck reported his findings on October 18 and 19.

The NVIDIA chip is unchanged, and the console still has 12GB of memory, now from a different supplier. Nintendo has also fitted a different cooling fan, but nobody has measured whether that changes temperatures or noise. Apart from the new battery compartment, the changes are minor.

The screen is the part many people were hoping for. In June, a new 7.9-inch, 1080p LCD panel believed to be assembled by Sharp appeared on Chinese parts sites, which led to hopes of a fix for the original screen's slow pixel response and ghosting. The tested unit still has the original screen. "Revised battery design, SAME OLD SCREEN," the technician posted on X, adding that he would check more units and bundles.

So if you were holding out for a better display, this is not that console, at least based on the unit tested so far.

How to tell if a Switch 2 has a replaceable battery

Nintendo has published an official guide to telling the two models apart. The easiest check is the magnetic connectors on the sides of the console, where the Joy-Con 2 attach. The new model shows two black screws on each connector. On the original, no screws are visible there.

You can also check the two screws under the kickstand. The new model uses Phillips (cross-head) screws, while the original uses Y-head screws. The serial number is another giveaway. It starts with HL on the new model and HA on the original. You can find it under the stand or in System Settings, then System, then Serial Numbers.

If the console is still in its box, look at the code just above the barcode. It starts with OSM on the new model and BEE on the original, and the contents section lists the model number BEE-001(-01). The product photo on the new box also shows the screws on the magnetic connector.

How the battery swap works

Nintendo's official guide uses its Battery Replacement Kit, model BEE-003(-01), which includes the replacement battery and a PH00 Phillips screwdriver. Nintendo says the kit will go on sale from Nintendo Store in Europe in the future. It has not announced a price yet.

The process takes nine black 3mm screws. Five hold the back housing: one on top next to the air vent, two behind the stand and two on the bottom either side of the USB-C port. The other four sit on the magnetic connectors. Nintendo warns that the back screws use thread-locking glue and are tighter than usual, so press firmly to avoid stripping them.

With the screws out and the game card cover open, the back lifts off. The battery slides out, and because it connects through metal contacts rather than a cable, there is nothing to unplug. Nintendo says the battery only fits one way round, and it recommends writing down the new battery's lot number for support. It also says an adult should do the replacement.

Is the new Switch 2 coming to the US?

Nintendo has only announced the model for Europe. Its list covers EU countries plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.

There is one hint it could travel. Nintendo Patents Watch spotted the BEE-001(-01) model in US FCC filings, according to Notebookcheck and VideoCardz. An FCC listing is not a launch announcement, though, and Nintendo has not said whether the new model will be sold in the US, Japan or elsewhere.

Europe is also saying goodbye to the original Switch family. Nintendo says it will stop selling the Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED to European retailers from mid-February 2027, and Nintendo Store sales end then too. Games and online services carry on as normal.

Should you wait for the new Switch 2?

For most people, no. Nintendo says there is no difference in functionality between the two, the battery is almost the same size and the screen has not changed in the unit tested so far. If you want a Switch 2 now, the original model is the same console to play on.

The new model makes most sense if you keep consoles for many years. A Switch 2 battery will slowly lose capacity, and on the new model you will be able to fit a fresh one yourself once Nintendo sells the kit, instead of sending the console off for repair. If that matters to you and you live in Europe, check the screws or the serial number before you buy.

If you already own a Switch 2, you do not need to do anything. Nintendo says the new EU rules do not affect products sold before February 2027.

Top photo: the replaceable battery being lifted out of a revised Switch 2, from Nintendo's official battery replacement guide. (Image: Nintendo)