Nintendo is replacing the Switch 2 Pro Controller with a new model. There is an advantage, but also a major disadvantage.
A new EU battery regulation stipulates that users can replace the batteries in technical devices themselves. Nintendo reacts to the rules and adapts the Switch 2 and the Switch 2 controllers. In the case of the Pro Controller, however, this causes the battery to shrink.
The new Switch 2 Pro Controller is that different
Nintendo itself explains that the new version of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller will have a battery capacity of 897 mAh. That’s 16 percent less than the 1,070 mAh of the current version.
In addition, at 228 g, it is also 7 g lighter than the controller that is now being sold. The new Switch 2 Pro Controller is scheduled to appear in winter 2026 and will then gradually replace the previous version in stores (source: Nintendo).
Nintendo fans have to decide
According to Nintendo’s official website, the Switch 2 Pro Controller offers an estimated battery life of 40 hours. The revised version could then only deliver between 33 and 44 hours of gaming fun. Without a detailed test, it is not yet possible to say with certainty how the battery life will change exactly.
Nintendo fans now have to decide. If you get it before winter 2026, you’ll get a Pro Controller with a larger battery capacity. The revised controller doesn’t last as long, but the battery is easier to replace, which can help with repairs.
What about other Nintendo products?
Not all Nintendo products are remastered. In the case of the Switch 1, Nintendo will even stop all sales of the console at the beginning of 2027. This also applies to the Switch Lite and Switch with OLED display.
The revised version of the Switch 2, on the other hand, offers a 1 percent reduced battery capacity. However, nothing changes with the Joy-Cons (both Switch 1 and Switch 2). The same applies to the N64 controller, which will be revised in early 2027. In the case of the GameCube controller, the capacity even increases from 500 mAh to 525 mAh.