How much longer does a Joy-Con battery pack allow you to play?

Best answer: Between 60 to 100 hours. It depends on a variety of factors including the kind of AA batteries you use and how you're using your Switch.

• Official Battery Pack: Nintendo Joy-Con AA Battery ($10 at Amazon)
• Wired Joy-Con Chargers: Mini Charging Dock Charger ($17 at Amazon)
• Charging Alternative: PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock ($20 at Amazon)

How Did I Figure This Out?

I was surprised when I learned that Nintendo itself doesn't know how long the official Joy-Con battery pack lasts. So, I dove into YouTube videos, forums, and product reviews looking for answers from the wise people of the internet. But alas, there were no answers to be found. I was going to have to figure out the battery life of a Joy-Con battery pack on my own. So here's how I did it. Stick with me here, this is going to get a bit technical.

First off, I learned that a Joy-Con's internal battery lasts roughly 20 hours and contains 1.9 watt hours. Knowing that a battery pack runs on 2 AA batteries, I went to Duracell's website and learned that the average AA battery contains 1.5 volts. So a battery pack containing two AAs holds 3 volts total. I also learned that different types of AA batteries have different milliamp hours (mAh). The more mAh a battery has, the longer it lasts. AA batteries have between 1700 mAh and 2850 mAh depending on their quality.

If we assume you use a pair of Energizer's rechargable 2000 mAh AA batteries, you'd multiply 3 volts by 2000 mAh and that gives you 6 watt hours. Now, add that to the 1.9 watt hours of a Joy-Con's internal battery and you get 7.9 watt hours total. That's nearly four times as much as a Joy-Con on its own.

Since a Joy-Con lasts roughly 20 hours, you'll ideally get between 70 to 80 hours of gaming when using these Energizer batteries in a Joy-Con battery pack. If you use a pair of AA batteries that each have 2850 mAh, the battery pack could last you up to 100 hours. Keep in mind, there are many factors that will determine just how many hours the battery packs will actually last for.

Things That Affect Battery Life

According to Energizer, the optimal temperature for AA batteries is between 64 degrees and 131 degrees Fahrenheit. That being said, within this range, colder batteries last longer than room temperature batteries or warm batteries. I couldn't find anything that either verified or disproved this, but it's also possible that the batteries drain more as you press more Joy-Con buttons. This means more button intensive games might drain your battery packs faster. Most electronic devices use a lot of power when turning on and off. So the amount of times you power the Switch on and off will also affect battery life.

How to Get the Most Out of a Joy-Con Battery Pack

• Heat drains batteries so keep your Switch and Joy-Cons in a cool location
• Use AA batteries that have higher mAh
• Use fresh batteries or freshly recharged batteries
• Pay more for high-quality, long-lasting AAs
• Don't allow your Switch screen to completely run out of power

Do You Need a Switch Joy-Con Battery Pack?

It really depends on how you play. Joy-Con's run for up to 20 hours on their own, which is more than enough time for most gaming sessions. This is especially true if you're charging your Switch between uses. But if you accidentally forget to recharge your Joy-Cons after a few days of playing, or if you'll be traveling with your Switch, then having a Joy-Con battery pack or a Joy-Con charger of some kind would be useful.

Official Battery Pack

Nintendo Joy-Con AA Battery

$20 at Amazon

Super Long Battery Life

This pair of Joy-Cons will give you hours of additional battery life. Perfect for frequent travelers or on-the-go Switch players. Powered by four AA batteries, which are included in the package. Safety straps are also included.

Wired Joy-Con Chargers

Mini Charging Dock Charger

$17 at Amazon

Wired charging for long gaming sessions

Never worry about running out of battery life while playing your favorite Switch games. Plug in the Joy-Cons and keep playing when your battery is low. The dock features large SR and SL buttons making them easier to use.

Charging Alternative

PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock

$20 at Amazon

Always have a charged pair of Joy-Cons

This dock charges up to four Joy-Cons at once so you can have a pair charging at all times. An LED light lets you know when your Joy-Cons have finished charging. It connects to an outlet using a removable USB charger so it's easy to pack and store.