Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck: which has the better battery life?
Which handheld lasts longer? Battery life tests reveal the winner.
With the Nintendo Switch 2 and Steam Deck competing for handheld gaming dominance, battery life is a crucial factor. Recent tests from Cerealkillerz reveal how these devices stack up in real-world usage.
Battery life comparison
According to Cerealkillerz, a direct battery test was conducted using Cyberpunk 2077 on the Switch 2, Horizon Zero Dawn on the Steam Deck, and Pokémon Scarlet & Violet on the Switch OLED. Each device was set to 100% battery, max brightness, and Wi-Fi enabled, with a stopwatch tracking their runtime.
| Device | Battery Life (Tested) |
| Nintendo Switch 2 (Cyberpunk 2077) | 2:04:11 |
| Steam Deck (Horizon Zero Dawn) | 1:31:47 |
The Nintendo Switch 2 lasted over 30 minutes longer than the Steam Deck, despite running a demanding title.
What do Nintendo and Valve say about battery life?
Both manufacturers have provided official battery life estimates:
| Device | Manufacturer’s Estimate |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 2 - 6.5 hours |
| Steam Deck OLED | 3 - 12 hours |
Nintendo states that battery life varies depending on the game, with graphically demanding titles draining power faster. Valve claims that the Steam Deck OLED can last up to 12 hours, but AAA games typically reduce playtime significantly.
3 tips to improve battery life
If you want to extend your handheld gaming sessions, here are some useful tips:
- Lower brightness – Reducing screen brightness can significantly extend battery life.
- Disable Wi-Fi when offline – Turning off Wi-Fi when not needed reduces background power consumption.
- Use power-saving modes – Both devices offer performance settings that can optimize battery usage.
The Nintendo Switch 2 outlasted the Steam Deck in Cerealkillerz’s battery test, proving to be more power-efficient under similar conditions. While the Steam Deck offers higher performance, the Switch 2’s battery optimization makes it a strong contender for extended handheld gaming.
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