Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller Fixes One of the Worst Parts of the Original
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The Nintendo Switch 2 reveal in early April told us the company is introducing a new controller for the system, but it also confirmed you can use your original Switch Pro controller with the upcoming console.
Now, Nintendo has confirmed the technical specifications for the Switch 2 Pro Controller, including a major improvement for charging. The controller is similar to the original version, but a key upgrade means you can charge it in almost half the time.
As spotted by Nintendo Life, the Switch 2 Pro controller is said to charge in approximately 3.5 hours. That's almost twice as fast as the estimate of the original controller, which was six hours.
The new controller will then work for around 40 hours, depending on what you're playing. The original Switch's controller had a similar battery life.
Interestingly, Nintendo has shrunk the battery slightly here from the 1,300mAh one inside the original model to a 1,070mAh cell inside the Switch 2 Controller. We'll have to see whether Nintendo's estimates prove accurate, but this likely means the company has found some battery efficiencies for the next-gen product.
Other changes on this new controller include introducing the C button that allows you to turn your microphone on and off for online voice chat, plus two buttons on the underside of the controller called GL and GR for controlling gameplay.
Switch 2 preorders go live on April 24. Nintendo recently increased the price of the Switch 2 Pro Controller from $79.99 to $84.99 due to US tariffs. The console is still $449.99, with the Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundle set to cost $499.99.
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