Here Is The Best Portable Charger For Nintendo Switch – Chargers, Power Bank, And The Best Portable Chargers

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what is the best portable charger for nintendo switch
what is the best portable charger for nintendo switch

Last year, we made a post about the best Nintendo Switch protective cases. This year, 2020, we would like to keep on adding to your Switch equipment by introducing you to the best portable Nintendo Switch chargers.

Since the Switch is actually made as a portable gaming system, it’s impossible to just leave it on the dock at home. This is especially true when you consider the fact that Nintendo Switch games, specifically, simulation games and games like the relatively newly released Pokemon Sword and Shield, and the hottest in town now: Pokemon Unite, can demand quite the attention. There are night and day cycles in this game that affect what you catch. And if these types of game modes would continue being a trend in the future, you would want your Switch to be always loaded on battery power at all times. Hence the need and want for a portable charger you can carry anywhere.

Since you can carry them around, saving as much power is essential to keep them up for an extended time. This is why headphones for Nintendo Switch are also flying off the shelves.

Not only that, if your Nintendo Switch does not require any charging, you can use a portable Nintendo Switch charger for your other mobile devices. This is a win-win in this “Portable Age,” where a lot of devices you use for everyday life can be carried around with you.

Now, without further ado, here is our list of the best portable chargers for the Nintendo Switch.

Essential Features Experts Want You to Look Into when Looking for the Right Portable Chargers for Switch

Check the Battery Capacity

The capacity of the charger depends on what you need or want. But to give you an idea, a standard Nintendo Switch has a battery capacity of 4,310 mAh.

It may seem ideal to invest in a portable charger with a capacity of around 5,000 mAh but you’ll want something with a capacity of at least 7000 mAh to get a full charge from zero to 100%. Plus, most portable chargers normally operate at around 65% capacity, too.

If budget isn’t a problem, then you’ll be surprised at the number of charger options you can choose from, from power banks with a minimum of 5,000 mAh, to power banks with capacity that can go as high as 50,000 mAh. If you choose to invest in portable chargers with up to 50,000 mAh, you’ll never have problems with power shortages. The only problem you’ll have, unfortunately, is to wait for the portable charger to charge up.

Look at the Ports

Apart from the capacity, ports also play a vital role. Even though Switch charges over USB-C, your portable charger doesn’t necessarily need to have a USB-C connection. But a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable connection should work just as fine.

Mind the Price

You should also figure out what you want from a powerstation or power bank and make sure to look for the cheapest option you would find. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you should settle with the bare basics of a charger but you should prioritize what you need and see if you have some headroom to include other features to satisfy what you want included.

Does Power Delivery Matter?

It may seem an essential feature you should consider but to put it simply, power delivery isn’t something that would please every Switch owner. Simply speaking, power delivery charges your Switch as fast as it was docked and will remain at 100% battery so long as you have your device connected to your portable charger. Furthermore, it will also charge the Switch while you’re playing should the Switch run out of juice.

As impressive as it sounds, there is a downside to having power delivery, because it can only be used over USB-C to USB-C. Needless to say, this feature is considered a premium and will surely cost considerably more than other portable chargers. If you think you’ll regularly take long travels, this will surely be a great addition. However, if you only take short travels throughout the day, a USB-A option should suffice. Plus, a charger with only such is also cheaper.

Make Sure the Charger is as Portable as Your Switch

Of course, the charger has to also be just as portable as your Switch. This means that the weight of the charger should not be too heavy to become borderline a drag when you travel with it.

The 5 Best Portable Charger for Nintendo Switch

1. Anker PowerCore (26800 mAh) – Handful of the Best Portable Chargers are from Anker

Power charging for power leveling

anker powercore

 

Image source

Pros
  • Can charge multiple mobile devices
  • Many ports for simultaneous charging
  • Dual-port charging
  • Fast charging speed
Cons
  • A little bit on the expensive side

Let’s say you are in a wireless party with your friends over some SmashPokemon, or Mario Party. Let’s also add to the scenario that you are not in a house, maybe in a coffee shop or gamer’s lounge. Lastly, let’s pretend that you have multiple devices that you need to charge, but the electric plugs are limited. Welp, you are in for an awful time, unless you get a portable charger that not only caters to your Switch, but also for several of your devices. That’s what the Anker PowerCore is for.

An Anker charger has always been a staple brand when it comes to charging devices. And its sub-brand, PowerCore, is really well-known for its line of reliable portable chargers and power banks. The current highest milliamps per hour capacity for the Anker PowerCore is 26,800 mAh.

This charger reaches insane amounts of charging capacity for your Nintendo Switch, along with other portable devices you have on you. It has several ports for multiple charging sessions, so you won’t need to line up your next device in a queue just to charge it. It’s a high-speed charger due to Anker’s PowerIQ and Voltage Boost technology, which caters to all connected devices simultaneously.

If you want to charge your PowerCore at home, it also comes with a Dual Micro USB charging setup. This lets you recharge it twice as fast, using those two charging ports as input. This will only take 6 hours, which is pretty quick considering you are filling a tank that holds a total capacity of 26,800 mAh of power.

So if you feel the need to charge enough that will last you for hours of gaming, then feel free to check out the Anker PowerCore 26800 mAh portable charger.

Do note that at the time of this writing, there’s already a newer version available in the market, the Anker PowerCore+. On top of the slightly higher price and 0.3 lbs heavier weight, the PowerCore+ 26800 charger features a quick charge port.

Unlike the PowerCore, which only has two ports, the PowerCore+ version has a Quick Charge 3.0 technology that uses a single Micro-USB input. While it’s true that it may seem to be a great investment, not everyone will actually benefit from it. You see, this Quick Charge 3.0 input requires a dedicated quick charge USB wall charger to recharge the power bank faster.

If you don’t have a smartphone that is compatible with the Quick Charge 3.0, the feature of this charger will only be limited to charging your Nintendo Device. On the other hand, if you have a smartphone that supports quick charge, this will be a great investment since you can use this on your smartphone, too.

2. Nintendo Switch Adjustable Charging Stand – Best Nintendo Switch Portable Charger

A great product for your Nintendo Switch

nintendo switch charging port

Image source

Pros
  • Officially made by Nintendo for the Switch
  • Adjustable
  • Play while charging your Switch
Cons
  • Not “technically” portable
  • Does not charge other devices

Nintendo has answered one of the Switch’s annoying design challenges: charging while in Tabletop mode. Many users have been annoyed with the Switch’s USB-C port clonking if you want to charge while in this mode. Thus, the Nintendo Switch Adjustable Charging Stand is made.

Before anything else, let’s talk about the cons of getting it. First, this is not a “fully” portable charger. You still need to plug the AC adapter on the right side of the charging stand to charge up your Switch. Next, it does not charge as fast as other power banks out there, but charges at the pace of how you usually charge your Switch. And last, it does not allow you to charge other devices since it is built only for the Nintendo Switch gaming system. That’s all of it. Now, we go to the good parts!

This is a god-send for a lot of Switch owners that had multiple fiascos when choosing previous third party products to charge their Switch. Some owners have unfortunate accidents that “bricked” their Switch, and that is not a good thing. Because this charging stand is official Nintendo merchandise, the possibility of bricking your Switch is gone out the window.

As mentioned above, using the Nintendo Switch Adjustable Charging Stand allows you to play in Tabletop mode easily. This will enable you to play with other people in this mode while charging it, even without the actual dock and TV. By far, this is the second most significant advantage this Nintendo Switch portable charger introduced to players, apart from the anti-brick stuff we mentioned before. You can freely adjust the stand to provide you with a great angle and reach when playing.

If you are genuinely a Nintendo fanboy or fangirl, then owning the Nintendo Switch Adjustable Charging Stand is right up your alley. It is basically the company’s official entry to the best Switch portable chargers for the Nintendo Switch including the Switch lite model. Yes, if you also own a Nintendo Switch Lite model, this powerstation will be compatible.

3. Gulikit Detachable Power Bank for Nintendo Switch

Small, Compact, and Stylish

gulikit detachable power bank for nintendo switch

Image source

Pros
  • Fits snugly on Switch
  • Lightweight
  • Over-voltage protection
Cons
  • Might feel a bit heavy

If you are looking for a portable charger that acts in every sense of those words, then you might want to take a look at the Gulikit Detachable Power Bank for Nintendo Switch. This portable power bank embodies the concept of portability due to several reasons.

The Gulitkit power bank for the Switch is smaller than the gaming system’s screen itself. This makes it so that it “hides’ on the back of the console when you mount it. Speaking of mounting, this portable charger has a slider on its back that reveals a groove. This groove mounts on your Switch, and then you attach the actual power bank on it, making for a trippy looking attachment on the back of your gaming console. Then, you use a small cable (provided with the kit) to connect the Switch with the Gulikit power bank. That groove thing or kickstand also does not block air vents and fans, making sure that your Switch will retain suitable temperatures at all times.

But even a charger that is as portable as this comes with a downside. The Gulikit Detachable Power Bank for the Nintendo Switch is weighed 233 grams. When attached to the console, it almost doubles the weight of your Switch. For little tykes, this charger might be a bit heavy (nearly half a kilo). But it does have a workaround on this: you can simply detach it and use a USB-A to USB-C cable. Such a cable is provided once you get the package, meaning there will be no hassle if you want casual charging while playing a casual game.

All in all, the Gulikit Detachable Power Bank lets you experience one of the best portable chargers for the Nintendo Switch.

4. Anker PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition

Anker-level quality certified by Nintendo

anker powercore 13400 nintendo switch edition

 

Image source

Pros
  • Nintendo Certified
  • Made specifically for Switch
  • Can still charge other devices
Cons
  • Has a lower mAh than the previous PowerCore on the list

It’s a no-brainer why another Anker PowerCore product has made it on this list. They are just that good. The ability to charge other devices is a massive plus for portable power banks like these. But the Anker PowerCore 13400 mAh is a tad too specific for it to be excluded from this list. You see, this particular model of the PowerCore is certified by Nintendo themselves.

We have mentioned before in this article that there have been some mishaps with people trying out different external battery or power banks before and getting their Switch bricked. It cannot be stated enough how devastating this is for owners of this gaming console. All the money, time, and effort invested may possibly go down the drain just because your power bank mishandled charging your Switch at some point.

Well, with this external battery model of the PowerCore, every worry of bricking your Switch disappears, as this has been reviewed and accepted by Nintendo. Charging with this portable charger is safe, so getting this version of the PowerCore is perfect for those who are really sceptical of using third party products.

The Anker PowerCore 13400 mAh Nintendo Switch Edition charger comes with Power Delivery, a feature that delivers very fast charging for your USB-C charging. It is specially made for the Switch, so expect an additional 10 hours of battery time after using this. As it is safe, you can charge while you play as well. And with 13400 mAh capacity, you will definitely be able to run with it and not need an external outlet for charging.

With the PowerIQ feature, you can further take this power bank to the next level by charging your other devices with it. This is great for those times when your Switch doesn’t really need any charging, but your mobile phone does. The power bank itself charges in as little as three and a half hours, making it possible to use it again and again with a short time to wait between charges.

The Nintendo Switch Edition of the PowerCore is coated with a rubberized finish for a good hand feel and excellent durability. It also weighs less than the Switch, which is a good thing for those who are looking for a better, portable feel.

If you are a fan of high-quality third-party products, but you don’t want to risk ruining your console, then give the Anker PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition a look.

5. Portable Charger Power Bank with LCD Display Power Bank (30,800 mAh) – A Great Battery Charger Case!

Another powerhouse, but has a noticeable flaw

portable charger power bank 30,800mah lcd display power bank

 

Image source

Pros
  • Very high mAh, on par with the Anker PowerCore 26800
  • Caters perfectly for USB-C devices
  • Swift recharge
Cons
  • It is heavy for something “portable.”

Ahh, the Jackery Supercharge 26800. A convenient piece of work that has several features, which is why we included this power bank in the list. But sadly, since we are talking about the best portable battery charger for Nintendo Switch consoles, it has one big drawback.

Good things first, then. The Supercharge is another voltage powerhouse, boasting a capacity of up to 26800 mAh in total. The only other Nintendo Switch power bank in this list that matches up to the capacity of the Supercharge is the first one on this list, the first on this Anker PowerCore 26800. This makes the Jackery a behemoth when it comes to charging several devices without the fear of running out of juice for your Switch.

Speaking of which, if you are solely going to use the Jackery Supercharge for pumping your Nintendo Switch battery, it will take four to five times of full charge to deplete the Supercharge. And with the 45W Nintendo Switch wall charger (included in the package), you can recharge up to nine times faster than usual. No idea how fast “nine times faster” is? Well, in just a recharge time of three hours, the Jackery Supercharge is fully recharged and ready to go. Yes, in only a charging time of THREE HOURS, you can juice up your Nintendo Switch four to five times. That’s really fast and efficient! Also, besides having a 45W input, it has a 45W output. This feature makes it excellent for USB-C port types, in which the Switch also uses.

The only glaring downside we see on this portable charger is that it weighs 15 ounces. That’s almost a 50% increase in the Switch’s weight of 10.48 ounces. Yes, folks, this is way heavier than the console you are trying to charge, and that gives it a bit of a downvote on being “portable.” You can probably use this while you are charging leisurely on top of a table or on a couch. But the idea of being portable is that you can lug it around easily. With something as substantial as the Supercharge, you’d start to wonder if being portable is really the idea they are aiming for.

Nonetheless, the Jackery Supercharge 26800 is one of the many great portable chargers for the Nintendo Switch. Despite its heavy clunk, it offers a really efficient charging capacity for only one-ninth of the charging time that most power banks out there have.

The Verdict (TL;DR)

Okay, let’s do a recap and a kind of TL;DR for all the best portable chargers for Nintendo Switch owners:

There you go! Now you have an idea (or several perhaps?) of what to get this year to pair with your Nintendo Switch case or your console. The best portable charger for the Nintendo Switch is always up to what the user would want. If you are the type to game a lot on actual “handheld” situations, like standing up, for example, you should probably go for lighter power banks.

If you are more of a sitter, then get something that would literally plant you on the couch with your only break would be going to the bathroom. The possibilities are vast, so make sure only to buy the ones you would actually want to use.

With technology always advancing, you can even choose to stream your games now with a capture card for Nintendo Switch.

Check out our other guides for more reviews and news about gaming and tech!

You Might Also be Interested: Best Nintendo Switch Protective Case | Best Capture Cards for Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch Board Games | Nintendo Switch Simulation Games

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John is a massive video game enthusiast that mostly plays on the PC and the PS4. He currently likes to play MOBAs, FPS, and hunting games like Monster Hunter. He is a resident blogger for this site and focuses more on video games and audio equipment. He plays the drums and rolls around the bed a lot when he's bored.

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