EU Nintendo Switch 2 Revision Teardown Reveals Battery and Weight Changes

Nintendo’s updated, EU-compliant Nintendo Switch 2 has begun shipping to retailers, and hardware teardowns are already revealing exactly how the revised console differs from the unit that launched earlier this year. The short answer: the battery shrinks a little, the console gains a few grams, and getting inside is now noticeably less of a headache.

Why a New Revision Exists

The European Union’s Right to Repair directive requires that battery-powered consumer devices allow users to access and swap out their batteries without undue difficulty. To meet that standard, Nintendo announced it was engineering revised versions of the Switch 2 console and its accessories. According to Eurogamer, Nintendo had previously stated the updated hardware would arrive sometime during the summer, and units bearing the new design are now showing up on store shelves across Europe.

What the Teardown Shows

YouTube channel Nintendúo published a side-by-side teardown comparing the launch Switch 2 against the EU revision, and the differences are documented in detail by Eurogamer. The battery capacity has been reduced by approximately 48 mAh, which represents roughly a one percent cut. The console with Joy-Cons attached also comes in 14 grams heavier than before.

On the repair-accessibility side, the changes are more meaningful. The screws inside the Joy-Con rails are now visible rather than concealed beneath warranty or anti-tamper stickers, making the process of opening the unit far more straightforward. Once the back cover is removed, the heat shield no longer extends over the battery compartment, which was the main barrier to easy battery replacement in the original design. To compensate for the reduced heat shielding, the battery itself is now wrapped in thick insulation material.

How to Spot the New Model and What Comes Next

The two versions are difficult to tell apart from packaging alone, but buyers who look closely at product listings online can spot visible screws in the Joy-Con rails as a distinguishing feature. The revised unit carries the OSM product code, with European serial numbers beginning with HLE. Nintendo is rotating stock at retailers on a rolling basis, so consumers cannot simply choose which revision to purchase without scrutinizing the box.

The Joy-Cons and Switch 2 Pro Controller are also receiving Right to Repair revisions at various points throughout the year. The Nintendo 64 and GameCube controllers are scheduled for updated versions in early 2027. Nintendo also plans to sell replacement batteries separately, bundled with a kit that includes step-by-step instructions for the swap.

Sources: Eurogamer