Nintendo confirms a Switch 2 with a replaceable battery for the EU

Nintendo has announced that EU versions of its Switch 2 will feature a replaceable battery in a new hardware revision. According to The Verge, the Japanese gaming company is preparing a dedicated version of the hardware to comply with the requirements of the EU's new battery regulation. The new EU models will deliver the same functional performance as current Switch 2 consoles.

Nintendo's statement on the matter was published on its European corporate website. The statement said 'we are taking measures to prepare product versions that meet the relevant requirements, in order to fulfil our regulatory obligations under the EU Battery and Waste Battery Regulation'. The company said it would share more detailed technical information in the coming weeks.

The EU regulation, taking effect on 18 February 2027 in member states, mandates user-replaceable batteries in many device categories sold within the EU. The regulation covers smartphones, portable computers, portable game consoles and other battery-powered consumer electronics. Manufacturers will have to make the battery replaceable without requiring a local service network or special tools.

According to The Verge, the EU regulation opens the way to consumers replacing batteries themselves in the electronic devices they own. That is being read as a response to user complaints generated in recent years by 'unauthorised' repair practice on glued-battery designs such as Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices. The European Commission's 'right to repair' directive is also expected to expand this year.

Nintendo's Switch 2 device launched globally in March 2025. The current version is powered by a lithium-ion battery with a stated battery life of between 4.5 and 9 hours. The new EU model with the replaceable battery has been reported to maintain these figures at the same level. The hardware case is likely to be slightly thicker.

The question of how far the United Kingdom will align with the EU battery regulation is also under discussion. The post-Brexit alignment process on product standards is still ongoing, and the UK government has not declared an intention to introduce a 'user-replaceable battery' regulation of its own within the current year. Nintendo for that reason does not plan a separate hardware version for the United Kingdom.

The Verge's hardware analyst Dominic Preston wrote that 'devices with user-replaceable batteries are coming back thanks to the EU regulation; this change of direction reflects the multi-year impact of the right-to-repair debate on the portable device market'. Preston added that Apple and Google will also be required to produce separate hardware versions for the EU.

The price of Nintendo's new EU Switch 2 version has not yet been announced. The current Switch 2 model retails in the EU at roughly 399 euros. The version with the replaceable battery is expected to fall between 419 and 439 euros. The company said the price 'will be competitive with market standards' but will share the official list price once EU sales channels open.

The launch of the new EU Switch 2 is scheduled for 18 February 2027, the same day the EU regulation takes effect. Nintendo added that existing Switch 2 inventory already in the market by that date may remain on sale. Manufacturers are not under a recall obligation for products placed on the market before 18 February 2027.

The Verge's reporting underscores that Nintendo's production of a customised version for the EU market is a new example of how far European regulation can shape global technology standards. The battery regulation is being read as the latest step in that trend; following measures such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the EU is consolidating its position as the setter of global product standards.