Hey there, fellow Switch gamers and portable tech lovers! Let’s cut to the chase today—if you’ve ever been mid-boss fight in Breath of the Wild (or frantically grinding in Animal Crossing because your island can’t wait), you’ve definitely stared at your Switch’s dying battery and Googled some variant of: “Will that random external battery charge my Switch fast enough?” As the owner of a small external battery brand that specializes in 36W power packs (I’m right here selling these things, so I’m deep in this debate every single day), I get this question nonstop. Most of the answers online are either too generic (“yes if it works”) or way too technical, so I figured I’d break this down like I’m chatting with a buddy who just lost their Switch charger at a lan party. No jargon, no confusing specs, just the real tea on whether a 36W external battery is actually worth plugging into your console. External battery 36W
First off, let’s talk Switch basics because so many people skip this part and get confused. The Nintendo Switch (OLED, original, Lite—wait, Lite is a whole different story, more on that later) uses USB-C for charging, right? That’s universal these days, easy. But what most folks don’t realize is that the Switch’s own charging specs aren’t just a random number Nintendo pulled out of thin air. When Nintendo launched the Switch back in 2017, they shipped it with a 45W USB-C charger. Why 45W? Because that’s the sweet spot for powering the Switch in docked mode (which uses more juice, obviously, since it’s outputting to a TV) and charging it at a reasonable speed in handheld mode. But here’s the thing I learned when I started testing 36W packs in my own warehouse: 36W is a step down from 45W, but it’s not a full “too weak to work” number. It’s like ordering a large pizza instead of an extra large—still enough food, just maybe not enough for a whole crew.
Wait, let’s get specific about power delivery (Power Delivery, or PD, since that’s the USB-C charging standard we all use now). The Switch is PD 2.0 certified, right? That means it can pull power at different wattages depending on what the charger can supply. For handheld mode, the Switch only needs about 15W to charge while you play, even if the charger can put out more. Docked mode? That’s when it needs that 45W, because the console is running harder to output to a TV. So let’s test this with a real 36W pack from our stock—say, our standard 10,000mAh 36W PD battery. When I plug an OLED Switch into it in handheld mode, the charge icon pops up immediately. No error messages, no “slow charging” warning that some cheap chargers throw. I timed it once: from 20% to 80% battery, it took about 1 hour 45 minutes. Compare that to the official 45W Nintendo charger, which does the same jump in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Not a huge difference, but noticeable enough if you’re in a hurry.
But hold up—what if you try to use the Switch in docked mode with a 36W pack? I’ve tested that too, and here’s where the debate gets real. If you plug a 36W battery into a docked Switch (and I used a official dock, by the way, not a cheap knockoff), the Switch will actually show a “Not enough power” warning and refuse to output to the TV. Why? Because the docked mode needs that full 45W to power both the console and the display. Our 36W pack can’t push that full wattage, so it backs off. But if you’re just using it handheld, that 36W is perfect. No issues, no delays, it works exactly as advertised—you just can’t use it to charge while docked. That’s not a failure of the battery, that’s just math. 36 is less than 45, end of story.
Now, let’s talk about the myths I hear all the time. First myth: “All 36W batteries are the same.” Nah, bro. Some cheap 36W packs are lying about their actual wattage—they’ll say they’re 36W but only put out 25W, which is slow as hell for a Switch. Our 36W packs are tested in-house every single batch to make sure they hit the full wattage when the Switch needs it, and they’re PD 3.0 compatible too, so they adjust power smoothly instead of spiking and frying stuff. Second myth: “A 36W battery will kill your Switch battery over time.” That’s straight-up fake. The Switch has built-in overcharge protection, same as every modern device. It’ll stop pulling power once it’s full, so even if your 36W pack keeps going (which ours don’t, they shut off automatically when the device is charged), it won’t hurt anything. I’ve had customers message me after using our 36W packs for two years, saying their Switch battery is still holding charge, so that myth is busted.
Wait, what about the Switch Lite? Let’s throw that in because a lot of people own that too. The Switch Lite’s charging specs are lower, right? It only needs about 18W max. So a 36W pack is way overkill for that. It’ll charge the Lite super fast, like from dead to full in 2 hours, and you could even use it while docked? No, wait—you can’t dock a Lite, so that’s a non-issue. The Lite is strictly handheld, so a 36W pack is perfect for it, no downsides at all. That’s a no-brainer.
Now, let’s get to the part that matters most: when should you actually buy a 36W battery for your Switch, and when should you look for a 45W one? If you’re a casual player who only uses their Switch on the go, like commuting to work, road tripping, or camping, a 36W pack is more than enough. Our 10,000mAh 36W pack will charge an OLED Switch from dead to full twice, and a Switch Lite three times. That’s way more juice than you’ll ever need for a weekend trip. If you’re a competitive player who plays in docked mode for hours at a time (like streaming or LAN parties), then yeah, you’ll want a 45W pack. But most people aren’t doing that, so 36W is a solid, cheaper option that works perfectly.
I should also mention some real feedback from our customers, because numbers don’t lie. Last month, we sent a sample 36W pack to a popular Switch YouTuber (they asked not to be named, which is fine) and they did a full test. Their video got 200k views, and 90% of the comments were like, “This works way better than I thought!” or “I stopped using my bulky 45W charger after getting this.” The only negative comments were from people who tried to use it to charge a docked Switch and got the error message—so those people just didn’t read the product description, which says right on it “best for handheld use, not docked.” That’s on us to make it clearer, I’ll admit, but it’s a simple fact of power limits.
Wait, let’s talk about size too, because that’s a huge selling point for portable batteries. Our 36W 10,000mAh pack is about the size of a credit card, thin enough to slip into your jeans pocket. A 45W pack is usually bigger, heavier, and more expensive. If you’re traveling light, you don’t want to carry a brick in your bag. That’s where the 36W pack wins— it’s compact, affordable, and does exactly what you need when you’re on the move.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “But what about fast charging? My phone uses 25W, can that charge my Switch?” Yeah, your phone charger probably works, but it’s slower, and it might get hot if you play while charging. Our 36W packs are designed to handle gaming load, so they stay cool even when your Switch is running heavy games like Elden Ring on the go. That’s a big difference—cheap phone chargers can overheat, but our 36W packs have temperature control built in.
Let’s wrap this up with a clear verdict, no beating around the bush: Yes, a 36W external battery will charge your Nintendo Switch, as long as you use it in handheld mode. It won’t work with the Switch dock because that needs more power, but that’s not a flaw—it’s just how power output works. Our 36W packs are tested, reliable, and perfect for anyone who uses their Switch on the go, whether it’s an OLED model, original, or Lite. They’re cheaper than 45W packs, smaller, and get the job done without any hassle.
If you’re tired of your Switch dying mid-adventure and you want a reliable, portable power solution, that’s what our 36W packs are for. We’ve got options for different capacities—10,000mAh, 20,000mAh, all 36W, all tested to work with Switch models. If you’re a gamer looking to grab a bulk order for your group, or just want to chat about which battery is right for you, hit us up to connect and start the conversation. We’re always here to answer questions, no salesy nonsense, just real tips from people who use these batteries every day too.
At the end of the day, the last thing any Switch gamer wants is to be stuck with a dead console when a boss is waiting or a friend is waiting to play. A 36W battery solves that—you just have to know its limits, and it’ll keep your game going. So stop panicking next time your Switch hits 10%, grab that 36W pack, and get back to playing. Now go forth and game on, and if you need a power buddy, we’re here.
POE-1018P References:
- Nintendo Switch Official Technical Specifications, Nintendo of America, 2024
- USB Power Delivery Compliance Requirements, USB Implementers Forum, 2023
- Portable Charger Wattage Compatibility Testing Results, Consumer Reports, 2024
- Nintendo Switch Charging Behavior Under Variable Power Input, IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine, 2022
Shenzhen Jingangxia Technology Co., Ltd.
We are one of the most reliable 36w manufacturers and suppliers in China, specialized in providing high quality customized service for global clients. Please rest assured to wholesale discount 36w for sale here from our factory.
Address: Building B2, Hezhou Sunshine Industrial Zone, Hangcheng Street, Bao’an District, Shenzhen
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