What Charger Does the Switch 2 Need?
By Samuel Guerra (Samuel 76) · Founder & Editor
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The Switch 2 needs its own Nintendo Switch 2 AC adapter (model NGN-01) or, from another brand, a USB-C charger with an output of 54 W or more, which is the floor Nintendo sets on its support page. Your old Switch 1 charger (HAC-002) still charges the console when you plug it straight in, but Nintendo says it cannot run TV mode in the dock, so for a second dock or a replacement, buy Nintendo's adapter; for one charger that covers the console and your phone on a trip, the Belkin charger plus the Belkin 60 W cable.
All three are in our catalog: Nintendo's adapter in the $25 to $40 band, the Belkin 65 W charger made for the Switch 2 in the $40 to $60 band and the Belkin 60 W cable it needs in the under $25 band. If you are still setting up the console, our essential console accessories guide covers storage and a case, and every accessory we cover lives in the console accessories section of the catalog.
Pick by what you need the charger for
- Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter — a second adapter for the dock or a replacement, made by Nintendo, with its cable: $25 - $40
- Belkin 65 W Dual USB-C Wall Charger for Nintendo Switch 2 — one small charger for the console and a phone or controller, for a backpack; cable sold separately: $40 - $60
- Belkin 60 W USB-C Cable for Nintendo Switch 2 — the cable for the Belkin charger, 2 m long so you can play while it charges: under $25
Side by side, from Nintendo, Belkin and ChargerLab
| Spec | Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter (NGN-01) | Belkin 65 W Dual USB-C Charger | Belkin 60 W USB-C Cable | Switch 1 adapter (HAC-002), for reference | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Not on Nintendo's store page; ChargerLab calls it «the official 60W charger» | Up to 65 W from one port; with two devices, 45 W on the top port and 20 W on the other | Rated 60 W (USB-C PD) | Nintendo cites a difference in power output, no figure | Belkin, ChargerLab, Nintendo support |
| Charges the Switch 2 plugged in directly | Yes | Belkin lists the Switch 2 | Belkin lists the Switch 2 | Yes | Nintendo support, Belkin |
| Dock and TV mode | Yes: connects to the console or the dock | Not mentioned by Belkin; one port alone gives 65 W, above Nintendo's 54 W floor | Not mentioned by Belkin | No, per Nintendo | Nintendo store and support, Belkin |
| Cable in the box | Yes, detachable | No: charger only | It is the cable (2 m, braided) | — | Nintendo store, Belkin |
| Licensed by Nintendo | Made by Nintendo | Not stated («Made for Switch 2») | Not stated («built for Nintendo Switch 2») | Made by Nintendo | Nintendo, Belkin |
Table: what charges a Nintendo Switch 2. Data from Nintendo's «How to Charge the Nintendo Switch 2 Console», the AC adapter's page in Nintendo's store, Belkin's pages for the 65 W charger and the 60 W cable, and ChargerLab's TV mode test. «Not mentioned» and «not stated» mean the brand does not say it on that page, not that it is false. Read on October 20, 2026.
The Switch 1 charger: handheld yes, dock no
If you own a first Switch, you do not need another charger for the Switch 2 in your hands. Nintendo's charging page says the Switch 2 is compatible with the Switch 1 adapter (HAC-002) «for charging the console directly», and adds the limit: because of the difference in power output, it «cannot be used to power the Nintendo Switch 2 console to use TV Mode while the console is docked». The old charger works in the bedroom or on a trip; the dock by the TV needs the Switch 2 adapter or one with enough power.
What «54 W or more» means, and why we would aim for 60 W
The number comes from Nintendo: on the same page it writes that without a licensed adapter, «an AC adapter with an output of 54W or more can be used», and warns that unlicensed products skip its testing and may have compatibility problems.
ChargerLab, in its July 26, 2025 test of nearly 100 third-party chargers, found that TV mode only turned on with 20 V output and at least 60 W of USB-C Power Delivery; its 20 W and 35 W chargers did not start it. In handheld mode, its June 25, 2025 test saw most chargers and power banks hold around 16 W, with no incompatibility. So almost any USB-C charger tops up the console in your hands; for the dock, 60 W or more keeps you inside both Nintendo's rule and ChargerLab's result. On any other charger, also check how it splits power between two ports and that the cable is rated for 60 W.
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: the one for the dock
If the charger is going to live behind the TV, this is the safe buy. Nintendo's store page calls it a replacement for the adapter that comes with the Switch 2, says it connects to the console or to the dock, and notes that adapter and cable separate for storage. Nintendo makes and tests it, so there is no wattage to check.
Where it falls short: one output, and Nintendo does not publish its wattage, size or warranty on that page.
Belkin 65 W Dual USB-C Charger: the one for a backpack
Belkin built this charger for the Switch 2. Per Belkin's product page, it gives up to 65 W from one USB-C port, or 45 W and 20 W when you charge the Switch 2 and controllers or headphones at the same time. It uses a GaN chipset, measures 39 x 40 x 69 mm, has folding prongs and a 2-year warranty; Belkin also lists phones, iPads and MacBooks.
Where it falls short: the box has only the charger, so you need a USB-C cable rated for 60 W (one you own, or the Belkin cable below). Belkin does not mention the dock or TV mode. Its 65 W from one port clears Nintendo's 54 W and ChargerLab's 60 W; with two devices the top port tops out at 45 W and the other at 20 W, both under those figures, so on a dock keep it to the console alone. Those are ceilings, not what the console draws: ChargerLab measured 16 to 20 W going into the Switch 2 in the dock with the 60 W-plus chargers that started TV mode.
Belkin 60 W USB-C Cable: the piece the Belkin charger needs
Belkin's page lists this cable as «built for Nintendo Switch 2», rated for 60 W of USB-C Power Delivery, 2 m (6.6 ft) long, braided, certified for USB 2.0 and, according to Belkin's internal testing, good for 350,000 bends, with a 2-year warranty. The length is the point: you can play in handheld mode while it charges from an outlet that is not next to you.
Where it falls short: Belkin certifies it for USB 2.0, so treat it as a charging cable, not a video one, and 60 W is the most it carries, so it caps the 65 W charger at 60 W. That ceiling still clears Nintendo's 54 W and matches ChargerLab's 60 W.
Belkin USB-C to USB-C Cable 60W - 2 m Braided Cable for Nintendo Switch 2
View on Amazon (paid link)
Where to go next: for the Switch 2's storage rule, see what to buy for Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 and the Samsung microSD Express card; to carry the console and its charging cable, the Orzly carry case; and if you came looking for watts for a gaming PC, that is our PSU guide.
How we choose
We have no lab and we have not used these chargers. We started from what people type («switch 2 charger wattage», «switch 2 charger on switch 1») and answered it with Nintendo's support page, where the official number comes from. Then we picked chargers whose maker names the Switch 2 on its own page and that Amazon.com sells and ships, and compared output, cable and what each brand says about the dock; ChargerLab's tests, named as theirs, cover what Nintendo does not say. Price bands come from our catalog and move with Amazon. No brand chooses or reviews what we write here.
I write every guide with the help of AI tools for research and drafting; I decide which products make the cut, check every figure against the manufacturer's spec sheet and the price on the day I verify it, and sign the text. — Samuel
Switch 2 charging questions
Can I use my Nintendo Switch charger on the Switch 2?
Yes, to charge the console directly, but not in the dock: Nintendo says the Switch 1 adapter (HAC-002) cannot power TV mode because of its different power output.
How many watts does the Switch 2 charger need?
54 W or more, according to Nintendo, if it is not Nintendo's licensed adapter. For the dock, 60 W or more is the safer target: ChargerLab only saw TV mode start from there.
Can I charge the Switch 2 with a power bank?
Yes, in handheld mode. ChargerLab measured power banks and wall chargers behaving alike there, around 16 W; Nintendo's charging page does not mention power banks. For TV mode it is different: in ChargerLab's dock test, every power bank rated under 60 W failed to start it.
How long does the Switch 2 take to charge?
About 3 hours with the console in sleep mode, according to Nintendo's Switch 2 tech specs, which rate the 5220 mAh battery at roughly 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the game. Both USB-C ports, top and bottom, charge the console.
What I would buy, case by case
For a second dock, or to replace a lost adapter, I would buy the Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter: Nintendo tests it and it comes with its cable. For a backpack, where one charger covers the console and a phone, I would buy the Belkin 65 W charger with the Belkin 60 W cable, and keep the console alone on it when it powers a dock. And if all you need is to charge in handheld mode at home, I would not buy anything yet: according to Nintendo, the Switch 1 charger you already own does that.