Did You Know: Nintendo's New Switch 2 Revision Lets You Swap the Battery With a Phillips Screwdriver

LONDON - Did you know the latest Nintendo Switch 2 revision for Europe lets owners swap the console battery with a Phillips screwdriver? Nintendo of Europe says the change prepares selected products for European battery rules taking effect in mid-February 2027. An official guide, covered by Notebookcheck’s Hannes Brecher on Oct. 13, 2026, shows nine screws, a rear cover that lifts off, metal contacts instead of a cable, and no adhesive.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Nintendo UK’s support page lists the revised Switch 2 console as arriving in Nintendo Store from October 2026 on a rolling basis across Europe. Battery capacity drops slightly to 5172mAh, about 1% below the current 5220mAh pack. The console alone weighs about 411g, roughly 10g heavier than today’s ~401g unit. With Joy-Con 2 attached, Nintendo puts the revised set at about 548g versus ~534g. Functionality is unchanged, Nintendo says.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

To open the revision, owners remove nine Phillips screws: two each on the left, right, bottom, and back, plus one on the top. The rear housing then lifts away. The battery uses metal contacts rather than a plug, so nothing needs unplugging, and the housing is keyed so the pack cannot go in the wrong way. Notebookcheck notes the design skips adhesive entirely, which cuts the risk of damaging the console during a swap. Nintendo recommends checking that the top buttons and microphone sit correctly, and that no screws are stuck to magnets, before reassembly.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The replacement battery is part number BEE-003(-01). Nintendo says battery replacement kits for each revised product will go on sale later in Nintendo Store in Europe. German outlet gadgetChecks, citing Nintendo’s materials on Oct. 14, 2026, links the revision to model BEE-001(-01), a PH00 screwdriver in the kit, and a 14-step guide. It also notes external cues such as two black screws at each magnetic Joy-Con 2 rail and a serial number starting with HL. The launch-era BEE-001 is not covered by that DIY path; Nintendo still points those owners to qualified service.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Joy-Con 2 controllers included with the revised console also get user-replaceable batteries. Separate Joy-Con 2 pairs with the same treatment follow later in winter, alongside a revised Switch 2 Pro Controller. Existing consoles sold before the rule change remain fine to keep; Nintendo says owners do not need to do anything. For anyone shopping Europe this autumn, the surprising bit is how approachable the new battery job looks once the kit lands: Phillips screws, keyed contacts, and no glue.