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Pro Controller’s USB-C cord can be used to charge Nintendo Switch console, but power packs struggle

The USB to USB-C charger cable included with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller can also be used to charge the Switch console, but it’s not as simple as we first thought.

It seems pretty obvious — both the Switch and Pro Controller use USB-C charging — but we’ve tested it to confirm, by connecting the USB-C cable to an iPad wall charger, which charges the Switch console and Joy-Cons…kind of. However, it’s painfully slow — and playing a game at the same time would actually drain the power faster than it can charge.

That’s a problem for portable power packs, if you want to charge on a plane, for example. Most of them aren’t going to output enough power. The Switch’s chunky AC adapter outputs at 5.0V/1.5A and 15.0V/2.6A, but it seems you require the full 2.6A to get any meaningful charge. The iPad wall charger, which we thought was charging better than it was, very slowly increases power with its 5.1V/2.1A output not really sufficient.

So maybe the easiest way will be to buy a second AC adapter after all.


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About the author

Ben Salter

Ben has been writing about games in a professional capacity since 2008. He even did it full-time for a while, but his mum never really understood what that meant. He's been part of the Stevivor team since 2016. You will find his work across all sections of the site (if you look hard enough). Gamertag / PSN ID: Gryllis.