13
Is it safe to charge the Switch 1 with through USB? (thebrainbin.org)
submitted 5 months ago by to c/nintendo@lemmy.world
7 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Is it safe to charge the Switch 1 with through USB?

The #Switch uses a standard USB-C port, but I remember it being finicky, at constant risk of getting damaged, when being charged with the wrong energy source. But would it be safe to plug it to a PC's USB port to charge?

Thanks in advance!

all 7 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 9 points 5 months ago*

Yes. The issue was using an aftermarket dock to charge the switch with an aftermarket charger.

https://www.techradar.com/news/heres-why-nintendo-switch-third-party-docks-could-brick-your-console

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
    •
    [–] 6 points 5 months ago

    I've been charging my day one Switch with my phone's charger and there's been no issues.

    The issues with bricking Switch seems to occur when using certain 3rd party docks. Charging Switch itself should be fine in most cases.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
    •
    [–] 5 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    I've been doing this for years with a variety of USB chargers of various wattages. Never encountered any issues. I'm talking hundreds of recharges.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (1 child)

    Same for me. I am using a launch day switch. The battery is a bit weird now though, it seems like the system can't read the battery level correctly anymore as it tends to drop to 1% within 10 minutes (from full charge) and stay there for a full hour of play. Not sure if this is a side effect of using random chargers.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
    • [–] [S] 3 points 5 months ago

    Did a quick 1h test after most replies:

    With some heavier game open but minimized, the battery went down slowly while charging through USB.

    With the #Switch turned off, the battery went up instead, but indeed slow as warned.

    Might need to test further, but results seem decent enough already!

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
    •
    [–] 3 points 5 months ago

    I have always had the impression that charging through something that’s not the official product (or Genki) is ok until that one time it’s not, so the risk is up to you. Personally, I wouldn’t.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
    •