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Best portable battery chargers for powering your Nintendo Switch on the go

What are the best battery packs and portable chargers for keeping the Nintendo Switch console powered up on the move? Here’s our pick of the best ways to keep your Switch charged when you can’t plug it in.

If you own a Nintendo Switch, you’re probably far too enthralled in Zelda: Breath of the Wild to think of it as anything but perfect. But as a mobile gaming platform, like anything mobile these days, battery life is always a worry.

Sure the Nintendo Switch offers a respectable three hours of real-world gaming for playing something like Zelda on the device’s 4,310mAh battery. Okay, if we’re honest that’s a bit of a tease. It’s enough to last most commutes, at least one way. But what about long car journeys, international flights or even just playing out in the garden all afternoon?

The answer is a battery pack or portable charger. To help you out, we’ve rounded up our favourite power solutions below.

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What kind of battery pack or mobile charger do I need to power the Nintendo Switch on the move?

Thanks to USB-C and the USB Power Delivery 2.0 standard, the Switch can actually charge faster than its power dissipates while playing. That means you can keep playing while adding charge when plugged into the wall. Crucially, this also means you can do the same when out and about, providing you have the right mobile power pack.

What you’re looking for is a mobile charger pack that’s able to output via USB-C. This will make it more expensive than a standard micro-USB battery pack, but also means you get maximum charge in the shortest time possible. You could of course opt for a micro-USB pack and still keep playing without losing power. Just don’t expect the Switch’s battery percentage to rise until it’s charging in standby mode.

So which are the best Nintendo Switch chargers for on-the-go power? Here’s our pick of what you can buy in 2017.

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Cygnett ChargeUp Pro 20,000

This mighty 20,000mAh power bank from Cygnett isn’t cheap at £129. However, it’s an essential purchase for well-travelled Switch users.

The ChargeUp Pro will fully power up your Switch’s battery four whole times before its own tank runs dry. That makes it an ideal travel companion for any globe-trotting trips, involving long stretches with no mains access.

Charging speeds are impressively nippy too, thanks to Cygnett’s nifty Power Delivery tech. This can detect what device is connected and supply just the right wattage, so your Switch will recharge quickly and safely. Likewise, Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 tech is supported by the ChargeUp Pro. Good news if you have a smartphone or similar rocking a supported Snapdragon chipset.

Despite the battery capacity, Cygnett’s charging solution is reasonably compact and not too hefty. The soft-touch exterior looks smart, while connectivity is strong. Two USB-A ports and a Type-C port offer three ways to power up your Switch and other portable devices simultaneously. And a series of four LEDs show you roughly how much charge remains, so you know when to conserve your charge.

Anker PowerCore+ 20100 for Nintendo Switch

This takes the term “powerhouse” and makes it more of a power mobile home. This really packs a punch. Thanks to its mighty 20,100mAh battery this beauty is built to charge the larger range of mobile devices like tablets and laptops. So it should make light work of getting your Switch back to full power – even while you’re still playing.

Thanks to USB-C, 3A output and an included cable, you’ve got everything you need for a fast charge on the move. Since the capacity is massive, you’ll be able to charge your Switch more than several times before this beast itself needs a recharge.

Despite the large cell, the Anker comes in an aluminium-alloy case which is pretty compact. At least, considering the amount of juice it’s packing. Not bad at all for the £40 price.

Jackery Titan S 20100

Another compact form yet power-packing mobile charger comes from Jackery in the Titan S 20100. You get another mighty 20,100mAh battery and 3A output for multiple fast charges of your Nintendo Switch. Plus it juices up using Quick Charge 2.0, so you’re not hanging around for ages waiting for the battery to fill up. Jackery also says the Titan S will charge your other 3A devices at speed, even if they don’t feature Quick Charge 2.0 smarts.

Expect to pay about £40 with an included USB-C cable.

RavPower 26800

When it comes to sheer size, you’ll be hard pressed to find a mobile charger with more features crammed into a portable shell. The RavPower crams in a hefty 26,800mAh of juice and a mind-warping 5.5A output for super fast charging of your Switch.

The RavPower also has a 2A and 5V input meaning when you plug it into the wall you’ll get it back to full quicksmart too. This is something that’s probably well needed with such a whopping battery to fill back up. Not that it’ll need charging often, as you should be able to fill up your Switch about six times before the RavPower needs a refill. All that and, minus the cable, it’ll only set you back £36.

Aukey 30000

If you want maximum capacity and size isn’t a major issue then the Aukey 30000 is ideal. This beast, as the name suggests, will give you a hefty 30,000mAh of power on the go – meaning plenty of Switch charges. The Aukey also features Quick Charge 3.0, for even faster power output.

The Aukey 30000 will set you back £43 and that not only includes the huge battery pack but also a USB-A to USB-C cable as well. Oh, and did we mention this charger not only has a handy power LED but also features a built-in torch? Yup, because why not when you have that much spare juice?

CHJGD Magnum Opus

Aside from that rather dramatic name, the Magnum Opus is a very understated battery pack featuring minimalist design. That sleek black finish boasts an LCD display at the top, for a clear and accurate readout of how much power is left in the battery pack. But underneath the hood the smarts continue, with Quick Charge 3.0 for super fast charging of your Switch even while gaming.

This pack features a 21,000mAh capacity, making it able to recharge your Switch multiple times over before needing a plug-in itself. Even better, the affordable £33 price tag makes this a really attractive mobile charger indeed.

Lumsing Power Bank 3

If you’re after affordable and portable – yet powerful charging of your Switch – this pack has you covered. The £28 price makes it one of the cheapest out there for the specs it offers, but there’s no compromises.

For that money you get Quick Charge 3.0 support, USB-C, a 15,000mAh battery capacity and a 12-month manufacturer’s guarantee. It can also charge multiple devices at once if you want your Switch and your phone on full power while on the move.

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