Platform: Switch
Release Date: November 30, 2018
The power of the Nintendo Switch has unlocked the potential for console-quality video games on a handheld device. Unfortunately with great power, comes short battery life. Nintendo packed in a 4310 mAh battery into the Switch but it runs out relatively quick when playing games on the go.
Since the launch of the Switch, various accessory manufacturers have created and sold their own battery pack cases that attach to Nintendo’s hybrid console. Snakebyte has joined the ring by releasing the Snakebyte Power:Pack, a 7000 mAh portable battery pack with an integrated kickstand. What helps it stand apart from other battery packs is its relatively compact size and large battery capacity. Unfortunately, some poor design choices leave the Power:Pack burning up its battery, and your Switch, a little more than usual.
A Small and Powerful Backpack for Your Switch
The Snakebyte Power:Pack is made out of a dark soft touch plastic, similar to the back of the Nintendo Switch. The Power:Pack is thick and a bit of a fingerprint magnet as the main body of the Switch. Equipped with a 7000 mAh battery, it charges via USB-C (cable included) with blue LED charging indicators to let you know how much battery you have left to charge or be charged.
The integrated kickstand is wider than the stock Switch kickstand and it’s located at the center of the battery pack. Even though it takes some force to take out the kickstand, it provides your Switch with more stability and ease of access when used in tabletop mode. Attaching the Power:Pack to the Switch is as simple as unlocking the attachment clip from the pack, sliding your Switch on to the male USB-C port at the bottom of the battery pack, and locking the attachment clip in place.
Having the Power:Pack on adds a little weight to your Switch, but not enough for your hands to feel tired quicker than usual. It takes around 5 hours to fully charge the Power:Pack. Luckily, the Power:Pack has the added benefit of being able to charge your Nintendo Switch system while charging the Power:Pack simultaneously, making it a non-issue for those power gamers.
The Power:Pack’s 7000 mAh battery nearly doubles the internal battery capacity of the Nintendo Switch. As I have stated in other battery pack reviews, it’s difficult to give accurate estimations of battery life on these devices because of a variety of factors that affect power draw. Brightness, online gameplay, game optimization, and graphical quality play a role in how long a battery will last. On two occasions, I used the Power:Pack from 100% to 0% while playing Rocket League, lasting around 4 hours each time. Another time, I used the Power:Pack from 100% to 0% while playing Night in the Woods, with the battery lasting a little over 4 hours. In each of these sessions, my Switch was at 50% brightness and was connected to my 5ghz home WiFi network. While it’s not doubling the included battery life of the Switch, it is definitely adding at least 3 hours to my game time away from a charger.
A Couple of Constraints
Some design choices of the Power:Pack can limit your usage of the device in a couple of ways. The Power:Pack does not have any sort of on/off button, meaning it’s supposed to “know” when to charge your Switch. If you have the Power:Pack attached to your Switch and power it on, the Power:Pack will charge your Switch automatically. Once you turn off your Switch or put it in sleep mode, the Power:Pack also stops charging your Switch. The lack of a power button/switch on the Power:Pack means you can’t charge your Switch while it’s off or in sleep mode. This can be a bit of a bummer for those who would have liked to have the option.
My biggest concern with the Snakebyte Power:Pack is the fact that it blocks the intake vents located on the back of the Switch. Unlike the Nyko Power Pak, the Snakebyte Power:Pack does not have intake vent sized holes in the back so the Switch can breathe. This contributes to the Switch and the battery pack getting warmer quicker than either of them normally should. This shouldn’t be an issue for short gaming sessions, but the Switch and Power:Pack can become uncomfortably warm after an hour or longer. I never experienced overheating or a sudden shutdown, but batteries exposed to heat for extended periods of time can negatively affect the overall battery life of the Switch and the Power:Pack in the long term.
Final Thoughts
The Snakebyte Power:Pack’s large battery capacity and relatively compact size help it stand out from other battery packs that can be twice as large but shorter in battery life. The lack of intake port vents is a valid concern for those who are concerned about the long-term battery life of their Switch. Extending your game time by a few hours without completely sacrificing portability can be valuable for others, making the Snakebyte Power:Pack a worthy option for gamers looking to play their Switch on the go for a whole lot longer. The Snakebyte Power:Pack is available now on Amazon for $29.99.
Review Product Provided by Snakebyte
