Chargers for the Nintendo Switch
Nintendo licensed power banks are coming soon, but not necessarily licensed for the Switch. Check out the designs and specs. Nintendo has licensed their IPs, will they also test and recommend these power banks?
To further help address “is it safe for the Switch” concerns of various chargers I’ve revamped my Switch charger rating system. I now have two scales: one for charging speed (what I’ve been using) and one for charging safety. As part of this change product listings have changed from comprehensive to selective. Chargers meeting a minimum speed and safety rating are listed.
USB-C Chargers
| Charger | Speed Rating | Safety Rating | Output | Cable | Travel Friendly | Also Good For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Web AC Power Adapter for Nintendo Switch | Superb | ★★★☆☆ | 5V/1.5A, 15V/2.6A | Built-in, 6 feet/1.8 meters | No | Nintendo Switch Only | Walmart exclusive |
| Google 45W USB-C Power Adapter | Superb | ★★★☆☆ | 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/2.25A | USB-C, 6.5 feet/2 meters | Yes | Phone, Tablet, 15” Laptop (USB-C) | Cable connector points down instead of out |
| Monoprice Obsidian USB Type-C Wall Charger, 45W | Superb | ★★★★☆ | 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/2.25A | None | Yes | Phone, Tablet, 15” Laptop (USB-C) | USB-IF Certified |
| Nekteck USB Type-C Wall Charger 45W PD | Superb | ★★★★☆ | 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/2.25A | Built-in, 6 feet/1.8 meters | No | Phone, Tablet, 15" Laptop (USB-C) | USB-IF Certified |
| Nintendo Switch AC Adapter | Superb | ★★★★★ | 5V/1.5A, 15V/2.6A | Built-in, 5 feet/1.5 meters | No | Nintendo Switch Only | Licensed by Nintendo |
| ZMi PowerPlug Turbo 45W USB-C PD Power Adapter | Superb | ★★★☆☆ | 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, 20V/2.25A | USB-C, 5 feet/1.5 meters | Yes | Phone, Tablet, 15" Laptop (USB-C) | |
| Anker PowerPort Speed 1 USB-C Port | Great | ★★★☆☆ | 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15A/2A, 20V/1.5A | None | Yes | Phone, Tablet , 12" Laptop (USB-C) | Nathan K approved |
| Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter | Great | ★★★☆☆ | 5V/1.5A, 15V/2A | None | Yes | MacBook 12" | |
| Apple 61W USB-C Power Adapter | Great | ★★★☆☆ | 5V/2.4A, 9V/3A, 20V/3A | None | Yes | MacBook Pro 13” | |
| Google 18W USB-C Power Adapter | Great | ★★★☆☆ | 9V/2A | USB-C, 3.3 feet/1 meter | No | Google Pixel |
USB-A Chargers
| Charger | Speed Rating | Safety Rating | Output | Cable | Travel Friendly | Also Good For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple 12W USB Power Adapter | Good | ★★★★☆ | 5V/2.4A | None | Yes | iPhone, iPad | Only known single port USB-A charger rated as Good. |
| Anker PowerPort Elite 2 Ports | Good Enough | ★★★★☆ | 5V/2.4A | None | Yes | Phone, Tablet | Two USB-A ports |
| Aukey Turbo Charger | Good Enough | ★★★★☆ | 5V/2.4A & QC 3.0 | None | No | Phone, Tablet | |
| Aukey Dual Port Turbo Charger | Good Enough | ★★★★☆ | 5V/2.4A & QC 3.0 | None | No | Phone, Tablet | Two USB-A ports |
Travel Friendly = Small and light, removable cable, prongs fold in.
12” Laptop = Small, low power laptop with USB-C port. MacBook 12”, Chromebook, etc.
15” Laptop = Regular (13-15”), high power laptop with USB-C port. MacBook Pro, Dell XPS, etc. Will also support 12” laptops.
Check your laptop’s power requirements before buying a charger for both it and the Switch.
USB-IF certification comes from the USB Implementers Forum, the creators of USB specifications. It denotes a device fully meets their standards. Lack of certification does not mean a device is bad. See the Switch Chargers FAQ for more details.