Nintendo warns against using substandard Switch charging cables

Enlarge / The controller charging cable shown here is one of the best ways to charge the Switch itself from a USB-A output. (credit: Nintendo)

We were overjoyed when we first found out that Nintendo was ditching its usual proprietary charging ports on portable systems in favor of USB-C power for the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, not all third-party charging cables are created equal, and picking the wrong one can lead to dead hardware or longer-than-necessary charging times.

Nintendo is getting a bit more proactive about this problem now, noting in a new Japanese FAQ page (machine translation) that users should only use USB-C cables with a 56kI(C) resistor with the Switch.

When charging the Switch from a source with the older USB-A output (the boxy, rectangular one), Nintendo recommends only using the official "HAC-010" cable that comes with the Switch Pro Controller or Joy-Con Charging Grip. That cable is also available for individual purchase in Japan, but it doesn't seem to be sold individually in North America. That said, a Nintendo of America support mod recently said that "any USB cable that supports a USB Type C port should work just as well" for controller charging, so maybe being "official" isn't so important in this case.

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