Nintendo is revising its Switch 2 hardware in Europe to comply with new battery regulations, incorporating user-replaceable components, visible screws, and a slightly heavier build. The updated model begins rolling out as European retailers receive stock with serial numbers starting with HLE.
Inside the European Switch 2 Hardware Revision
Recent teardowns and hands-on examinations from hardware reviewers, including the YouTube channel Nintendúo, reveal the specific physical adjustments Nintendo implemented for the European market. The alterations directly respond to incoming regulatory standards governing replacement batteries across the region, which take effect early next year. Rather than hiding assembly points behind anti-tampering stickers, the redesigned console features visible screws at the top and bottom of the coloured magnetic Joy-Con 2 slots, making internal access far more direct.
Video: Here's What Nintendo's Revised Switch 2 Console Looks
Internal shielding has also been re-engineered. The thermal heat shield no longer covers the battery, so you no longer need to clean and reapply thermal paste to access the battery. To offset the lack of heat shield coverage, the battery itself is 48mah smaller and visually looks different, as if it has been wrapped in a thicker insulating material to compensate. While the new battery holds a different capacity, the unit can be popped right out if you need to replace it.
Identifying the New Model at Retail
Shoppers and collectors can distinguish the revised hardware by checking specific packaging and serial indicators. While outer boxes are pretty much identical between the new model and the original release, the updated packaging bears a new “OSM” code. Furthermore, retail units carry serial codes starting with HLE compared to the original’s HAE, and the console itself has HLE as well.
First look at Europe's new Nintendo Switch 2 model
Weight distributions have shifted marginally as a result of the adjustments. The original Nintendo Switch 2 weighs about 400 grams by itself and roughly 534 grams with the Joy-Con 2, while the user-replaceable battery model is approximately 410 grams alone, with the Joy-Con 2 now 2 grams heavier. A Reddit post also notes that the console is now 14g heavier than the original variant, while Nintendúo stated the new version is about 12 grams heavier and that he couldn’t really tell the difference between the two, noting this is unlikely to cause much of a difference to general day-to-day use unless you’re holding both at the same time and comparing.
Broader Hardware and Market Developments
While European shelves adjust to the user-serviceable battery model, Nintendo’s broader product ecosystem continues to evolve globally. Retail pricing for standard configurations is scheduled to shift upward, with Nintendo officially announcing that the Switch 2 console will go up in price starting September 1, meaning the console sans game will cost $499.99 instead of $449.99. Nintendo also unveiled two new bundles that will be available after the price hike: the Mario Kart World bundle including 3 months of Switch Online membership for $550, and the new Switch Sports Resort Bundle including 3 months of Switch Online for $530. Meanwhile, a recent leak suggests Nintendo is preparing to release a special edition Switch 2 console in the near future, specifically a Zelda-themed Switch 2 console showing off a device with a black/green/gold aesthetic with specially-themed Joy-Cons.
Video: Nintendo Switch 2 EU battery revision console teardown
At the same time, official distribution channels are expanding into new territories. Nintendo told Reuters in an email it would launch Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in Indonesia this December. Asked what its presence in Indonesia might entail, the company said: Unfortunately, we have nothing further to share besides the fact that we plan to launch Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in Indonesia this December.
A subsidiary of one of Indonesia’s biggest conglomerates, Salim Group, will be the official distributor for the consoles, Indonesia’s Ministry of Creative Economy said in a statement. Irene Umar, Indonesia’s vice-creative economy minister, said on Wednesday in an Instagram post that allowing Nintendo to sell its products through official channels would help address copyright violations, while Indonesia is pushing to make Nintendo’s developer kit available to help local developers. Nintendo consoles and game cartridges are currently sold mainly through unofficial channels, making pricing mechanisms unclear, according to local game developer Adam Ardisasmita, and Salim Group’s Axton Salim was quoted by state news website Antara as saying that its subsidiary would work with Nintendo to build an official repair centre and customer service, serving Indonesia’s gaming market which is worth significant revenue annually, the largest in Southeast Asia.
What Remains Unanswered
Although European consumers benefit from the user-replaceable battery adjustments driven by regional legislation, Nintendo has not clarified whether these internal design modifications will eventually replace standard manufacturing lines in North America, Asia, and other global markets.
