What you need to know
An FCC filing points to a US version of Nintendo’s revised Switch 2, model BEE-001(-01), with a replaceable battery. Updated controllers may also get easier-to-replace batteries, but release timing is unconfirmed. Antenna changes could affect Wi-Fi performance, and the revision may add to manufacturing costs.
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In 2019, Nintendo revised the original Nintendo Switch to address hardware-level security flaws and move to a more efficient processor. It was a relatively quiet revision with no public announcement, and it looks like the Nintendo Switch 2 could be facing the same fate. In March 2026, Nintendo began working on a revised Switch 2 with a removable battery to comply with EU rules making batteries easier for consumers to replace.
On Bluesky, Nintendo Patents Watch revealed that the FCC database shows a new Switch 2 model with a replaceable battery, suggesting Nintendo now plans to release this revision in the US as well. The new console carries the model number “BEE-001(-01),” matching the Switch 2 revision in Europe.
But a replaceable battery isn’t the only change here. The Bluesky post also reveals a different configuration for the wireless antennas. Early speculation suggests that while Bluetooth connectivity could be marginally better, Wi-Fi performance may take a hit.
- Read more: Europe’s new Switch 2 model could drive up production costs even higher
The most concerning detail is that the FCC database indicates the 5GHz Wi-Fi signal could be anywhere from 25% to 43% weaker. This is still early speculation, though, and a single measurement doesn’t necessarily translate into noticeably worse real-world performance.
The accessories are apparently getting an update, too. The Joy-Con 2, Switch Pro Controller, and even the GameCube controller appear in the same database, with entries indicating easier-to-replace batteries in the revised models. However, just because these entries have appeared in the FCC database doesn’t mean the updated products will hit shelves in the coming weeks.
It’s more likely that we’ll start seeing these revised models once Nintendo runs out of its current stock. The company will probably want to stick to a single Switch 2 SKU, since manufacturing two versions simultaneously isn’t particularly cost-effective.
What Bluetooth performance changes might the revised Switch 2’s antenna configuration bring?
The revised Switch 2’s different wireless antenna configuration could make Bluetooth connectivity marginally better. That is early speculation, and no specific Bluetooth performance improvement has been confirmed.
Could the replaceable-battery Switch 2 revision affect US pricing, and what costs might contribute?
Possibly. The FCC filing suggests the replaceable-battery Switch 2 revision could come to the US, and the story raises the possibility of another price increase, but neither a US release nor a new price is confirmed. The revised design has raised concerns about higher manufacturing costs, while producing two Switch 2 versions at once is described as not particularly cost-effective.
How does the revised Switch 2 compare with Nintendo’s 2019 hardware revision of the original Switch?
Nintendo’s 2019 revision of the original Switch addressed hardware-level security flaws and moved to a more efficient processor, without a public announcement. The revised Switch 2 instead adds an easier-to-replace battery to comply with EU rules. An FCC filing suggests that model could also come to the US, but a release has not been confirmed.
How could Nintendo’s preference for a single Switch 2 SKU shape the US rollout of model BEE-001(-01)?
Nintendo may wait until its current US Switch 2 stock runs out before introducing BEE-001(-01), rather than manufacture two versions at once. The FCC filing suggests a US release is possible, but Nintendo has not confirmed one or announced when it might happen.
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That being said, Nintendo’s revised Switch 2 for the EU has already raised concerns about its potential impact on manufacturing costs over the long term, with some analysts suggesting it could push prices in Europe beyond €499.99. We could see a similar story with the revised Switch 2 now potentially coming to the US as well, but another price hike would hardly be welcome given that Switch 2 prices have already gone up.
