Explain Like I'm 5 (ELI5)

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Why do portable devices like the Switch and Steam Deck die after not using them for a couple weeks, but a gameboy or 3ds will still have a charge? (lemmy.zip)

submitted 1 week ago by SpaceCheeseWizard@lemmy.zip to c/eli5@lemmy.world

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This is something I haven't given all that much thought about until recently, but it is quite infuriating. If you leave a steam deck or switch unplugged, the battery will drain pretty quickly. However, I remember the game boy and more particularly, my 3ds never dying if I had to step away for awhile. I knew I would have to charge it shortly after gaming once again, but it was never a big deal in the end. Looking it up and talking with friends, they came to the conclusion it has to do with the Lithium ion, but neither of us could explain well the why.

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[–] evujumenuk@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

The short answer is parasitic current. The 3DS contains a lithium-ion cell, so if it behaves differently, it's not due to battery chemistry.

I have a flashlight that takes a 18650 cell, designed to have negligible parasitic current, and indeed it basically loses no charge after weeks or even months. I have a charger for these cells that doubles as a power bank, and that'll drain the cell if left in a drawer.

So, it's possible to design devices in a way that this doesn't happen. Also, modern devices expose sleep more prominently than power-off, so your device might not have been turned off to begin with.