This disclosure describes apparatuses and techniques for a switched multi-cell battery system for electronic devices. In some aspects, a switched multi-cell battery system may transfer, via a plurality of power control switches electrical power from a power adapter to components of the electronic device by charging battery cells in series and by discharging the battery cells in parallel or as a single battery cell. As a result, the switched multi-cell battery system may reduce or eliminate a voltage step-down conversion stage to increase a power-transfer efficiency of an electronic device. By doing so, charging times may be reduced or operating times may be increased, thereby improving users' experience with their electronic devices.