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The Nintendo Switch's flexibility is a large part of what makes it
great. It's a handheld console. It's a living room console! It has a
kickstand! But it doesn't come with everything you need, and a lot of
the Switch accessories you can buy are junk. We’ve researched and tested
dozens of Switch accessories across all kinds of categories—cases, controllers, microSD cards, stands, and more—to find the things that are actually worth spending your money on.
- Screen protector
- microSD card
- Controllers and Joy-Con grips
- A charger for your Joy-Cons
- Charging
- Stands
- Cases in all sizes
- A good, cheap stylus
- Ethernet adapter
- Bluetooth audio adapter
- What about third-party docks?
- What to look forward to
- The competition
- Footnotes
Screen protector
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The Switch’s screen may look like glass, but it’s made of plastic and it scratches surprisingly easily, making a screen protector a smart investment. The super-affordable amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch is the Switch version of our pick for the best iPhone 8/7/6 screen protector and our runner-up for best iPhone X/XS/XR screen protector.
It covers the entire Switch screen, and it’s as scratch-resistant as
any other screen protector we’ve tested. The glass is crystal clear and
free of bubbles, and fingerprints wipe right off. Installation on the
Switch is easy, and amFilm includes all the necessary cleaning tools to
prep your screen. Perhaps best of all, you get two protectors in the
box, so even if you get a speck of dust under the glass on your first
attempt at installation, you get another shot.
microSD card
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If you plan to download most of your Switch games, the 32 GB of storage inside the console will run out quickly; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild devours 13.4 GB all by itself. We recommend buying the 128 GB Samsung Evo Select
to give yourself more room. The microSD card is speedy and
affordable—the only competing cards that outperformed the Evo Select in our testing
cost significantly more—and at a typical price of around $40, or just
31¢ per gigabyte, the Evo Select is one of the most cost-effective cards
you can buy.
That said, any name-brand microSD card with a speed
class of at least U1 or better will be fast enough for the Switch.
Because you’re not writing to the card much when you’re actually playing
a game, you won’t notice the difference as much as you would with a
smartphone or camera. If you see a 128 GB card for much less than $40
(or a 256 GB card for much less than $100), go ahead and buy it instead.
Controllers and Joy-Con grips
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The Joy-Con grip that comes with the Switch makes the two Joy-Cons
into a decent controller, but if you’re planning to play a lot of Mario or Zelda, you owe it to yourself to buy Nintendo’s Switch Pro Controller.
It’s a wireless controller similar to Microsoft’s Xbox One controller,
and its joysticks, face buttons, shoulder buttons, and triggers are all
more comfortable and satisfying than the ones on the Joy-Cons,
especially for long play sessions. It also supports all the same motion
controls and Amiibo scanning features as the Joy-Cons, for the games
that need it. It costs between $60 and $70, which is a little expensive,
but if you play lots of single-player games with the Switch in its
dock, it’s definitely worth it.
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Nintendo’s GameCube controller, originally released back in 2001, is still popular among fans of the Super Smash Bros. series—so much so that Nintendo sells a USB-to-GameCube adapter and new Smash-branded GameCube controllers.
But if you don’t want to deal with all those wires—or if you want a
GameCube-style controller with all the extra buttons you’ll need to play
other Switch games—we like PowerA’s GameCube-style wireless controller.
It’s
still missing a few things compared with the Pro Controller, including
an internal rechargeable battery (it uses AA batteries), vibration
support, and an NFC scanner for Amiibo. But it looks and feels almost
identical to a regular GameCube controller, so much so that my friends
who play Smash with a GameCube controller don’t really notice a
difference. And it’s easy to navigate the Switch’s menus and take
screenshots, just like you can with the Pro Controller or Joy-Cons.
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The
Nintendo Switch's flexibility is a large part of what makes it great.
It's a handheld console. It's a living room console! It has a kickstand!
But it doesn't come with everything you need, and a lot of the Switch
accessories you can buy are junk. We’ve researched and tested dozens of
Switch accessories across all kinds of categories—cases, controllers, microSD cards, stands, and more—to find the things that are actually worth spending your money on.
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| Nintendo Switch Accessories Image 7 |
The Nintendo Joy-Con Wheel is a great choice if you prefer tilting the controller to steer in games like Mario Kart
and you want something that’s easier to hold than the Joy-Con by
itself. The set includes two plastic wheels, each of which can fit
either the right or left Joy-Con. There are large buttons comfortably
located on the back of the wheel that press the SL and SR buttons on the
controller. The wheels are a little small, so if you have larger hands
they might feel cramped (but not nearly as cramped as if you used just
the Joy-Cons by themselves).
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If you find playing with the Joy-Cons in a horizontal position difficult
or uncomfortable due to their small size, adding a grip can help. The FastSnail Joy-Con Grips
are the best we've found for average to large hands. The SL and SR
buttons are big and located so that they fall directly under your index
fingers while holding the grip; they feel a bit flimsy but are far
better than trying to press the small buttons on the Joy-Con or on the
included Joy-Con straps. The other grips we tested were smaller than the
FastSnail, didn't help with the tiny SL and SR buttons, and weren’t any
easier or more comfortable to use than the controller on its own.
A charger for your Joy-Cons
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Your Joy-Con controllers recharge whenever they’re attached to the
Switch while it’s docked, but if you have extra controllers for family
and friends, it can be a hassle to keep swapping Joy-Cons for charging.
The PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock
connects to one of the Switch dock’s USB charging ports and charges two
pairs of Joy-Con controllers while taking minimal space (3.8 by 2.3
inches). The Charging Dock feels solid, with a weighted base that has an
integrated cable wrap to minimize clutter. The controllers slide
smoothly on and off the dock’s rails, and four LEDs at the top indicate
the charging status of each controller. We wish the base were a bit
heavier, or the pad on the bottom a bit stickier, to keep the Charging
Dock from moving around as much when connecting or disconnecting
controllers, but it’s been one of our most useful accessories so far.
Charging
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If you want to leave the charger that came with your Switch under your TV when you travel, Nekteck’s 4-port USB-C charger
is a safe, affordable alternative that can charge your phone and other
accessories at the same time with its three USB-A ports. It also happens
to be our favorite USB-C charger for laptops,
and unlike some other USB-C laptop chargers we’ve used with the Switch,
the Nekteck version doesn’t prompt any error messages when you use it
with the Switch’s dock.
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Any of our USB-C battery pack recommendations should work fine if you need to charge the Switch on the go, but we like the ZMI USB PD Backup Battery & Hub
best, since its 45 W output is enough to charge any phone and most
laptops, and it’s fast enough to charge the Switch while you’re still
playing. The battery itself also recharges quickly, and it includes two
USB-A ports for recharging controllers or other accessories. You may
need to press the button on the battery pack right before you plug in
the Switch so that the battery supplies power to the Switch and not the
other way around, but this was true of all the USB-C battery packs we
tried with the console.
Stands
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If you want to use your Switch on a table or other hard surface but
need more stability than the built-in kickstand provides, or you want to
be able to charge it at the same time, you need a stand. After testing
four stands, we think that the Hori Compact Playstand for Nintendo Switch is the best choice for most people. It is cheap, light, and simple to set up and use.
Although
it’s made of plastic, it feels sturdy and is surprisingly strong
compared with the other stands we tested. It securely holds the screen
in place on the fold-out shelf with two small pegs that fit into the
bottom of the Switch and a series of rubberized grips to prevent
slipping. The shelf has a cutout so you can still charge the Switch
while it’s in use, and there’s a hole in the base of the stand so you
can thread the charging cord through the back.
We tested some
metal stands for the Switch, but most of the metal stands we saw
advertised as “Switch stands” are just phone or tablet stands that use a
folding double hinge to hold up the device. Since these stands are not
specifically made for the Switch, they can partially block the exhaust
ports on the back, making the Switch run a little hotter than usual. I
also felt uncomfortable storing them together in a bag or in the same
case since the metal edges of the stand are sharp enough to scratch up
the Switch.
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The Tryone Gooseneck Stand
attaches to the edge of a table or nightstand and has a flexible neck
that lets you place the Switch in a wide variety of viewing positions.
While you probably won’t be taking this stand on the go, it provided the
most comfortable viewing and playing experience out of all the stands
we tested. Being able to play Stardew Valley while laying down
in bed and not having to sit up or hold the Switch above your head is a
magical experience and well worth the slightly higher price.
Cases in all sizes
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The Tomtoc Slim Case
is the best way to take your Switch console on the road. This case
features the most robust construction of any case we tested, it’s got
durable and easy-to-use zippers, and it fits the Switch like a glove.
The game flap houses up to eight cartridges and lays over the screen to
protect it during transit. The unique molded shape also ensures you’ll
always know which side of the case is “up” when you open it. It doesn't
have room for the charger or any extra accessories, though.
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If you need a bit more room for accessories when traveling with your Switch, the ButterFox Switch hard case
is your best bet. It’s bulkier than the Tomtoc case, but the internal
zipper compartment is large enough to store extra Joy-Cons, headphones,
cables, and a travel charger. There’s also space for 19 game cartridges,
and the game flap restrains the Switch with Velcro to keep it secure.
There’s a handy ribbon to quickly pull the console free, too.
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The Rlsoco Nintendo Switch Deluxe Carrying Case
can hold the Nintendo Switch dock, the console (without Joy-Cons
attached), the grip with two Joy-Cons, a Switch Pro Controller, the AC
adapter, several Joy-Con straps, the HDMI cable, and 28 cartridges in
its nifty section divider. It manages to do this in a package that’s
just 11.7 by 8.9 by 5.8 inches, with tight internal cavities for each of
the larger components, making for a design that keeps each piece secure
even if the case is shaken or turned upside down. Smaller components
can be stored in mesh pockets or the included mini case (designed for
the AC adapter and Joy-Con straps). The case’s combination of a hard
external shell and included detachable strap means it can be used either
over the shoulder for everyday transport or packed safely for more
extended travel. Plus, the Rlsoco case doesn’t have any visible Nintendo
Switch branding that could make its owner a target for theft (or
ridicule). Of the 14 large Switch cases we found and four we tested,
it's the best for most people.
A good, cheap stylus
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Most of the time when you need to use the Switch’s touchscreen, your
fingers are good enough; Nintendo doesn’t include a stylus with the
Switch as it does with the 3DS or the Wii U, and most games are designed
not to need one. But for some games that benefit from more precise input, such as Super Mario Maker 2, the Adonit Mark is a worthwhile purchase. It works as well with the Switch as it does with iPads and other tablets,
it usually costs less than $10, and you should be able to use it with
almost any device that has a capacitive touchscreen (including older
iPads that can’t use an Apple Pencil, Android tablets, and even
smartphones).
Ethernet adapter
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Most people don’t need a wired Ethernet adapter for their Switch. For
downloading games and system updates, online play in more casual games
like Super Mario Party or Pokemon: Let’s Go, and
sharing screenshots and videos, the console’s built-in Wi-Fi works just
as well and is more convenient besides. But for faster and more
competitive online games like Splatoon 2 or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a wired Ethernet adapter can reduce lag, increase speeds, and improve the stability of your connection.
Nintendo’s officially licensed Gigabit Ethernet adapter is available for around $30, but you shouldn’t buy it. Instead, get the Ugreen USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter for around half the price—it’s based on the exact same chipset, so the console recognizes it right away.
It achieved the same speeds as the official adapter in our testing, and
its cable is long enough to allow the door on the back of Nintendo’s
Switch dock to close, unlike some others we tested. It also works fine
with Windows 10, though you’ll need to install a driver to use it with a
Mac. TrendNet’s USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
also works great, has a long-enough cable, and is a few dollars
cheaper, but the Ugreen version’s black casing matches the Switch’s dock
and cables better.
Bluetooth audio adapter
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Sometimes you want to game without disturbing other people with the
noise. If you’re playing portably, it’s easy enough to plug in a set of wired headphones, but what if the Switch is docked to the TV and you’re 10 feet away on the couch? Thanks to a software update last fall that added support for USB audio, you can use Bluetooth headphones via a USB Bluetooth audio adapter. We tested Avantree’s USB Bluetooth Audio Adapter
based on its claims of Switch compatibility, its consistently high user
reviews, and its reasonable price. (We’re testing USB RF headphones for
a future update to this guide.)
After plugging the adapter into the USB-A port
on the back of the Switch’s dock and pairing your headphones, audio is
automatically muted on the console and sent through the adapter. We used
the adapter with three different sets of Bluetooth headphones (at
different times), and it sent the Switch’s audio to our headphones with
no noticeable audio lag. (We occasionally heard a pop or click with one
set of headphones, but audio was otherwise fine.) Unlike a smartphone or
computer, the Switch has no on-screen Bluetooth-pairing process, so you
may find yourself pressing the pairing buttons on the adapter and your
headphones a few times before they decide to link up. But the biggest
drawback to a Bluetooth adapter is that you have to unplug the adapter
to restore audio to your TV or entertainment system. (Avantree includes a
1-meter USB extension cable that at least makes this plugging and
unplugging more convenient. We also found this cable useful for avoiding
Bluetooth interference in a crowded AV cabinet by letting us move the
adapter in front of the other components.)
What about third-party docks?
In March 2018, we removed our section on a spare dock because a Switch
software update, version 5.0.0, appeared to break compatibility with
USB-C chargers and docks not made by Nintendo. Some users report that these accessories cause the Switch to crash, others say that they brick the Switch entirely. Nintendo hasn’t said whether a fix is coming, but it told us in a statement that using the official Switch dock is the only way to totally avoid these kinds of problems. We've never had an issue with the Insignia dock we previously recommended, and haven't seen reports of it bricking consoles, but that doesn't mean it will continue to be compatible in the future.
What to look forward to
Nintendo added wireless headset support for the Switch in October 2017, but the feature works only if your headset has a receiver that can be plugged into the USB port on the Switch’s dock—ruling out most wireless headphones and earbuds. We’re interested in testing 3.5 mm Bluetooth adapters with the Switch to see if they allow you to connect Bluetooth headsets via the headphone jack. We’re also keeping an eye out for dongles that would let you connect wireless headsets via the console’s USB-C port, but so far we haven’t seen any that are available to buy.
To
listen to gameplay audio, you can always plug a pair of wired
headphones into the 3.5 mm jack, but if you’re specifically looking for a
headset that will allow you to chat through a mic while playing games such as Fortnite on the Switch, we haven’t tested those yet. Our favorite wireless gaming headset, the HyperX Cloud Flight,
got a firmware update that allows it to work with the Switch, though
the microphone doesn’t work because online voice chat is handled through
the Switch’s mobile app. Gamespot and CNET have both tested some other models, but none of the others are picks we recommend.
The competition
Controllers
The PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller
is a Switch Pro Controller clone that usually costs $20 to $30 less.
But compared with the Pro Controller, the PowerA feels lighter and
cheaper, it doesn’t vibrate, it doesn’t include an NFC scanner for
Amiibo, and it runs on two AA batteries rather than an internal
rechargeable battery. It works fine if you want a cheap wireless gamepad
that’s more comfortable than the Switch’s included Joy-Con cradle, but
most people will be better off with the official Pro Controller.
The Nintendo Switch Horipad wired controller
is another officially licensed Pro Controller clone, and at $20 it’s a
good deal if you absolutely need a cheap wired gamepad for multiplayer.
But it doesn’t vibrate, doesn’t include motion controls, doesn’t have an
NFC scanner for Amiibo, and its removable D-Pad feels mushy and
inaccurate compared with the Pro Controller, so it’s not great for
extended single-player sessions.
Ethernet adapters
The AmazonBasics USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
uses the same chipset as Nintendo’s official adapter, but the adapter’s
cable isn’t long enough to allow the Switch dock’s back door to close.
