These Are My Favorite Switch 2 Accessories

The Switch 2 tin beryllium enjoyed correct retired of nan box, but it’s moreover amended pinch nan correct accessories. Some of these add-ons are much important than others, particularly if you’re deciding what to bargain early on. For example, a case and a screen protector tin support your console safe from scuffs, scratches, and drops, truthful some are what I’d see to beryllium essential.

On nan different hand, a microSD Express card lets you adhd moreover much integer games to your library, though nan console’s somewhat generous 256GB of soul retention intends you whitethorn not request 1 correct away. Some others don’t adhd capable to nan gaming acquisition to beryllium worthy it. Those Joy-Con 2 steering instrumentality accessories? You tin walk connected those.

The Switch 2 and its games are costly enough, truthful we’ve assembled this guideline pinch picks that are a awesome value. You don’t request to walk hundreds connected accessories — galore of america astatine The Verge surely aren’t. No matter your budget, we’ve included galore categories, opening pinch a starter kit of recommendations we deliberation everyone should consider.

Our 7 must-have Switch 2 accessories

Best Switch 2 controllers

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro

The Switch 2 Pro is Nintendo’s latest flagship wireless controller. It’s akin successful respective ways to nan fantabulous Pro controller that debuted alongside nan Switch, particularly successful design, pinch its analog instrumentality layout, and because it’s nan astir replete pinch features you won’t find connected different Switch 2 gamepads. 

Its mobility power support isn’t a caller characteristic (many third-party controllers connection that), but its Amiibo NFC support is still thing that almost nary alternatives offer. Another characteristic that makes this 1 worthy considering contempt its precocious value is its 3.5mm headphone jack, successful lawsuit you want to plug successful a group of wired headphones for backstage listening. Additionally, it tin aftermath nan Switch 2 from standby via Bluetooth (only a select fewer wireless models person this ability), truthful you don’t person to get disconnected your sofa to deed nan console’s powerfulness button. Lastly, this exemplary has 2 further buttons that tin beryllium mapped to mimic almost immoderate different button. (some cheaper alternatives, including nan 8BitDo Ultimate 2 and Pro 3, characteristic 4 other buttons).

The Switch 2 Pro is very comfortable, and it’s nan controller that I ever want to usage erstwhile fixed nan prime betwixt nan options below. But it’s not perfect. For one, it’s pricey astatine $89.99, and you’d deliberation for that value Nintendo mightiness person opted for drift-resistant sticks. Alas, you beryllium $5 to your buddy who stake that Nintendo would doggedly opt again for potentiometer sticks that are proven to tear down complete time. Its sticks haven’t caused issues truthful far, but it’s imaginable that they mightiness not fare arsenic good — and arsenic agelong — arsenic models beneath that characteristic much durable Hall effect aliases TMR joysticks.

Read our reappraisal of nan Switch 2 Pro

---

8BitDo Pro 3

8BitDo’s Pro 3 is simply a bully replacement to nan Switch 2 Pro controller: it’s somewhat cheaper, yet amended successful immoderate ways (and a spot worse successful others) that mightiness matter to you. 

Starting pinch nan good, nan institution upgraded its joysticks to nan moreover much durable TMR sensors. The 2 backmost paddles are carried complete from nan first iteration, though there’s a caller brace of buttons (L4 and R4) adjacent nan triggers that tin beryllium customized. Also of statement are caller toggle switches astir its backside (similar to what we saw connected nan DualSense Edge) that fto you change nan recreation region of its 2 triggers. Toggling a move makes nan corresponding trigger consciousness much for illustration a rodent click.

It’s besides worthy noting that this controller is importantly much customizable than nan Switch 2 Pro, arsenic good arsenic astir different controllers retired there. Its look buttons are magnetically attached, and tin beryllium removed to fto nan Pro 3 flip betwixt nan Switch layout and nan Xbox layout.

While nan Pro 3’s TMR sticks mightiness make it past longer, location are immoderate trade-offs compared to nan pricier Nintendo replacement — nary of which are deal-breakers if redeeming money is simply a apical priority. For example, its attempts to replicate nan subtle blips and buzzing of Nintendo’s awesome HD haptics successful nan Switch 2 Pro controller are conscionable not good. Its attempts astatine replicating nan smallest, nuanced vibrations of Donkey Kong stepping successful Bananza makes it spell afloat boar. I’d sooner move disconnected nan vibration wholly than woody pinch really jarringly aggravated it feels, and thankfully you tin successful nan app.

Other downsides are much minor, but are still worthy knowing about. It lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, and it doesn’t person nan C fastener to motorboat GameChat. However, you tin easy delegate nan characteristic to 1 of nan Pro 3’s buttons via nan Switch 2’s OS — but not to its further buttons (the 2 R buttons adjacent nan triggers, and nan 2 rear paddles). If you’d for illustration to usage nan controller’s built-in fastener combo to reassign in-game commands to immoderate of its buttons, that’s easy to do, per nan instructions successful its PDF manual.

Read our reappraisal of nan 8BitDo Pro 3

---

8Bitdo USB Adapter 2

It’s technically not a controller, but I’m a surgery grounds erstwhile it comes to recommending 8BitDo’s USB Adapter 2 for households already pinch much than 1 console. In nan lawsuit that you person an Xbox aliases a PS5 and would alternatively not bargain a bespoke Switch 2 controller, conscionable bargain this $20 adapter instead, and usage it to link a wireless controller you already own.

This adapter goes into nan Switch 2’s dock (or straight into nan console, if you person a USB-A to C adapter). Connecting your controller is arsenic easy arsenic putting it into pairing mode, past ensuring that nan “Pro Controller Wired Communication” action is turned connected within nan console’s settings. Click and clasp nan adapter’s coin-shaped fastener to initiate pairing, past you should beryllium bully to go. The DualSense’s rumble and mobility controls activity seamlessly, and you tin remap buttons arsenic you please wrong nan console’s OS, conscionable for illustration you would an charismatic Switch controller.

Best Switch 2 cases

Dbrand Killswitch

The Killswitch is simply a awesome Switch 2 companion, whether you’re personification who chiefly uses nan console successful handheld mode aliases while it’s docked. It’s a lawsuit that wraps astir nan Switch 2’s back, pinch detachable components that snugly grip onto each Joy-Con 2, adding immoderate other bulk that makes them much comfortable to hold. Above each else, it’s a awesome measurement to protect your console from scratches and somewhat much important damage. What’s besides awesome is that it doesn’t limit its elasticity arsenic a hybrid console.

Each Killswitch ships pinch a USB-C dock adapter that is inserted into nan Switch 2 dock. Since nan case-equipped console tin nary longer fresh successful Nintendo’s dock, this adapter lets you link it to your TV without taking disconnected nan case. It’s tougher to correctly align nan Switch 2’s USB-C jack pinch this adapter than it is to put it successful nan dock, but it gets easier pinch practice.

Read our reappraisal of nan Dbrand Killswitch

Tomtoc FancyCase Slim zip-up case

The best, slimmest zip-up lawsuit you should bargain is made by Tomtoc. Compared to nan Belkin difficult zip-up lawsuit that I sewage my hands connected earlier nan Switch 2’s launch, nan Tomtoc FancyCase slim lawsuit feels much durable; anecdotally, it holds up overmuch amended to being squeezed by hand. It moreover has much vertical clearance supra nan Joy-Con 2 sticks, truthful it’ll ne'er property them successful connected accident. Like astir zip-up cases, it features a surface screen that doubles arsenic cartridge storage. This 1 tin clasp 12 cartridges.

I’m assured that it’ll sorb much imaginable harm complete clip than different cases I’ve tried. Plus, it conscionable looks cooler, pinch low-profile designs for gamers who don’t want to tie attraction to their console. That said, its “Froz Edition” has crystal cream-inspired looks that are a batch much expressive.

Belkin cloth zip-up case

Belkin’s $29.99 zip-up lawsuit is different competent, good-looking action that’s slim and lightweight. It’s worthy considering complete nan Tomtoc for 1 logic only: its built-in pocket, which is awesome if you request to stow a charging cablegram aliases immoderate different mini doo-dads. Not to mention, this pouch contains different pouch for an AirTag aliases akin Bluetooth tracker, truthful you tin way this case’s location should you suffer way of it.

Belkin makes a thicker, pricier type of this lawsuit that has a 20,000mAh 20W artillery inside. It’s astir identical until you unfastened it. A cutout fits this (and only this) Belkin artillery perfectly, and it lets you complaint your Switch 2 astatine apical speeds while it’s protected.

Best Switch 2 cameras

The champion webcam that you tin get for your Switch 2 should beryllium nan cheapest 1 you tin find that’s guaranteed to activity pinch it. So far, Logitech has confirmed that almost each of its webcams support nan Switch 2, and Elgato has updated its Facecam MK.2 to support it, arsenic well. Elgato’s exemplary is pricier than we urge astir group spend, but it’s a coagulated action if you besides person a PC to usage it with. It’s worthy knowing that nan Switch 2 displays low-fidelity video feeds during gameplay, truthful unless you scheme to usage nan webcam pinch your PC arsenic well, it’s not worthy spending a batch for a exemplary that promises awesome video quality. 

---

Best Switch 2 portable batteries

The Switch 2 is much powerful than nan original Switch. However, it doesn’t require each that overmuch much powerfulness to charge, moreover while you’re playing games. While caller phones and tablets are breaking caller crushed pinch accelerated charging speeds, getting a powerfulness slope that tin present astatine slightest 20W is wholly capable to get nan fastest-possible charging speeds pinch nan Switch 2 successful handheld mode. 

By utilizing a display-equipped USB-C cablegram pinch a wattage reading, I was capable to spot that nan Switch 2 usually pulls a maximum of astir 15-17W of powerfulness (sometimes less) from a USB-C artillery during gameplay. When nan strategy was asleep, nan complaint went down to betwixt 8-13W, fluctuating astatine different points during nan charging process. From a wholly dormant state, nan console took almost 90 minutes to scope 69 percent pinch a 20W artillery plugged into it. You’ll apt drain your USB-C artillery much quickly if you’re playing arsenic you charge.

Thankfully, your options for compatible batteries are plentiful. You’ll apt beryllium paying for much powerfulness than you’ll request pinch nan Switch 2, but much powerfulness (and particularly much ports) are ne'er a bad point to person excessively overmuch of.

---

Best microSD Express cards for Switch 2

The Switch 2 supports microSD Express cards of up to 2TB, moreover though models pinch that magnitude of retention aren’t yet disposable for purchase. Most brands make cards successful 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB configurations, and immoderate connection 1TB cards arsenic well. I’d propose grabbing nan cheapest microSD Express paper you tin find, arsenic truthful acold they each connection likewise accelerated read/write speeds.