RS Recommends
The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories
The Nintendo Switch is a huge success, and these accessories can help you up your game
By Brandt Ranj
Brandt Ranj
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June 15, 2021
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The Nintendo Switch has been a runaway success since it was released in March of 2017. The console, which has sold nearly 56 million units (more than the Nintendo 64 and GameCube combined), has been hard to find for much of its life. If you have gotten your hands on a Switch, it’s a good idea to pair it with a few key accessories. We’ve collected the most important ones below, and they generally fall into one of two categories.
The first is accessories that make using the Switch better, like a battery pack that can extend its life by up to 12 hours, so you can play for an entire transcontinental flight. The second are accessories that keep your Switch protected while you’re on the move, like a carrying case that has slots for your games, and a pocket for other accessories.
All of the accessories in our guide will work with the original Nintendo Switch and the Switch Lite, so you don’t have to worry if you replace one with the other. If you’re looking for a way to download Switch games more quickly, or connect your system to a pair of wireless headphones, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
If you’re a new Nintendo Switch owner, and need some help finding the right games, we have a guide to the best ones available right now.
1. A MicroSD Card
If you plan on keeping an all-digital game library, the Switch’s 32GB of internal storage is going to fill up fast. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes up 13.4GB of space on its own. Thankfully, you can easily add storage to the Nintendo Switch by popping a MicroSD card into the slot tucked neatly behind its kickstand.
We’re recommending this 256GB MicoSD from SanDisk, because of my personal experience with it. The card performed perfectly for two years (no corrupted data, no lost save files, no random game freezes or lag) until I upgraded to the 400GB version having run out of space.
Using a MicroSD Card will not replace the internal storage built into your Switch, it’ll just add more.
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Buy SanDisk 256GB MicroSD Card $63.78
2. A Carrying Case
The Nintendo Switch’s marquee feature is that it’s both a home and portable game console. It’s designed to be taken everywhere, which is great, but that increases its chances of getting damaged in a backpack while you commute or travel.
AmazonBasics’ carrying case is designed to fit your Nintendo Switch snugly, so it won’t move around in transit. The case comes with a soft inner cover that protects the Switch’s screen, and a mesh pocket big enough to hold a power adapter. The case’s inner cover also has 10 slots for Nintendo Switch cartridges, so you can take your physical game library with you easily.
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Buy Amazon Basics Nintendo SwitchCase
3. A Screen Protector
Keeping your Switch in a case while you travel is great, but a screen protector can protect its most vulnerable area while you’re playing a game.
InvisibleShield’s screen protector is made out of a material it calls “Glass+,” which the company says is stronger than regular glass on a molecular level. The protector is oil-resistant (read: no fingerprints), and the uses tabs that make it easy to apply without creating air bubbles. Using a screen protector is not an absolute guarantee against damage if your Switch is dropped, but adding a physical protective layer on top of its screen will reduce the odds significantly.
Buy InvisibleShield Screen Protector $14.98
4. JETech Protective Case for Nintendo Switch
If you’re worried about your Nintendo Switch getting scratched, Jetech’s grip cover is an excellent solution.
It slips onto the the Switch, and protects the sides and back from potential damage. The case has cutouts for the console’s vents, kickstand, and shoulder buttons, so you don’t lose any functionality when it’s on.
A secondary use for this case is making your Switch more comfortable to hold. The system itself is totally flat, but the bottom of Jetech’s case is curved to resemble a Switch Pro controller. If you’ve found the Switch uncomfortable to hold, this case may make it more ergonomic for you.
Buy JETech Protective Case for Nintendo…
5. A Large Battery Pack
The Switch is Nintendo’s first console to charge via USB-C, which means you can plug it into an external battery pack for power if you can’t find an outlet.
Anker’s PowerCore Essential PD power bank holds 20,000mAh (milliamps) of electricity, and its USB-C PD (Power Delivery) port has a maximum output of 18W (Watts). This battery pack was specifically designed to charge high-power gadgets like the Switch. You can use it whether you’re playing games or not.
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Keep in mind the game you’re playing, and the system’s volume, WiFi, and screen brightness settings will impact how much additional playtime you actually get. Still, the Switch’s battery gets between 3.5 and 5 hours of playtime per charge, so this power bank can extend by quite a bit.
Anker’s battery can also be used to charge other tech, like your smartphone, tablet, or even a laptop. It may be larger and heavier than the pocket-sized power banks you’re used to carrying, but it’s a lot more capable.
Buy Anker PowerCore Essential PD
6. A Fast Charging Power Adapter
Support for USB-C charging opens the door to using third-party fast chargers with the Switch. RAVPower’s 61W USB-C Charger can fill the console’s battery more quickly than the power adapter Nintendo includes with the console. You can use any USB-C cable to connect the Switch to this power adapter, but we recommend this braided nylon cord from Anker because it’s more durable.
As a bonus, RAVPower’s USB-C Charger is small enough to fit easily in the mesh accessories pocket inside AmazonBasics’ Nintendo Switch Carrying Case. If you travel with a Switch, this is a must-have accessory.
7. A Bluetooth Audio Adapter
The Nintendo Switch supports Bluetooth (it’s how the system connects to its Joy-Con controllers when they’re unattached), but doesn’t allow you to pair the console to wireless audio devices.
UGreen’s Transmitter fits into the Switch’s headphone jack, and sends out a wireless signal that allows you to connect the console to Bluetooth headphones and speakers. UGreen says you can connect this adapter with two pairs of headphones simultaneously, but warns that this adapter cannot be used if the Switch is connected to your TV with the official Nintendo Switch Dock.
Buy UGREEN Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter
8. An Ethernet Adapter
The Nintendo Switch can download games over WiFi, but if you have a choppy wireless network, or want to get your games faster, you’ll need to connect your console directly to a cable modem or WiFi router. Wired connections are more stable and quicker than wireless ones, although the speed you get will depend on the Internet plan you’ve signed up for.
There are a handful of Nintendo Switch Ethernet adapters out there, but this one from HORI is the only one officially licensed by Nintendo. It has a USB-A jack on one end, and an Ethernet port on the other. To use the adapter, connect it to one of the USB-A ports on your Nintendo Switch dock, and run an Ethernet cable from your cable modem or WiFi router to this adapter.
You can check to see if the Nintendo Switch is using the adapter in the System’s network settings. If it’s not, try disconnecting and reconnecting the adapter, and turning WiFi off. If you find yourself frustrated at the time it takes to get your digital Switch games, this adapter is the solution.
Buy Nintendo Switch LAN Adapter $27.88
9. A Pro Controller
The Switch comes with a pair of Joy-Con, but we recommend getting Nintendo’s Pro Controller if you plan on gaming for long periods of time.
It has an ergonomic button layout, which allows your hands to rest in a comfortable position without inhibiting your ability to reach any button in under one second. We’ve used the Pro Controller for ourselves, and it’s a night and day difference compared to using a pair of Joy-Con in Nintendo’s Joy-Con Grip controller shell.
Nintendo doesn’t offer any information on the Pro Controller’s battery life, but we’ve been able to go weeks without plugging it in. If you play games for multiple hours every day, you may have to plug it in once or twice a week. The Pro Controller has a USB-C port, and can be charged by any third-party power adapter.
If you’ve felt your fingers cramping up after you play the Switch, or prefer a controller with a more traditional button layout, this is the one to get.
Buy Nintendo Switch Pro Controller $59
10. A Nintendo Switch Online Membership
Nintendo Switch Online is an optional subscription service that’s not required to access Nintendo’s online game store, but is necessary if you’d like to play games with your friends over the internet. Subscribers can also access a growing library of Nintendo and Super Nintendo games, which can be played online. Nintendo will occasionally release a contemporary game that’s only available for subscribers, like Tetris 99, which is a frantic take on the classic puzzle-breaking game.
Buy Nintendo Switch Online Membership $19.99
11. Turtle Beach Recon 70
If you play team-based online games, you’re going to need Turtle Beach’s Recon 70 gaming headset.
The headset, which must be plugged into the Switch’s headphone jack at all times, does two important jobs. The over-ear headphones keep you immersed in your game, so you’re completely free from distractions. The Recon 70’s microphone lets you communicate with players on your team, so you can create winning strategies in real time.
It’s almost impossible to win online matches without being totally synced up with your teammates; this headset can keep you connected to them at all times. As a bonus, you can use the Recon 70 with a PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, or PC.
12. Rocketfish Nintendo Switch TV Dock
The Nintendo Switch comes with a dock, the accessory that allows you to hook up the portable console to a TV, but it’s always good to have a spare, especially if you split your time between two locations.
Rocketfish’s Nintendo Switch Dock is the successor to Best Buy’s Insignia Switch Dock, which has been our go-to recommendation for years. This dock is highly portable, and has the same ports (USB-A and HDMI) as the official one from Nintendo.
If you take your Switch to a friend’s house, or want to travel with the system, this accessory is a must-have.
Buy Rocketfish Nintendo Switch TV Dock $49.99
13. PowerA Joy Con & Pro Controller Charging Dock
It’s frustrating to get ready for a long gaming session only to realize your Switch controller has run out of battery. PowerA’s Controller Charging Dock can charge one Switch Pro Controller and a set of Joy-Con simultaneously. If you play games a lot, this will quickly become one of your most-used Switch accessories.
Buy PowerA Controller Charging Dock
14. FastSnail JoyCon Grips
Each of the Joy-Con controllers attached to the sides of Nintendo Switch can be used as a standalone controller when they’re detached. This allows you to play two-player games with a friend everywhere you take the Switch. Unfortunately, the Joy-Con is so small, it can be uncomfortable to use.
FastSnail’s shell pops onto the Joy-Con controller, and makes them feel more like a traditional gamepad. The company says this controller case is easy to grip, and doesn’t restrict the functionality of the Joy-Con’s trigger buttons.
We also like that they come in a variety of colors — the red and blue combo looks especially nice.
Buy FastSnail JoyCon Grips $16.99
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