The Nintendo Switch is pretty great right out of the box, but even the best products can be improved with the right accessories. This list rounds up some of our favorite options for making the Switch better at home and on the road.
Our picks here are based on our testing, but if you have your own favorites, feel free to shout them out in the comments. Also, these products are all designed for the original Switch. While many of these might work with the newly released Switch Lite, such as the controllers, several items on the list won’t because of the Lite’s smaller design or lack of video output.
Disclosure: CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page.
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This little adapter pops into the USB-C port so you can use your Bluetooth headphones with your Switch, including Apple AirPods. A built-in mic on the bottom of the adapter adds lag-free in-game chat and you can connect up to two headsets simultaneously. An equally small USB-C-to-USB-A adapter can be used to plug into the Switch dock so you can use your headphones when docked, too. The only thing we didn’t like about it is that it’s design won’t work with most cases or the Switch Lite.
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The best of all worlds. It’ll charge the Switch for sure, but with both a USB-C PD port and a good old-fashioned USB-A port, it can charge anything from a smartphone to a wireless headphone to a full-on laptop, and most everything in between, including Kindles and iPads. It’s great for traveling, too, with its relatively small size, light weight and fold-up prongs.
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Not all USB-C chargers will support charging the Switch as well as powering it while docked. This one does, and at a fraction of the cost of Nintendo’s. Plus, it has a 5-foot cable so you have some room to plug in the Switch and keep playing handheld while you charge.
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Nintendo’s Pro Controller feels better than any of the third-party full-size controllers we’ve tried. It’s also between $60 and $70. The PowerA comes close and sells for $40 or less. The PowerA doesn’t have rumble, IR or Amiibo NFC support, but it does have motion controls.
Its one added feature is two extra buttons on the bottom of the controller that can be mapped on the fly. It runs on AA-size batteries, too, so you don’t have to worry about running out of power midgame and you can always use rechargeables. Also, since the battery isn’t built in, you don’t have to trash the controller once the battery stops holding a charge.
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A good secondary or travel dock. Nintendo’s large dock stays connected to my main living-room TV, while the Defway is connected to a smaller TV in another room for my kids. The back has USB-A, USB-C for power and HDMI connections. However, you’ll need to bring your own power supply like the Airmate mentioned above. The combo of the dock and power supply makes this a great option for travel. It is so lightweight, though, that when you take the Switch off of it, your attached cables can tip the dock up on end.
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If Nintendo’s SNES controller for the Switch didn’t make it to your cart before it went out of stock, this one from 8BitDo is a solid second choice. While it looks like the retro controller, its full-featured design makes it a more travel-friendly Pro controller alternative. And there are no mushy buttons here: Everything feels firm and responsive. It can even be programmed for use with Android, Windows and MacOS.
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Carelessly sliding the Switch in and out of its dock all the time can eventually result in some scratches to the display. If you spend money on one piece of protection for your Switch, make it an inexpensive screen protector. The AmFilm glass is easy to apply and doesn’t interfere with touchscreen performance.
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The Switch’s kickstand is fine in a pinch, but this is much better for tabletop play. It adjust to three positions, folds flat for travel and has a passthrough in front so you can charge while you use it. There is a cheaper AmazonBasics one, but the Hori is sturdier and more stable for not much more money.
MyCharge
A battery pack and stand all in one. It clips onto the back of the Switch and has an integrated kickstand that replaces the Switch’s flimsy kickstand. MyCharge says the PowerGame “will extend your gaming by up to 10 hours,” is built around a 7,000mAh battery and recharges via USB-C. Any battery pack will do, of course, but we like the combo here and the cable-free attachment.
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Attach the tiny USB-C dongle to the Switch and you’re good to go with this lightweight, comfortable gaming headset. It uses the company’s lossless 2.4GHz wireless for ultralow-latency wireless connectivity. I never experienced any dropouts or lag while using them, but SteelSeries includes a cable if you want to use it if you don’t want to risk it. The noise-canceling mic is detachable and the earcups turn and lie flat for easier travel.
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An inexpensive way to simplify charging two pairs of Joy-Cons. I keep this plugged into the rear port of Nintendo’s dock and my kids don’t have an excuse for letting the batteries run down or not putting them away.
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Adding this case not only takes some of the creak out of playing handheld, but gives you some much-needed extra grip for your gameplay. It’ll also give you a little side, top, bottom and rear drop protection.
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This splashproof hardshell case is just about all you need to protect your Switch on the go. Slim, light and form-fitting, it barely adds any bulk. And there’s an organizer attached inside to hold up to 10 game cards.
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