Buying Guide for Nintendo Switch Accessories
The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid system that can be used as a traditional console or a handheld. It features two detachable controllers, which also double as portable gamepads. Both controllers can be used while in handheld mode, and they are also meant to be used on the big screen. These controllers are a little bit bulkier than other controllers, but their design makes them comfortable to hold, even for long periods of time.
Benefits of Nintendo Switch Accessories
Good Battery Life
Raise your hand if you miss wired controllers. Exactly. Nobody is longing to return to the days of being literally tethered to their consoles, and the move to wireless being the standard is one of the most significant changes in video game history. The downside, of course, is that wireless controllers need batteries to run--and one of the biggest knocks on the PlayStation 4 is its controller's short battery life. The Switch Pro Controller can get upwards of 40 hours of play on a single charge, which is borderline miraculous.
Perfect Weight
One of the toughest things to get just right about a controller is its weight. Too heavy is obviously a bad thing, but at the same time, you want at least a little heft there so the thing doesn't feel cheap. The Switch Pro Controller absolutely nails that balance, feeling strong and sturdy yet light enough to not leave you exhausted after a day-long Super Smash Bros. Ultimate marathon. It's heavy-feeling-enough for adults, but not too heavy for the kiddies, which is necessary for a Nintendo controller.
High Durability
It's definitely true that the average gamer today is an adult, but even adults can get a little careless during heated bouts of gaming--and it often feels like controllers for modern systems are only one drop away from disaster. One of the advantages to Nintendo still having youngsters as part of its target demographic is that the company knows they need to build their hardware to be durable, and as such, the Switch Pro Controller feels like it can handle a lot more wear and tear than most modern controllers.
HD Rumble
The majority of Switch games don't make much use of the console's "HD Rumble" feature, and beyond 1, 2 Switch, it's hard to think of any Switch titles with vibration that needed such an advanced level of rumble. But the Switch Pro Controller still has it, and it's still the best rumble of any current console's controllers in strength but also subtlety.
Factors to Consider Before Buying Nintendo Switch Accessories
Protection
As stated a few times now, the Switch is just a big hunk of plastic, including the display. It is very, very easy to scratch, dent, and even warp your console. We highly recommend grabbing this screen protector and this protective case for your Switch. Both products are minimal, inexpensive, and have no effect on using or docking the console.
Controllers
While the Joy-Con that come with your Switch are terrific for what they are, they are no substitute for a fully-featured “normal” controller. There are lots of options out there, but none work better than the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (check our full review here). It’s not only the best controller for the Switch, but it’s one of the best console controllers in general.
Memory
The Switch has a pretty measly 32GB of internal storage while the Switch OLED model doubles this to 64GB. In either case, that’s plenty of room for the operating system and your save files, but you will quickly run out of space if you start downloading a bunch of AAA games. We recommend buying one of these microSD cards (the most spacious one you can afford) so you don’t run into any space problems!
Power
When you’re on the go, you don’t want your Switch to die on you in the middle of playing. You should own a good power bank to keep your console topped up. We have a great list of power banks here. However, there’s also a Switch-specific device called the Chargeplay Clutch that doubles as a grip and a power bank. Read our full review of that product here.
Conclusion
The core system does not come with any games. However, you can easily download digital games from the Nintendo eShop (even free ones), so you could, theoretically, never buy a physical game for the console and still play whatever you like. There are some retail bundles that do come with physical games and/or digital download codes. There are also special editions that come with games and other items, such as collectibles. The standard $299 package, though, has no games inside.
To get more information about our buying options, go through some of the best products that we have listed in our featured section above. They are been reviewed and are recommended on the basis of their quality, performance and durability.
