Despite being released back in 2017, the Nintendo Switch is still doing incredibly well. There’s an awesome library of games to play, likeMario Kart 8 Deluxe,Animal Crossing: New Horizons, andThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
The Nintendo Switch is great on its own, but a few accessories really compensate for the console’s minor shortcomings, such as its internal storage. Even having a case on the off-chance you’re traveling is nice.
So, let’s take a look at the best accessories for the Nintendo Switch!
Best Nintendo Switch Controller:8Bitdo Ultimate Controller
Talk to anyone who has had the Nintendo Switch for a while and there’s a good chance they’ve replaced their Joy-Cons because of stick drift. I have two pairs of Joy-Cons I avoid using because of drifting! Well, thanks to the hall effect sensing joysticks of the8Bitdo Ultimate Controller, you’ll never have to worry about Link taking a dive off another sky island again.
Suffice to say, the 8Bitdo Ultimate’s analog sticks use magnets and electrical conductors to sense movement. Unlike traditional controllers, there isn’t any constant rubbing of mechanical parts, causing wear-and-tear and leading to stick drift.
Overall, the 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller is a fantastic alternative to the Nintendo Pro Controller, especially if you are looking for a replacement. In fact, it isn’t strictly aNintendo Switch controller; it works with other platforms like PC, Android, and iOS.
8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller with Charging Dock
The 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller is a great alternative to Nintendo’s Pro Controller. Not only does it have analog triggers, the hall effect sensing joysticks eliminate stick drift altogether.
Best Nintendo Switch Carrying Case:Amazon Basics Carrying Case
There’s nothing basic about theAmazon Basics Carrying Case; it’s the complete package when it comes to traveling with your Nintendo Switch. Its hard shell case withstands bumps and drops, resisting the sudden buckling that would otherwise ruin the console. And given the snug fit, your Switch won’t slide around.
While the Amazon Basics Carrying Case adds a bit of girth to the Nintendo Switch, it’s by no means bulky. In fact, it needs that little extra shape for the storage inside, where you’ll find a pocket that can house Joy-Cons, straps, earbuds, and even a charger (although it doesn’t fit the original Switch charger. There’s even a flap that fits tengame cartridgesand acts as a screen protector for the console.
However, it’s not meant for the Nintendo Switch Lite, but luckily, theFintie Carrying Caseoffers similar features and protection!
Amazon Basics Nintendo Switch Carrying Case
With a tough outer shell and good storage for games and accessories, the Amazon Basics Carrying Case is pretty darn good for its price. It’s a snug fit too, so you won’t have to worry about your Nintendo Switch sliding around.
Best Nintendo Switch microSD Card:SanDisk Extreme
TheSanDisk Extremeis the ideal microSD card for expanding the Nintendo Switch’s storage by a mile. Its price-per-gigabyte is excellent, and the available storage options allow you to pick the one that best fits your needs and budget.
More importantly, the SanDisk Extreme’s performance is stellar, and since this is SanDisk we’re talking about, it’s reliable too. Sure, its read and write speeds are above the Switch’s limitations, but this works for two reasons: You’ll always get the best performance, and if you pick up Nintendo’s Switch successor, you may repurpose the SanDisk Extreme for the new console.
SanDisk Extreme microSD Card
The SanDisk Extreme is well above the Nintendo Switch’s maximum read and write speed, so you’ll rarely, if ever, have to worry about performance dips. More importantly, it offers superb price-per-gigabyte and plenty of storage options to choose from.
Best Headphones for the Nintendo Switch:Moondrop CHU II
The Nintendo Switch isn’t known for its audio; it doesn’t support high-quality audio files. The audio is by no means terrible—far from it—but it does mean a decent pair ofheadphones or earbudswill almost always do just as well as an expensive headset.
Keeping that in mind, theMoondrop CHU IIsits at a unique junction, offering good audio quality and superb durability at a killer price. The bass is surprisingly good for being earbuds and the mids and highs compliment it pretty well.
The real MVP of the Moondrop CHU II is its durability. The nozzle is made of a mix of zinc and brass, and the alloy cast cavity has a paint coating to prevent corrosion. The cable has some good flexibility, too, but if it isn’t to your liking, you can replace it since the cable is interchangeable.
Moondrop CHU II
The Moondrop CHU II combines pleasing bass, mids, and highs, with incredible durability to boot. It even has an interchangeable cable if you want to further improve its durability.
Best Nintendo Switch Screen Protector:amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector
Even if you don’t travel with your Nintendo Switch, the possibility of scratching the screen is high enough to warrant theamFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector. This is especially true if you frequently dock and undock the Switch. All it takes is docking or undocking at a weird angle, and suddenly, there’s a mark.
The amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector has a 9H hardness rating, identical to screen protectors for tablets and smartphones. More importantly, it’s thin enough that it won’t prevent you from using the touchscreen or the Switch’s docking station. It even has an oleophobic coating to resist fingerprints.
If you have the Nintendo Switch Lite, amFilm has amodel for the Litethat features the same protection.
amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch
With a 9H hardness rating, the amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector is the go-to for keeping scratches and scuffs at bay. And its thin dimensions mean you can still use a case!
Q: Are Nintendo Switch accessory kits worth it?
Honestly, they’re hit or miss. They’re are plenty of kits that include some worthwhile accessories, like the steering wheels, Joy-Con protectors, and travel cases. However, those same kits also include gadgets you’ll never use except to clutter up your drawers even more.
You’re better off paying a little extra for the accessories you need as they’ll almost always have better quality.
Q: Should you get a third-party Nintendo Switch dock?
Generally speaking, you have very little to worry about when it comes to third-party Nintendo Switch docks. Naturally, you want to avoid cheap docking stations as these may not deliver the proper amount of power to the Nintendo Switch or worse, brick your console. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. We have a list of thebest Nintendo Switch docksif you’re interested!
If you’re trying to save a buck, I suggest going with a pre-owned Nintendo Switch dock. I say pre-owned because refurbished implies the hardware was repaired at some point.
Q: What does your Nintendo Switch come with?
The original Nintendo Switch as well as the OLED model include:
