I tested 12 Switch 2 cases and these are the best - The Verge

You mightiness find it benignant of bittersweet to enactment a hard-earned gadget into a protective case. To me, it’s freeing. Using a lawsuit relieves maine of the interest that it volition accumulate tons of small scratches. So, I wasted nary clip investigating cases connected the caller Nintendo Switch 2, and it didn’t instrumentality agelong for maine to find 1 that I deliberation is the best.

I tried respective types of cases connected the Switch 2. I tested flimsy shells that drawback oregon descent onto the Switch 2 to supply a simple, aesthetically pleasing obstruction from scratches to the console and its Joy-Cons. I besides tried slim cases that person 1 job: to support the console erstwhile it isn’t successful use.

I conscionable listed my precocious standards for form-fitting cases made to acceptable the Switch 2 portion it’s successful use. However, the barroom for slim zip-up/clasp cases is lower. They conscionable request to support the console and, ideally, supply immoderate other value, similar a pouch for cables oregon cartridge storage.

As for my favourite case, I didn’t privation to marque immoderate large compromises; I wanted 1 that’s conscionable arsenic bully for handheld mode arsenic erstwhile docked, which is wherefore I deliberation the Dbrand Killswitch is the champion exemplary overall. I published a full reappraisal of the Killswitch, but the skinny is that portion it’s possibly much costly than immoderate whitethorn anticipation to pay, the level of extortion and versatility it offers is worthy the cost.

The champion Switch 2 lawsuit for some handheld and docked play

The slightest costly Killswitch tier costs $59.95 and includes a rear screen for the console and a tiny portion to adhere to its kickstand for a matching style, positive Joy-Con 2 grips, each of which securely latch onto each component. It besides includes a tegument for your hardware. There’s nary portion of the Killswitch that feels similar it’ll incidentally wiggle off. 

Unfortunately, the Switch 2 console lawsuit makes it intolerable to acceptable into the dock. However, Dbrand includes its workaround adapter that fits into it, fundamentally acting arsenic a USB-C extender. It’s a reasonably elegant solution that works arsenic intended. The lone downside is that it leaves your Switch 2’s surface exposed alternatively of concealed by the dock’s integrative wall. It’s a small clunky, but I’m consenting to forgive it due to the fact that it allows the Switch 2 to clasp its docking functionality.

The tier I urge for astir Switch 2 players (especially those who volition often propulsion their console into a bag) is the $79.85 “Travel” tier, which includes a semi-transparent question screen that protects the beforehand of your console during transit, oregon conscionable for safekeeping erstwhile you aren’t utilizing it. The screen fits astir the beforehand of your Killswitch-equipped console, securing astir the backmost with a pugnacious bungee cord latch. This tier besides includes a brace of analog instrumentality grips and a tray that holds 10 Switch cartridges and fits neatly wrong the question cover.

When this station primitively went live, Dbrand was successful the midst of updating its Killswitch truthful that it wouldn’t let the Joy-Con 2s’ magnets to interruption distant without pressing their merchandise buttons. Basically, if you held your Killswitch-equipped Switch 2 parallel to the crushed solely by either of the Joy-Con 2 controllers and springiness it a shake, the full console information was apt to detach, perchance causing superior harm to the console. Dbrand redesigned the Joy-Con 2 grips to hole the issue, and erstwhile buyers tin petition a replacement escaped of charge. Future buyers volition person the Killswitch with the updated, improved grips.

Runner-up

Genki’s Attack Vector lawsuit is akin successful immoderate ways to the Killswitch, arsenic it consists of 3 pieces: 1 that goes astir the console, and 2 pieces that wrapper astir each of the Joy-Con 2 controllers. The $49.99 kit improves connected the Killswitch with swappable modular grips that travel successful 3 sizes to fto you customize however the Joy-Con 2 fits successful your hand. It follows a small, medium, and ample model, with the smallest adding immoderate insignificant ergonomic benefits, and the largest being what large-handed folks volition apt gravitate toward to marque the Switch 2 comfier to hold. Its large, palm-filling grip feels arsenic bully to usage arsenic the Killswitch, but it’s a precise adjacent contention and I’d beryllium smitten to usage either.

However, 1 notable downside with the Attack Vector is that the Joy-Con 2 sleeves tin beryllium pulled disconnected with comparative ease, dissimilar Dbrand’s. Their acceptable is accurate, technically, and they won’t autumn disconnected during mean use. But they’re not arsenic unafraid arsenic I privation them to be.

Also, Genki advertises that you tin support the Attack Vector connected erstwhile you insert your console into the Switch 2 dock, but its motorboat portion doesn’t enactment arsenic intended. Genki addressed complaints connected forums that the lawsuit doesn’t acceptable the console perfectly, and is moving connected a hole that it expects to vessel successful precocious July. It volition vessel a replacement mediate portion to each who person already purchased the case, and those who bargain the lawsuit going guardant volition person the fixed product.

The champion slim, protective Switch 2 cases

Power A’s slim zip-up lawsuit for the Switch 2 is simply a elemental and inexpensive mode to support your console harmless erstwhile you aren’t utilizing it. It’s not a hard case, truthful it won’t past catastrophic damage, but it’s a good prime if you don’t privation to adhd a clump of heft. To that end, it’s 1 of the slimmest cases that I person tried. 

At conscionable $19.99 (half the outgo of Nintendo’s authoritative carrying case), extortion unsocial would beryllium sufficient, but it offers harmless retention for up to 10 Switch cartridges, too. The cartridge holder has a brushed bottommost that protects the screen, and it tin besides fold into a tent, allowing the Switch 2 to remainder against it (the Switch 2 already has a kickstand for this).

This lawsuit doesn’t endure from a antagonistic trait that’s communal among different slim cases (some of which are pricier than PowerA’s): being capable to property connected the Joy-Con 2 joysticks from the outside. Other cases mightiness let your Switch 2 to endure immoderate joystick harm unbeknownst to you, but not this one, arsenic good arsenic the ones listed below.

For $10 much ($29.99), Belkin’s slim case is better-looking than PowerA’s and is made with amended materials. It has a carrying strap, a ample mesh pocket, and a concealed compartment for an Apple AirTag oregon akin Bluetooth tracker, each of which the PowerA lawsuit lacks. Belkin’s lawsuit tin transportation 12 cartridges, and it’s lone somewhat thicker than the PowerA case, apt to compensate for immoderate cables oregon tiny gizmos you mightiness worldly into its pocket. It features heavy grooves to acceptable the Joy-Con 2’s triggers, and its outer ammunition prevents accidental presses connected the joysticks. It comes successful acheronian gray, cream, and a amusive greenish shade.

Belkin sells a $69.99 mentation of its slim lawsuit that features everything supra and includes a 10,000mAh 20W artillery for keeping the Switch 2 charged portion it’s wrong the case. The institution says the artillery tin afloat complaint the console 1.5 times. The artillery results successful a thicker case, and its bespoke compartment lone holds the circumstantial Belkin exemplary that’s included, truthful you won’t beryllium capable to swap successful a different, faster-charging battery. Neither of those whitethorn beryllium deal-breakers for you, but are worthy keeping successful mind.

Runners-up

JSAUX makes a comparatively slim zip-up Switch 2 lawsuit that perfectly pops with color. Expressiveness is its main appeal, arsenic this $25.99 case slouches connected different features you mightiness want. Once it’s opened, each determination is to spot is simply a velcro strap that secures your Switch 2. Underneath it is simply a cloth tray stitched into the lawsuit that tin clasp 12 crippled cartridges. Like the Belkin and PowerA cases, this 1 prevents accidental pressing connected the Joy-Con 2 sticks done its shell. It’s a small excessively airy connected features to urge broadly, and it’s thicker than the different models.

Genki’s $42.99 Sleeper Case is simply a very tough brushed case. Its wool-wrapped ammunition doesn’t person astir arsenic overmuch springiness arsenic different slim cases. Plus, its surface defender tin transportation up to 18 cartridges. However, I dislike however overmuch the Switch 2 moves astir erstwhile you shingle the lawsuit (the acceptable is snug if you person the company’s Attack Vector lawsuit equipped). Notably, Genki’s Neil Trachy, who handles selling and media relations, shared with The Verge that a accumulation mistake whitethorn interaction however good its zipper works successful the agelong run, and that a escaped hole is coming successful precocious July for each who’ve already purchased one. The hole volition beryllium implemented for each aboriginal purchasers of the case. 

“Our Sleeper Case was upgraded to a waterproof zipper past infinitesimal and unbeknownst to our accumulation team, the adhesives utilized were not binding good to the zipper. […] While the lawsuit is inactive stone solid, the anemic constituent volition beryllium the glue that holds it each successful place.”

The champion form-fitting shells for the Switch 2 successful handheld mode

The Killswitch is the champion lawsuit for handheld mode due to the fact that it allows you to region the Joy-Con 2 controllers and includes an adapter to easy link to the dock. Plus, it offers kickstand access.

If you don’t ever plan to link your Switch 2 to its dock oregon detach its Joy-Cons, oregon it’ll beryllium a uncommon occurrence, you mightiness prime an all-in-one ammunition that fits wholly astir the console. It volition support each space of your Switch 2 from dings and scratches, and whitethorn adjacent support it harmless successful the lawsuit of a drop.

The $29.99 Spigen Rugged Armor is simply a suitable option. It fits astir each nook and larboard of the Switch 2, with openings for its speakers and aerial intake. It gets bonus points for fitting astir the edges of the Joy-Con 2 portion providing much pronounced grips, which whitethorn beryllium a boon for those who acquisition manus oregon wrist symptom portion holding the console successful handheld mode. However, arsenic noted, you’ll request to region the lawsuit successful bid to instal the Switch 2 into its archetypal dock.

What’s coming next?

The JSAUX Split Protective Case

This lawsuit features galore of the qualities that I similar astir the Dbrand Killswitch for a batch little ($29.99 versus $59.99), adjacent one-upping it by being capable to acceptable into the Switch 2’s archetypal dock without the request for an adapter. I look guardant to investigating it erstwhile it launches.

The tomtoc Froz Edition slim case

I deliberation my picks for pugnacious zip-up cases are good, but I’m anxious to effort retired tomtoc’s much playful mentation of the slim lawsuit for the Switch 2.

Update, July 17th: Adjusted pricing details arsenic necessary. Also, the Dbrand Killswitch conception notes that the institution has shared details astir its Joy-Con grip fix.