Fitting out my original Nintendo Switch with a “grip” style case that changed the in-hand shape of the console while adding handy features, in this case the debut effort from CRKD, was almost life-changing. As svelte and sleek as the Switch family of consoles are, they’re not always the most ergonomic for long stretches of portable gaming.
The Switch 2, at least for me, has been largely an improvement in terms of handheld feel. It retains the same overall shape and even thickness, but the slight uptick in length and height has been enough that I hadn’t explored an alternative before now. Enter Belkin’s new Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Grip, which promised moderately better portable comfort that doesn’t drastically change the handheld experience but does add one crucial boon – more power.
When I travelled from Melbourne to Los Angeles for Summer Game Fest recently, I very quickly discovered the limitations of the Switch 2’s internal battery. It’s not quite as dire as a few of the PC-based gaming handhelds out there, but it was far from enough to get me through a long-haul flight. Not surprising given the performance on-board, and not an indictment, just something that Switch 2 owners have to face.
That’s where this new bit of Belkin gear comes in, as its main selling point is an included 30W, 10,000mAh Belkin portable power bank that attaches magnetically to the back of the grip case. With that much extra juice, you can charge the Switch 2’s 5,220mAh battery almost two times over, turning the 2-6 hour play window into something much more feasible for especially long commutes. Now, with modern airline rules around power banks that may not actually help you on a 14-hour leg to LA, but that’s a matter between you and your chosen flight facilitator.
It’s about as elegant as Belkin could reasonably achieve, the power bank holding magnetically but still needing to be plugged into the USB-C ports at the top or bottom of the Switch 2 to transport its lithium ion-based energy to the console. I’d love to see wireless charging make its way to whatever revised version of the Switch 2 that Nintendo is cooking for the future, but this is what we get for now. The power bank does, of course, introduce some additional heft to the whole unit, but because it’s so easy to pop on and off that’s only a concern when you need it – and some may even appreciate the amended centre of gravity in certain positions.
But that’s far from the whole story when it comes to this charging grip. This thing also serves as a handheld console grip in its own right, as evidenced by the ability to purchase it sans power bank, as an alternative. This isn’t something on the level of the CRKD grips though, mainly adding some extra comfort and stability to the Joy-Con 2 controllers without getting in the way of the console’s usual functions. To that end it comes in three separate parts, the individual Joy-Con grips and a very basic backplate for the main part of the machine.
The backplate is there to facilitate that magnetic power bank attachment and create a flush surface with the two grips, and little else. With that in mind, Belkin has ensured it’s still fully compatible with the Switch 2’s standard dock and even has a cutout section to allow the original kickstand to flip out as normal. It’s essentially just a piece of thin plastic, and feels somewhat thin in places, but it’s really just there to facilitate the Joy-Con grips and the power bank.
The grips are much more interesting, moulded to make the Joy-Con 2 controllers feel more like two sides of a traditional game controller. They snap on super easy, with each Joy-Con simply sliding in and then the release button at the back sliding through an opening to keep it all secure. These wound up being a bit of a game-changer for me as the added girth and height allowed me to do something I’ve always struggled immensely to do with a naked Joy-Con – press the + and – buttons. Seriously, trying to pause or open a map or anything with a separated Joy-Con has always been a losing fight where my whole hand has to move upwards to then stretch my thumb back down to the necessary button, like an advanced class in palm yoga. These grips solved that right away.
They also provided another, perhaps unintended, benefit that I’ve come to appreciate immensely, and that’s lifting the Switch 2 off the ground ever so slightly when they’re attached and the kickstand is in use. It means I can comfortably leave the Joy-Con controllers attached but prop the Switch 2 on a tray table or bench, rest my arms in front of me and play that way. This has been very useful for use on the plane where I feel like an idiot hunched over the console on my lap in those cramped quarters but don’t feel like playing with the controllers detached.
Used the way god intended, in a handheld position, the grip elevates the Switch 2’s comfort levels a great deal. It’s a change in weight distribution as well as where your palms and fingers naturally rest that’s just chef’s kiss, whether you’re playing with the magnetic power bank attached or not. I did notice that the Joy-Con 2 controllers feel oddly less secured to the console than they normally do, which may be down to the very small amount of added weight behind them, and it certainly wasn’t enough to be concerning.
The real question is whether or not this bit of kit is worth the $149.95 price tag that Belkin is asking. Without the battery, the grip can be purchased separately for $49.95, meaning it’s a clear $100 premium for the power bank, which is about what you’d expect to pay for an equivalent bank that Belkin markets for the Switch 2, sans magnetic mounting. So that’s decent. I’m not quite convinced the fairly simply, plastic grip makes a solid case (heh) for the remaining $50, but it has added a decent bit of value to my handheld gaming sessions, so I wouldn’t be too upset had I parted with a crisp pineapple for it.
The biggest knock on the Belkin Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Grip is, quite simply, that my Switch 2 no longer fits in the Belkin case I’ve been using for it. If all you’re looking for is a better portable power solution, you might be more interested in Belkin’s Charging Case Pro for Nintendo Switch 2. which packs in an equivalent power bank but swaps the grips for a really nice carry case. Otherwise, to best make the Charging Grip work you might need a slightly larger sling bag or something to that effect. Would you believe Belkin sells that, too? (I promise these aren’t sponsored links.)
Review product supplied by Belkin.
Great
- Magnetic power bank is a must-have for travel
- Joy-Con grips are game-changing
- Still fits the standard dock and the kickstand is still usable
- Easy to snap on and off
Not great
- The grip and back plate don't exactly feel like $50 worth
- Doesn't fit in Belkin's regular carrying cases, if you have one
Born into the world of video games through SEGA, and in particular Sonic the Hedgehog, Kieron’s gaming tastes now consist of the latest, shiny AAA thing, an indie darling or two, and an embarrassing number of hours of Balatro.