5 Unique Gadgets to Upgrade Your Nintendo Switch

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It seems like just yesterday that Nintendo launched the Nintendo Switch, becoming one of the hottest brands in the gaming industry. Since it’s been a while, and especially considering that the Switch 2 was released, it can seem like the days of the original Switch are over. However, this is not necessarily true; The original Switch is still worth buying for any gaming enthusiast, and while you won’t get Switch 2-level performance upgrades, you can improve your overall experience with handy gadgets and accessories like controller stands, organizers, and adapters.

Much like the Nintendo Wii before it, the Switch has received extensive third-party support in the form of various accessories. Rather than improving the console’s processing power or graphical fidelity, they can make the system a little easier to use in general, as well as better suited to certain types of games, like using plastic grips for “Nintendo Switch Sports” or a pistol grip for “Doom.” All of these accessories are readily available for purchase on Amazon, where shoppers have given each of them a cumulative rating of four out of five stars.

One of the biggest selling points of the Switch family of consoles is that you can pick it up and take it with you anywhere. This is fine if you’re just taking the bus, but if you want to take your Switch to a friend’s house, you still need to bring the entire dock setup with you to plug it into a TV. If you think that’s a little too complicated, make things a little easier with the PDOBQ Portable Switch TV Adapter, available on Amazon for $18.89.

This adapter is intended to replace a Switch dock, allowing you to plug both an HDMI cable and power adapter into the console so you can easily install it under a TV. The obvious difference is that the adapter is small enough to fit in your pocket, so you don’t need an entirely separate case to carry your dock if you want to plug your Switch into somewhere other than your home TV. It also has multiple outputs, including HDMI and USB-A, allowing it to connect to most TVs, displays, projectors, etc.

This portable adapter is marked as an Amazon’s Choice product at the time of writing, with buyer support to the tune of 4.4 out of five stars. One Amazon user said they used it as a complete replacement for their standard Switch dock, liking how easy it was to travel with. Another user had similar praise, liking how easy it is to take a trip with your kids, while cautioning that it requires a standalone power adapter, as one isn’t provided.

Unlike the Switch 2, which supports built-in voice chat thanks to the small mic hole on the top, the original Switch can’t handle voice chat on its own, instead relegating the job to the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app. It’s a bit of a tricky setup, but it can be made much less annoying if you have a good headset to keep things clear and connected. If you’re in the market, try the PDP Gaming Airlite headset, available on Amazon for $24.99.

This wired headset is officially licensed by Nintendo for use with the Switch, Switch OLED, and Switch Lite, both as a standard pair of headphones and as a voice chat mic. It features 40mm drivers that deliver loud, clear sound, a built-in volume control, and a flexible noise-cancelling mic that can be turned off by simply flipping it. You can plug it into your Switch for comfortable listening, or plug it into your phone to use the mic with the Switch Online app’s voice chat on games like “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” or “Splatoon 3.”

These headphones have a rating of 4.5 out of five, as well as an Amazon’s Choice badge from Amazon itself. One Amazon user praised the audio quality of the device, while adding that they wish it had a wireless option.

In 2022, Nintendo launched “Nintendo Switch Sports”, a spiritual successor to the beloved “Wii Sports”, in which players can use their Joy-Cons to participate in a variety of simulated sporting events. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with using Joy-Cons like they are for these games, the right kind of accessory could help you get a little more into gaming. If you want Joy-Con accessories, you can get a variety of them in the BRHE Nintendo Switch Sports Accessory Bundle, available on Amazon for $36.99.

This accessory kit, specially sized for original Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons, consists of a variety of grips and supports for your controllers featuring sports equipment, all corresponding to one of the “Nintendo Switch Sports” events. You have tennis rackets, golf clubs, grips for volleyball, waders for football and even sword grips for chambara. All of these accessories are soft, lightweight and ergonomic, so you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself or damaging anything while using them.

“Nintendo Switch Sports” fans have given this pack a 4.5 out of five stars. One Amazon user loved having the kit to play the game with family, especially since the game itself only comes with one thigh strap. Another Amazon reviewer noted that some of the accessories are a bit flimsy, but still had an overall positive impression, especially regarding the price.

Something you quickly learn with your first gaming console is that keeping it and its accessories organized can be a headache. Naturally, the Switch is no exception to this, requiring you to keep track of the console itself, its controllers, its game cartridges and their boxes, and potentially more. If you need to bring some order to this chaotic mess, try the Kytok Switch Organizer Station, available on Amazon for $25.99.

This nifty station is your one-stop shop for Switch organization. It has a front stand for your Switch and its dock, space behind to store 16 game cases, two holders for traditional controllers next to the Type-C charging ports, and 12 notches for displaying individual game cartridges. It’s not only a convenient way to organize your Switch and its associated gear, it’s also a convenient charging station for your Joy-Cons. The top panel has four slide-out slots for Joy-Cons, and with the press of a button they can all be charged separately from those connected to the Switch. It’s a perfect way to keep Joy-Cons stocked during a party without having to plug them into the console one after the other.

Switch users have rated this useful organizer a 4.7 out of five, with Amazon also having an Amazon’s Choice badge. One person on Amazon liked both the organizer’s ease of assembly and how it looks nice in an entertainment center without taking up too much space. Another Amazon user gave similar praise, although cautioning that the dock stand doesn’t lock it in place, so you have to be careful not to jostle it.

A certain subset of games available for the Nintendo Switch support gyroscopic aiming when playing with the Joy-Cons. When playing games like “Doom” or “Borderlands 2,” it’s both a good way to maintain your aim instead of using controllers and a generally nice way to immerse yourself. Of course, holding a Joy-Con doesn’t exactly feel like holding a gun, but you can remedy that with the GH Joy-Con Gun Controller, available on Amazon for $15.99.

This ABS plastic rifle holder has two slots sized for the original Joy-Cons. Simply insert them and you have a realistic-touch gun, perfect for playing first-person shooters like “Doom” or rail shooters like “The House of the Dead: Remake.” The stands don’t hide the Joy-Con buttons, so you can still navigate the menus easily. As an added benefit, the middle of the controller has a lockable case in which you can store up to four Switch game cartridges.

If you want a more realistic gun experience for your Switch games, this controller is a solid choice with a rating of four out of five. Several users enjoy the feel of using this controller when playing shooter games, although one user in particular lamented that it doesn’t support left-handed users.

Even though the Switch is no longer in its prime, it still has a lot of fun to offer and buyers still want quality accessories to go with it. To ensure this quality, we focused on accessories for the original Nintendo Switch, base and OLED models, available for purchase on Amazon with a user rating of at least four out of five stars.