Long story short, before this weekend I had never once used the Nintendo Switch Dock to play my video games on TV. When I first got my Switch, it was because my roommates had our four HDMI ports of our common TV with their shit and I did not intend to dive into it Medusa nest of dusty cords. A year ahead, I moved in with my partner and my dock suddenly became his dock when his original one broke. I was dockless.
That was when my colleague Andrew Liszewski asked who the Genki Covert Dock of Human Things, a small plug intended to act as a small portable Switch dock and charger, I may have had alternative motifs.
The Genki Covert Dock was appealing because this nasty little gadget looked like it could solve several of my problems at once. At first it was small. It measures 2.3 by 1.73 by 1.3 inches, which is no bigger than some of the converter plugs I have used when traveling internationally. As I have written many times in front ofTo, I live in a closet. Space in my Teeny studio apartment comes at a premium, but especially anything that is related to TV. As two independent nerds, my partner and I decided that in our small space we both absolutely needed our own TV to keep the peace. Except when my TV sits on top of a dresser, it barely leaves any room for anything else, inclusive in Switch dock. That’s one of the main reasons I’m not even bothering to buy a replacement dock for myself.
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Second, my partner’s Switch has also been won over time. It’s perfectly fine if not in the Dock, but sometimes it just refuses to produce to the TV, despite in what order the cables are inserted. We’m not quite sure if it’s its USB-C port from its Switch as the USB-C connector on the dock that is to blame – although my sip is the last one. To get it to work, you need to grab its Switch in the dock a few times exactly sa. This is not only annoying, it is also not a permanent solution.
Given that Genki Covert Dock was compact and connected to a Switch via USB-C, this seemed like an easy solution to at least one of these two problems.
The device itself is fairly straight forward. Included in the box is the Covert Dock, a 6-foot USB-C 3.1 cable, and a bunch of adapters for various international outlets. The Covert Dock itself also sports a USB-C port, an HDMI 1.4 port, and a USB-A port. (Note: it does not come with an HDMI cable, so you will need to supply one of your own.) You plug the USB-C cable into the Switch and the HDMI cable into your TV and … that’s it. If you want, you can also charge a third device via the USB-A port, but it is not necessary if you do not want it.
But even though it was easy to figure out, that did not mean that setting things up went completely smoothly. The Covert Dock is actually a plug. That means your cables need to be long enough to reach the TV ports of the walls. This may sound like a “No, duh‘Thing, but even my 10-foot HDMI cable was not very long enough for my setup. I had to fish for a spare extension cord – not a hefty deal, but a bit of attention to cable management. If you’re thinking about using the Covert Dock when traveling – if it’s going to be a thing of the past again – it’s probably a good idea to pack both the longest HDMI cable possible (although warned that longer cables may come with their own problems) than an extension cable. You would think a hotel room would have a lot of outlets and at least one within a few feet of the TV, but I have been a lot to know that this is not always the case.
Once my cables were set up, it was time to plug in my Switch. I did … and all I got was a big bold message saying that the TV could not detect an input signal. I re-checked that everything was connected correctly. It was. I then disconnected everything several times and plugged it in again. Still nothing. I went to good old Google to fix issues, and after reading this Nintendo Support Forum, tried plugging in the HDMI cable for my Switch. It worked! I did not have this problem after the first time, so I can not say if this is a regular problem. That said, you may need to use the very scientific method to loosen up and replug a few times if for some reason nothing appears.
I’ve spent a few hours playing various Switch games on the big screen, and I have to say, I feel pretty stupid for not doing this sooner. Not only was it probably better for my offspring, but it was also nice to see details I had never really noticed when I shook on my little Switch screen. In terms of image quality, the Covert Dock runs at 1080p at 60Hz – or you know what to expect from a Switch.
Out of curiosity, I also visited the Covert Dock with my partner’s wonky Switch. It worked, without any jiggling. Part of me had also hoped that it would work with the Switch Lite, but alas, it does not – so if you are a Lite owner wondering if this is a solution for playing on TV, I regret that you are without happiness. However, you can use it to load the Lite.
However, no review of a third-party Switch dock would be complete without addressing the possibility of brick-grabbing. At the beginning of 2018 there were multiple stories of users who say third-party docks – especially the Nyko dock-hie fried her Switch, to the point where many like careful or try any accessory that is not certified. Anecdotally I can say that I have been playing with the Genki Covert Dock for a few hours and so far my Switch is fine. Sure, the plug gets a long lil after a long session if I have charged my phone at the same time … but my Switch is otherwise good.
For what it’s worth, the chief engineer of Human Things put up a longer division Reddit last year about why some docks were from third-party Switch consoles. The post was picked up by tech media outings, and it is important that the Switch uses an M92T36 Power Delivery chip, which outputs at a maximum of about 6V. Some third-party docks, including Nyko, then found designed PD controllers, which led them to send 9V to the Switch – well above the maximum voltage. You can take this with a grain of salt, but in general, your chances of brick appearing to be higher if a dock is not PD-compatible, does not lack a dedicated PD controller chip, and cuts corners with a cheap USB-C connector . The Human Things site says the Covert Dock “complies with Nintendo Switch and Power Delivery (PD) 3.0 energy standards, and also includes” quality control management. ” Its FAQ states that the Covert Dock will not bake Switch “more than the original dock and charger” and that the company will place more test results ahead.
At $ 75, the Covert Dock is not what I called a cheap accessory – but then the officials Nintendo Switch Dock Set retails for $ 90. (Although, that includes an HDMI cable, while the Covert Dock does not.) Depending on whether you have an additional HDMI cable lying around, you may not save much by opting for the Covert Dock – although the Covert Dock is much, much, much more compact and portable. If you are limited in space as someone who does not like to carry an extra HDMI cable when you are traveling, the Genki Covert Dock is a good option.
As for my partner and I, we are quiet once again. I would like to continue using Covert Dock for my TV. I have experienced the glory. There is no going back. He would love to use it and tackle me over the hot, potentially wonky original dock. Who will win? I’m not sure.
(Me. I will definitely win.)
README
- A small, portable third-party Nintendo Switch dock
- Has a USB-C port, HDMI port, and a USB-A port
- Can charge an additional device while you gamble
- Did not bake my Switch!
- Because it’s a plug, you really need to think about your layout and whether you have a long enough HDMI cable or an extension cable
- Not cheap at $ 75 … but cheaper than Nintendo’s official $ 90 dock
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