The best accessories for Nintendo Switch 2020: charger, memory card

The Nintendo Switch has been a great success since its launch in March 2017. The console, which has sold nearly 56 million units (more than Nintendo 64 and GameCube). set), has been difficult to find for much of his life. If you’ve had a Switch in your hands, it’s a good idea to pair it with some key accessories. We have compiled the most important ones below, and they generally fall into one of two categories.

The first are accessories that improve the use of the Switch, such as a battery that can extend its life up to 12 hours, so you can play during a full transcontinental flight. The second are accessories that keep your Switch protected while you’re on the go, like a case that has slots for your games and a pocket for other accessories.

All accessories in our guide will work with the original Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite, so you don’t have to worry about replacing one with the other. If you are looking for a way to download Switch games faster, or connect your system to a pair of wireless headphones, you will find what you are looking for here.

If you’re a new Nintendo Switch owner and need help finding the right games, we’ve got a guide to the best available right now.

1. A microSD card

If you plan on maintaining a fully digital game library, the Switch’s 32GB of internal storage will quickly fill up. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild It takes up 13.4GB of space on its own. Fortunately, you can easily add storage to the Nintendo Switch by placing a MicroSD card in the slot perfectly tucked behind its kickstand.

We recommend this 256GB MicoSD from SanDisk, due to my personal experience with it. The card worked perfectly for two years (no corrupted data, no lost save files, no game freezes or random lags) until I upgraded to the 400GB version without running out of space.

Using a MicroSD card will not replace the built-in internal storage on your Switch, it will only add more.

2. A case

The main feature of Nintendo Switch is that it is a portable and home game console. It’s designed to be carried everywhere, which is great, but that increases your chances of getting damaged in a backpack while traveling or traveling.

The AmazonBasics carrying case is designed to fit comfortably on your Nintendo Switch, so it won’t move in transit. The case comes with a soft inner cover that protects the screen of the Switch and a mesh pocket large enough to hold a power adapter. The inner cover of the box also has 10 Nintendo Switch cartridge slots, so you can easily carry your library of physical games with you.

3. A screen protector

Keeping your Switch in a case on the go is great, but a screen saver can protect your most vulnerable area while you play.

The InvisibleShield screen protector is made from a material called “Glass +”, which the company says is stronger than normal glass at the molecular level. The protector is oil resistant (read: no fingerprints) and uses tabs that make it easy to apply without creating air bubbles. The use of a screen protector is not an absolute guarantee against damage if your Switch is dropped, but adding a layer of physical protection on top of your screen will reduce the odds significantly.

4. A large battery

The Switch is the first Nintendo console to charge via USB-C, which means you can plug it into an external battery for power if you can’t find an outlet.

AUKEY’s USB-C Power Bank contains 26,800 mAh (milliamps) of electricity, and its USB-C PD (Power Supply) port has a maximum output of 60W (Watts). This battery pack was specifically designed to charge high-powered devices like the Switch, and the results are quite impressive. AUKEY says you can get up to 12 hours of additional playtime by plugging in the console when this battery is fully charged.

Keep in mind the game you’re playing, and the volume, WiFi, and brightness settings on your system screen will affect the amount of extra game time you actually get. Still, the Switch’s battery gets 3.5 to 5 hours of playtime per charge, so this power bank can easily double it.

AUKEY’s battery can also be used to charge other technology, such as your smartphone, tablet, or even a laptop. It may be bigger and heavier than the pocket power banks you’re used to, but it’s much more capable.

5. A fast charging power adapter

USB-C charging compatibility opens the door to the use of third-party fast chargers with the Switch. RAVPower’s 61-watt USB-C charger can fill the console’s battery faster than the power adapter Nintendo ships with the console. You can use any USB-C cable to connect the Switch to this power adapter, but we recommend this Anker braided nylon cable because it is more durable.

As a bonus, the RAVPower USB-C charger is small enough to easily fit in the mesh accessory pocket inside the AmazonBasics Nintendo Switch case. If you’re traveling with a Switch, this is a must-have accessory.

6. A Bluetooth audio adapter

Nintendo Switch is Bluetooth compatible (this is how the system connects to your Joy-Con controllers when they are not connected), but does not allow you to pair the console with wireless audio devices.

The UGreen transmitter fits into the headphone jack of the Switch and sends a wireless signal allowing you to connect the console to the Bluetooth headphones and speakers. UGreen says that you can connect this adapter with two pairs of headphones simultaneously, but warns that this adapter cannot be used if the Switch is connected to your TV with the official Nintendo Switch Dock.

7. An Ethernet adapter

Nintendo Switch can download games via WiFi, but if you have a choppy wireless network or want to get your games faster, you’ll need to connect your console directly to a cable modem or WiFi router. Wired connections are more stable and faster than wireless, although the speed you get will depend on the internet plan you have subscribed to.

There are a handful of Nintendo Switch Ethernet adapters, but this one from HORI is the only one officially licensed by Nintendo. It has a USB-A connector on one end and an Ethernet port on the other. To use the adapter, connect it to one of the USB-A ports on your Nintendo Switch dock, and connect an Ethernet cable from your cable modem or WiFi router to this adapter.

You can check if Nintendo Switch is using the adapter in the network settings of the system. If not, try disconnecting and reconnecting the adapter and turn off the WiFi. If you are frustrated by the time it takes to get your digital games from Switch, this adapter is the solution.