The Nintendo Swap 2 is presently the featherweight champion of gaming handhelds—although largely as a result of no one can enter its weight class. No different gadget of its measurement—whether or not it’s a handheld PC or one other retro gadget—can slip so simply right into a backpack with out weighing you down, such as you’re lugging a sack of bricks round by way of each practice station and airport terminal. That slim design comes with its personal heap of drawbacks. The Swap 2 is a skinny gadget with slender edges that tends to dig into your palms. I’ve tried a smorgasbord of assorted circumstances with the Swap 2, however solely Dbrand’s Killswitch case has reinvented the console’s ergonomics and stored it usable. The case tacks on additional bulk to Nintendo’s design, making it additional comfy and additional heavy. Till higher alternate options come alongside, the Killswitch is how I plan to sport with my Swap 2 going ahead, even when my arms and again will complain later. Dbrand Killswitch Case for Swap 2 The Killswitch case is one of the best we have used to vary the Swap 2 ergonomics, however on the expense of straightforward docking to a TV. Execs Makes the Swap 2 extra comfy to carry Journey cowl feels safe Magnetic sport card holder is a good contact Cons Dock attachment makes taking part in on TV more durable Swap 2 turns into heavier with the slip-on Pleasure-Con covers Dbrand’s Killswitch was one of many extra well-liked covers for units like Steam Deck. Valve’s handheld is a extra ergonomic gadget than Nintendo’s, and the Killswitch merely extends the grips for bigger arms whereas defending the gadget’s again and facet plates. The model made for Swap 2 upends the look, weight, and really feel of Nintendo’s new handheld. When you wrap the case across the Swap 2’s display screen and every particular person Pleasure-Con 2, the hand held all of the sudden looks like one thing you’ll really wish to maintain. The case lets your center fingers sit on a shelf whereas your pointer digits deal with the set off and bumper buttons. The feel for every rubberized Pleasure-Con 2 cowl retains your arms from slipping off. With the Pleasure-Con 2 controllers indifferent, I didn’t must wrap my finger lengthwise across the SR button or mouse sensor like I sometimes do with out the case.
The one draw back is that the Pleasure-Con 2 covers don’t sit fully flush with the controllers. For the reason that controllers are extra side-heavy, you’ll need the covers to make straightforward use of mouse controls. The Pleasure-Con 2’s slim design doesn’t enable for a cushty, ergonomic really feel in mouse mode. With the grips on the Killswitch, my fingers discovered a way more amenable place whether or not I used to be swiping on my sofa’s armrest or the top desk in entrance of me. The additional Traveler add-on Dbrand Killswitch case for Swap 2 features a case that attaches by way of a bungee twine. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo By itself, the $60 Killswitch case makes the Swap 2 a lot bulkier than it’s usually. It’s so large, it received’t match into the official dock. The package comes with an additional dock adapter you slip over the dock’s USB-C port. To hook the Swap 2 as much as a TV, it is advisable to hover the hand held’s uncovered USB port over the male USB-C finish and eyeball your unit till you’ll be able to line it up appropriately. It’s a clumsy solution to repair an issue created by the case itself. You’ll be able to maintain the principle plate off the Swap 2 should you intend to dock as you’d usually. In case you do, be sure you don’t adhere the kickstand protector to the hand held. Even that small piece of plastic makes the Swap 2 too thick to suit into the dock. That additionally means should you plan to be touring with the dock to a buddy’s home, it is advisable to take the dock adapter, too. If you’ll be operating round with the Swap 2, you’ll additionally wish to go for the $80 Journey model of the case that comes with a big plastic cowl and magnetically hooked up sport card holder. The duvet makes use of a bungee twine to wrap across the Killswitch case to carry every little thing in place, although you’ll must unlatch it to entry the Swap 2’s backside USB-C port. The sport card bandolier held onto my playing cards regardless of how a lot it tumbled round in my backpack, although the magnets could also be nearly too robust, because it takes finger-straining pressure to take away it from the quilt. The Dbrand Killswitch case contains an adhesive cowl to the kickstand. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo You’ll be able to take away the sport card holder from the quilt, although it takes slightly extra effort than you might assume. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo All collectively, the Killswitch case makes the Swap 2 really feel extra comfy to carry for longer. It additionally makes the gadget really feel heavier, greater than should you had merely caught your gadget right into a slim, felt-lined case. I haven’t had the chance to take a look at Nintendo’s official $40 Carry Case & Display Protector or the corporate’s $85 All-In-One case. As of scripting this web page, so as to get one, you need to register your curiosity with Nintendo, then hope you get referred to as as much as be the primary to go hands-on. Fortunately, you’ve got so many choices should you would like one thing lighter. I’ve obtained $20 circumstances from each Snakebyte and Energy-A for testing. If yow will discover them in inventory, both one will serve you effectively with sturdy covers. Every has sufficient area for 10 sport playing cards apiece.
If it weren’t for the necessity for a dock adapter, the Killswitch can be a straightforward case to suggest. The dock has induced havoc with different accent makers’ case designs. Genki additionally despatched me its $50 Assault Vector case and grips, which may have made Nintendo’s new console extra ergonomic while not having a case. In that point, each I and different early customers shortly recognized a difficulty the place the Assault Vector matches too cosy contained in the dock. This might doubtlessly injury the display screen should you pressure it down too laborious into the slot. In an e-mail, Genki associated this to “production-related points” and mentioned it was engaged on a brand new model to deal with these issues. We’ll should revisit Genki’s various one other time. The Dbrand Killswitch case alongside different slim circumstances from Snakebyte and Energy-A. © Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo In case you’re really eager to guard your gadget, you’ll additionally want a display screen cowl. Nintendo’s Swap 2 comes inventory with a skinny plastic movie over the glass display screen. Whereas that is designed to stop your Swap 2’s show from shattering right into a thousand tiny items, it additionally leaves the gadget extra scratch-prone than different, comparable units. It was the identical downside with the show on the Swap OLED, which additionally used this plastic movie. You’re higher off discovering a display screen protector in your Swap 2, and I’ve already tried a number of so you will get an thought which one is finest.
Genki despatched alongside its $20 Aegis Protect protector, whereas Dbrand offered us with its $35 Prism 2.0 ($20 should you purchase it alongside the Killswitch). Each provide very comparable plastic plates that can assist you line up the display screen protector with the Swap 2 show. You solely want to wash the display screen with a microfiber fabric and alcohol wipes, plant the plastic piece over the console, after which pull the slip of plastic movie again to disclose the precise display screen protector. Each work effectively sufficient, however relying on how straight you pull again on the inner protector, you should still be left with air bubbles it is advisable to manually squeegee out. Excessive-end equipment inevitably make the $450 Swap 2 value extra. Simply keep in mind, cheaper circumstances aren’t essentially worse. If you would like a light-weight console, you’ll desire a case that’s extra mundane.
