Read This Before Buying Switch Accessories, You Can Save a Lot

When you first get a Switch or want to add some accessories after playing for a while, the easiest pitfall is buying a bunch of unused accessories. Especially being misled by e-commerce images and review videos, only to find that they don't match your usage habits at all. Here are a few real problems encountered.

Protective Cases and Carrying Cases, Don't Just Look at Looks

Many people's first reaction when choosing a protective case is "it looks good." But some hard case designs can scratch the edges of the console, especially transparent acrylic ones. After a few months of use, you remove it and find the back panel full of fine scratches. More common is that after putting on the case, it can't fit into the dock, forcing you to remove it every time you play, and after a while you just don't want to use it.

The pitfalls of carrying cases are even more practical. Many cases can hold the Switch console, controllers, and charger, but the zipper head presses against the joystick, causing drift after being stored for a while. If you often take it out, it's best to choose a case with a recessed design in the joystick area.

Screen Protector: Don't Ignore the Oleophobic Coating

Tempered glass screen protectors are basically necessary, but the problem with cheap ones is that the oleophobic coating has a short lifespan, turning into a fingerprint magnet after a month. Also, some protectors are not precisely sized, causing lifting edges or pressing on the screen edges. If you have friends who often play action games in Switch game recommendation scenarios, with frequent touch screen operations, the quality of the protector directly determines the experience.

Controller Trade-offs: Official vs Third-Party

The Pro controller feels great, but the price is high. Third-party controllers are cheaper, but they come with many problems. One is poor gyroscope accuracy, with noticeable drift in aiming games. Another is incompatible wake-up function, requiring you to press the switch on the controller to reconnect each time. Some third-party controllers have mushy button feedback, feeling soft, and are not suitable for two-player Switch games that require quick reactions.

If you only play together occasionally, a pair of Joy-Cons plus an adapter can suffice. But if you play three to four hours daily, just go for a Pro controller for peace of mind.

Memory Cards and Charging Docks Are Often Overlooked

Many people only look at capacity when buying memory cards, but read/write speed determines game loading times. Buying game cartridges doesn't require much capacity, but if you mainly play digital games or like to download demos from Nintendo's recommended game list, U3 or even V30 level cards are important. Slow cards will noticeably take a few seconds longer to load open-world games, which is quite torturous over time.

The same goes for charging docks. Although cases of third-party docks damaging consoles are rare now, some cheap ones have unstable power supply, which can damage the battery if left plugged in for a long time. If you buy an extra charging dock for the bedroom or office, an official dock or a certified one is safer.

How to Determine Which Accessories Truly Suit You

Before buying accessories, think clearly about your usage frequency and scenarios. For example:

  • Often take it out: Hard shell case, portable dock, high-capacity power bank are more practical.
  • Mostly at home connected to TV: Third-party Pro controller, wired network adapter are enough.
  • Often play with roommates or friends: Keep two extra controllers in different colors for easy identification.

If you like playing games from indie game recommendations, many don't require intense operations, so the reliance on accessories isn't that high. But for those AAA titles that pursue graphics and frame rates, investing in a good controller and stable network is worthwhile. To pick more specific games, you can check player feedback in game rankings or game encyclopedias, and also learn which accessories have high reviews in actual use.

In Summary

The Switch accessory market is vast, but the useful ones are only a few directions: only buy what matches your play style and scenarios, don't be fooled by discounts and packaging. After wasting money, spending real gold on games, membership, and finding people to play with is more worthwhile.