The Best Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite Accessories for 2023

Sep 23, 2023

We’ve gone through this guide to make sure everything we recommend is in stock, and we still stand by all of our picks.

The Nintendo Switch's flexibility is a large part of what makes it great. It's a handheld console. It's a living room console! It has a kickstand! But it doesn't come with everything you need, and a lot of the Switch accessories you can buy are junk. We’ve researched and tested dozens of Switch and Switch Lite accessories across all kinds of categories—cases, controllers, microSD cards, stands, and more—to find the things that are actually worth spending your money on.

This is crystal-clear, bubble-free, and scratch-resistant, and you get two protectors in the box in case you mess up installation.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.

Aside from the size, this three-pack of protectors is identical to the one for the bigger Switch.

A three-pack of the same screen protector for the Switch OLED.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.

The original Switch and Switch Lite's screen is made of plastic and it scratches easily, making a screen protector a smart investment. The OLED Switch screen is made of glass, and it comes out of the box with an anti-scattering adhesive film that Nintendo advises to leave on. That film isn't enough to protect the screen from shattering or scratching, so we also recommend a screen protector for the OLED model. The super-affordable amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch—and the versions for the Switch Lite and Switch OLED—cover the entire screen and are as scratch resistant as any other screen protector we’ve tested. The glass is crystal clear and free of bubbles, and fingerprints wipe right off. Installation on the Switch is easy, and amFilm includes all the necessary cleaning tools to prep your screen. Perhaps best of all, you get two protectors in the box (or three, for the Switch Lite and OLED version), so even if a speck of dust sneaks under the glass on your first attempt at installation, you get another shot.

—Dan Frakes and Nick Guy

This microSD card is fast, consistent, and reasonably priced. It's good for phones, tablets, game consoles, and more.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $26.

If you plan to download most of your Switch games, the 32 GB of storage inside a standard Switch console will run out quickly; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, for example, devours 13.4 GB all by itself. We recommend buying the 128 GB SanDisk MicroSDXC card for Nintendo Switch to give yourself more room. The microSD card is speedy, and at a typical price of around $25, or less than 20¢ per gigabyte, the SanDisk is one of the most cost-effective cards you can buy.

That said, any brand-name microSD card with a speed class of at least U1 or better will be fast enough for the Switch—Samsung's Evo Select cards are a bit cheaper than the SanDisk and not much slower. Because you’re not writing to the card much when you’re actually playing a game, you won't notice the difference as much as you would with a smartphone or camera. If you see any 128 GB card for much less than $20 (or a 256 GB card for much less than $40), go ahead and buy it instead.

—Andrew Cunningham

The Switch Pro Controller is more comfortable to grip than the Joy-Cons for long gaming sessions. It's very similar to the Xbox One controller in shape, and it supports motion controls and Amiibo scanning.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.

The Joy-Con grip that comes with the Switch makes the two Joy-Cons into a decent controller, but if you’re planning to play a lot of Mario or Zelda, you owe it to yourself to buy Nintendo's Switch Pro Controller. It's a wireless controller similar to Microsoft's Xbox One controller, and its joysticks, face buttons, shoulder buttons, and triggers are all more comfortable and satisfying than the ones on the Joy-Cons, especially for long play sessions. It also supports all the same motion controls and Amiibo scanning features as the Joy-Cons, for the games that need it. It costs between $60 and $70, which is a little expensive, but if you play lots of single-player games with the Switch in its dock, it's definitely worth it.

—Andrew Cunningham

This wireless controller works great for Smash Bros., and unlike the original GameCube controller, it has all the buttons and triggers you need to play other Switch games like it's 2001.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.

Nintendo's GameCube controller, originally released back in 2001, is still popular among fans of the Super Smash Bros. series—so much so that you can get a USB-to-GameCube adapter and Smash-branded GameCube controllers. But if you don't want to deal with all those wires—or if you want a GameCube-style controller with all the extra buttons you’ll need to play other Switch games—we like PowerA's GameCube-style wireless controller.

It's still missing a few things compared with the Pro Controller, including an internal rechargeable battery (it uses AA batteries), vibration support, and an NFC scanner for Amiibo. But it looks and feels almost identical to a regular GameCube controller, so much so that my friends who play Smash with a GameCube controller don't really notice a difference. And it's easy to navigate the Switch's menus and take screenshots, just like you can with the Pro Controller or Joy-Cons.

— Andrew Cunningham

The PowerA Comfort Grip feels better and is easier to hold than the grip that comes with Switch.

May be out of stock

PowerA's officially licensed Comfort Grip is a fantastic upgrade to the Joy-Con grip that comes with the Switch. The PowerA version adds rubberized handles, and the grip is slightly wider, which makes holding the controller more comfortable. There have been some complaints that the Joy-Cons don't fit properly and can get scuffed when inserting them into the Comfort Grip, but we didn't run into any issues. On the contrary, our sample seemed perfectly made for the Switch controllers.

—John Higgins

There's nothing flashy about the FastSnail grips, but they’re more comfortable to hold than the Joy-Cons on their own.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $13.

If you find playing with the Joy-Cons in a horizontal position difficult or uncomfortable due to their small size, adding a grip can help. The FastSnail Joy-Con Grips are the best we've found for average to large hands. The SL and SR buttons are big and located so that they fall directly under your index fingers while holding the grip; they feel a bit flimsy but are far better than trying to press the small buttons on the Joy-Con or on the included Joy-Con straps. The other grips we tested were smaller than the FastSnail, didn't help with the tiny SL and SR buttons, and weren't any easier or more comfortable to use than the controller on its own.

—John Higgins

This nifty charger handles two controller sets and plugs directly into your Switch dock.

May be out of stock

Your Joy-Con controllers recharge whenever they’re attached to the Switch while it's docked, but if you have extra controllers for family and friends, it can be a hassle to keep swapping Joy-Cons for charging. The PowerA Joy-Con Charging Dock connects to one of the Switch dock's USB charging ports and charges two pairs of Joy-Con controllers while taking minimal space (3.8 by 2.3 inches). The Charging Dock feels solid, with a weighted base that has an integrated cable wrap to minimize clutter. The controllers slide smoothly on and off the dock's rails, and four LEDs at the top indicate the charging status of each controller. We wish the base were a bit heavier, or the pad on the bottom a bit stickier, to keep the Charging Dock from moving around as much when connecting or disconnecting controllers, but it's been one of our most useful accessories so far.

— Dan Frakes and Nick Guy

A great option if you want to charge a Pro Controller and a set of Joy Cons at the same time.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $25.

If you want to charge one Pro Controller and one set of Joy Cons at the same time, we recommend this version of PowerA's charging dock. The Joy Cons slide on to the back rails of the dock, while the Pro Controller attaches to an included USB-C dongle that clicks into place on the front of the dock. The Joy Cons and the controller have their own LED lights to show the charging status of each piece, and the dock is weighted enough to stay put without toppling over when you interact with it.

—Haley Perry

This compact option can charge your Switch at top speed for a great price, and it even includes a cable.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $27.

If you want to leave the charger that came with your Switch under your TV when you travel, or if you want a spare charger for a Switch Lite, the Nekteck 60W GaN Charger With USB-C to USB-C Cable is a safe and affordable option. Charging performance is the single most important factor in this product category, and the Nekteck charger performs exactly as expected. It also happens to be our favorite USB-C charger for laptops and tablets.

— Andrew Cunningham

Hori offers a simple and easy-to-use stand that holds the Switch securely and barely adds weight to your bag.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $26.

If you want to use your Switch on a table or other hard surface but need more stability than the built-in kickstand provides, or you want to be able to charge it at the same time, you need a stand. After testing four stands, we think that the Hori Compact Playstand for Nintendo Switch is the best choice for most people. It is cheap, light, and simple to set up and use.

Although it's made of plastic, it feels sturdy and is surprisingly strong compared with the other stands we tested. It securely holds the screen in place on the fold-out shelf with two small pegs that fit into the bottom of the Switch and a series of rubberized grips to prevent slipping. The shelf has a cutout so you can still charge the Switch while it's in use, and there's a hole in the base of the stand so you can thread the charging cord through the back.

We tested some metal stands for the Switch, but most of the metal stands we saw advertised as "Switch stands" are just phone or tablet stands that use a folding double hinge to hold up the device. Since these stands are not specifically made for the Switch, they can partially block the exhaust ports on the back, making the Switch run a little hotter than usual. I also felt uncomfortable storing them together in a bag or in the same case since the metal edges of the stand are sharp enough to scratch up the Switch.

—Dan Kim

This is a great option for people who want to use the Switch in handheld mode but don't want to hold it.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $31.

The Tryone Gooseneck Stand attaches to the edge of a table or nightstand and has a flexible neck that lets you place the Switch in a wide variety of viewing positions. While you probably won't be taking this stand on the go, it provided the most comfortable viewing and playing experience out of all the stands we tested. Being able to play Stardew Valley while lying down in bed and not having to sit up or hold the Switch above your head is a magical experience and well worth the slightly higher price.

—Dan Kim

The Tomtoc Slim Case has impeccable construction and good protection for your console, and it won't take up a lot of space in your bag.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $20.

The Tomtoc Slim Case is the best way to take your Switch console on the road. This case features the most robust construction of any case we tested, it's got durable and easy-to-use zippers, and it fits the Switch like a glove. The game flap houses up to eight cartridges and lays over the screen to protect it during transit. The unique molded shape also ensures you’ll always know which side of the case is "up" when you open it. It doesn't have room for the charger or any extra accessories, though.

—Ryan Whitwam

This larger case by Tomtoc is the best option if you want to keep the Switch and a few accessories secure on the go.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $32.

If you need a bit more room for accessories when traveling with your Switch, Tomtoc's larger Switch case is your best bet. It's bulkier than the slim option we recommend above, making it less ideal for storing in backpacks, but the internal compartment is large enough to store an extra set of Joy-Cons, a Pro Controller, and a travel charger. There's also space for 24 game cartridges, and it has a built-in stand that can prop up the Switch so you can play on the go directly from the case.

—Haley Perry

This relatively small case has secure grooves for each component of the Switch system, plus a clever solution to carry 28 game cards at once.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $37.

The Rlsoco Nintendo Switch Deluxe Carrying Case can hold the original Nintendo Switch dock, the console (without Joy-Cons attached), the grip with two Joy-Cons, a Switch Pro Controller, the AC adapter, several Joy-Con straps, the HDMI cable, and 28 cartridges in its nifty section divider. It manages to do this in a package that's just 11.7 by 8.9 by 5.8 inches, with tight internal cavities for each of the larger components, making for a design that keeps each piece secure even if the case is shaken or turned upside down. Smaller components can be stored in mesh pockets or the included mini case (designed for the AC adapter and Joy-Con straps). The case's combination of a hard external shell and included detachable strap means it can be used either over the shoulder for everyday transport or packed safely for more extended travel. Plus, the Rlsoco case doesn't have any visible Nintendo Switch branding that could make its owner a target for theft. Of the 14 large Switch cases we found and four we tested, it's the best for most people. We haven't tested the Rlsoco case for the Switch OLED, dock, and accessories yet.

—Daniel Varghese

This slim case can hold eight game cards and is firm enough to stand up to abuse.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $20.

Like the version for the full-size Switch, Tomtoc's Switch Lite case is slim but tough, and its gray fabric is understated and attractive. It holds up to eight game cards and its flap folds down to protect the Switch's screen, but it doesn't have any kind of storage pouch for headphones, microSD cards, or other small accessories.

—Andrew Cunningham

With space for 19 game cards, two microSD cards, and the Switch Lite's USB-C charger, this is the one to get if you want to hold everything at once.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $17.

It's relatively bulky and plain-looking, but ButterFox's Large Carrying Case for the Switch Lite is the one to get if you want to store a Switch Lite, its bundled USB-C charger, up to 19 game cards and two microSD cards, earbuds, and an extra Joy-Con or two. It's a tight fit when it's fully packed, but it's the only case we tested that can zip shut when packed with the Switch Lite and its charger at the same time.

—Andrew Cunningham

Sleek, comfortable, well-performing, and affordable, the Mark is one of the best tablet styluses we’ve ever used, especially for its price.

Most of the time when you need to use the Switch's touchscreen, your fingers are good enough; Nintendo doesn't include a stylus with the Switch as it does with the 3DS or the Wii U, and most games are designed not to need one. But for some games that benefit from more precise input, such as Super Mario Maker 2, the Adonit Mark is a worthwhile purchase. It works as well with the Switch as it does with iPads and other tablets, it usually costs less than $10, and you should be able to use it with almost any device that has a capacitive touchscreen (including older iPads that can't use an Apple Pencil, Android tablets, and even smartphones).

—Andrew Cunningham

Works as well as Nintendo's official Ethernet adapter for less money.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $16.

Also works just like Nintendo's official adapter, also costs less. Buy whichever is cheaper.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $15.

The Switch OLED includes an Ethernet port on its dock, and the regular Switch and Switch Lite's built-in Wi-Fi work well enough for most people. But for faster and more competitive online games like Splatoon 3 or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a wired Ethernet adapter can reduce lag, increase speeds, and improve the stability of your connection.

Nintendo's officially licensed Gigabit Ethernet adapter is available for around $30, but you shouldn't buy it. Instead, get the Ugreen USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter or TrendNet's USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, whichever is cheaper—they're both based on the exact same chipset, so the Switch recognizes them right away.2 They achieved the same speeds as the official adapter in our testing, and their cables are long enough to allow the door on the back of Nintendo's Switch dock to close, unlike some others we tested. The Ugreen adapter also works fine with Windows 10 and 11, but the TrendNet adapter does not specify compatibility with Windows 11.

Nintendo confirms that you can buy a spare OLED dock and use its built-in LAN port with your regular Switch, but you may need to perform a system update to make them compatible. A spare dock also costs more than an Ethernet adapter, but if you want a new dock for any reason, it's possible to take advantage of the wired connection.

—Andrew Cunningham

The Elite 85h over-ear Bluetooth headphones do nearly everything better than similarly priced competitors.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $216.

Since most gaming headsets don't connect via Bluetooth, and Bluetooth microphones still aren't supported on the Switch, your best option for wireless audio with the Switch is with a regular pair of Bluetooth headphones. We like the Jabra Elite 85h because they sound fantastic out of the box, and they have a long battery life of about 36 hours. But beware that Bluetooth audio on the Switch can have noticeable latency issues, with some users reporting a lag of up to 300 milliseconds—a significant delay that may bother people who play shooters or other games that rely on precise audio.

—Haley Perry

We don't recommend using Switch docks made by companies other than Nintendo. While some of our staff members have had success with third-party docks, many people experience "bricking" (which means the system software becomes irrevocably corrupted and crashes), and Nintendo won't cover these issues if they suspect third-party docks were used.

In March 2018, we removed our section on a spare dock because a Switch software update, version 5.0.0, appeared to break compatibility with USB-C chargers and docks not made by Nintendo. Some users report that these accessories cause the Switch to crash, while others say that they brick the Switch entirely. We haven't experienced further issues with third party USB-C chargers—several Wirecutter employees even use modern Macbook chargers to top off their Switch consoles in a pinch. But Nintendo hasn't said whether a fix for the dock issue is coming, and it told us in a statement that using the official Switch dock is the only way to totally avoid these kinds of problems.

We tested a previous version of the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller, which is a Switch Pro Controller clone that usually costs $20 to $30 less. But compared with the Pro Controller, it felt lighter and cheaper, it didn't vibrate, and it didn't include an NFC scanner for Amiibo. Unlike the previous version, the updated controller includes USB-C charging rather than running on two AA batteries, but the other features are identical. It works fine if you want a cheap wireless gamepad that's more comfortable than the Switch's included Joy-Con cradle, but most people will be better off with the official Pro Controller.

The Nintendo Switch Horipad wired controller is another officially licensed Pro Controller clone, and at $20 it's a good deal if you absolutely need a cheap wired gamepad for multiplayer. But it doesn't vibrate, doesn't include motion controls, doesn't have an NFC scanner for Amiibo, and its removable D-Pad feels mushy and inaccurate compared with the Pro Controller, so it's not great for extended single-player sessions.

Hori's Switch Lite Slim Tough Pouch is firmer than the Nintendo case and can hold 10 game cards as well as some smaller accessories, but it leaves too much room for the Switch Lite to move around when the case is closed. The case is padded, so that movement probably won't damage your system, but we prefer a snugger fit.

The ButterFox Premium Slim Case for the Switch Lite includes almost as much storage as the ButterFox Large Case, and it's a little slimmer and more attractive looking. But it can't close if you try to fit in the Switch Lite and its USB-C charger at the same time. If you’re looking for a single case that can fit everything, the larger case is the way to go; if you’re looking for something slimmer, we prefer the Tomtoc.

Wirecutter Staff

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