The Nintendo Switch Lite drops the dock in favor of a sleeker, handheld-only machine, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need accessories. Out of the box, you’ll have everything you need to get going, but you may soon find that there are a few (or more) accessories that would greatly enhance your Switch Lite gaming experience. If you recently purchased a new Switch Lite or have had one for a while and need to purchase a couple extras, we’ve put together a list of the best accessories on the market.
To help you decide which Switch is right for you, we put together a comprehensive breakdown comparing the Switch to the Switch Lite.
Controllers
If you’re planning on playing local multiplayer or using your Switch Lite as a hands-off display, you’ll need additional Switch controllers.
Pro Controller
Just because you won’t be docking your Switch Lite, it doesn’t mean you won’t want an alternate controller option. The Pro Controller is easily the best Switch controller around. Similar in design to the Xbox One controller, the Pro Controller is ideal for shooters and games that generally have more complex control schemes. We’ve used a Pro Controller in tabletop mode with the original Switch many times and have always enjoyed the experience. You might even be able to get your hands on different color variants like the Xenoblade Chronicles 2 or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate options. There are third-party Pro controllers as well, but we recommend you stick with the Nintendo branded ones, if possible.
Joy-Cons
For local multiplayer sessions, you’re going to need extra Joy-Cons. After all, the Switch Lite doesn’t have detachable controllers like the original Switch. The great thing about Joy-Cons is that you often only need one per person to play multiplayer games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. So you can get away with just buying one pair to play with a buddy.
- Neon Red/Neon Blue
- Gray
- Neon Pink/Neon Green
Carrying cases
Since you’ll probably bring your Switch Lite away from your home, you’ll definitely want a carrying case. That way you can toss it in your backpack without worrying about scratches, dings, or worse.
Nintendo Switch Lite Carrying Case
The officially licensed Nintendo Switch Lite Carrying Case isn’t going to blow you away with bright colors, and it doesn’t have any fancy bells and whistles. But it does get the job done, which might be exactly what you’re looking for. With it being an official Nintendo product, you know it’ll have an extra stamp of quality when compared to some third-party models. This particular version comes with a screen protector, as well. With a reasonable price of under $30, you can’t go wrong with this carrying case.
Butterfox Compact Case
Butterfox’s Switch Lite case is a solid choice. It features a hard-shell exterior for drop protection and a soft microfiber interior, so you can rest easy knowing that your Switch Lite will be safe inside. Though compact, it has all of the features you’d want with a standard carrying case. Attached game card inserts hold up to 19 games and two MicroSD cards. A mesh compartment has room for a USB-C charging cable, earbuds, and other small accessories you want to store. The ButterFox Compact Case comes in solid black and black with various colors running along the zipper, including a turquoise that will match your turquoise Switch Lite.
ProCase Carrying Case
Perhaps style is more your priority. The ProCase carrying case ditches the bright solid colors of many gaming accessories in favor of a more “professional” look. Its lightweight design and microfiber interior make it a great pick for those who want to throw their system in a bag and go. It has slots for five Switch cartridges, to ensure you’ve got your favorite games with you at all times. And if this particular style isn’t for you, there are other options to match the system’s base colors: Gray, yellow, and turquoise.
Grips
Depending on your play style, the Switch Lite’s design might cause your hands to cramp over long sessions. Luckily, there are numerous grips to make holding your system feel more comfortable.
Satisfye grip
The Switch Lite is, as the name suggests, a lightweight version of its older brother, but that doesn’t mean your hands will remain cramp-free during long play sessions. That’s why we recommend the Satisfye grip, which gives you the equivalent of controller handles on either side of the system. What’s more is that it features a built-in stand for tabletop mode, with enough clearance to insert a charger. Combine it with a Pro controller and you’ll be good to go for playing in tabletop mode.
Heatfun grip
This grip will straight up turn your Switch Lite system into a controller by adding handles to either side, courtesy of Heatfun. You’ll have a sturdier grip while using it, and with its simple snap-in design, this option is a must — especially if your hands tend to cramp while playing. What’s even more appealing is its price. You can get this grip in black, turquoise, yellow, or gray for less than $16. It also serves as a protective case for the Switch, so there’s no need to worry if you drop it.
Stands
The Switch Lite doesn’t technically support tabletop mode, one of the three styles of play available to base Switch owners. But you can still mimic tabletop mode with a stand. You’ll need some extra controllers mentioned above to take advantage of local multiplayer, but sometimes you might just want to take a break from holding the Switch Lite when gaming solo.
Adjustable Charging Stand
Nintendo’s charging stand is great for multiple reasons. You can adjust the angle of the display to your liking. Even better, it’s capable of charging your Switch while you game. Simply plug in your AC adapter and you’re good to go.
Meneea Switch Lite Docking Station
Sure, the official Nintendo stand might be hard to pass up, but if you’re looking for something with a more futuristic look, perhaps Meneea’s charging dock is for you. The dock features grooved rubber on the bottom to prevent it from scooting. It charges quickly and even comes in yellow and turquoise to match your system. And for $10, you can’t go wrong with this docking station.
Chargers
Your Switch Lite comes with an AC adapter for charging. The Switch Lite has a better battery life than the original Switch, but not by a lot. The Switch Lite can run for three to seven hours on a full charge. The amount of time you can use your Switch between charges depends on the game or application. If you’re playing small indies, expect to get the higher end of that range. AAA, intensive games (i.e. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) will get closer to the lower end of that range. If you’re home, you can simply plug it in and keep playing. But if you’re out of the house, you might need an alternative charging method.
HORI Car Charger
Officially licensed by Nintendo, HORI’s car charger features a nice 6-foot cable and will charge your console almost as fast as the traditional AC adapter. Unlike some third-party Switch chargers, the battery is powerful enough to recharge while you play.
RavPower Portable Charger
The Switch Lite is built to be a portable machine, so chances are you’ll take it out of your house fairly often. RavPower’s 20100mAh portable charger will fully charge the Switch Lite multiple times before needing a charge of its own. We’ve tried many portable battery packs with the Switch, and RavPower is the best combination of price and performance we’ve gotten our hands on. RavPower’s portable charger will charge while you play.
Nintendo Joy-Con Charging Grip
If you do get an extra pair of Joy-Cons, you’ll have to buy a charger. Unlike other console controllers, Joy-Cons don’t have a common port for charging — or a port at all for that matter. Nintendo’s Joy-Con Charging Grip kills two birds with one stone. It’ll charge your Joy-Cons, and you can use it to turn two Joy-Cons into a more conventional controller.
YCCSKY Charging Station
An alternative Joy-Con charging solution, YCCSKY’s charging station is ideal for those who buy two pairs of Joy-Cons or those who don’t care about the Joy-Con grip. The stand is small and each slot provides a snug fit for one controller.
Memory
The Switch Lite comes with 32GB of onboard storage, but about 6GB of that will be used up by the operating system out of the box, and the rest can disappear in a hurry if you download games from the eShop. Don’t worry. Like the original model, the Switch Lite supports both MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC cards for additional storage space. All Switch Lite owners should invest in a MicroSD card, which pops right in to increase your storage space.
SanDisk Extreme 128GB MicroSDXC
For Prime Day, Amazon offered the SanDisk Extreme lineup MicroSD cards for super low prices. We recommend getting at least 128GB of storage. That way you won’t have to worry about running out of space anytime soon. SanDisk manufactures reliable MicroSD cards, so even if you don’t get one on Prime Day, we recommend sticking with SanDisk. You can usually find a high-capacity card (128GB) for around 30 bucks.
Screen protectors
The Switch Lite’s 5.5-inch screen is made of plastic. So, like the original, it will scratch easily. You should put a screen protector on your Switch Lite the moment you take it out of the box. Tempered glass screen protectors are your best bet because they are virtually scratch-proof.
Pulen Tempered Glass Screen Protector
This three-pack from Pulen is a lot of screen protection for your buck. Plus, you will have three chances to secure the perfect alignment.
Headsets
To get the best sound quality while gaming on the Switch Lite, you’ll need a nice headset. The Switch will play audio with any 3.5 mm-equipped pair of headphones or earbuds. But for the ideal experience, you’ll probably want to go with a dedicated gaming headset.
SteelSeries Arctis 3
The SteelSeries Arctis 3 is an excellent choice for Switch Lite owners. This universal headset is quite comfortable and comes in either black or white. If you’re planning on gaming online and making use of the Nintendo Switch Online app for chat, you’ll probably want to opt for the Bluetooth-enabled Arctis 3 (only available in black).
- SteelSeries Arctis 3 Black (Wired)
- SteelSeries Arctis 3 White (Wired)
- SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth
For some reason, the Nintendo Switch does not support Bluetooth natively. Luckily, the HomeSpot Bluetooth adapter is here for your wireless headset needs. This adapter works with the Switch Lite as well as the original Switch and is relatively easy to use. It works with most Bluetooth headsets, and is even compatible with AirPods.
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