Additionally, a Joy-Con charging grip (model No. HAC-012) is available and is sold separately. The Joy-Con charging grip allows you to keep playing while you're charging your Joy-Con controllers, so you don't have to miss a minute. Joy-Con controllers contain a nonremovable 525 mAh battery that will last for approximately 20 hours, according to Nintendo. The company notes that the capacity of those batteries — as with all lithium-ion batteries — will degrade over time. Whether the pads are hooked up to a Charging Grip or a Switch, it will take about three and a half hours to charge them from empty to full.

This Switch grip offers a feature the others on this list don't: extended battery life. Fitted with a built-in 10,000mAh internal battery, Newdery's grip roughly doubles the battery life while playing in handheld mode. It's only compatible with the regular Nintendo Switch, though. A good comfort grip is another essential accessory that goes a long way toward increasing your handheld gaming experience. Your hands will feel less cramped gripping a molded plastic or rubber case, and the Switch will be less likely to fall from your hands. There are plenty of Nintendo Switch grips on the market, so we scoured the internet to determine which ones were best. The Snap Grip is the smallest of the three and has a unique ridged design. The rounded Plus Grip is aimed at those who want some added bulk. Meanwhile, the Trigger Grip mimics the feel of a conventional controller, with a contoured design that probably suits most Switch users. Essentially, you're getting three different grips in one, so chances are at least one of them will be a great fit for you. As with Satisfye's previous model, the ZenGrip Pro is extremely lightweight--it doesn't make the console feel any heavier (in fact, because it makes holding the Switch so much easier, it almost feels lighter). The bottom of the grip has two hooks for additional console support, and they also allow the Switch to stand securely upright on its own, with enough room for the charging cable to run underneath.The great thing about investing in Joy-Con grips of some kind is that you can use them no matter what Nintendo Switch you're using. Joy-Cons can be paired to the Nintendo Switch Lite and you'll notice in our review that the Nintendo Switch OLED uses the same model Joy-Cons, despite the larger screen size. Your Joy-Cons can be carried between different Nintendo Switch consoles and so can the overwhelming majority of the grips we've listed here. Plus the different color options when it comes to Joy-Cons makes it a fun customization piece for your console. The Satisfye Nintendo Switch grip has been one of our favorites for some time, and the updated version of it, the ZenGrip Pro 3, is absolutely the one to buy, as this model works for both Switch OLED and the original Switch. First, ensure the Nintendo Switch logo and the player LEDs on the Joy-Con grip or Joy-Con charging grip are facing you. To ensure the right and left Joy-Con controllers are positioned properly, align the - Button on the left Joy-Con with the top-left corner of the Joy-Con grip or Joy-Con charging grip. Then align the + Button on the right Joy-Con with the top-right corner of the Joy-Con grip or Joy-Con charging grip. Every Nintendo Switch comes with a Joy-Con Grip, an accessory that holds two Joy-Con controllers in a form factor that resembles a standard gamepad. But that unit won’t charge the Joy-Con devices — for that, you may want to buy a separate peripheral known as the Joy-Con Charging Grip. Unnecessary unless you have more than one pair of Joy-Cons, or plan to play for more than 20 hours at a time.

Because the Charging Grip is physically the same as the grip that comes with the Switch, it feels identical in the hand. This is perfectly fine; the Joy-Con grip already feels comfortable with two Joy-Cons attached, and the Charging Grip offers no discernible difference. It turns the Joy-Cons into a single controller that feels like a conventional gamepad, which is ideal for playing most Switch games. Charging Nate Bihldorff, senior director for localization at Nintendo Treehouse, was discussing the standard Joy-Con Grip as he held it in his hands. He then explained the difference between the two Grips: “There’s also a Charging Grip accessory that’ll come as well, that you can actually plug these into — plug a spare set of Joy-Con into — and charge.” Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission & see how we test. If the Split Pad Pro looks too bulky for you but you're still interested in its features, the newer Split Pad Compact for Hori is an excellent choice.The Joy-Con grip accessory (model No. HAC-011) included with the Nintendo Switch console allows you to combine both Joy-Con controllers into a more traditional-style controller. Skull & Co has made a series of great Nintendo Switch grips that offer something most other grips don't: customization. Skull & Co's NeoGrip is a lightweight attachment for Switch and Switch OLED. It comes with three different handle sets that can be swapped on the fly. Whether you're in the market for a grip for Switch OLED or the regular Switch, we'd recommend opting for the ZenGrip Pro 3 since it's compatible with both and is available for the same price.