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A boat-load of new Animal Crossing New Horizons content dropped off on my handheld last week, but my Switch 2 was not prepared until I pulled out the JSAUX Ergonomic Switch 2 Charging Grip.
At first glance, the $21.99 Switch 2 accessory is essentially just a grip, not much unlike the free one packaged with every handheld, or the official Nintendo Charging Grip. However, not only is the JSAUX version far cheaper than its first-party counterpart, but it comes packaged with optional handles that easily slide on and off to provide an extra bit of comfort, which has changed the way I play New Horizons.
Thanks to this budget-friendly Switch 2 gadget, I was able to nip those Joy-Con battery notifications in the bud and give my island the well-needed attention it deserved last weekend, and now you won't catch me on New Horizons without them.
The grips on the official version are attached to the main unit, so if you're not a fan of how they rest in the palms of your hands, you're stuck. JSAUX's grips are packaged as two separate entities that you slide onto your Switch 2 controllers, and I much prefer it this way.
When I added them for the very first time, I was a bit worried as the PC+ABS felt a bit flimsy where it curved around the shoulder buttons. I could easily foresee them snapping off, but after many hours they remain in the same shape as they were right out of the box.
Better yet, adding the grips doesn't add extra bulk. Even with them on, the entire device feels extremely lightweight and comfortable to hold. This was a more than welcome revelation, as I foresaw many Joy-Con cramps when I knew I was about to get re-obsessed with New Horizons. So far my hands and wrists have remained cramp-free. The slightly bumpy texture on the handles has also kept my curled fingers securely in place and allowed me to get totally lost and carried away as I explore and decorate the new Resort Hotel on my island as part of the new Version 3.0 update.
Nintendo's official charging grip for your Switch 2 Joy-Con is still a valid choice for Joy-Con charging, but it has its limitations. For one, it's $39.99, which is monumentally pricier than this JSAUX alternative. By the time you read these words, the current $16.99 deal price of this JSAUX Charging Grip might be long gone, but the brand's accessories are so prone to cash off that it's highly likely it'll drop back down to that price in no time. Whereas I suspect the official Joy-Con 2 charging grip will remain at its full $39.99 at Nintendo US for many months to come, just like first-party Nintendo tech tends to do.
This version is such great value for money, that it's even changed the way I like to play New Horizons. I'm a handheld mode player first and foremost, but I spent the entire weekend with this grip in my hand and New Horizons on my TV. As the grips kept the Joy-Cons constantly charged, I never had to step away from my island and worry about keeping them juiced up. That has definitely been for the better, as it's meant I've been able to fully appreciate the newly enhanced visuals for the Switch 2 Edition on my big 55-inch telly.
I still prefer handheld mode when it comes to playing my Switch 2, but each time I return to Fairdene Island this month, and in the future, you can bet my first instinct will be to pull out the JSAUX Charging Grip like it's my own trusty bug net, axe or fishing rod.
- View all JSAUX Nintendo Switch 2 accessories at Amazon
- View all Nintendo Switch 2 accessories at Amazon
We're also rounding up the best Nintendo Switch headsets, the best Nintendo Switch 2 case, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards if you're after new accessories for your Ninty handheld.
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