The PlayTrek 2-in-1 case is the Switch 2 storage option my holiday plans were calling for | Review

The Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Switch 2 case is very similar to the rest of the carrying cases that have since hit the market in the wake of the new Nintendo handheld.

The large Nintendo Switch 2 case shares the same dual-storage system and a strap for portability like the rest of the all-in-one cases I've tested so far. However, it's in the tiny nuanced design and functionality differences of the officially licensed accessory that make it stand out against the sea of large Switch 2 case monotony. Instead of a plain all-black design, there are subtle red and blue design elements that harken to the Switch 2's aesthetics, and Turtle Beach went as far as to provide an additional messenger-bag-type strap for easier travel.

The $49.99 / £39.99 case shines when it comes to design, build-quality and value, but I wouldn't expect less from an officially licensed Switch 2 product. Begrudgingly, the moulded-accessory interior is not removable, which felt a bit limiting at first. However, it's nonetheless become my new go-to all-in-one carrying case, as it provides all I need to bring my whole setup, with plenty of space left over for extras.

Design

Out of all the all-in-one Switch 2 cases I've come across so far, I'm the biggest fan of the design of the PlayTrek 2-in-1.

Turtle Beach was able to take advantage of the case's official Switch 2 product status and provide it with some unique design flourishes that help it stand out against the sea of all-black all-in-one cases I've tested so far. Unlike alternatives like the Snakebyte System Organiser Case, this PlayTrek model is covered in a light gray colorway, with little strips of black on the far right side.

This strip of black fabric is stitched onto the main body of the case with a neon blue and neon red thread, which perfectly matches the colors of the Switch 2 Joy-Con, and the ones all of us now associate with the Nintendo Switch era of handhelds. It's a subtle design choice, but I'm a big fan of it.

Features

The case is separated into two sections, hence the "2-in-1" name given to it by Turtle Beach. The upper section is a hardshell compact case that can store the handheld and some smaller accessories. Meanwhile, the lower main body is a separate case which is larger and integrated with a moulded interior designed to store the bulkier accessories required for setting up the handheld - think the Switch 2 dock.

If we focus on the upper section, or the "first case" for a moment, it's a pretty ideal travel case in its own right. Just like the Belkin Carrying Case, one of my go-to Switch 2 accessories I've tested since launch, it can store the handheld and features a fabric flap that rests on the 7.9-inch display of the handheld for some extra protection. The upper side of this flap also features two strips of elastic, which are sewn into little pockets to store up to 14 physical Switch or Switch 2 games. Above this is a small fabric mesh pocket that can store smaller accessories. Typically, I use pockets like this to keep extra microSD Express cards and a spare set of Switch 2 Joy-Con rails on me at all times, as you never know when you'll need them.

The main body of this PlayTrek 2-in-1 case is a bit different. It's a deep, large case, with a moulded bottom that's shaped like a set of Switch 2 accessories.

Some all-in-one carrying cases like this feature velcro straps, which you can adjust to store your extras of choice. Turtle Beach instead opted for this moulded-out insert, which has space to store the Switch 2 dock, a Pro Controller, a spare set of Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers, and the AC adapter. This section cannot be removed (as much as I did try), but there is more room to sit extra accessories above what you've added to it, if you need the extra space.

The top of this section, when closed, features a rectangular carved-out shape for the upper case to fit in. Once added together, you can secure both cases to become one by wrapping around the included strap and hooking its plastic buckle into the plastic hooks on either side of the main body. Other all-in-one cases come with this feature, but Turtle Beach went a step further by including a messenger-bag style strap with a shoulder cushion to make this one easier to carry around too.

Performance

Out of all the all-in-one cases I've looked at since the release of the Switch 2, the PlayTrek 2-In-1 from Turtle Beach has impressed me the most. At first, this purely came down to its design, but I also grew to prefer its storage options above its all-in-one case rivals.

I have a sneaking suspicion that some brands believe that a case like this is one you might keep in the back of your car on holiday trips to the in-laws, so it doesn't need to look good. Or at least, that's how it feels when I gaze upon the very plain and all-black looking cases of its kind that are hard to decipher between each other. Turtle Beach instead made the PlayTrek 2-In-1 stand out, with its nice gray coloring and strips of black with bright, Switch 2 stitching, which I previously mentioned earlier in this review. It's still a pretty simple design, but the dabs of color and variation make it hands-down my favorite of its kind in terms of looks, as it keeps a professional-looking edge while still screaming that it's a Switch 2 accessory.

My only gripe with how the case looks comes down to the fabric choices. The black strips are very prone to attracting miscellaneous fluff from in and around my home. If you own a cat or a fluffy animal or two, you might begin to notice hairs clinging to the black straps on the case very quickly, and the interior will be far worse. Of course, if you're pet-free, this likely won't be an issue for you at all, but it's worth bringing to your attention if you need your Switch 2 accessories looking as pristine as possible. I wasn't too bothered as I own a long-haired cat, so I have some de-fluffing tools around me at all times, but it was annoying when it came to taking photos of this very review - which you can visibly see for yourself.

Of course, as a case, it's all about whether it can get the job done of carrying all your Switch 2 gubbins and keep it protected at the same time, and the PlayTrek 2-in-1 does a very good job of that.

I wasn't a fan originally of the moulded interior, as it felt very limited as to what accessories you could actually fit inside. For example, the controller section looks like the shape of the Switch 2 Pro Controller, of which I don't own and don't want to feel the push to buy simply because it fits better in a case like this. When I actually put the storage into practice, it fortunately didn't feel limiting at all. The controller space managed to keep everything from my 8BitDo Wireless 2 controller to my official Nintendo Switch Online wireless GameCube pad securely in place as it carried it to and from my mum's house.

Having a precise place for the Switch 2 dock also felt nicely reassuring that it wasn't going to receive any damage as the case bounced around in the back of the family car - and it didn't. I can confirm that no matter what I popped into the case, everything always came out just as I left it. It did feel a bit bizarre just to rest extras on top of what is meant to be placed in there, eg my HDMI cable was just floating in the body of the case as there wasn't a moulded section designed specifically for it. Yet, I never heard it rattling around in this case, and it remains damage-free weeks later.

Should you buy the Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case?

If the main bulk of your Nintendo Switch 2, like its dock and cables, are always going remain at your home, you can make do with just a compact travel case. However, if you enjoy taking your handheld around to friends' or family members' houses for some Mario Kart World co-op action, this $49.99 / £39.99 PlayTrek 2-in-1 case is one of the best options out there.

While its price may seem a lot for just a case, the fact that it's actually two cases in one makes it cost seem pretty justifiable in my eyes. Instead of buying two accessories for taking your Switch 2 in your backpack and one for when you want to take your entire setup, you can just grab this officially licensed option instead, and get the best of both worlds.

The top case is a well-built everyday accessory that provides simple but appreciated game and accessories storage for when you just to bring your handheld to a cafe, or have it on you as you stroll from room to room of your home (like I do on the regular.) The main body is equally as sturdy, and has managed to keep my dock and extra controllers safe when I had to house-sit for my mum, or just wanted to bring the Switch 2 to the in-laws for some rounds of Super Mario Party Jamboree. The included extra messenger bag strap makes it one of the easier all-in-one cases to carry around, and all in all, this is my new go-to for bringing the Ninty handheld about with me, and will be for the foreseeable future.

How I tested the Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case

Over the last two weeks, I used the PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case for the Nintendo Switch 2 as my main case of choice. The upper case became my new compact case option, and I used to carry my handheld, my games, and my spare set of Joy-Con rails no matter where I went. Additionally, when travelling in the car to and from family members' houses, I used the main body of the Turtle Beach accessory to store and carry the Switch 2 dock, its AC Adapter, and HDMI cable, and my Nintendo Switch Online GameCube controller. For more information on how we test Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, please read our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch controllers, the best Nintendo Switch headsets, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express cards for even more accessories we recommend for your new Ninty handheld journey.