If your priority is gaming on the go, the Nintendo Switch Lite is the console to beat. It delivers better battery than the original Nintendo Switch while upping the portability with a smaller form factor and permanently attached controllers. All that, and it costs much less. Of course, for a console you’ll be taking on the go, you’ll be needing some accessories, from protectors and cases to extra storage or a backup battery.Some of the best Nintendo Switch accessories will still work with the Nintendo Switch Lite, so you don’t have to worry about needing a special storage solution to hold all your games on the device. And, luckily, there are a lot of affordable case options to help you keep your Nintendo Switch Lite protected wherever you go. Here are the handy accessories we think will offer the most for your Nintendo Switch Lite.TL;DR These are the best Nintendo Switch Lite Accessories:
1. Nintendo Switch Lite Carry Case + Screen Protector
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Case
Your Nintendo Switch Lite’s portability is one of its chief assets, and you shouldn’t have to sacrifice that to protect it when you’re on the go. The Nintendo Switch Lite Carry Case + Screen protector has you covered in that regard. It adds minimal bulk by sticking close to the dimensions of the Switch Lite itself while providing 360-degree protection.The case zips open for you to slide your Switch Lite in, and though it’s compact, it offers additional storage for you to carry a collection of game cartridges. The fact that this product also includes a screen protector to put on your Switch Lite is just a nice little bonus.
2. ButterFox Switch Lite Carrying Case
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Rugged Case
If you don’t mind a little extra bulk when you’re taking your Nintendo Switch Lite around with you, the ButterFox Switch Lite Carrying Case is an excellent option. The case offers a sturdy shell to protect your Switch Lite and other accessories inside from drops and scratches.When it comes to other accessories, this case provides a decent amount of space and uses it cleverly. Two organizer layers provide slots for 19 game cartridges and two microSD cards, and they double as a protective layer over the screen and a buffer to keep other accessories from pressing the Switch Lite’s controls. A mesh pocket provides room to hold charging cables, earbuds, and even a modest power bank. All that and the case is still surprisingly affordable.
3. Hori DuraFlexi Protector
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Cover
While the Nintendo Switch is designed to sometimes live by your TV and sometimes live with you on the go, the Switch Lite is a true traveler. But, that makes it more susceptible to damage out there in the wild. It’s amazing what a difference just a little bit of plastic can make wrapped around it though. The Hori DuraFlexi Protector covers the Switch Lite around the sides and back in a flexible TPU that can absorb shock for the portable console.This sleeve doesn’t cover up the design of your Switch Lite either, since it’s transparent. It even has convenient cutouts to ensure you can easily access all of the Switch Lite’s ports while the sleeve is on. You’ll even get a bit of extra grip thanks to the material used. And, if the impressively low price raises any concerns about quality, it’s worth noting that the DuraFlexi protector is officially licensed by Nintendo.
4. Spigen Rugged Armor
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Rugged Cover
Sure, your Nintendo Switch Lite was made for you to take it on the go, but that doens’t mean it’s durable enough to stand up to the kind of abuse it might run into. That’s where the Spigen Rugged Armor can come in to help.This heavy-duty case covers the back and sides of your device to protect it from fall. It has raised guards to help avoid the bumpers from hitting the ground. The added grip and included wrist strap can help ensure you never drop your Switch Lite in the first place.
5. amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Screen Protector
The Nintendo Switch Lite features a plastic screen just like its console brethren, which means it’ll be very prone to scratching and you’ll want a screen protector to prevent any damage. There are a ton of Switch Lite screen protectors popping up on the market, but amFilm’s Tempered Glass Screen Protector is the one I would trust most.amFilm produced my favorite screen protector for the original Switch and so I have every confidence that the one for the Switch Lite will be just as good. This particular Switch Lite screen protector is made of tempered glass, which won’t scratch nearly as easily as plastic and it’ll give your handheld the glossy, premium glass screen it should have had from the get-go. This also happens to be a three-pack so you’ll have enough screen protectors to use as replacements for years to come.
6. Satisfye Switch Lite Grip
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Grip
Don’t leave your hands to suffer from the small controls and tight grip of the Nintendo Switch Lite. You can upgrade your hold with the grip from Satisfye. This attachment slides right onto your Switch Lite, adding two palm fins to give your hands something to really grab onto. This can help give your thumbs a bit more room to move, especially when reaching for the D-Pad or right thumb stick.We loved the version of this grip for the full-size Nintendo Switch (read our review), so it’s great to see a model for the smaller Switch Lite.
7. Samsung Evo Select 256GB
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Memory Card
The Switch Lite only comes with a maximum of 32GB, which is hardly enough space to even let you download five Nintendo games. Good news is you can bump up the Nintendo handheld’s storage by eight times for just $40 with the Samsung Evo Select 256GB.On top of giving you a ton more storage for downloadable games, it’s very quick with 100MB/s read and 90MB/s write speeds that’ll help reduce load times.
8. Anker PowerCore Nintendo Switch Edition
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Portable Battery Power Bank
The Nintendo Switch Lite has more than enough battery to get you through even a long commute. But if you know you’re going to have a long day away from a power outlet, it can’t hurt to have a bit of extra power available. Anker makes a lot of the best portable chargers you can get, and this one is specifically tailored to work for Nintendo Switch.This charger is officially licensed, and can give you hours of extra play time from its 13,400mAh battery bank. With two available ports, you can even charge a second device like a smartphone or tablet as well.
9. SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Gaming Headset
The lack of Bluetooth support on the Nintendo Switch Lite might be a shortcoming, but you can get around it with this wireless gaming headset. The SteelSeries Arcits 1 (read our review) is one of the best gaming headsets you can get, and its even better given it works wirelessly with the Nintendo Switch.It pulls off a wireless connection using a USB-C dongle that can plug into the bottom of the Switch to deliver a lag-free, lossless audio connection. You can also use a wired connection. It doesn’t get much better than that level of versatility. The sub-$100 price tag makes it a steal.
10. HomeSpot Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Transmitter Adapter
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Bluetooth Adapter
In case you already own a pair of Bluetooth earbuds or wireless headphones, getting a Bluetooth adapter for the Nintendo Switch Lite is a sound investment. The HomeSpot Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Transmitter Adapter will let you pair any set of wireless headphones or earbuds to the handheld just like you can with a smartphone, laptop, or PC.Pairing with this transmitter is super easy and you only need to press a single button. Additionally, the HomeSpot Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Transmitter Adapter will also allow you to connect up to two different pairs of wireless earbuds or Bluetooth headphones at the same time.
11. Nintendo Joy-Cons
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Controllers
The Nintendo Switch Lite might have a pair of integrated controllers, but they lack much of the special functionality of the Nintendo Joy-Cons. By pairing these wireless controllers to your handheld, youll get back HD rumble as well as the infrared and motion-sensing sensors that some games like 1-2-Switch and Arms need to be played properly.12. Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Going Pro
As portable as the Nintendo Switch Lite is, we cant imagine its too comfortable to hold for hours on end and the same goes for even a pair of Joy-Cons slotted into a Charging Grip. Thats why users should pick up a Switch Pro Controller (read our review) for extended play at home or on the go. Not only is this more traditional controller easier to hold, but it also sports better triggers and bumpers while giving you back HD rumble and motion controls.13. Hori Dual USB PlayStand
Best Nintendo Switch Lite Charging Stand
The portability of your Nintendo Switch Lite is one of its greatest assets, so you shouldn’t have to settle for accessories that aren’t equally as portable. The Hori Dual USB PlayStand has you covered on the go, or can just serve as a low-profile charging stand when you’re at home.This compact charging stand will let you keep your Nintendo Switch Lite powered up while you’re gaming in a table-top setup, as it plugs into the base of the Switch Lite and routes the power through a USB-C port on the side. It includes a kickstand so you can get a good viewing angle, and it has two additional USB ports that will let you connect accessories like controllers for more comfortable play while you’re charging.
What to look for in a Nintendo Switch Lite Accessory
The most important thing you should keep in mind while shopping for Switch Lite accessories is that all accessories designed for the original Switch wont necessarily work with Nintendos new handheld system. The Switch Lite is simply a different system that has smaller dimensions, integrated controllers, a lack of motion and IR sensors.Cases and battery cases for instances are just going to be too large and while the Switch Lite will fit, itll probably jumble around with all the extra space inside. The same thing goes for screen protectors unless youre ready to cut them down with a box cutter or some kind of knife theyre going to be too big for the Switch Lites smaller display.
Unfortunately, most if not all of the Labo Nintendo has released isnt going to work with the Nintendo Switch Lite. This is especially true of any pieces of Labo designed to hold the screen by itself like the Labo VR Kit or Labo Piano, due to the systems slightly different proportions and its inability to detach the controllers.
While you may be able to use other Labo kits like the Vehicle Kit, it wouldnt quite be the same because you cant connect the Switch Lite to a TV.
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Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspamMark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark