FastSnail sent us this case for free for review. They didn’t get to tell us what to say, and the opinions here are our own. It’s a case for the Nintendo Switch 2 that holds 12 games, snaps on a 10,000mAh battery and still fits in the dock. We were impressed. It isn’t perfect, but there’s a lot to like.
What’s in the box
The case includes a back shell, a front cover, protective grips for the Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a 10,000mAh battery that attaches magnetically to the back.
The front cover and game storage
The detachable front cover has room for 12 Switch 1 or Switch 2 games, and they fit tightly. A silicone insert with small nubs holds each game firmly, so we’d feel safe carrying and storing games in it. The insert does rest against the screen, but it’s soft enough that we don’t think it would damage it. If anything it would absorb some shock. Our only concern is that over time it could leave a mark on the screen. We use a glass screen protector on all our portable devices, so we’re not too worried.
The back shell
The back shell is polycarbonate and protects the back as well as the top and bottom edges of the screen. It leaves you access to the kickstand, game slot, both USB-C ports, headphone jack, microphone, magnetic connectors, air intakes and the volume and power buttons.
The top lip runs along the whole edge of the screen. The bottom lip doesn’t, and that’s deliberate: the case is dock-friendly, so it needs extra cutouts and has to be thinner. Because of that, the bottom moves a little more freely and isn’t as snug as the top. With the front cover on you get full front-and-back protection, so you can toss the Switch in a bag.
Joy-Con 2 grips
The grips are chunky, which can be good or bad depending on your taste. For us they give the Joy-Con 2s a nice grippy surface, and the ergonomics are much better than the standard controllers for long sessions.
They are tricky to fit. On our first try we didn’t seat them properly and the release button on the back wouldn’t work. The instructions say to lift the curved lip over the Joy-Con, and after that we had no issues. Our one complaint is that the areas without ridges feel slippery. Texture all the way around would work better.
The 10,000mAh battery
The battery attaches magnetically to the back of the case. A short USB-C to USB-C cable connects the top of the battery to the top of the Switch, and a button on top lights a charge indicator. The metal ring in the box is a spare in case the original comes off the case, and you could also use it to attach the battery to another device.
With our USB power meter we measured around 16.7 watts going into the Switch 2. Starting at 19%, the battery brought the console to 83%, roughly two thirds of a full charge. We’d estimate about 1.5 to 4 extra hours of play, depending on the game, brightness and power draw.
The magnetic connection is strong, similar to a battery pack on the back of a phone. As long as it’s centred on the metal square, it holds well. Flip the setup around, though, and you can pull the battery right off.
Weight
- Switch 2 on its own: 1 lb 3.5 oz
- With case and Joy-Con grips: 1 lb 8.5 oz
- With the battery attached: 1 lb 14.5 oz, about 11 extra ounces over the bare console
- Front cover on for travel, without the battery: 1 lb 14 oz
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sturdy protection for the console and Joy-Cons
- Fits in the dock, so you don’t have to take the case off
- Accessible stand and ports. Some cases block the stand
- Separate protection for the Joy-Cons, rather than a shell that turns the Switch into a Steam Deck
- The extra battery and the game storage are a nice bonus
Cons
- The Joy-Con grips aren’t that grippy
- A different way to attach the battery, such as two metal loops, might feel more secure
- The bottom lip of the back shell isn’t as tight as the top
- It’s heavy. It adds noticeable weight to an already big console, though we like how it feels. It feels tactical
Price
The case normally costs $49.99 on Amazon, which is high for a Switch 2 case. But it includes the 10,000mAh battery. FastSnail sells a similar dockable case with the front cover and game slots, without the battery, for $29.99. So you’re paying about twenty dollars for the battery, and a comparable magnetic power bank can easily cost twenty to thirty dollars alone. To us that makes the price fair.
Verdict
If you don’t mind the extra weight, we really like this case. You get solid protection, game storage, better ergonomics, dock compatibility and a detachable battery in one package.
Prices were correct at the time of writing and may have changed. FastSnail provided the case free of charge for this review.
