Technologies
These Nintendo Switch Accessories Make Gaming Better at Home or Outside
From controllers to charging to protection, here are our recommendations to make your Nintendo Switch more fun.
The Nintendo Switch is already beloved for its excellent plug-and-play gaming experience. However, gaming with the Nintendo Switch gets even better once you’ve picked up some of the right accessories. This list takes you through some of the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy right now, from microSD cards and controllers to grips and docks.
Keep in mind that these products are all designed for the original Nintendo Switch console, which you can play on your TV or in handheld mode. While many of these might work with the Switch OLED and smaller Switch Lite, such as the controllers, several items on the list won’t because of the size differences in design and screen or lack of video output. (There may be other versions to buy that are compatible with the Switch Lite.)
Also see: Nintendo Switch OLED Restock: Where to Find a Console
Nintendo’s Switch Pro Controller feels better to play with than any other third-party full-size Switch controller we’ve tried. The Switch Pro Controller is also between $60 and $70 to buy. The PowerA wireless controller comes closest to the feel and design of Nintendo’s Pro controller, and you can normally get it for $40 to $50, depending on the design, from Amazon, Best Buy and other sources. The PowerA wireless controller doesn’t have HD Rumble, IR or Amiibo NFC support like the Switch Pro controller does, but it does have motion controls. It’s also available in game-themed versions including Animal Crossing, Mario and Pokemon.
Its one added feature is two extra buttons on the bottom of the controller that can be mapped on the fly. Also, while the original version of the Enhanced Wireless Controller ran on AA-size batteries, the newest models have a built-in rechargeable battery for up to 30 hours of gameplay.
Attach the tiny USB-C dongle to the Switch and you’re good to play with this lightweight, comfortable gaming headset. It uses the company’s lossless 2.4GHz wireless for ultralow-latency wireless connectivity. I never experienced any dropouts or lag while using them, but SteelSeries includes a cable if you want to use it if you don’t want to risk it. The noise-canceling mic is detachable and the earcups turn and lie flat for easier travel. These will work with the Switch Lite, as well.
This splashproof hardshell case is just about all you need to protect your Switch if you want to play on the go. Slim, light and form-fitting, it barely adds any bulk. It might not look like a lot of protection but my kids and I have dropped them several times and the Switch survived unscathed. Aside from the added protection, there’s an organizer attached inside with storage for up to 10 game cards. And it’s available in a bunch of fun color combinations. Tomtoc also makes a version that works with the Mumba case and the Hori Split Pad Pro controller so you stay protected when traveling and playing. But you guessed it: This won’t fit the Switch Lite.
It’s pricey at just under $100, but Hyper’s all-in-one hub for the Switch is worth it for its simplicity and design. Connect up your Switch, external display (the HDMI out supports up to 4K resolution at 60Hz) and a controller, plug in the HyperDrive for power and you’re done. One of its USB-C ports can be used for powering and charging the Switch and there’s an extra USB-C port for charging a wireless controller or your phone or tablet. It’s small, too, and the power cable detaches, so traveling with it is no problem at all.
You can recharge your Switch with just about any power bank, but you’ll want something like this giant Anker battery to keep playing while you charge. The PowerCore Plus can deliver 45 watts of charging power through its USB-C port. It can also charge up other devices like your phone through its USB-A ports. The package also includes a 60-watt USB-C wall charger that can refill this massive bank in less than three and a half hours.
Binbok’s Joypad is a combination of Nintendo’s Joy-Cons and its wireless Pro Controller. There are left and right Joy-Con-like controllers that can slot onto the sides of the Switch, similar to Hori’s Switch Split Pad Pro. This gives you the comfort and larger controls of the Pro controller while you use the Switch handheld.
However, unlike Hori’s controller, the Binbok Joypad can be used off the Switch because each has a built-in battery and Bluetooth. Their design makes them awkward to hold as Joy-Cons but it can be done, and each has adjustable rumble and motion controls. They both have a mappable button on the inside of their grips as well as turbo buttons. The Home button can wake the Switch when you’re ready to game and you can even change the color of the LED light rings around the thumb sticks.
The included holder joins the two controllers together to form a single Pro-like controller like Nintendo’s Joy-Con Comfort Grip. Unfortunately, this won’t allow you to charge both controllers at the same time; each of the controllers needs to be charged separately through their USB-C ports or while attached to the Switch when it’s charging (you can leave the controllers attached when docked). The holder is unusually wide, too, and with the controllers attached it’s actually larger than a Pro controller. There’s some flex where the controllers slot onto the holder giving it a tenuous feel. That flex, combined with its lightweight, makes the whole thing feel flimsy. Still, it’s not like Nintendo’s Joy-Cons are known for their reliability and overall this is an excellent option if you want to pay less and do more.
Want to use your Bluetooth headphones with your Switch, but worried about lag? Creative’s adapter gets around that with aptX Low Latency codec support. Just pop the adapter into the USB-C port on the Switch, press its button and connect to your headset. I tested with the Tribit QuietPlus ANC headphones, which is on our best noise-canceling headphones under $100 list and supports aptX LL. Insert the included analog microphone into the Switch’s headset jack and you’re ready for voice chat during multiplayer games that support it like Overwatch and Fortnite. (A quick firmware update is needed for it to work, though.)
If you also have a PS4 or PS5, the mic can be plugged into your controller for voice chat with that console. Plus, Creative includes a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter so you can connect your Bluetooth headphones to the PS4.
The adapter also supports regular aptX and aptX HD codecs as well as SBC (subband codec). You just press the adapter’s button to choose. And while you might buy this for your Switch (or PS4) you can just move the adapter to your phone or computer and instantly use your headphones with those without having to connect all over again. For $35, the little kit is a pretty good deal.
Adding this Nintendo Switch case not only takes some of the creak out of playing a video game handheld, but gives you some much-needed extra controller grip for your game. It’ll also give you a little side, top, bottom and rear drop protection. This will not fit the Switch Lite, which is a little smaller than the regular Switch.
If you want to dock your Switch as well as expand your laptop’s port options when you’re not gaming, the Dock Pro 60 is all you need. The slim, small, lightweight Nintendo Switch dock has two USB-C ports, one of which supports power input. Connect your Switch to the other USB-C port and use the dock’s HDMI port to connect to a TV or external (resolutions up to 4K UHD will work) and you’re ready to start gaming with friends and family on a bigger screen. There are also two USB-A ports if you want to use a wired controller or charge wireless ones.
Note, though, that this does require a USB-C 15V/2.6A power supply such as the YCCTeam adapter below or the one that comes with your Switch.
Bonus for Samsung Galaxy device users: The Dock Pro 60 supports Samsung DeX so you can use your phone or tablet with an external display and a desktop-style experience.
Not all USB-C chargers will support charging the Switch as well as powering it while docked. This one does, and at a fraction of the cost of Nintendo’s. Plus, it has a 5-foot charging cable so you have some room to plug in the Switch and continue to play handheld while you charge.
The Little Wireless Controller — yes, that is its actual name — is slightly bigger than a Joy-Con but so much more comfortable to use. The buttons are firm and responsive and there’s no mushiness to the D-pad, either. The thumbsticks are taller than the Joy-Con’s, which gives you greater accuracy. The rear buttons, despite being directly on top of each other, are shaped perfectly to make sure you hit the correct one. There is no rumble or NFC support but it does have motion control. The rechargeable battery is rated for up to 40 hours of wireless use and is charged via a USB-C port in the back. It’s a super little travel companion.
Carelessly sliding the Switch in and out of its dock all the time can eventually result in some scratches to the display screen, and nobody wants a scratched screen. If you spend money on one piece of protection for your Switch to enhance your gaming experience, make it an inexpensive Nintendo Switch screen protector. The AmFilm tempered glass screen protector is easy to apply and doesn’t interfere with touchscreen performance. The bottom line is, if you have a Switch, you need a tempered glass screen protector, and this is a great tempered glass screen protector. Note that this screen protector won’t fit on a Switch Lite, which has a smaller screen.
The Switch’s kickstand is fine in a pinch, but this is much better for tabletop play with your device. It adjusts to three positions, folds flat for travel and has a passthrough in front so you can charge while you use it with all of your video games. There is a cheaper AmazonBasics one, but the Hori is sturdier and more stable for not much more money.
This little adapter pops into the USB-C port so you can use your Bluetooth headphones while you play your Switch, including Apple AirPods. A built-in mic on the bottom of the adapter adds lag-free in-game chat, and you can connect up to two headsets simultaneously for a better gaming experience when you’re playing Smash or any other game on your Switch online in multiplayer games. An equally small USB-C to USB-A adapter can be used to plug into the Switch dock so you can use your headphones when docked, too. The Creative adapter’s design mentioned earlier in this list is better for multipurpose use, but if you’re just looking for use with the Switch, this is a great pick.
The CitySlicker is a discreet way to travel with your Switch and accessories. The case looks more like a high-end travel bag than gaming gear, but it is made specifically for the Switch with five game card storage slots in front, a microfiber-faced interior pocket that swipes your screen clean when you insert and remove your Switch, and a zippered pocket on back to hold a power bank, cleaning cloth or earbuds. The two inside pockets are big enough to hold an extra set of joy-cons and cables. The case is available in three sizes for the Switch Lite, Switch and Switch Max, which is large enough to hold the Switch while it’s in the Skull & Co. GripCase or any similarly sized protective case. It’ll even fit the Defway dock listed above.
Our friends at GameSpot also have a roundup of the best Nintendo Switch controllers.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for April 6, #399
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle No. 399 for April 6.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Todays NYT Strands puzzle isn’t terribly tough once you catch on to the theme. But there’s one word that’s quite long, and you might have some trouble unscrambling it. If you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: The feeling is mutual.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: We go together.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- GIVE, GIVER, GAME, GAMES, NONE, LICE, ZINE, TABLE, ABLE, BEAR, REEK, CONE, LICK, LICKER, ZONE, NOEL, REAL, LATE, LEAN, HONE, TAME.
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you’ve got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- MESH, VIBE, AGREE, CLICK, RELATE, CONNECT, HARMONIZE
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is GETALONG. To find it, start with the G that’s five letters down on the far-left row, and wind up and around.
Toughest Strands puzzles
Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.
#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.
#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.
#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK
Technologies
You Need to Clean Your Dirty Phone More Often Than You Think
Using the wrong products can damage the screen and protective coatings. Here’s the safest way to clean your phone.
Americans spend more than 5 hours a day on their phones, according to a December 2024 survey. With that much handling, it’s no surprise your phone becomes a hotspot for bacteria — in fact, it’s often dirtier than a toilet seat. Since you hold it constantly and press it to your face, making regular phone cleaning part of your routine is more than just smart, it’s necessary for your health.
The FCC suggests disinfecting your phone daily, but not all cleaning methods are safe. Harsh chemicals and abrasive materials can damage protective coatings and potentially harm your screen. To keep your phone both clean and intact, it’s crucial to use the right cleaning techniques.
Luckily, there are safe and effective ways to sanitize your phone without causing any damage. We’ll guide you through the best methods and products for keeping your device germ-free, no matter if you have an iPhone or a Samsung or whatever its level of water resistance.
For more cleaning tips, here’s how to clean wireless earbuds and AirPods.
What are the best products for daily cleaning?
After touching surfaces that see a lot of action from the public — such as door handles, seats on public transportation, grocery carts and gas pumps — you might think you need a heavy-duty cleaning agent to use on your phone. However, you should avoid rubbing alcohol or products made of straight alcohol, since they can damage the protective coatings that prevent oil and water from harming your screen.
Some suggest making your own alcohol-water mix, but getting the concentration wrong can damage your phone. The safest option is using disinfectant wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol. For daily cleaning, consider a UV light product like PhoneSoap, which kills 99.99% of germs and bacteria. We can also turn to phone manufacturers and cell service companies for guidance, too.
Apple now approves using Clorox Wipes and similar disinfectants, which was not recommended before the pandemic since they were thought to be too abrasive on the screen’s coating. AT&T advises spraying a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution on a soft, lint-free cloth and wiping your device down. Samsung also recommends using a 70% alcohol solution with a microfiber cloth. Always make sure your phone is powered off before cleaning it.
What are the best methods for removing fingerprints, sand and makeup?
Sometimes your phone needs a more specific treatment when washing up. The recommended process for daily cleaning may not be enough to remove pesky grains of sand after a beach vacation or tough foundation stains.
Get rid of fingerprints
Fingerprint smudges are inevitable since your skin produces oils. Every time you pick up your phone, your screen will get fingerprints. The safest way to make your screen print-free is with a microfiber cloth. For a deeper clean, dampen the cloth with distilled water (never apply water directly to the screen) and wipe down the surface. This works for the back and sides of your phone as well.
Alternatively, try a microfiber screen cleaner sticker that sticks to the back of your phone for easy wiping.
Remove sand and small particles
Grains of sand and lint can easily get stuck in your phone’s ports and crevices. To remove it, we recommend you use Scotch tape. Press it along the creases and speaker, then roll it up and gently insert it into the ports. The tape will pull out any debris. You can then just simply throw away the tape for easy cleanup.
For smaller speaker holes, use a toothpick gently or a small vacuum crevice tool to suck out the debris. These tools work well for other small appliances or hard-to-reach areas in your car too.
Cleanse makeup off your phone screen
When you wear makeup and skin care products, such as foundation and moisturizers, you’ll leave residue on your phone screen. While makeup remover works for your face, it’s not safe for screens due to potentially harmful chemicals. Instead, try a screen-safe makeup remover like Whoosh, which is alcohol-free and gentle on all screens.
Alternatively, use a damp microfiber cloth to clean your phone, then wash the cloth afterward. Make sure your cloth is only slightly wet to avoid soaking your phone in water.
What if my phone is waterproof?
For waterproof phones (IP67 and above), it’s best to clean the device with a damp cloth instead of submerging or running it under water — even if the phone advertises that it can withstand submersion for a certain amount of time.
Afterward, dry your phone with a soft cloth, ensuring all ports and speakers are patted dry. While your phone can withstand water, submerging it can lead to water in the ports, delaying charging. Remember, water resistance is meant for accidents, not swimming or regular cleaning.
Things to avoid when cleaning your phone
We’ve already covered why you should avoid makeup remover and rubbing alcohol, but those aren’t a comprehensive list of harmful cleaning agents. Here are a few other items and products you should never use to clean your phone:
- Hand sanitizer: Fragrances and ethyl alcohol found in many sanitizers can harm your phone.
- Window or kitchen cleaners: Harsh cleaners can strip the protective coating on your phone and leave it more vulnerable to scratches.
- Paper towels: Paper can shred, making the debris on your phone much worse, and the rough texture can leave scratches on your screen.
- Dish and hand soap: Most soaps require you to combine them with water, and since you should keep water away from your phone, it’s best to stick to a damp cloth.
- Vinegar: Like cleaners and alcohols, vinegar will strip your phone screen’s coating.
- Compressed air: Blowing intense and direct air into your phone’s portals can cause damage, especially to your mic. Apple specifically warns iPhone owners not to use compressed air.
For more cleaning tips, explore how to clean your Apple Watch.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, April 6
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 6.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword has my favorite Australian cartoon as an answer. If you’re a fan of Bingo, Bandit and Chilli, you’ll nail that answer. Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Nibble : food :: ___ : drink
Answer: SIP
4A clue: Like a kid doodling in class, maybe
Answer: BORED
6A clue: Popular Disney+ show about a family of Australian cattle dogs
Answer: BLUEY
7A clue: Fill in, as a puzzle
Answer: SOLVE
8A clue: Perceive
Answer: SEE
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Some first-chair performances in an orchestra
Answer: SOLOS
2D clue: «Go me!»
Answer: IRULE
3D clue: Loud chewing or talking during a movie, e.g.
Answer: PEEVE
4D clue: Ammo for a Red Ryder rifle
Answer: BBS
5D clue: Part of an Easter egg kit
Answer: DYE
How to play more Mini Crosswords
The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.
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