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I Played All the Switch 2 Games: What to Look Forward To After April 24 Preorders

I spent a day with the upcoming console. Here’s what to expect.

The Nintendo Switch 2 now has a US preorder date of April 24, and despite earlier tariff-related concerns, the price is holding steady at $450. Once you get into the queue for a new console of your own, the next question is which games and accessories to get. After playing all the new titles at a special media event, I was surprised not just by the new offerings, but with new ways of interacting with them.

For example, pushing my hands around a fabric-covered table while holding two mouse controllers is surprisingly tiring. I was playing Drag x Drive, a new wheelchair sports game coming for the Nintendo Switch 2 that uses one of the console’s new features: Joy-Cons, which work like computer mice. I felt vibrations under my hands as though I was spinning my wheels. But I wondered: Who will play the Switch 2 while seated at a table? I realized later that you can also rub them on your pants legs to make them work. So I did that, too. It was a little less tiring. 

This was just one weird part of a long day playing the Nintendo Switch 2, the $450 sequel to one of Nintendo’s most popular game consoles ever, arriving June 5, with preorders opening April 24. I’ve loved playing games on the Switch, like many people. However, the Switch 2, while being a new console, feels a lot like an updated version of a system many people already own. 

Much like the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X, it’s betting that playing games that look a little better matters enough to upgrade. But Nintendo’s also laying down some side bets on new features that could make a difference: in-game voice chat with friends at the press of a button, a plug-in camera that can work with wacky party games and, yeah, new controllers that double as mice.

So here’s the question: Is this more fun than the existing Switch and its games? I’d say the Switch 2 is a better piece of hardware, no doubt, but the upgrade proposition feels pretty uncertain until Nintendo shows many more games that make it worth it.

That being said, the Switch 2, as a bigger, better version of the existing Switch, could make a lot of sense for those who can afford it, especially because there’s still nothing quite like it out there. At $450 (£395, AU$699), plus $70 or $80 for its two biggest launch-window games, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, this is an expensive proposition for any family right now. A CNET survey recently found that affordability is the top concern for US gamers considering the purchase. Then again, as a handheld game console with its own included dock that can also play games in 4K on a TV, it’s actually competitively priced versus the Steam Deck and Windows gaming handhelds

I played Mario Kart World. I played Donkey Kong Bananza. I played remastered versions of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. I played Cyberpunk 2077 and Split Fiction. And I played Mario Party Jamboree with new mouse-Joy-Con and camera-optional modes that projected me onto the TV. It was all fun and the Switch 2 is the handheld I’d prefer to play my library of Switch games on. But I don’t think it’s a necessary upgrade for anyone right now. That said, your kids will probably ask for Mario Kart World and a Switch 2.

Hands-on with the handheld: Nice screen, larger feel, similar buttons

The Switch 2 is big and feels dense. It’s not that much bigger than the Switch OLED, to me, but that larger 7.9-inch screen feels welcome. I play on a large Steam Deck a lot lately and the Switch 2 feels sort of like that but actually thinner. It’s about the same thickness as the Switch in casual holding-and-looking comparisons. 

The Switch 2 has an LCD, not OLED, like the last iteration of the Switch, which went on sale in 2021. But honestly, it looked great to me in the hours I tried it. The 1080p resolution, HDR capabilities and refresh rate that can go up to 120Hz, depending on the game, stood out while playing. I’d take this over the Switch OLED display right now.

The larger Joy-Cons now magnetically snap in and out but have little release buttons on the back. They snap in smoothly and then you eject them with the trigger release and remove them. It’s a smooth action and a lot easier than pressing that small button on the current Switch Joy-Cons. The controllers, although feeling sturdy, have a surprisingly similar feel. The analog sticks felt like existing Joy-Cons and the buttons clicked similarly. I’m bummed that there’s no analog rear trigger.

Instead, these triggers click just like the older Switch — something that the Switch 2’s producers and directors, in a roundtable chat during my New York demo day, said was decided upon because they offer a more immediate response in games. I think it’s a miss because every other console I’ve played has analog triggers and they work well. Putting analog triggers on a Switch 2 would have made previous Switch games feel different on the Switch 2, though, and maybe that’s where the challenge lay.

The C button on the right Joy-Con launches Game Chat, a new mode that allows four-player audio chats with trusted Switch friends (that can be parent-approved). These chats can also become grainy video chats with an optional plug-in camera that can be used with the Switch when docked. Nintendo sells its own stand-like camera for $50 but you could also use a third-party camera (mileage may vary, according to Nintendo). 

I didn’t get to try Game Chat during the demo day but I’m curious about how good the audio quality and noise cancellation are. Nintendo says it’s good enough to filter around room noise while talking from across the room. The Switch 2 has a microphone but the Joy-Cons don’t. A new $80 Switch 2 Pro Controller, which feels similar to the previous Switch Pro Controller with two added rear paddle buttons, does have a headphone jack that can be used to connect a microphone-enabled headset.

The new Switch 2 dock has its own fan system and looks chunky. It’ll sit near a TV so you probably won’t mind but it’s a bigger unit than before and, like several accessories, won’t work with the first-gen Switch. It enables 4K gaming modes on TVs, though, so that’s the reason.

There’s a new Switch 2 kickstand, which tilts at a wider range of angles. But it’s made of plastic and feels a bit flimsier than I expected, although it holds its position well. And there are two USB-C ports now — one on top, one on bottom — but it turns out the top port won’t do video-out. Nintendo’s creative team told me at a developer roundtable that there are no plans to support plug-in display glasses such as the Xreal One, a trick the Steam Deck and Windows handhelds can pull off. 

I like the way the Switch 2 feels, though. It seems like it’ll be easier to travel with than Windows handhelds and the Steam Deck, which have bulky side grips that add to the system’s case size needs. The Switch 2 rides somewhat flat, although it’s bigger and longer.

OK, at this point, you’re probably saying, «Scott, please, just talk about the games.» So, I played each game in roughly 20-minute sessions as we were shuttled around different stations in the New York exhibition space that will host the public Switch 2 Experience. It’ll work similarly at other Switch 2 Experience locations, too.

Mario Kart World: Open-world Mario Kart madness

I have no idea how big Mario Kart World is. I drove around freely for a few minutes before a race mode started and I madly rambled from a town to a farm to an arena to mountain roads, jumped on train tracks, hopped on a power line and rode it up in the air, knocked down a lot of fences and found some sinister Bowser-ish castle. The newest Mario Kart game, a Switch 2 exclusive and launch title, is clearly the «game to get.» What I love is the sense that this racing game could be as full of surprises as an open-world Mario game.

It’s Grand Theft Mario or Mario Horizon or whatever you want to call it. This open expanse game’s real estate makes it far vaster than existing Mario Karts. But I played two races, mostly. I don’t even remember exactly what the course looked like because I was so busy navigating against 23 other players. The 24-player gameplay is new and, combined with wider, more expansive-feeling tracks, it’s a lot to take in. There are a lot of new characters to choose from — I picked Luigi with a gondolier outfit and later a hamburger-hatted Toad and Donkey Kong with battle armor. There are bikes, cars and all sorts of other familiar vehicles.

A new knockout tournament mode has players racing across multiple tracks in a world-spanning rally to win. You’re eliminated if you’re in the bottom four. I thought I came in first and got way too excited but I was one lap short of the actual end. I came in 16th. Competitiveness in a field full of this many cars reaches total absurdity.

I want to play more. The game looks great and handles like classic Mario Kart but it’s the extras that make me curious.

Donkey Kong Bananza: Showcase for smashing stuff

Nintendo doesn’t have a new 3D Mario game for the Switch 2 yet but Donkey Kong Bananza looks like a solid replacement. It’s the first open-world (sensing a theme here?) Donkey Kong game in years. It’s also a Switch 2 exclusive, coming July 17. Nobody saw this game coming (well, almost nobody) and I liked what I tried.

The game’s biggest mechanic is digging and destroying nearly everything. Donkey Kong can burrow through walls or the ground and, depending on the level, you can burrow far. I started digging into a wall in my first cave-like level, got lost in my tunneling, then burst out again. Some areas have you digging all the way down to new depths, almost like Tears of the Kingdom (but not really). Where does the madness end?

Donkey Kong is full of goofy expressions and enemies look dynamic in a way that feels almost like Sony’s Ratchet and Clank games. It’s a loud and fun action adventure but I have no idea how long the game actually is. It did showcase a lot more particles of stuff flying around than the older Switch has pulled off and the graphics kept a crisp frame rate.

Metroid Prime 4 Beyond: A technical showcase for graphics (and the mouse mode)

My 20 minutes or so with Metroid Prime 4 made me realize how good Switch 2 games could look. Running at 1080p and 120Hz on a big TV, it moved extremely smoothly and was as impressive a shooter as I’ve ever seen on a Nintendo console. From landing on a barren planet to firing through waves of creatures, rolling around in ball mode and losing a tough battle against a big ugly boss, it won me over.

I played on TV mode only, using the Joy-Cons in standard controller mode and then a mouse-and-controller mode. You can put one Joy-Con down at any time and make it a mouse for controlling movement, just like on a PC. I loved the fast reaction feel of it and I also liked that I could just lift my hand up and go back to analog stick controls if I changed my mind midstream.

Switch 2 Welcome Tour: Why isn’t this free?

I was expecting a dose of the weird at Nintendo’s Switch 2 event but this wasn’t it. Still, the idea of a Welcome Tour isn’t bad. Much like Valve’s Aperture Desk Job and the PlayStation 5’s Astro’s Playroom (or several tutorial apps for the Meta Quest), this looks like a guided tour of the Switch 2’s features, complete with insights from Nintendo and mini-games. I played a few, some of which were more like glorified demos at best. 

I dodged asteroids using a Joy-Con in mouse mode, played the first level of Super Mario Bros. in pixel-accurate mode on a 4K TV setting to show how much screen real estate is available and played a guessing game for what frame rate a bouncing ball was moving at. One «game» showed me HDR on and off while launching fireworks. The problem is, this is a paid digital game, instead of the freebie it clearly should have been. I can’t understand why this probably helpful system tutorial isn’t just included on the Switch 2 and I never will.

Drag x Drive: Nintendo’s wild-card game

Somewhere between Arms and Rocket League, Drag x Drive is a Switch 2 exclusive that uses the Joy-Cons in mouse mode to control wheelchair-using players in an intense hoop-shooting sports game. Moving each wheel requires pushing one Joy-Con forward and backward. It gets intense fast. 

The feeling ends up being a bit like rowing and my arms tired out; you have to keep wheeling around and moving your arms rapidly, pretty much nonstop. One neat thing is you can feel rumbling haptic clicks beneath your controllers as you «wheel,» making it feel more convincing. Racing to the ball, hitting other players and shooting baskets felt as chaotic as a game of Rocket League. I’m not sure if I’ll ever find this game fun to play because of its seemingly high exertion requirements but I enjoyed trying it for a while.

Mario Party Jamboree flexes camera, mouse modes

The most wacky stuff I tried were probably the new mini-games for the Switch 2 update of Mario Party Jamboree, which add mini-games that work with the Joy-Cons’ new mouse features and a game mode that uses the optional plug-in camera.

Bridget Carey and I revved little wind-up cars by pulling back on the Joy-Con mouse and releasing it to launch forward, with vibrating haptics to add clicking feedback. We played air hockey by pushing our Mouse-Cons around the table to hit the Koopa shells flying back and forth. And then we screamed and danced and balanced shells on our heads in camera mini-games that made us look like we were transported into Mario Party, popping out of warp pipes.

The camera-based games were flashbacks to the days when the PlayStation had a TV camera and the Xbox had the Kinect, which both did similar things. It was definitely fun and it makes Mario Party Jamboree even better but I don’t know how much I’d feel compelled to play the new modes long-term.

Updated Switch games look better — for a price

I played a handful of games optimized for the Switch 2, which will be sold in Switch 2 Editions at a higher price or existing game owners can buy a digital upgrade. The upgrades can be free in some cases if you have the Nintendo Switch Online Plus membership, while others will cost you extra, regardless.

Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the Switch’s two epic Zeldas, both have Switch 2 upgrades I briefly played. For sure, they look better, with better frame rates. I’d prefer to play them this way but the difference wasn’t massive. The Switch 2 versions also gain compatibility with a new phone app companion called Zelda Notes that we didn’t get to demo. 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land has a new story mode and better-looking graphics on Switch 2. I had fun playing a bit of the new storyline, which involved a lot of freezing-up landscapes. Is it worth the upgrade price? Maybe, because it also has some DLC extras.

GameCube Mode … activated!

Nintendo is adding another bonus to the Switch 2 equation with a Nintendo GameCube virtual console library. It’s part of the Switch Online Plus Expansion Pack subscription but Switch owners cannot play those GameCube games.

There are only a few GameCube games expected at the Switch 2 launch but I gave a few a quick play to remind myself of when I played them back in my own GameCube days: Wind Waker and F-Zero GX. Wind Waker is a classic Zelda and I loved F-Zero GX, which was co-developed by Sega. It still feels ridiculously fast. Nintendo’s selling a GameCube wireless controller, which I also tried out. The buttons and sticks feel just like they used to.

Ports of new third-party games: Are they good enough?

Part of the Switch 2’s appeal to other non-Nintendo gamers is its ability to play games that PC, Xbox and PlayStation folks could play but Switch owners couldn’t. Elden Ring, Madden, Cyberpunk 2077 and Split Fiction are some of the biggest newcomers. The performance, from my quick early plays, was a mixed bag. Split Fiction is a hit co-op game that debuted this year and I love it on the Switch but the split-screen gameplay I tried had less than stellar frame rates and graphics quality. It was fun but didn’t look beautiful. 

Cyberpunk 2077 shows off sprawling cityscapes but again, on a big TV, it was clearly not as good as what you could get from a PS5 or Xbox. Madden and Elden Ring weren’t there.

I know what playing games like these feels like on handhelds, though. The Steam Deck already has Elden Ring, Split Fiction and Cyberpunk 2077 support. The Switch 2 looks like a strong competitor to the Steam Deck and current Windows gaming handhelds for a wave of third-party games that’ll finally play decently. Still, I’m not sure how much it’ll convince Steam Deck owners or Windows handheld owners as the whole appeal of those systems is they’ll play PC games you already own.

It shows some promise for the Switch 2 being a step up for playing current-gen games but Nintendo didn’t share any details on how powerful the Nvidia processor onboard is. It’s capable of ray tracing and can upscale game graphics but what are the limits?

Verdict for now: The best Switch, but not yet a necessary one

I wanted more from the Switch 2. More surprises, more wow factor. That being said, it looks like easily the best Switch upgrade since 2017. And yet why do I feel like it’s not a must-buy yet? Because the games, as fun as they were, weren’t doing anything totally new. Because Nintendo raised prices for a lot of things, including more expensive games, Switch 2 Edition modes and even that tutorial game. And because, well, the world’s not in a great economic place right now.

I still want one and want to play Nintendo’s new games, though. Nintendo brings joy and unique experiences. In 2025, it’s the biggest thing gaming has. And the improved Steam Deck-ishness of this Switch 2 is slotting right into my recent handheld gaming habits. I can’t wait to try more when it arrives June 5.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for July 28, #778

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 28, #778.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.


Today’s NYT Connections puzzle features another movie category, so cinema fans, dig in. Need more help? Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Out front.

Green group hint:  It suggests something.

Blue group hint: A hobby.

Purple group hint: Cinema genres.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Foremost.

Green group: Indication.

Blue group: Item in a collection.

Purple group: ____ movie.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is foremost. The four answers are first, initial, original and primary.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is indication. The four answers are evidence, hint, sign and trace.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is item in a collection. The four answers are coin, comic, record and stamp.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ movie. The four answers are buddy, cult, date and silent.

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 28, #308

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 28, No. 308.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.


I learned enough during gym-class track days to ace today’s Connections: Sports Edition green category. Need an assist with the game today? Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.  

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: These players win championships.

Green group hint: Team effort.

Blue group hint: Sobriquet.

Purple group hint: On the diamond.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Football defensive positions.

Green group: Relay race terms.

Blue group: Nicknames of NBA legends, with «The.»

Purple group: _____ run.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is football defensive positions. The four answers are cornerback, defensive end, linebacker and safety.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is relay race terms. The four answers are anchor, baton, changeover and exchange zone.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is nicknames of NBA legends, with «The.» The four answers are Admiral, Answer, Glove and Truth.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is _____ run. The four answers are earned, home, insurance and pinch.

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Technologies

Best Minimalist Wallet for 2025 Tested By CNET Experts

Upgrade to a slim wallet with sleek, minimalist designs perfect for everyday carry. Cut the bulk and streamline your pockets.

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What to consider

Number of cards

The number of cards you need will determine the size and shape of your minimalist wallet.

RFID blocking

Are you worried about someone scanning your chip? RFID blocking wallets are the answer.

Is cash needed?

Having a sturdy money clip or elastic band is important if you need cash.

Wallet material

If you want specific materials then some wallets may not be suitable for you.

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Are you still using a bulky wallet that’s packed full of receipts from who knows when and looks like it’s about to burst at the seams? If so, it may be time to upgrade your wallet to something more minimal, sleek and stylish. With everything being done digitally nowadays, there’s little reason to keep all those receipts like before, you know, «just in case.» And if you don’t carry cash, there’s no good reason to have those old-fashioned wallets anymore.

Modern wallets seem to be trending toward simplicity and minimalism, with card slots for an ID, credit cards and a couple of other items. These wallets tend to be highly durable, with some offering RFID protection, and are secure enough to pass a vigorous shake test.

I’ve spent hours testing a variety of wallets to evaluate their feel, fit and functionality. Based on that experience, I can confidently say the options below are the best minimalist wallets available. Whether you’re seeking a robust metal design or a luxurious full-grain leather wallet, you’ll find the perfect choice below.

What’s the best minimalist wallet?

For our money, the Ridge wallets are the best minimalist wallets you can buy. Sure, they aren’t the cheapest, but they are sturdy, good-looking and can be customized to fit your needs well.

Although there are plenty of bifold and trifold thin wallet options, we’re mostly focused on one-panel design wallets here. These usually hold between four and 10 credit and debit cards, although some do it more artfully than others, and there is a variety of fabrics and colors to choose from. Some are hybrids, which combine a wallet and money clip or elastic band. Most offer some RFID blocking technology, which is advertised as a protective measure against electronic pickpocketing, like scammers skimming data stored on your contactless credit cards. (That may be an overblown concern.)

Tactical wallets also have built-in multitools, should you be the type to be randomly kidnapped and ditched in a forest somewhere. Just remember that you’ll need to take any bladed multitools out before you fly, because TSA confiscating your wallet isn’t fun. At all.

Best minimalist wallet of 2025

Pros

  • Made from titanium
  • Keeps your cards tight and safe
  • Adjustable design

Cons

  • Can be pricey for the best version

Of all the rugged, minimalist wallets I tested, I found the Ridge to be the most flexible, ironic for a wallet made of titanium (or aerospace-grade aluminum if you pick a different color). The sandwich design of the Ridge wallet securely accommodates one card as easily as it can 12, and the durable but pliable money clip holds one bill as tightly as a bigger wad. The cutout provides quick access to all of your cards, and the tough elastic strap that holds everything together inspires confidence.

This wallet is almost comically overdesigned, and you can use the included screwdriver to disassemble the pieces, remove the money clip and bring the money strap to the exterior. Ridge makes this wallet in China but backs it with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects, which seems about right for the price. This burnt titanium Ridge wallet is probably my favorite color, although it’s a little pricier than some of the other color variants, which start at $95.

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Pros

  • Elegant design
  • Great mechanism
  • Low profile

Cons

  • Some scratches already

The Ekster’s mechanics, along with its slim profile and lightweight materials, make it an elegant solution. The button used to raise the cards is really well done, with a hefty feel of a mechanism that will last as long as the wallet. The money belt is tight, keeping his small cash pile safe, and the wallet is plenty big enough for a few cards and Ekster’s neat little Finder Card, so I could track it if the wallet did get lost. The finder card and its Android counterpart are so good that I recommend adding them to your wallet purchase. There’s even a discount if you buy them together.

I gave it to my son to use at his prom, and it perfectly matched his maroon prom outfit though I have already noticed some wear in the paint, which is not ideal. If you keep it away from your keys, you should be OK, but the paint should last longer, even in a back pocket.

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Pros

  • Cheap and cheerful
  • RFID blocking
  • Room for cash

Cons

  • Quality can vary

Five of the 12 wallets we tested had essentially the same basic design, and there are dozens — if not hundreds — of nearly identical models, all made in China, listed on Amazon. Prices start at just $7, for the Chelmon model, and other models generally cost between $13 and $20, although some colors, patterns and fabrics are more expensive than others. They’re all about the size of a deck of playing cards, though they measure about 0.25 inches thick. The five we tested all have their brand names embossed on them:

Each of these slimmer wallets had the same basic elements: two or three card holder pockets on each side, a transparent window that lets you flash your ID without removing it, an inner space that can be used as a cash pocket or to stow a few more cards, RFID blocking on its card sleeve to block electronic pickpocketing and, in the case of the slightly pricier Zitahli, a magnetically attached money clip. (That company claims this money clip wallet can safely hold up to 25 bills, but when I put in just 10 folded bills, the magnets failed to connect.) My top choice overall is the shorter, wider Hammer Anvil. I don’t mind that it lacks the ID window, which I find tacky and not befitting of our top wallet list.

I also really like the Kinzd, which has a slightly broader design that separates it from the cookie-cutter field. It has a terrific inner pocket — which is closed on one side only, allowing you to open it up wide — that comes together firmly with a satisfying magnetic snap.

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Pros

  • Made in the US
  • Mechanical slide action
  • Really tough

Cons

  • Only fits around 5 or 6 cards

Employing «more than 200 people in Tennessee,» Groove Life has created a precision-made wallet with a balanced weight that feels great in your pocket. Designed for five cards to fan easily, I found it could fit four credit cards and two insurance cards nicely, with an ID in the front leather sleeve.

The mechanism for releasing the cards is really nice, too. The entire front of the wallet slides up to help fan the cards out with a spring-loaded action that is satisfyingly mechanical. Like all metal wallets, the Groove wallet is RFID blocking, so you can have some peace of mind on that score. It’s rugged too, so dropping it doesn’t pop your cards out; at least it hasn’t yet.

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Other minimalist wallets we’ve tested

Not all of the minimalist wallets we’ve tested get to be called the best. Some of them are OK. Some of them are really not OK. Here are some of the wallets that did OK at testing but didn’t quite make the cut.

Factors to consider when buying a minimalist wallet

There are many factors to consider when buying the right minimalist wallet. I’ve tried to boil it down to a few key ones but remember, we are all different, so your mileage may vary. The top things to consider are:

  • How many cards do you really need?
  • Are you worried about RFID blocking?
  • Are you taking cash along with you?
  • What material do you want it to be?

The most important factor in this list is the first one and will often dictate what your minimalist wallet looks like. Do you only need two to five cards? then a no-folding wallet, or possibly a mechanical opening wallet could be a good choice. If you need more than that then a bifold or even trifold wallet may be your only option.

Most minimalist wallets these days come with RFID blocking as standard, so it’s more than likely you will have that. Double check on the listing to make sure, if it’s important to you, but know most do come with it. That’s also true for some kind of money clip or elastic strap to hold a small amount of cash. If you are looking to take a large amount of paper money with you, a minimalist wallet may not be for you.

The size of the wallet will also dictate the materials used. A mechanical wallet will be made of a metal of some kind, while other minimalist wallets will be made of leather or a vegan leather substitute. Deciding on the material and the number of cards you want to carry will likely give you the best indication of the type of wallet you’ll want to buy.

How we test minimalist wallets

Testing wallets is, as you might imagine, a fairly subjective process. These wallets come in many sizes, shapes and materials so it’s important to test on those merits. Trying to jam 10 cards into a wallet designed to hold three is pointless and not a true test.

All wallets are subjected to a vigorous shake test where we try to dislodge the cards from the inside, and if they have a money clip/strap on the outside, I try to get that to fall out too. Then it’s time for my least favorite test: sitting on the wallet in my back pocket for an entire workday. Mostly, I am making sure the wallet doesn’t bend, or otherwise damage the cards inside, but I am also checking how uncomfortable it is to sit on for eight hours a day.

Any of the wallets that claim to be RFID blockers are subjected to a test using an Android Pixel phone and an RFID card that has my Twitter link on it. If the card can be read through the wallet and my Twitter bio opens on the phone, then the wallet fails the test. Finally, I spent a week using the wallet as my main cardholder in the real world. There are very few tests better than that to give you a clear idea of whether or not it is worth your money.

Minimalist wallets FAQ

Do minimalist wallets damage cards?

If you use a minimalist wallet correctly, it will keep your cards safe and sound. If you overstock it, then you run the risk of damaging your credit cards. Remember, the whole point of a minimalist wallet is to only take the few cards you need for the trip you are on. Most can hold five to 10 cards, so keep that in mind when you choose your wallet.

What pocket should you hold your wallet?

Despite the traditional notions of holding your wallet in your back pocket, it probably shouldn’t be there. Not only does it make it much easier for pickpockets, but it also makes it harder for you to get to it when you need it. If you’ve ever tried to get your wallet while at a drive-through, you know what I mean. Having your wallet in your back pocket can also damage the cards inside. The cards will have the full pressure of your body, as well as the other cards and metal parts of the wallet pressing down on them.

Which minimalist wallet is best?

While this is a subjective question, the overall best minimalist wallet that we’ve tried is Ridge. That’s because it’s made with tough and durable materials but is still flexible enough to accommodate up to 12 cards. There’s also a strap or clip for cash, too. The Ridge Wallet comes in a variety of colors, and NFL fans can also rep their favorite teams. If you get a Ridge, expect it to last for years.

Why are Ridge wallets so popular?

Ridge wallets have become very popular, and for good reason. These hard minimalist wallets have a unique aesthetic design, are made of titanium (or aluminum, depending on color) and can hold one card as easily as 12. They come in a variety of colors, have RFID blocking technology and look incredible. They’re leading the market when it comes to hard, minimalist wallets.

Which RFID blocking wallets actually work?

Several of the wallets we mention in this list have RFID blocking technology, which means your cards won’t get scanned by thieves. Out of the ones we’ve listed, the Ridge Wallet, Hammer Anvil Minimalist wallet and Groove Life have been reliable on the RFID blocking front. We tested this feature out by attempting to use an Android phone to scan an RFID card with our X link on it; these wallets prevented that from happening.

Do RFID-blocking wallets mess up my cards?

No, RFID blocking wallets will not mess up your cards. They’re designed to prevent unauthorized reading of the RFID chips, but won’t have an affect on the magnetic strip or chip on your cards.

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