Nintendo Switch owners rejoice! There’s now a way to keep your console charged while on the go. The Nintendo Switch Travel Charger is a small, lightweight device that plugs into the wall and charges your Nintendo Switch while you’re on the go. The charger comes with a AC adapter and a USB-C cable, so you can use it anywhere in the world. Plus, it’s small enough to fit in your pocket or bag, so you can take it with you wherever you go. The Nintendo Switch Travel Charger is perfect for travelers who want to stay connected and entertained while on their trip. It’s also great for anyone who wants to avoid having to carry around an extra charger or battery pack. So whether you’re headed out for the day or planning a long vacation, the Nintendo Switch Travel Charger is perfect for keeping your console charged and ready to play. ..
Nintendo’s Official Power Adapter Is the Safest Choice
When the Switch was first released, there were reports of third-party docks causing irreparable damage to the console. It later transpired that the Switch used non-USB-C compliant circuitry that could potentially overdraw by 300%, causing the console to fry itself when used with some third-party docks or power adapters.
The problem is almost exclusively linked to docked play, where the overdraw can fry a power delivery chip that the Switch relies on to charge. Once that chip is fried, the Switch can no longer charge and is effectively dead.
For that reason, your safest bet for an all-in-one power adapter and portable charger is to purchase the official Nintendo Switch power adapter. This will allow you to safely charge your Switch while playing in handheld mode and provide power while the Switch is in the dock that came with your console.
Portable Docks Offer Some Utility, Too
Portable docks do away with the “cradle” design of the original Nintendo Switch in favor of something much more pocketable and travel-friendly. The engineer in the Reddit post we’ve linked to above put that information to use when they helped design the Human Things Genki Covert Dock, a crowd-funded project.
We’ve recommended this portable dock in the past for its utilitarian design and rock-solid reputation. Designed to Nintendo’s power specifications, rather than the USB-C standard, the Genki Covert Dock looks more like a power adapter with three ports: a USB-C connecting your Switch, HDMI for connecting to a display, and USB-A for pairing and charging peripherals.
This is a great solution if you’re looking for something travel-friendly that will let you charge your Switch in portable mode and act as an all-in-one dock. The Human Things dock will cost more than twice the price of an official Nintendo-branded replacement but arguably provides twice the utility too.
Be Careful With Third-Party Docks
Due diligence is required when purchasing a third-party Nintendo Switch dock for the reasons outlined above. Read reviews, check ratings, and make sure that the dock you’re using is safe and won’t cause issues with your console. This goes for both the original Switch and revised OLED model.
Now you know your way around the dock and power adapter problems, understand which memory card is best for your Switch and how to make portable play more comfortable with Joy-Con replacements and controller mounts.
RELATED: This Joy-Con Replacement Makes the Switch More Comfortable in Handheld Mode
