Seemingly everyone who owns a Nintendo Switch feels deeply connected to it, which is reflected in overall sales. Nintendo has sold about 50 million Switches, surpassing the SNES in just two years and quadrupling the total number of Wii U consoles ever sold. Whether your jam is Animal Crossing, the Spiro Reignited Trilogy, or a sublime session of Minecraft, you no doubt want to keep your Switch safe and secure when youre on the go. Thats where cases come in.Theres a huge variety of Switch cases to choose from. Some emphasize protection, with hard-shell enclosures you can drive a Jeep over. Others allow on-the-go charging, add some style-first flair, or give you additional room for other mobile gadgets. Whatever you need, youll find the best cases that Switch accessory makers have to offer down below. And when youre ready to shop, be sure to read the end of the article, where Ive put together a buying guide that highlights what you should keep in mind when you look for your next Switch case.TL;DR These are the Best Nintendo Switch Cases:
1. AmazonBasics Carrying Case
Best Budget Case
Dimensions: 10 x 2 x 5 inches Weight: 6.4 ounces Game slots: 10
Carrying cases dont need to be pricey, and the AmazonBasics product line is proof. This carrying case does pretty much everything that more expensive models do for pennies on the dollar. The form-fitting case tightly hugs your Switch with no room to spare around the sides, with a mesh pocket on top for cords or other (very) small accessories.It features a flip-down game cartridge sleeve that holds 10 games and does double-duty as a screen protector. And if all thats not enough, theres a built-in gaming stand to prop up the Switch when youre ready to play. The case comes in black, red, or neon yellow.
2. tomtoc Carrying Case
Best Compact Case
Dimensions: 10.24″ x 4.72″ x 1.38″ Weight: 7.52 ounces Game slots: 10
Looking for a slimline case that wont take up a lot of room in your backpack? Youd be hard-pressed to find a thinner carrying case for your Switch than this model from tomtoc. Just 1.18 inches thick at the screen (it bulges to accommodate the Joy-Cons), its barely larger than the Switch itself. Yet this hardshell case is more than rigid enough to buffer the buttons and joysticks, so nothing can put pressure on the controls, and tomtoc claims the case passes military-grade drop tests without damaging the contents.The tomtoc case includes a 10-game cartridge sleeve that serves as a screen protector, and on the outside, features a removable wrist strap. You can choose from among five colors, including gray, black, pink, red, and camo.
3. Zadii Hard Carrying Case
Best Rugged Case
Dimensions: 11 x 9.5 x 15.1 inches Weight: 3.5 pounds Game slots: 21
Want to take it all with you? The Zadii Hard Carrying Case holds the console, charging dock, power adapter, Joy-Con grip, straps, cables, and more. Everything fits in its own perfectly sized cut-out in thick, protective foam, which makes it feel like youre transporting a nuclear weapon. And theres a lot of room to spare the case holds cables and a formidable 21 game cartridges as well.All that foam makes this an ideal way to transport your entire Switch system on a long trip. It has a luggage-like handle as well as a removable shoulder strap.
4. PowerA Everywhere Messenger Bag
Best Messenger Bag
Dimensions: 15.5 x 3.5 x 10 inches Weight: 1 pound Game slots: None
Like Zadiis Hard Carrying Case, the PowerA Everywhere Messenger Bag can hold pretty much everything Switch-related. Your console, charging dock, cables, Joy-Con grip, and more slip effortlessly into this case. But instead of the industrial look of a hardshell case like the Zadii, this is a slim and attractive messenger bag, fitted with a handle on top and a detachable shoulder strap for, you know, slinging it over your shoulder.Inside, the messenger bag is designed with the Switch in mind, with pouches and compartments neatly laid out for each component. The bag even comes with a slim carrying case just for the console and Joy-Cons. It keeps the screen scratch-free while in the bag, and you can travel separately with just that smaller case if you need to.
5. Victoriatourist Switch Travel Bag
Best Shoulder Bag
Dimensions: 11 x 4.7 x 1.6 inches Weight: 4.5 ounces Game slots: None
Sometimes you want a carrying case that doesnt look like youre carrying a gaming console around, and the Victoriatourist Switch Travel Bag is as discreet as they come. It looks like a typical backpack or shoulder bag, with an understated gray fabric finish and aesthetic that looks like, if it were a little larger, it could be holding a laptop.Even so, it has padded pockets and compartments for the whole system, including the console, Joy-Cons, dock, cables, and power adapter. And there are still compartments left over to hold a small tablet, smartphone, and other accessories. While the bag has cable routing for a power bank and an external USB port, youll need to add your own battery to charge the Switch on the go.
6. Mumba Dockable Case
Best Always-On Protective Case
Dimensions: 16.1 x 8.7 x 2.5 inches Weight: 9.9 ounces Game slots: None
Your Switch is an investment, so it makes sense that you might want to enclose it in a full-time protective case. Mumbas Dockable Case does just that it offers full-time protection for your Switch and controllers, but also slips into the dock without needing to remove anything.The case is made with a shock-absorbent, rubberized material thats easy to grip and will protect your console from bumps, scratches, and drops. Even so, it doesnt interfere with any of the controls, so youll be able to leave it on almost all the time even the Joy-Cons slip in and out effortlessly. And its available in black, blue, green, and red.
7. Yobwin 10000mAh Battery Charger Case
Best Charger Case
Dimensions: 11.5 x 5.6 x 1.7 inches Weight: 1.2 pounds Game slots: 2
If you take your Switch everywhere, battery life might be your most important concern. The Yobwin has an integrated 10,000 mAh battery, which can extend gameplay by as much as an additional eight hours. Alternately, it can charge your console 1.7 times. Thanks to a USB-C port, you can also use it as a standard power bank to charge other devices.This Nintendo Switch battery case also has some useful extras. The Joy-Con cover has slots on the inside to store extra games cartridges, and the back of the case has a kick stand with three different positions, so you can prop it up for play. And dont worry about the plastic suffocating your Switch; in addition to a bevy of electrical protections (like over-current and over-voltage protection), the sculpted case doesnt block air vents or interfere with the Switchs heat dissipation.
8. Bionik Power Commuter Travel Bag
Best Play-While-Charging Case
Dimensions: 10.8 x 2.2 x 6.5 inches Weight: 1.7 pounds Game slots: 18
Bioniks Power Commuter Travel Bag also has a beefy 10,000 mAh battery, but rather than charging in the case, this one is designed to plug in when you stop and play. The case includes an integrated charging cable and features USB-A and USB-C connectors that let you charge other devices as well.Inside, this case is spacious and has room for a slew of Switch accessories, as well as a respectable 18 game cartridges. You can wear it across your shoulder or strap it to other luggage, and its finished in a military-style black mesh.
What to Look for in a Nintendo Switch case
There is no shortage of cases for the Nintendo Switch, with dozens showing up on Amazon and a wealth of other options, including boutique-made cases on sites like Etsy. And there are different sorts of cases as well; you can choose from among travel cases, protective snap-on cases, charging cases, and more.If you need something to carry your console around in, a carrying case or travel case is where you want to look. There are a lot of decorative cases none made the list in this article that bear images of game characters or logos. Thats fine, but whatever you choose, make sure it can meet the minimum requirements of being a carrying case; it should be padded well enough to protect your investment from routine impacts.
It should also have a way to protect the screen from scratches (usually with a flip-down cover or sleeve) and be able to hold as many game cartridges as you want to carry around. Likewise, consider what you need to carry. Perhaps all you need is the console itself, but if youre traveling home to see the parents, you might need a case large enough to hold the dock and an HDMI cable.
Some cases step up the game with an integrated battery. Its probably not worth considering a charging case with less than about 10,000 mAh of power thatll power your Switch through just short of two complete charges. Bonus points if the battery charges quickly, and can also charge other devices in your inventory.
Remember that these are cases youll need to cart around in the real world. What, exactly, do you want to be seen wearing or carrying? Some cases look a little goofy or childish, which is fine if youre a child, and less so if youre a grownup who takes a Switch to work for lunch break.
Dave Johnson has been writing about gaming and tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. See him shout into the Twitter void @davejoh
