Genki Covert Dock

Hardware Type: Dock

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Review:

For the longest time, I didn’t want to review the Genki Covert Dock and its successor, the Genki Covert Dock Mini. It’s not that I don’t like these devices, but I honestly didn’t have much to say about them. Because they’re very clear about what they do, and what they aim to do… they do it (without “bricking” your Nintendo Switch). Truth be told, I still don’t have much to say about these alternatives to the official first-party Nintendo Switch Dock. However, I also didn’t want to remain silent about them either, as they are some of the best accessories you can get for your Nintendo Switch.

And just to be clear, by this I mean the original model Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch OLED model – like all docks, this dock will not work with the Nintendo Switch Lite. However, it will work with your Steam Deck, your laptop, or even your Android or iOS device, something Nintendo’s dock won’t do.

The official Nintendo Switch dock works just fine, but it does come with a few issues. First and foremost, the price – if you want to get a Nintendo Switch dock with an AC adapter (which is required for its use), that will set you back a whopping $80 dollars, which can definitely add up if you have one Nintendo Switch in your household and want to set it up to easily hook up to multiple TVs.

In addition, the Nintendo Switch is intended to be a portable platform, and Nintendo’s dock isn’t very portable. Furthermore, the way that it snugly wraps around the Nintendo Switch when the handheld is docked means that it won’t work with any Nintendo Switch consoles that are inside a protective case… well, unless that case is so slight that it can’t possibly be affording the Nintendo Switch much protection.

Genki’s Covert Dock addresses all of these issues, to different extents.

The dock comes in the form of a small adapter that plugs directly into a wall using its built-in foldable two-prong plug, and there is also a version of the dock that comes with multiple adapters for outlets used in other countries, for those looking to travel. A USB-C cable (included) is then plugged into both the dock and the Nintendo Switch, and an HDMI cable is plugged into both the covert dock and your television. After this, you’re all set to play on your TV.

When it comes to portability, this is clearly a specialty of the Covert Dock – measuring only 2.36″x1.73″x1.3″ for the main unit, and weighing only 2.4oz, the covert dock boasts a size that Genki advertises as 1/10th the size of Nintendo’s dock, and is comparable in size to a phone charger. While the need for a few cables to hook everything up isn’t quite as portable-friendly as that tiny size seems at first, it is nevertheless a far superior option for those looking to bring a dock with them on the go.

Also, naturally, since you’re not hooking up your Nintendo Switch within the dock, but instead connecting it via a cable, there’s no need to worry about taking your Nintendo Switch out of your case. However, a bit of a warning on this – I stupidly used the Covert Dock to play my Nintendo Switch while it was fully-enveloped in a carrying case, and eventually this caused my Nintendo Switch to overheat and shut down. However, I can hardly blame the Covert Dock for this – clearly this was not how the dock was intended to be used. The lesson here is to make sure your Nintendo Switch has decent ventilation.

That just leaves the question of price, and here the Covert Dock also has Nintendo’s dock beat, though only just – at $70, it’s $10 cheaper than Nintendo’s own dock. Still, $10 is better than nothing, right?

Okay, so is the Covert Dock superior to Nintendo’s dock in every way? Well, no.

The first obvious thing I can point to where Nintendo’s dock is superior is the number of USB ports the device has to connect and/or charge your devices. The Covert Dock has only one, compared to three on Nintendo’s dock (or two plus an ethernet port for the Nintendo Switch OLED model’s dock). The fact that the Covert Dock plugs directly into a wall may make it cumbersome if your TV and/or the place where you’ll have your Nintendo Switch connect are not fairly close to a power outlet. Plus, some people may simply prefer to slide their Switch into Nintendo’s dock, and what’s more, the way Nintendo’s dock wraps around the handheld does mean it’s better-protected and less likely to be knocked down.

There are two other major issues I need to address before wrapping this up. First, with only a 30w charge, it appears that the Covert Dock can charge your Nintendo Switch plus one accessory, or it can use it to connect your Nintendo Switch to a TV, but not both at the same time – my Nintendo Switch repeatedly ran out of juice while I was using it docked via the Covert Dock with a connected controller. This definitely tells me that this device should not be used as a full replacement for Nintendo’s dock if you’re used to long gaming sessions while the unit is docked.

The second issue is that pretty much everything the Genki Switch Dock does well, the Covert Dock Mini does better – It’s smaller, less-expensive, and the only downside being that it loses the Covert Dock’s one remaining USB port. I suppose it also has a smaller charge, at only 20w, but since it lacks the ability to charge an extra device, this doesn’t seem to be as large an issue.

Overall, I feel like the Genki Covert Dock gets a lot of things right, but it feels like a halfway point between two options that are probably better depending on your situation. If you want a dock to stay at home plugged into one of your TVs, you may just be better off spending the extra $10 and getting an extra dock from Nintendo, which will have a better charge and more USB ports. If you want a dock to bring with you on the go, you’re probably better off getting a Covert Dock Mini, which is cheaper and smaller. Don’t get me wrong, I still think the Covert Dock is very good, I just think that depending on what you’re looking for, you have better options.

tl;dr – The Genki Covert Dock is a Nintendo Switch dock that’s smaller and more portable than Nintendo’s dock, not to mention less expensive. It works quite well, but it lacks the larger number of USB ports that Nintendo’s dock has, and doesn’t do as good a job charging your Switch. What’s more, Genki’s own Covert Dock Mini is even less-expensive and superior for those looking for a good portable Nintendo Switch dock. As a result, this dock is still very good, but ends up being a Jack of all trades, master of none.

Grade: B

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