Satisfye Zengrip Pro Gen 3

Hardware Type: Grip

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Review:

Ever since I started reviewing Nintendo Switch controllers and particularly since I started reviewing Grip-style controllers, one of the Grip controllers I most wanted to try out was the Satisfye Zengrip Pro. Numerous Youtubers sing the praises of this device, including a few I trust quite a bit, and it really sold me on the idea that this was the gold standard for Grip-style accessories for Nintendo Switch, something to be seen as a high-watermark for all others to be compared to. Well, now I’ve finally gotten my hands on one, so I can see firsthand if it lives up to the hype.

I should note before starting that there are multiple grips sold by Satisfye, and the ZenGrip is only one among them, and currently the version they’re offering is their “Gen 3” release of the product. Furthermore, this product comes in three product bundles- there’s the grip on its own (in white or black), selling for $50. There’s the ZenGrip Pro Slim Bundle which costs $80 and comes with a carrying case. And finally, there’s the ZenGrip Pro Elite Bundle, which costs $100 and comes with an even bigger carrying case, a Joy-Con connector grip, a USB-C cable, and a pair of analog stick caps. For the purposes of this review, I am looking at the Pro Slim Bundle, with just the grip and its case.

Unlike many Nintendo Switch Grips on the market, the ZenGrip Pro has no built-in controls of any kind. This is just a piece of plastic and rubber, designed to house your Nintendo Switch with its Joy-Cons, adding more ergonomic grips at either side, as well as a convenient pair of stands that can be used in place of the Nintendo Switch’s own flimsy kickstand. The ZenGrip Pro can be used with either the original model Nintendo Switch or the OLED model, and I tested it with an original model Nintendo Switch, which fit pretty snugly inside.

I should note that the ZenGrip is not dockable, and will not fit within a standard Nintendo Switch dock, though some third-party dock accessories may work with a Nintendo Switch using the ZenGrip, as it leaves the Nintendo Switch’s USB-C port accessible.

I can say that the stand elements of the Satisfye ZenGrip work quite well – there’s nothing to fold out or set up, you can simply set your Nintendo Switch down and the handles on either side plus the two stand parts jutting out from the front do a good job of making the Nintendo Switch stable in this position. This is absolutely an improvement over the built-in kickstand of the original model Nintendo Switch, which is a pain to pull out, feels flimsy, and doesn’t support the Nintendo Switch well.

As for the added comfort… honestly, I felt like the change was negligible. I can certainly see how some players would prefer the added grips here, but for me, I don’t know that I feel the added comfort justifies the extra bulk here. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled in this regard – the Gammeefy JC200, while not without its flaws, is significantly more comfortable than the ZenGrip Pro, no doubt thanks to being a far more substantial device compared to the fairly slight ZenGrip.

As for the case, it’s a decent case, but not a great one. It’s molded in a way that should give a ZenGrip with a Nintendo Switch some good padding and has a hard enough exterior to offer decent protection. The rubber and fabric handle is nice too. And it has a flap that can hold ten Nintendo Switch game cards. However, there’s no room for any other accessories, despite being surprisingly bulky.

However, while I may be a bit underwhelmed by various parts of what the ZenGrip Pro has to offer, the most disappointing thing for me here is the price. Just the grip alone costs a whopping $50, and as another reminder this is just for a piece of plastic and rubber, no controller whatsoever. The JC200, at the same price, actually has a built-in controller, and can even be used as a wireless controller separate from the Nintendo Switch.

Maybe the ZenGrip Pro was a trendsetter, walking before others could run. But going back to it after the fact, I just can’t help but be thoroughly underwhelmed by it. Its added comfort is subjective at best, and arguably negligible. And for doing so little, this grip is charging a premium price. I’ve contrasted this grip with the JC200 multiple times here, and I certainly wouldn’t go as far as to say that’s unquestionably the grip to get, but it does demonstrate that you can do far better at the price being offered here.

tl;dr – The Satisfye ZenGrip Pro is a Grip-style accessory designed to add comfort when holding the Nintendo Switch, but I feel that any comfort added here is negligible, and in any case what’s offered here certainly doesn’t justify the price tag, which just is not at all competitive with other Grips on the market. While this is not a bad accessory, it’s overpriced and is simply not deserving of the hype.

Grade: C-

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