JDDWin Full Protective Case

Hardware Type: Case / Grip

.

Review:

(Note: This product was received at no cost for review via the Amazon Vine program.)

(Note: I have also seen this case offered under the brand name Joytorn.)

When it comes to cases for the Nintendo Switch 2, I’ve seen cases worn on the hybrid console to keep it safe during use, and I’ve seen cases that the Nintendo Switch 2 is meant to be placed in to keep it safe while you’re taking it out and about. Interestingly enough, the JDDWin Full Protective Case is sorta’ both – it is a protective shell that the Nintendo Switch 2 is placed in that protects the system while allowing a player to use it, and it has a faceplate cover that can be placed on it to protect the entire system as it is brought with you.

It’s a novel idea, and one I actually find to be really attractive. And in some ways it succeeds brilliantly. However, perhaps fitting for a case that tries to be two things in one, it has ended up becoming the Nintendo Switch 2 case that I am both most impressed by, and the one I absolutely hate the most.

The two pieces of the case are separate, with the bottom one wrapping around the entire Nintendo Switch 2 console with its Joy-Cons attached. It has grips on the back at either side, and holes to allow access to all of its buttons. On its back is a kickstand to replace the one it covers, and while it only allows use at one angle, it otherwise seems sufficient.

The front piece actually wraps around and over the top and under the bottom, covering the L,R, ZL, and ZR buttons and covering all of the Nintendo Switch 2’s holes save for one, the USB-C charging port on the bottom, meaning that even when fully protected, this case still allows you to power up your Nintendo Switch 2 with your AC adapter. This front piece has two raised sections for the spots the analog sticks come out of the front of the Nintendo Switch 2. There’s also what seems to be a nylon strap at the top of this part, that allows you to more easily carry the entire case while this piece is connected.

I should note that both case pieces are made from a pretty sturdy-feeling plastic-like TPU material, and while holding it I honestly felt that out of all of the Nintendo Switch 2 cases I’ve tested thus far, this is by far the most I’ve felt that this case would protect the Nintendo Switch 2 from damage from a serious impact. I wasn’t about to test this by deliberately dropping or impacting the thing, but it certainly feels more protected than other cases I’ve tried.

Having said all of that, this comes at a pretty hefty price. This case is extremely difficult to physically get on the Nintendo Switch 2, to the point that at multiple points while trying I was seriously worried I was going to damage either the case or the Nintendo Switch 2. I nearly gave up trying twice. Be prepared to struggle with this, and once it is on, I would say you’re not going to want to remove it again unless you’re taking it off permanently. Taking the case off is quite difficult too, but not nearly as much.

Once the case is finally on the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s… actually pretty great. It’s surprisingly comfortable in the hands, none of the Nintendo Switch 2’s exhaust ports, plugs, or power and volume buttons are made more difficult to use, except perhaps the sync button, but even that isn’t too difficult. As much as I feel like the ordeal of putting this case on means you would never want to have to take it off again, I think the experience of using it does a good job of not making you want to remove it… except, well…

First of all, since this case blocks off the Nintendo Switch 2’s kickstand, it also blocks off the MicroSD Express port, meaning that you’ll need to remove the case again to change out that card. Also, it’s such a tight fit that you won’t be removing the Joy-Cons either after the case is on. And worst of all, this case is too thick to fit in a Nintendo Switch 2 dock, meaning that unless you never plan on docking your Nintendo Switch 2, you’ll need to remove the case to do so.

There’s also some missed opportunity here. If this case was going to double as a carrying case, surely that part of the case could have included some compartments for games? Maybe even the AC adapter, since now that you can’t dock the Nintendo Switch 2, that will be your only way to charge it? Heck, I could even see a use for an additional third piece that could hold a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or extra pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, since you’re not going to be removing the Joy-Cons attached to the Nintendo Switch 2 anymore.

Honestly, I can see a very small portion of Nintendo Switch 2 owners absolutely loving the JDDWin Full Protective Case. If you always play in portable mode and never in docked mode, if you never intend to detach your Joy-Con controllers, and if you don’t mind having separate storage for your AC adapter, games, and other accessories, then the comfort and protection this case provides will likely seem excellent.

However, I think it’s fair to say that it is highly unlikely that most players fit all of those criteria. I prefer docking my Nintendo Switch 2, thank you. I want the freedom to remove the Joy-Con 2 controllers when I need to make use of them. I think it’s absurd that this case misses the opportunity to at least include a place to store a few games. And I absolutely despise that just putting this case on my Nintendo Switch 2 makes me worry that I’m going to break my $450 hybrid console. As much as I admire what the JDDWin Full Protective Case does, as soon as I was done reviewing it, I ripped it back off of my Nintendo Switch 2, and don’t ever intend to put it back on. And unless you’re one of the people I described in my previous paragraph, I recommend that you skip a few steps to get where I am by just not buying it in the first place.

tl;dr – The JDDWin Full Protective Case is a case for Nintendo Switch 2 that works both as a shell to protect the hybrid console while it’s in use, or by attaching a front face plate it can act as a carrying case to keep the console safe in transit. This case has a lot going for it, and it feels really sturdy and protective, but it’s a huge pain to put on, prevents the Switch 2 from docking, won’t let you remove the Joy-Con 2 controllers, and doesn’t have any other storage for games and accessories. I can see a very select target audience for this case absolutely loving it, but I believe that most players will want to stay far away from this.

Grade: C-

^{You can support eShopperReviews on Patreon! Please click HERE to become a Sponsor!}

^{This month’s sponsors are Jamie and His Cats, Ben, Ilya Zverev, Andy Miller, Homer Simpin, Johannes, Francis Obst, Gabriel Coronado-Medina, Jared Wark, Kristoffer Wulff, and Seth Christenfeld. Thank you for helping to keep the reviews coming!}