Yoxxzus Switch2 Portable Dock

Hardware Type: Dock

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Review:

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

(Note: I have heard that a recent Nintendo Switch 2 update has caused problem with third-party docks. I should note that this review was written before this update was released. Returning to this review, I can confirm that an updated Nintendo Switch 2 WILL NOT work with this dock. I will update this review if anything changes, but for now I do not recommend getting this dock if you want to use it with a Nintendo Switch 2.)

With the official Nintendo Switch 2 dock costing a whopping $120 and being uncomfortably large for transport given that this is a portable game system, it’s no surprise that we’d see third parties offer smaller and less expensive solutions. And given that the original Nintendo Switch had much the same issues (if not to the same extent), it’s no surprise that we would see many of those same solutions repurposed for Nintendo Switch 2.

As such, I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised to see the Yoxxzus Switch2 Portable Dock, a Dock that repurposes the same design as one I’ve already reviewed, the Gmeaou Switch Dock. Yoxxzus (which may well be the same company as Gmeaou operating under a different name, a common practice among Amazon accessory manufacturers) has produced something so similar, in fact, that it even brings with it the ability to hook up with the original Nintendo Switch as well (the original model and OLED model, not the Nintendo Switch Lite, which cannot dock), along with other devices that can dock in a similar fashion, like many modern Android and iOS devices.

Much like the Gmeaou Switch dock before it, the Yoxxzus Switch2 Portable Dock is one of the smallest docks I have encountered, and as of this writing it is the smallest Nintendo Switch 2 dock I have gotten my hands on. The advantage to this is pretty clear – it’s pretty ideal for travel, and should help to declutter your entertainment center. However, there are downsides too.

In order for this dock to work, you’ll need to get your own power adapter, and specifically you’ll want to get a power adapter appropriate for the console in question. And you should be aware that the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 both have different power consumption needs, meaning that you need an AC adapter specific to the device you’ll be using – this is important, because using the wrong AC adapter could irreparably damage your game console.

The good news is, regardless of whether you’re looking to hook up a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, you already have all of this – it came in the box with the console. However, if you’re looking at this as a secondary dock, you’ll have to pay extra. Just for Nintendo’s official Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter alone, that means adding an extra $35 to the price tag, and an AC adapter for the original Nintendo Switch costs $30. However, even adding this price tag to the $20 Yoxxzus dock puts this dock at half the price of Nintendo’s Switch 2 dock, making this a massive savings over Nintendo’s dock. And that’s if you’re not going for a third-party power adapter, some of which work for both consoles.

This also means that your Nintendo Switch 2 will be sitting loose while it’s docked, and depending on where you have it, it might be vulnerable to getting knocked down or damaged. Additionally, the USB-C port to power the device using the aforementioned power adapter is on the HDMI plug of the device, which is plugged into the TV or monitor you’re connecting to. Depending on your setup and where your TV is in relation to your power outlet, and how long your power adapter’s cable is, this might make connecting everything difficult. Likewise, the HDMI cable is built-in to this device and cannot be disconnected or traded out with another, meaning if you don’t have a convenient place to hook up your Nintendo console within the range of that cable’s length (6’4″), you’re out of luck.

However, I think the big limiting factor here is going to be the complete lack of any additional ports on the device – no additional USB ports for connecting or charging controllers, no network port for higher-quality online gaming, nothing. To hook anything else up to your Nintendo Switch 2 while using this, you’ll need to make use of the Nintendo Switch 2’s other built-in USB-C port. And for the original Nintendo Switch, you’re completely out of luck, since it has no extra ports.

However, if none of these limitations fazes you, you are looking at getting good audiovisual performance in a tiny package, with this dock supporting video output up to 4K/60Hz or 1080P/120Hz, though of course the device and TV it’s connected to may play a limiting factor here, and Yoxxzus’ dock doesn’t do any sort of upscaling.

In the end, I think the Yoxxzus Switch2 Portable Dock fits a specific niche, and it fits that niche well – it is an outstanding low-cost solution for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 players who want a portable Nintendo Switch 2 dock to bring with them on the go. And as long as you’re aware of its limitations and aren’t bothered by them, I think you’ll be happy with this product.

tl;dr – The Yoxxzus Switch2 Portable Dock is a Dock for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 that’s very small and inexpensive. And while it lacks a necessary AC adapter (depending on the device you’re using), and has no additional ports beyond what’s needed to plug in your game console and power the device, I think this is a good choice for players looking to save space and money, particularly for a docking solution they can bring with them.

Grade: B (N/A)

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