The Nintendo Switch's portability is one of its greatest assets. You can bring your favorite games with you virtually anywhere you want to go, so you can explore the vast world of Hyrule while stuck on a crowded bus or wander to your tropical island in Animal Crossing while relaxing at the park. However, if you’re always playing on the go, it can put your Nintendo Switch at risk, whether that be from an accidental drop or a bunch of loose items in a backpack. To keep it safe, you should grab a case.
There's a wide variety of options for Nintendo Switch cases. Some serve as grips like you might have on your phone, protecting your Switch without blocking you from using it. Others are larger, made to hold the switch and some choice accessories when you're not playing. Some cases even charge or extend the battery life of your console while you're on the go. We've rounded up some quality options, so you can find the Nintendo Switch case that suits your needs and style.
TL;DR – These are the Best Nintendo Switch Cases:
- Orzly Carry Case
- AmazonBasics Carrying Case
- tomtoc Carrying Case
- Zadii Hard Carrying Case
- Timbuk2 x Astro CS03 Crossbody Sling
- Villager Supplies 3UP Nintendo Switch Case
- Mumba Dockable Case
- Yobwin 10000mAh Battery Charger Case
- Bionik Power Commuter Travel Bag
- Controller Gear Animal Crossing Backpack
- Waterfield Designs Slip Case
Orzly Carry Case
Best Switch Case
Portability, affordability, and organization come in one convenient package with the Orzly Carry Case. For under $20, this option protects your console when on the go with a hard outer shell to keep everything intact during an inevitable drop or to ensure your Switch stays free from water damage during a rain shower. Inside, the case is wrapped in a soft fabric and includes a microfiber tongue to prevent scratches and help your device’s screen remain free from smudges.
The Orzly Carry Case is chock full of organization solutions with a main compartment that fits a switch with Joy-Cons attached, while an inner pocket can store cables, extra Joy-Cons, or smaller accessories. There’s even a space to slot in your favorite games or some SD cards. And after you zip everything you need inside, a sturdy strap makes toting your Switch around wherever you go a breeze.
AmazonBasics Carrying Case
Best Budget Case
You don’t have to spend tons of money on a carrying case, as the AmazonBasics Carrying Case gets the job done for around $15. It is more than up to the task of keeping your precious Switch safe with a design that won’t dramatically reduce your console’s portability. This option keeps compact dimensions and zips up, wrapping your device in colorful and sturdy protection that will keep it safe from short drops, debris in your backpack, and even a bit of water—just don’t dunk it.
The AmazonBasics Carrying Case does more than just protect your Switch; it’ll also hold some additional accessories. There’s a mesh pocket inside to house some extra cables, earbuds, Joy-Cons, or even a portable charger. Plus, a cartridge sleeve can hold up to 10 games, letting you bring a large gaming library on the go. Cleverly, that cartridge sleeve doubles as a stand to prop up your Nintendo Switch when playing in a tabletop setup.
tomtoc Carrying Case
Best Compact Case
To keep your Nintendo Switch protected while on the go without sacrificing portability, grab the tomtoc case. Rather than a large carrying case that’ll fit your console and all its accessories, this one wraps up just the Switch and maintains a snug fit. There’s almost no extra bulk, and it weighs less than half a pound, making it perfect for tossing in your bag, backpack, or even a larger pocket.
You might be concerned that your Switch’s joystick and buttons will have unnecessary pressure placed on them or be accidentally activated. Luckily, tomtoc includes raised sections to accommodate those controls. The case totes a soft exterior layer and interior that helps cushion the blow if dropped, while it’s built around a hard EVA shell and has a water-resistant finish to keep your Switch safe inside. tomtoc tops it off with one extra bit of kit: a 10-slot organizer for game cartridges.
Zadii Hard Carrying Case
Best Rugged Case
If you plan to take your Switch with you when your travels get a little rough and tumble, you'll want the Zadii Hard Carrying Case. This rugged case is surprisingly affordable and offers plenty of protection. There’s ample padding and even a precut foam slot to snuggly tuck your Switch with its Joy-Cons attached away, ensuring the console is safe from any potential damage when on the go.
The Zadii Hard Carrying Case holds a lot more, as it has room for pretty much everything that comes in the box with your Nintendo Switch and then some. Beyond the space for your Switch, there are additional foam slots to hold a second set of Joy-Cons with the Joy-Con grip, Joy-Con straps, a Pro Controller, a Nintendo Switch Dock, and a power adapter. The lid of this carrying case also provides a pocket for an HDMI cable and a set of sleeves to hold 21 game cartridges, while a detachable shoulder strap makes carrying the whole thing easier.
Timbuk2 x Astro CS03 Crossbody Sling
Best Nintendo Switch Sling Bag
Timbuk2 knows bags, and Astro knows gaming, so the two companies joined forces to create the Timbuk2 x Astro CS03 Crossbody Sling for the Nintendo Switch. This sleek bag goes on quickly, takes up little space, doesn’t add much bulk, and provides easy access but solid protection for your gear while on the move.
The CS03 bag has a three-liter capacity giving you room for your Nintendo Switch, a smartphone, a number of accessories and cables, and even 14 game cartridges or SD cards in individual slots. To keep things organized, there’s a front pocket with a magnetic closure for easy access to some of the gear, while the main compartments are protected and secured with weather-resistant zippers. And to further ensure the bag holds up against wear, it uses a combination of 600D polyester and 4mm-thick ripstop nylon.
Villager Supplies 3UP Nintendo Switch Case
Best Shoulder Bag
If you want the simplicity of a bag you can sling over your shoulder, then Villager Supplies' 3UP Nintendo Switch Case should do the trick. This bag comes with a removable adjustable shoulder strap—that can also work for a sling bag— and a lanyard for a clutch option, so you can change up how you carry it. Given the name, there’s even a pocket in this bag dedicated to the Switch with extra padding to keep it free from damage.
The 3UP Nintendo Switch Case holds more than just your Switch, as even in the padded Switch pocket is a cartridge for ten games, while additional pockets in the front compartment have space for other accessories. There's even a pass-through opening between these two spaces, so you can slip a portable charger in and run a charging cable between compartments to charge on the go. An additional rear pocket is a perfect place to toss your phone as well.
Mumba Dockable Case
Best Always-On Protective Case
Mumba’s Dockable Case offers full-time protection for your Switch and its controllers, and there’s little to no reason to ever take it off. If you want to use your Joy-Cons separately from the console, you can slip them out effortlessly, as the case doesn’t interfere with any of the controls. Specially placed cutouts ensure you have access to all the essential ports, and it’s even possible to leave it on when docking your Switch, hence the name.
If you’ve got butterfingers, Mumba’s 24/7 protection is what you need. This case wraps your Switch in a shock-absorbing, rubberized material that’s easy to grip and will keep your console safe from bumps, scratches, and drops. And it’s available in multiple colors, so you can choose one that best fits your aesthetic.
Yobwin 10000mAh Battery Charger Case
Best Charger Case
If you take your Switch everywhere, battery life might be your top concern. The Yobwin Portable Backup Charger Station has an integrated 10,000 mAh battery, which can extend gameplay considerably—an extra eight hours or 1.7 charges. And thanks to a USB-C port, you can also use it as a standard power bank to top up your phone or tablet.
This Nintendo Switch battery case is more than just a battery, as it's rocking some handy extras. Yobwin throws on a kickstand in the back to use your Switch in tabletop mode, but the real treat is the add-on controller grips. The grips attach to your Joy-Con, adding a bit more girth to hold onto for improved ergonomics, and cleverly, the grips also include slots to stow game cartridges.
Bionik Power Commuter Travel Bag
Best Play-While-Charging Case
Bionik’s Power Commuter Travel Bag has a beefy 10,000 mAh battery. But rather than charging directly in the case, like the Yobwin, this option includes an integrated USB-C charging cable to plug in when you stop and play. Of course, that means it’s easy to use this battery to juice up your other devices, and the bag even includes a USB-A connector.
Beyond the battery, the Power Commuter Travel Bag features a durable canvas exterior, and you can wear it across your shoulder or strap it to other luggage. Inside, this bag is padded and plush to keep your Switch safe. It’s also spacious and ready to house a slew of Switch accessories, including slots for game cartridges and Joy-Cons.
Controller Gear Animal Crossing Backpack
Best Nintendo Switch Backpack
Who said you had to keep your Nintendo Switch in a little case? The Animal Crossing backpack from Controller Gear offers plenty of room for your Nintendo Switch and won’t set you back too many bells. You can even throw in a few controllers and other accessories since you won’t be limited to stuffing everything into tiny compartments.
Your console can slide into a dedicated sleeve, and there's even a holder to toss in your Nintendo Switch Dock with its associated cables. Another sleeve fits a 15.6-inch laptop, so your backpack isn’t exclusively for the Switch. You even get an additional pocket on the back of the backpack, letting you store more.
Waterfield Designs Slip Case
Best Nintendo Switch Sleeve Case
You can keep your Nintendo Switch safe while still being super easy to access by gearing yourself up with a sleeve-style case. Waterfield Designs delivers with its Slip Case for the Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite. It’s a lightweight carrying sleeve that keeps things simple with a case-length magnetic strip to ensure everything is secure but also lets you slide your console out to be gaming in seconds—no more fussing with zippers.
The Waterfield Designs Slip Case is made with quality materials, as you get water and stain-resistant fabrics, while a bottom grip made of leather makes it easier to pull your Switch out. Inside is a fuzzy lining to stay gentle on the Switch's screen, and there are two pockets to house a few accessories that are also designed to protect the console's controls from impact. This sleeve is available in various colors and has optional add-ons, like a game cartridge holder or a carabiner to attach the case to your backpack.
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 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 that bear images of game characters or logos. That’s 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 you’re 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. It’s probably not worth considering a charging case with less than about 10,000 mAh of power, as that’ll 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 you’ll 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 you’re a child, and less so if you’re a grownup who takes a Switch to work to game on a 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.
Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.
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