The Nintendo Switch Online app launched with very little fanfare. The voice-chat solution is ill-conceived and clumsily implemented, but that didn’t stop Nyko with dreaming up the perfect Joy-Con grip solution and app companion. The Clip Grip Power for Nintendo Switch is an incredibly handy (and really comfortable) grip solution, even for those who don’t plan on using the SplatNet app while playing Splatoon 2.
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So what is it, exactly? The Clip Grip Power is an enhanced Joy-Con charge grip. You could call it the “definitive edition” of Nintendo’s charge grip. This grip has a built-in battery that you can charge up, and that battery serves multiple purposes. It will charge your Joy-Con, obviously, but it can also charge your phone in a pinch. The included cable can connect your phone to the back of the controller while it’s clipped, ensuring you never have to worry about your battery life while playing.
So let’s be optimistic and assume that you do actually plan on using Nintendo’s online app for communicating with your friends while playing Splatoon 2 and whatever future games may use the app. With the Clip Grip Power, you can keep your phone a couple of feet away from you at all times. Not everyone has a headset or a microphone, but if you have a simple pair of ear-buds with a hanging microphone, you have all that you need for party chat. Clip your phone to the top of your controller and you’ll never have to worry about yanking your ear-buds out or accidentally dragging your phone off of a table. If you wanted to use voice chat over speakerphone, this would also be a great way to keep your phone just a few feet away from your mouth and ears.
This is the Clip Grip Power’s most basic function and selling point, and it does what it’s supposed to do. Nintendo’s Online app does not rotate when your phone is in landscape mode, which is unfortunate, but when you’re in a party that doesn’t necessarily matter.
So what about build quality?
Build Quality and Comfort
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The controller feels great in your hands. I actually came away preferring the weight and feel of Nyko’s Clip Grip Power compared to the standard Joy-Con grip and charge grip from Nintendo. It provides slightly thicker, slightly beefier handles to wrap your hands around, which I came to appreciate so much. If I’m playing with Joy-Con instead of a Pro Controller, this is going to be my go-to grip going forward.
That said, that actual grip made me nervous at times. When you don’t need your phone clipped to the top of the controller, the clip can be stored neatly on the back of the controller like this:
It’s incredibly easy to place the clip on the front of the controller for use, but taking it off made me a nervous wreck. To remove the clip and return it to its resting position on the back of the controller, you basically have to hold your controller and push the bottom of the clip away — and push it hard — until it snaps free. Every time I took the clip back off I was worried that I had damaged it in some way. The force with which you have to pry it away and the way it suddenly snaps off is a bit worrisome.
My clip is obviously still in one piece or else I’d be writing Nyko an email instead of writing this review. Everything else about this controller and the process of using it feels smooth, stable, and sturdy. Some of you may wonder if the added weight of your phone can throw off your aiming while using motion controls inย Splatoon 2. This wasn’t an issue for me personally, but the extra weight does take some adjusting to.
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What else does it do?
There’s one great feature about this Joy-Con grip that makes it perfect for traveling, and that’s the storage cavity in the front. The front panel has a lid that can slide away revealing seven spacious slots for your Nintendo Switch cartridges, and two slots for microSD cards. This is an incredible touch from the designers over at Nyko, and one that shouldn’t be overlooked.
When you’re out traveling with your Switch, especially if you’re traveling long distances or on vacation, the less clutter the better. Taking this simple grip with you ensures that you have a high-quality Joy-Con grip, a party chat or phone placement solution for when you want to go online or set up a hot spot, an extra built-in phone charger or Joy-Con charger, and storage for all of the physical games that you might possibly bring with you.
If you got a cheap Nintendo Switch case at launch without extra storage for games or cards, then this will be an invaluable addition to your accessory lineup!
Conclusion
The Clip Grip Power for Nintendo Switch is going to earn a spot in my travel bag alongside my HORI play-stand as a must-own accessory. For someone who plays their Switch daily and takes their Switch with them everywhere, it’s just too useful not to have. The Nintendo Online app is going to evolve over time, and even in its present state, voice chat isn’t so bad if you’re willing to pop in some ear-buds.
In addition to its inevitable usefulness when the app comes into its own, the Clip Grip Power is imminently valuable as a means of backup power and storage. It was very clearly designed with function and affordability in mind, and I’m happy to say that Nyko didn’t cut corners on quality. I’ve enjoyed my time with this little guy very much, and it’s going to stay by my side. Buy with confidence.
