Belkin Charging Grip for Nintendo Switch 2 Review

There are always those accessories that feel like they should have existed from day one. The Nintendo Switch 2 is already an incredibly impressive handheld console, but like every portable gaming device, there are a couple of areas where you can immediately see room for improvement. The biggest two are comfort during longer gaming sessions and battery life when you're away from a charger.

That is exactly where the Belkin Charging Grip for Nintendo Switch 2 comes in. At first glance, it looks like a simple grip accessory, but after spending time with it, I think it might genuinely be one of the most complete Switch 2 accessories currently available. It doesn't just solve one problem; it improves almost every aspect of handheld gaming by making the console more comfortable to hold while also extending how long you can play before needing to reach for a charger. Belkin has essentially taken the two biggest frustrations with handheld gaming and combined them into one incredibly well thought-out accessory. And honestly, it feels like the definitive accessory for anyone who primarily plays their Switch 2 in handheld mode.

The first thing that stood out when I took it out of the box was just how good it looks. Belkin has absolutely nailed the design. Available in multiple colour options, including black, lilac and olive, the Charging Grip manages to feel like a premium Nintendo accessory rather than something you've simply bolted onto the console. The colours are modern without being overly flashy, and the overall design language matches the Switch 2 surprisingly well. The version I tested had that same premium, minimalist feeling you expect from Belkin products.

The finish is clean, the shape is ergonomic, and when attached to the console it looks like it could almost be an official Nintendo accessory. That is something I really appreciate. There are plenty of third-party accessories that technically improve functionality but make the device look bulky, awkward or cheap. The Belkin Charging Grip does the opposite. It actually makes the Switch 2 look more complete. It gives the console a more substantial appearance while still maintaining the sleek portable design that makes the Switch 2 so appealing in the first place. But looking good is only part of the equation.

The biggest improvement comes from how much better the Switch 2 feels in your hands. The standard Joy-Con controllers are perfectly fine for short gaming sessions, but anyone who has spent hours playing handheld games knows they aren't always the most comfortable option. The smaller profile can start to feel cramped, especially during longer sessions or games that require more precise inputs. The Belkin Charging Grip completely changes that experience. The larger ergonomic handles provide a much more natural grip, giving your hands somewhere comfortable to rest rather than forcing you to hold the console by the smaller Joy-Con edges. The difference isn't something you necessarily notice after five minutes, but after an hour or two of gaming, it becomes incredibly obvious. Your hands feel less fatigued. Your fingers sit in a more natural position. And the entire console feels more like a traditional controller rather than a tablet with controllers attached. That alone would make this a worthwhile upgrade for many Switch 2 owners. But then Belkin added the feature that really separates this from every other grip on the market: the magnetic power bank.

The genius part of this design is that the battery isn't permanently attached. Instead, the system uses a magnetic connection that allows the power bank to snap securely onto the back of the console when you need extra battery life, and detach when you want to travel lighter. The included battery pack is a 10,000mAh unit with up to 30W charging capability and can extend Switch 2 play time significantly, with Belkin claiming up to 1.5 additional charges. And this is where the accessory goes from being good to genuinely useful. One of my biggest frustrations with portable gaming is managing battery life.

The Switch 2 is powerful enough that demanding games can drain the battery much faster than traditional handhelds, meaning longer trips, flights or gaming sessions away from home often require some kind of charger or power bank. The Belkin solution is far cleaner. Instead of carrying around a separate battery pack and dealing with cables hanging from the side of the console, everything becomes one integrated unit. The magnetic connection is strong, the design is clean, and the fact that you can remove it whenever you don't need it is a huge advantage. This is the kind of feature where you don't realise how convenient it is until you've used it. Once you've experienced being able to simply snap on extra battery life when needed, going back to a traditional power bank feels unnecessarily complicated.

The small digital battery display on the rear is also a great addition. It gives you an easy way to see how much power remains without needing to guess or check through the console itself. It is a small detail, but it's exactly the kind of thoughtful addition that makes an accessory feel properly designed. Another thing I really appreciate is how Belkin has managed to maintain functionality while adding so much extra capability. The Joy-Cons can still be removed without taking the grips off, meaning you aren't constantly dismantling the setup every time you want to switch modes.

The accessory also maintains compatibility with the Switch 2 kickstand and dock, although the battery pack needs to be removed when docking. That might sound minor, but it shows that Belkin actually thought about how people use the console rather than simply creating a grip and attaching a battery to it. It works with the way people already play. Whether you're sitting on the couch, travelling, playing at a desk or using tabletop mode, it adapts.

The only area where I think there is room for improvement is the added bulk. There is no getting around the fact that adding a grip and a 10,000mAh battery makes the Switch 2 a larger device. If you're someone who values absolute portability above everything else, you may find yourself removing the battery regularly. However, I actually think this is a worthwhile trade-off. The Switch 2 was already not a tiny handheld, and the comfort improvement is significant enough that I rarely found myself wanting to go back to the standard setup.

The only other consideration is price. At around $149.95, the Belkin Charging Grip is definitely positioned as a premium accessory. There are cheaper grips available, and there are certainly cheaper power banks available. The question is whether the convenience of having both combined into one seamless accessory is worth paying extra for. For me, the answer is yes. Could you buy a cheaper grip and carry a separate battery pack? Absolutely. Would it work? Of course. But it wouldn't be anywhere near as clean, convenient or integrated as this solution. That's really where Belkin has succeeded. They haven't necessarily invented a new category, but they've refined the experience to the point where it feels like the way the Switch 2 should have been designed from the beginning.

After spending time with the Belkin Charging Grip, it has become one of those accessories that I would struggle to remove from my setup. It improves comfort, extends battery life, looks fantastic and genuinely enhances the entire handheld experience. It isn't just a grip. It isn't just a battery pack. It's an accessory that addresses two of the biggest weaknesses of portable gaming in one beautifully designed package. For Switch 2 owners who spend most of their time playing handheld, I think this is one of the easiest recommendations I can make.

The price might make some people hesitate, but once you've experienced the improved comfort and the convenience of having extra battery life instantly available, it's difficult to go back. Belkin has created what I believe is the definitive Switch 2 handheld accessory.

The only things stopping it from being perfect are the premium price and the slightly increased size when fully assembled. But for what it delivers, those are small compromises for an accessory that genuinely improves the way you play.