I’m more impressed by the ModCase than I am the Nintendo Switch 2. It features a better design that makes the system far more comfortable to play for extended periods.
Yeah, we’re going to start this review out with that obnoxious comment that is true.
Anyway! The ModCase from JSAUX of a great kit to have for your Switch 2. Not only does it protect the NS2 from falls, but it also brings with it a secondary docking solution, a tighter and more comfortable grip for the NS2 that feels like it was made for adults, and a bevy of other little features that should make Switch 2 owners crazy-happy.
There are a lot of moving parts to the ModCase, but let’s start at its core purpose. It’s a protective case for the Nintendo Switch 2. Let’s discuss!
Casing it out
The first thing you will notice when getting the ModCase out of its packaging is how it has a rubbery enclosure that wraps around the system, as well as the Joy-Cons. And when I say ‘wraps’, I mean it really wraps around the system and controllers. It secures the system in the process, while also giving it a bit of space between the rubber case and the system for any potential drops that might accidentally happen. It feels sturdy, trustworthy, and capable of handling a lot of force trauma, should someone drop the sucker. Again, it’s very sturdy and trustworthy. It feels like a good case.
And that’s just the beginning of the case.
Beyond the security and safety of the Nintendo Switch 2, the ModCase also brings with it a way to grip the Joy-Cons better. Pertruding from the back are grips, which bring a more comfortable way of gaming for us adults with gigantic hands. Instead of the achy flat surface of the Nintendo Switch, your hands will get a more comfortable gripping area that prevents us older gamers from enjoying this glorified upgraded Wii U. That’s a huge plus for me with the ModCase. It makes the Nintendo Switch 2 handling far more comfortable than Nintendo’s original design.
Related to that grip improvement is how the ModCase pushes in the Joy-Cons and keeps them firmly in place. The case will also not cause any kind of give to the Joy-Cons and the system, as it simply pushes them right into place and keeps them there. I’m not sure if anyone else is paranoid about snapping one of those dumbly designed Joy-Cons right off, but it has been a nightmare of mine since 2017. Anyway, with the ModCase, the Joy-Cons have felt stable and sturdy, as well as nightmare-free.
As a bonus with this case, the ModCase comes with a protective front that snaps onto the case quite easily. This protects the Nintendo Switch’s screen from falls, and it has small indentations on the inside where you can store Switch games. So, it’s portable, practical, and protective all at the same time.
The case is worth the price of admission, and that is just the pre-show to this puppy.
Docking it
The ModCase also has a dock kit available for it. Now, I didn’t know how much I would enjoy this until I tried it out. Normally, the Nintendo Switch 1 and 2’s dock would give fits when trying to dock and communicate the system with external monitors. I experienced this with all my Nintendo Switch machines (I have three because of kids), and I had hoped this wouldn’t be an issue with the Switch 2. Well, it is, and it’s annoying as shit. Putting a system in a dock, seeing the green light glow, watching the monitor/television, and not seeing anything is the most frustrating part of the Switch experience. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has experienced this.
Well, the ModCase comes with an extension of sorts that locks down on the USB-C input of the dock, transferring that responsibility to a more secure external dock that feels a lot better. The ModCase dock comes in a few pieces. The first piece is a strip with a USB-C input, which is placed within the original dock. That strip locks down on the input securely, ensuring that there is no terrible disconnect between the Switch and television/monitor. It literally snaps into place. It’s a beautiful sound, and it’s so reassuring.
Coming from that strip is a longer USB-C input cable, which goes securely into the Nintendo Switch 2. Once connected, the user only needs to put the Switch 2 into the ModCase open dock (meaning, there are no walls), and it sits comfortably on it. It looks silly at first, but getting a solid external connection is a magical moment.
In conjunction with that dock, the Nintendo dock’s USB-A ports can still be used for controllers or whatever you use those for. The Nintendo dock is also a little flexible where it can be placed, so you can hide that sucker behind a television if you want to do that. I usually do when I have friends over, purely out of shame that I bought one. That is a bonus to the dock extension from the ModCase.
Anyway, having that ability to extend and secure the Nintendo Switch 2 and get it to the television/monitor without a hitch is so invaluable. It’s one of the best parts of the case.
And there is more.
The more
As I tend to do with hardware and accessory reviews, I like going into the review process without reading the instructions. It’s a sick game I play to see if the product is HCI-friendly. For me, the ModCase had some additional pieces with it that threw me for a loop.
The first piece was what looked like a watch band. I had to really figure this one out. I asked myself the following questions:
- Did this case come with a watch?
- Did I accidentally throw that away?
- My God, what if I threw that away and I have to tell the developers that I did, then I have to thoroughly apologize, embarrassing the site in the process, and firing myself from being managing editor for my incompetence. Because you can’t just do that when you’re running a review site. You have to be professional. If that happened, Will Silberman and Ben Sheene would take over, of course, but would I already have just sullied the site’s good name and leave them with nothing? So impactful.
Okay, I spiraled a bit.
After the downward spiral ended, and I got closer to the answer, I realized how this simple watch band was really a good way to hold a battery charger behind the case. The watch band gripped onto the back of the case through a locking system, which meant that it wasn’t going anywhere, as it could secure a very large charger if needed. The adjustable band is brilliant because it basically fits every size of charger on the market. Simply brilliant.
Other than the band, the ModCase also features its own stand, which is far more metal and sturdier than the one that came with the Switch 2, and it also features a phone grip for an extended screen experience (or if you want to keep track of your email as you play).
All these little pieces that were confusing at first turned out to be incredibly useful and wonderful. In full transparency, I have never explored an external power source that connects to the USB-C port on top of the Switch 2, but thanks to this case, I probably will check one out…so I can be disappointed with the games for an extended period of time.
Anyway, on that note, let’s wrap up this review.
Conclusion
Overall, the ModCase is a must-have for any Nintendo Switch 2 owner. It’s beautifully molded, useful in so many ways, and an additional and secure solution to prevent terrible accidents from befalling this portable console.
