Switch 2 Day One: The Accessories Worth Buying Before a Kid Gets Near It
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A new console lasts about as long as it takes for a kid to find it unattended. Before anyone touches the Switch 2, get the case and screen protector on it. Everything else on this list is optional. That one is not.
The Picks
- Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector: the must-have, covers the screen and the console before a drop, a spill, or a backseat ride can do damage.
- Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: the nice-to-have, better for long TV sessions or a second player, but skip it if budget is tight.
Protection first, because the screen is the expensive part
The Switch 2 has a 7.9-inch touch screen. That’s a big, exposed piece of glass that rides around in a backpack, gets set on a car seat, and gets picked up by small hands that have never once set anything down gently.
Nintendo’s own carrying case and screen protector is built for this exact console, so the cutouts and fit line up the way they should. Per Nintendo, it comes with the screen protector already included along with a cleaning cloth, so you’re not hunting down a separate screen protector and hoping it fits right. The case also holds up to six game cards and two Joy-Con 2 straps, which matters more than it sounds once cartridges start multiplying.
If you only buy one accessory on this list, this is it. A cracked screen or a scratched-up slider ruins the whole experience fast, and this is the cheapest insurance against that happening in week one.
The Pro Controller: good for the TV, not required for launch day
The Pro Controller is the first real upgrade once someone’s playing docked on the TV for a while, or when a second player joins in. It is not a must-have. The Joy-Con 2 that come with the console work fine out of the box. But for longer sessions, a full-size controller is easier on the hands than small detachable controllers, and it’s the better pick if you’ve got an older kid or a partner who wants to co-op regularly.
A few specifics worth knowing, straight from Nintendo:
- Battery life is rated around 40 hours per charge.
- Charging time is about 3.5 hours, using the Switch 2 AC adapter or the included USB cable.
- GL and GR buttons on the back can be remapped to other inputs, handy for games that need quick access to extra commands.
- A C button is built in for GameChat.
- There’s a 3.5mm audio jack, though Nintendo notes it can’t guarantee every headset will work with it.
If you’re weighing this against a handheld-only setup, our breakdown of handhelds for short play windows covers how the Switch 2 stacks up against other portable options for quick sessions.
Storage: the upgrade nobody thinks about until it’s a problem
The Switch 2 comes with 256GB built in, which sounds like a lot until a few bigger games and some screenshots eat into it. The catch is the Switch 2 only accepts microSD Express cards, not the regular microSD cards from an older Switch. Older cards simply won’t work here, so if storage becomes tight, you’ll need to shop specifically for that newer card type. We’re not naming a brand here, just flagging it so you don’t grab the wrong card at checkout and wonder why it won’t read.
What to actually buy on day one
Keep it simple:
- Must-have: the official case and screen protector, on the console before the first play session.
- Optional: the Pro Controller, worth it for TV play or a second player, skippable if you’re watching the budget.
- Know before you need it: storage upgrades require a microSD Express card specifically, nothing older will work.
If you’re building out a bigger gift list around this, our gifts for gamer dads guide has more ideas that fit around naptime and bedtime schedules, not just console accessories.