The HyperX Chargeplay Clutch charging case for Nintendo Switch is a multi-use mobile case, detachable battery pack, Switch stand, and controller holder. It’s exceedingly strong in the creativity and innovativeness departments, but misses the mark a bit when it comes to comfort and practicality.
Let’s start with the Clutch’s strengths. The construction is sturdy, clearly built to last, and I appreciate how adaptable the entire presentation is. It can be used in two ways: 1) in handheld mode with the joy-cons attached to the screen, or 2) in tabletop mode with the kickstand swung open and the joy-cons reconfigured into controller mode. The Switch slips into the case securely (with a hinge on top to secure the body in place) and converts between modes easily: just slide out the joy-cons, pull the joy-con holders out of the battery pack (they’re fastened magnetically), snap the two holders together, flip up the holder flaps (for securing the joy-cons), then slide your joy-cons back into the holders.
It’s also easy and convenient to charge the Clutch. Users can charge it in either tabletop or handheld mode while they’re using their Switch due to the charging port being located on the back of the accessory. The battery is advertised as giving up to 5 hours more playtime, which seems like a good increase to me, especially for the older Switch models. Turning on the external battery and seeing how much charge is left it is clear and intuitive, since the power button and 4 charge lights are neatly displayed on the back of the battery pack. It’s also important to note that the Clutch has “pass through” charging, where charging the Clutch will also charge the attached Switch (prioritizing the Switch if both external battery and console need charging).
These are all great features that are important for a multi-purpose accessory like this. Unfortunately, though, the Clutch takes a hit when we move on to the comfort category. In handheld mode, I found the Clutch to be bulky and heavy as well as being slightly uncomfortable to hold in my grip. I feel confident that most others will feel the same regarding its bulkiness and weight (it has a full external battery attached to it, after all!), but people with larger hands might find the grip more comfortable than me. As it is, I found the Clutch much more convenient and usable in tabletop mode (though the grip of the joy-con holder was still a minor issue).
As I sat at my table using my Switch and Clutch in tabletop mode (about 8 feet away from my TV), however, I began to question who the Clutch was really for. If it’s too heavy and bulky for handheld usage and is best used with its kickstand deployed, that would mean it’s ideal for a circumstance where users don’t have a TV and/or their Switch’s cradle. Long car rides don’t seem like a great fit, since it’s easy to just use an external battery attached by a cord if you’re in one place for a long time. The Clutch also does not come with a travel case either. Due to its large size, users will probably be hard pressed to find a nice travel case for it, and I wish that HyperX had thought to at least include a drawstring bag for users who would want to use this accessory in handheld mode and transport it that way accordingly. I’m puzzled they didn’t since most of their headphones come with one.
The conclusion I came to is that the Clutch is best for users who are planning to go on day trips or short vacations where they don’t want to lug their cradle along and possibly don’t have access to a TV (but do have access to outlets). In tabletop mode, it can support long hours and multiple players who don’t want to quit playing when the Switch’s console battery dies - they can just plug it into a wall and keep playing. But there’s still a minor problem here: the joy-cons have no way to be charged in controller mode - they have to be reattached to the screen in order to charge.
This is the biggest issue of the Clutch: its identity crisis. As a handheld case, it’s just too heavy for me. From looking at Switch and Clutch specs, attaching the Clutch to a Nintendo Switch almost exactly doubles its weight: roughly 14 oz up to a bit over 28 oz. For a console I’m used to being so light, that’s a big change that I don’t think I’d ever willingly get used to. As a portable stand and battery combo, it does fine, but is there really a very large demographic of people looking for this? And if that’s who it’s for, I would have been very nice to see the joy-con holder have a way of plugging in for charging when in controller mode.
At $59.99, Switch users should be confident that the Clutch is something that fits into their playstyle. If you’re someone who anticipates a lot of day trips or doesn’t have a TV (or prefers to use the Switch as a tabletop screen), the Clutch is well built and might be exactly what you need. Alternatively, if you’re looking for an external battery built into a Switch case and you don’t think the extra weight or lack of travel case would bother you, the Clutch may be just the ticket for you. For anyone else, I’m not sure if there’s something for you here, and it’s certainly not compatible with the new Switch Lite. HyperX is definitely a company that experiments and iterates, so I am very optimistic that they’ll continue to improve upon their Switch peripherals and we’ll see a more all-purpose and all-user Switch accessory not too far down the line.