With the Nintendo Switch Lite soon to be making the scene and slightly revamped original Switch units with beefier batteries already on shelves, it’s totally understandable to find yourself looking at your old launch-day Switch like yesterday’s jam.
The good news is you can easily breathe a bit of new life into your system for far less than the price of outright replacing it thanks to the team at Bionik.
I originally discovered Bionik last year with the release of the TV Lynx, an ultra-portable Switch dock alternative that quickly became a must-have travel accessory. Lately, as I spend more and more of my time playing in handheld mode, the TV Lynx has seen a drop in usage, but don’t fret; two new items from Bionik have recently become even more indispensable.
The fact that the Switch—even in its newer iterations—doesn’t support Bluetooth headsets continues to be a glaring, nagging oversight. This has opened up the market for a veritable deluge of third-party audio adaptors, at a variety of price points and of sometimes-dubious quality. I’ve long resolved myself to just using wired headphones, though, as even the more recognizable names tended to put out big, obtrusive dongles that fly in the face of the overall Switch aesthetic.
All this changed when I discovered the BT Audio Sync.
Priced at $39.99, Bionik’s solution to Switch audio woes is both low-profile and effortless to use. Simply attach it to the USB-C charging port, place your device in pairing mode, and press the prominent orange button to sync your wireless cans or earbuds. The only drawback? Its’ flush design means it can’t be used with system cases, even the thin dockable kind. But given the stellar audio it delivers even with a mid-range set of wireless headphones, it’s a sacrifice I’m more than willing to make.
Not only does the BT Audio Sync require no additional batteries, its power-draw from the Switch is minimal—it hasn’t noticeably impacted my second Three Houses playtime at all—and a pass-through port actually allows you to charge the Switch even with the adaptor attached.
Speaking of charging, if you’ve been eying a newer model Switch for the increased battery capacity, I humbly suggest you first investigate the Bionik Power Commuter. It combines the elegant design of the original Commuter system case with an ultra-slim 10000mAh battery pack.
Composed of rugged black canvas and with the kind of water-resistant zippers generally reserved for high-priced designer accessories, the Power Commuter is the perfect traveling companion for a Nintendo Switch owner. Its main compartment is lined with a thick plush material to protect against bumps and screen scratches, and its sizable second interior compartment can comfortably hold… well, pretty much everything else.
At present, my Power Commuter contains my Switch (with or without the Nyko Thin Case) with the Joy-Cons attached, as well as 18 game cartridges, a Hori D-Pad Controller, a cleaning cloth and control stick covers, the aforementioned BT Audio Sync, and even some extra charging cables. Plus, a mesh front pocket is specifically designed for the branded battery pack, which includes an integrated USB-C cable and its own covered charging port (micro-USB). There’s even a Velcro-secured shoulder strap loop for attaching it to your backpack or carry-on.
Even at the $69.99 MSRP, the quality of the case alone—not to mention the convenient, high-capacity battery pack—manages to impress. In a household overflowing with system cases, the Bionik Power Commuter is an easy favorite, and I simply can’t recommend it highly enough.
Review materials provided by Bionik. This post contains affiliate links.
