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Genki Dual Wield Charging Grips and Base: Review
Genki’s Joy-Con 2 charging accessory has no pretensions of being a complicated, feature-packed gimmick. Rather, it commits to a minimal design and doing the simple things well. There are just two grips for your Joy-Con 2 pads, and two ports on the dock to charge them.
The basic square design of this dock doesn’t push the boat out aesthetically, but I was impressed by just how thin it is. There’s just enough for a USB-C port to be squeezed in on one end.
The grips attach magnetically to the dock, so there’s no need to press a button. I found it a little hard to tell whether they were correctly seated, as there’s little feedback, either physical or audible, when you slot them into place. Once in, they aren’t particularly sturdy; I can imagine a heavy knock dislodging them, but they’re fit for purpose otherwise.
There is a button to release the grips, but this doesn’t offer the smoothest operation, feeling a little cheap and flimsy. It’s big, at least, which at least makes it easy to press. Overall, the dock isn’t as well made as some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories around, but it’s adequate for the job.
It took just over three hours to fully charge a single Joy-Con 2 set, which is reasonable. There are LED lights either side of each docking point in the form of plus and minus signs, corresponding to their button counterparts on the Joy-Con 2. These are bright and clear, making them easy to see at a glance.
However, they don’t actually illuminate while the controllers charge, which is a little annoying. They only turn green once the Joy-Con 2s are fully charged, and even then, they go out after a short amount of time.
Like the base, the grips have a simple form. They’re also quite thin, but feel better made than the dock itself. They’re very solid and sturdy, but also quite light.
The Joy-Cons snap magnetically to the sides, just as do to the Switch 2 itself. They’re reasonably secure here, but there is a noticeable amount of play. Under normal usage, though, they remained stable and I was never worried about them coming loose. They’re also slightly translucent, which allows the battery indicators on the Joy-Cons to shine through.
They have a curious triangle shape, which means the Joy-Cons lean inwards at the top. This didn’t cause an issue for me, though, and I could play games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Metroid Dread just fine.
The hole in the center allows you to partially wrap your fingers into them, but I found it too small to wrap mine all the way around. Combined with the flat top and undersides of the grips, they aren’t as ergonomic as the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers. You’d be better off combining these grips with those that provide some underhand support on the Joy-Cons themselves, to make it feel like a traditional gamepad.
There’s a USB-C port on top, allowing you to connect to the console and charge while you play. However, the included cable is quite short, so you’ll struggle to use it in a TV setup.
Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Station review: Price and availability
The Genki Dual Wield costs £35.99 and is available now in one colorway: black.
This is a price reasonable for what it offers. Not only are there grips and charging docks for two sets of Joy-Con 2 controllers, but the fact that it has a USB-C port means you have more options to connect to sources, rather than relying on yet another single-use power adapter you’ll have to throw away once it’s served its purpose. It ticks many boxes if all you’re after is a cheap and easy way to hold and charge two sets of Joy-Con 2 controllers.
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Genki Dual Wield Charging Grips and Base review: Also consider
How I tested the Genki Dual Wield Charging Grips and Base
I tested the Genki Dual Wield for several days. I used it to charge a single set of Joy-Cons from flat to full, using a 67W charger. I also used the grips to play various Switch 2 games.
I’ve been gaming for decades, and have used all sorts of gaming accessories. I also own the DualSense Charging Station — one of the best PS5 accessories around — and have used other Switch and Switch 2 Joy-Con grips before. I’ve also reviewed a large number of controllers and other gaming peripherals.
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