HyperX Chargeplay Clutch review: Fun and versatile

The main feature of the Nintendo Switch is the easy conversion from a living room console to a handheld in seconds. However, there are many tradeoffs to be made with this versatility. For example, the Switch’s portable size prevents it from being a graphics powerhouse. Fortunately, there are plenty of third-party accessories available that optionally make the Switch better and more user-friendly, and the HyperX Chargeplay Clutch is one of them.

In this HyperX Chargeplay Clutch review, you’ll learn everything about what it is and what different features it offers. We’ll also let you know if we think it’s worth the relatively high price.

HyperX Chargeplay Clutch Review: What is it?

At its core, the HyperX Chargeplay Clutch is a portable dock that makes it easier to hold the switch in handheld mode. The extended handles of the coupling surround the Joy-Con so that you feel much closer to a “real” controller.

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However, the clutch goes a few steps further. It’s not just a classic dock system. It has a built-in 6,000 mAh battery that you can use to power your Switch on the go. The clutch can charge your switch approximately 1.5 times from an empty state before it needs to be charged by itself. It also has a stand that is much more powerful than the one built in on the switch. Finally, it can also be reconfigured to create a more ergonomic controller for tabletop gaming.

There are basically two different modes in which you can use the HyperX Chargeplay Clutch. The first is a handheld mode where the entire system snaps onto the switch. The second is an advanced tabletop mode where the Joy-Con are separated from the console. These are things the Switch can already do on its own, but the clutch enhances the experience for both.

What is good?

The first thing you’ll notice about the Chargeplay clutch when you take it out of the box is how high-quality it feels. Almost everything is plastic, but the materials are of high quality. The ergonomics are well designed so that everything feels good in your hands.

To get the entire console into the clutch, attach all of the pieces and just slide the switch into the dock. There is a latch at the top that locks the whole thing into place. It’s very sturdy; I wasn’t afraid the switch would fall out or come loose.

Putting the switch / clutch combo in tabletop mode is a little more complicated, but it works as expected. First, loosen the clutch handles from the Joy-Con, leaving only the base of the clutch. The clutch handles are magnetic, so that they pop out immediately with little effort. Then slide the Joy-Con off the switch as usual and insert it into the handles of the coupling. There are small plastic locks in the handles that hold the Joy-Con in place. After all of this, you are ready to play.

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On the back of the coupling base there is a power switch and four charging lights. Pressing the button activates the battery and the switch is immediately supplied with power. Pressing the power switch again interrupts the flow so that your switch operates on its own power supply. It’s cool that you can choose to draw backup power, and it’s nice that the LED lights are so easy to see and understand too.

What’s not so good?

The kickstand on the back of the Nintendo Switch is objectively terrible. It’s thin, cheap, and sits so far to the side of the console that a stiff breeze swirls around it. Fortunately, the HyperX Chargeplay Clutch solves that problem – and creates two new ones at the same time.

The first problem with the stand is the way it attaches to the base. Two metal pins hold it in place and the pins are easily removable. When I first opened the clutch, one of the pins was already loosened and was floating around the inner cavity of the base. I had to use toothpicks and tweezers to get it out. This is just a bad design.

The stand of the HyperX Chargeplay Clutch is better than the one integrated in the Switch, but it also requires some work.

The second problem with the stand is that there is no obvious way to pull it out. It clicks into place when not in use, but there is no arrow, fluted marker, or other mark to suggest, “Hey, this is how you get the stand out.”

However, once you shut down the stand it works fine. It gives you plenty of fishing options and I wasn’t worried the switch would tip over.

Outside of my handles above the stand, there’s not much else about the Chargeplay clutch that I don’t like. It does everything it claims to do and does a great job at it.

HyperX Chargeplay Clutch Review: Should I Buy It?

The HyperX Chargeplay Clutch is useful, versatile and comfortable. Made of high quality materials, it can add real value to Nintendo Switch gamers who use it frequently in handheld mode.

If you have large hands or find that holding the switch feels tight in handheld mode, the clutch solves that problem. If you don’t want to take your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller with you on the go, the clutch can be easily transformed into a pseudo-pro experience. The fact that it also charges your Switch is just the icing on the cake.

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All of this versatility and convenience comes at a price. With an MSRP of $ 59.99, the HyperX Chargeplay Clutch is the same price as a Switch Pro Controller. For this product to be reasonable value for money, the buyer (or fifteen) must be someone who is using their Switch in handheld mode much. If your Switch is mostly in the dock that plugs into your TV, you probably won’t have to spend $ 60 on it. If you’re always on the go and your Switch is barely docked, that $ 60 is a very well spent.

Remember that HyperX items are often put up for sale. If you can find this at a decent discount, buying it would be a breeze.