Keep Your System Safe With Switchblades

The Kickstarter is now live!

By Marc Deschamps. Posted 11/13/2018 12:45 Comment on this     ShareThis

The success of Nintendo Switch has generated some very interesting peripherals and products from third party manufacturers. Take Gravilogic’s Switchblades, for example; the peripheral is designed to click on to the sides of the Switch unit when the Joy-Cons are detached. The intended purpose is to protect the Switch’s electrical components from dust and debris while also giving the system a look that the company calls “bold and refined.” Gravilogic was kind enough to provide a couple of test samples, and the product is fairly impressive.

Switchblades will be available in a number of different colors and varieties, but the company sent me two to start with: one made out of wood, the other acrylic. Right out of the gate, one of the most noticeable things about the Switchblades is that they look and feel high quality. The acrylic Switchblades have a nice, glossy finish that reminded me of the New Galaxy Style 3DS Nintendo released a few years back. While I thought the acrylic Switchblades seemed nice, and some Switch owners will no doubt appreciate the vibrant colors, I really liked the hardwood designs a lot more. They look spectacular, and those that have their system in an entertainment stand or on a desk will appreciate how the wood just gives the system a more refined look. Gravilogic will also offer an aluminum alloy design, as well.

It would be easy to dismiss the Switchblades as redundant, but they do have a handful of practical purposes outside of aesthetics. They add a bit more grip to the system, making it easier to remove from the dock without getting fingerprints on the screen, which has always been a minor pet peeve, for me. According to Gravilogic, the rail covers will also protect the Joy-Con connectors from getting damaged when dropped. I’m happy to report that the extra grip provided by the Switchblades was a nice inclusion but, admittedly, I didn’t test dropping the system to see how well they protected the Joy-Con connectors. I’ll have to take Gravilogic’s word on that one!

In addition to protecting the electrical components, Switchblades have another practical purpose: a slide out kickstand that offers a different viewing angle from the one attached to the console. This was not always an intended feature of the product, rather a late running change that will be included in all versions should the company’s Kickstarter campaign succeed. In the interest of full disclosure, Gravilogic sent me the revised product to try out, as well. Personally, I rarely use my system in tabletop mode, and I was skeptical about the inclusion. I will admit, however, that the kickstand is technically impressive and unobtrusive, giving the system a bit more sturdiness in tabletop mode.

If there’s one minor issue I had with the product, it’s that the Switchblades can be a little difficult to remove from the system, at first. I never worried about damaging the system or the Switchblades themselves, but I did have to consult the included instructions; it wasn’t quite as intuitive a process as removing the Joy-Cons, but once I realized how to do it, it was rather simple to do so. Still, it’s a minor quibble, particularly since I’ve actually feared damaging my system when detaching other third party peripherals, and that was never the case, here.

It’s impossible to quantify how effective Gravilogic’s Switchblades are at protecting the system’s electrical components. That said, from a purely aesthetic standpoint, they’re a nice, simple addition to the console and they do provide Switch owners with a couple minor quality of life improvements. Switchblades might not be the most critical peripheral available from a third party manufacturer, but for those looking to spruce up their system, they make a welcome addition that comes in a variety of different options. If you’d like to purchase a set of Switchblades of your own, the product’s Kickstarter campaign can be found here.


Nintendojo was provided this item by a third party, though that does not affect our recommendation. For every review, Nintendojo uses a standard criteria.

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