PowerA’s Slim Switch 2 carrying case has become my daily driver for protecting my console on the go. While it’s not the sturdiest, slimmest, or most stylish case on the market, it strikes a fantastic balance at all three. And while this might make it sound like a lesser option, it’s rare for a case to hit nearly every aspect I look for so well without any serious downside, making it one of the essential Switch 2 accessories out there.
PowerA has carved a confident niche as one of Nintendo’s partnered brands, producing officially licensed accessories for its hardware for multiple console generations, and often serving as a reliable budget-level option. While I think they’ve lost a step with their budget controller compared to last gen (as I outlined in my PowerA Switch 2 controller review), its case makes for a notable step up from what was offered for the original Switch.
Let’s start with the exterior; clad in a heather grey fabric on the exterior with black zippers and red accents, it’s a relatively subtle look (aside from the large ‘Nintendo Switch 2’ embossed on the front right corner). It suits the Switch 2’s overall pared-back design and looks better than most cases out there even if it keeps a more tame style. And that grey fabric is a nice touch that coats a really sturdy shell. Although it’s not quite as hardened as Genki’s or Dbrand’s offerings, what PowerA’s slim case compromises with all-out durability is made up through deftly balancing everything else you need from a case, including an easygoing zipper you don't have to fight with.
Measuring in at just about 1.77 inches thick, this low-profile case appears to be one of the slimmest cases currently on the market – it doesn't take up much more room in your bag than the Switch 2 itself would. With that added protection for your screen, Joy-Con 2s’ buttons, and analog sticks, however, this is the main reason why I’ve been reaching for PowerA’s case most often. And compared to other similarly profiled cases like Tomtoc’s slim cases, PowerA generously marks its own at about half the price.
Looking for a Switch 2 controller?
Check out my review of PowerA's Advantage wired controller!
The inside is coated in a black felt fabric with a tongue in the middle for covering the Switch 2’s screen. That tongue also doubles as storage for game cartridges with ten slots, and it can be used as a kickstand when you angle it against the case’s trim. The kickstand here feels a little unnecessary given the Switch 2’s massively improved kickstand compared to the original Switch, though I'm sure it comes in handy if you need a safer surface underneath the Switch 2 when you’re propping it up.
My main complaint about PowerA’s case is the lack of any kind of compartment for extra accessories. While limited storage for extras comes with the territory for a case of this profile, it seems like there would be enough room for a small mesh net to pop in a small USB-C cable, the Joy-Con 2 straps, or even a couple of extra cartridges. However, there isn’t an elegant way to place these inside the case. I bring this up because, despite being an incredibly thin case, I can still fit those Joy-Con 2 straps in there, but they’ll have to be haphazardly stuffed in rather than having a proper compartment.
Charlie Wacholz is a Chicago-based reporter and critic who's been covering news, community stories, and reviews for IGN since 2023. In addition to covering games for other publications like NPR, CNN, and Paste Magazine, he also writes about food and drink.
