Source: Rebecca Spear / iMore
My Nintendo Switch is a constant companion since I take it with me everywhere in my house and on trips. Because I’m often playing multiplayer games with family and friends, it’s usually important for me to take the dock as well so we can connect it to a TV. However, it’s so bulky and expensive that I feel more comfortable taking a portable third-party option rather than risking breaking the official dock.
I’ve tested a few third-party Switch docks over the years and most recently I’ve been able to check out the Alxum Switch Docking Station. It’s very small and folds up into a square making it very easy to travel with without worrying about it breaking in transit. Plus, it allows me to play my Switch both in tabletop mode or TV mode while charging my console.
Alxum Switch Docking Station
The Good
- Small and portable
- Supports tablet and TV mode
- Easy to use
The Bad
- Doesn’t come with cables
- Should be handled carefully
Table of Contents
Alxum Switch Docking Station: Price and availability
Alxum Switch Docking Station: What’s good
| Category: | Alxum Switch Docking Station |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch |
| Modes | Tabletop/TV |
| Charging | 45W PD |
| Ports | USB-C, 4K HDMI, USB 3.0 |
| Dimensions | 2.83 x 3.15 x 0.79 inches |
| Weight | 3.52 oz |
I simply flip around the kickstand, plug the necessary cables into the back of the device, and place my Switch on the USB-C nub. The Switch charges up while I play, allowing me to enjoy my favorite games for hours. There’s a button on the top of the device that, when pressed, toggles between TV mode and tabletop mode. In TV mode, the Switch screen will go dark, but your game will appear on a connected TV. Whereas tabletop mode allows the Switch to display your game while charging on the dock.
However, this docking station is not really the best option for replacing your official dock at home unless you already have the adapter and HDMI cables handy. That’s because it does not come with its own cables and the instructions recommend using the official ones that come with the Switch.
Alxum Switch Docking Station: What’s not good
On another note, you need to be careful when placing and removing your Switch from the Alxum. The plastic kickstand feels like it could break with just a little pressure and it’s easy to wriggle the Switch from side to side while it’s in place. It would be terrible if the USB-C port snapped off and got stuck in the Switch port.
Alxum Switch Docking Station: Competition
If you don’t want the tabletop mode charging and just want the TV mode abilities, the Genki Covert Dock is a great choice. It supplies its own charging adapter cable, is small enough for convenient travel, and doesn’t have the breakable kickstand area found in the Alxum. However, it does cost significantly more.
Alxum Switch Docking Station: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if …
- You want to easily charge your Switch in tabletop mode
- You’d like a Switch dock that’s easy to travel with
- You plan on switching between tablet mode and TV mode
You shouldn’t buy this if…
- You want something sturdier
- You’ve lost the official HDMI cable and charging adapter
- You’d prefer to use official Nintendo accessories
Using the official docking station is by far the safer way to go, but if you’d like to have a portable option that’s easy to use, then the Alxum Switch Docking Station is a great choice. It’s capable of charge your Switch back up while you play in either TV or tabletop mode, so you can play in whatever way you prefer.
However, it doesn’t provide its own cables and actually recommends you use the official ones that come with the dock, so you’ll need to have those handy. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure to be careful when placing or removing the Switch from the USB-C connection so as not to break the fragile kickstand.
Alxum Switch Docking Station
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more,
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.7”;
js.defer = 1;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
var fbAsyncInitOrg = window.fbAsyncInit;
window.fbAsyncInit = function() {
if(typeof(fbAsyncInitOrg)==’function’) fbAsyncInitOrg();
FB.init({
appId: “291830964262722”,
xfbml: true,
version : ‘v2.7’
});
FB.Event.subscribe('xfbml.ready', function(msg) { // Log all the ready events so we can deal with them later
var events = fbroot.data('ready-events');
if( typeof(events) === 'undefined') events = [];
events.push(msg);
fbroot.data('ready-events',events);
});
var fbroot = $('#fb-root').trigger('facebook:init');
};
