Nintendo has delighted fans with a series of unexpected surprises this year, from Princess Zelda as a playable character in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom to the revival of the Mario & Luigi RPG series. However, one of the most surprising, albeit less thrilling, announcements is the first official Switch Joy-Con charging stand. After over seven years since the Nintendo Switch's launch, those who have been waiting patiently since 2017 can finally purchase a first-party charging stand.
Nintendo's Joy-Con Two-Way Charging Stand was launched on October 17 and is available for $30 at various major retailers. While this is Nintendo's first official charging stand, it's not the only option available. There are numerous third-party charging stations for Joy-Con controllers, but only a few are officially licensed by Nintendo. One such option is PowerA's Joy-Con Charging Dock, which originally sold for $30 but is now available for $20 on Amazon. This dock can charge four Joy-Con controllers simultaneously. Hori also offers a similar charging station for $30, supporting four Joy-Con controllers.
If you're considering purchasing a Joy-Con charging stand this holiday season, you'll need to decide between charging four controllers at once or opting for the convenience of charging two while still being able to play. Nintendo's Two-Way Charging Stand is likely to be a popular holiday gift due to its practicality, often accompanying new consoles. For those planning to buy a Nintendo Switch as a gift, Nintendo has released two holiday bundles this year. The Nintendo Switch OLED bundle includes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and 12 months of Switch Online for $350 (valued at $430), while the regular Switch bundle is available for $300 (valued at $380).
To complement your new charging stand or holiday bundle, Walmart offers the Neon Red/Blue Joy-Con for $65 (originally $80) and Neon Purple/Orange for $66 (originally $80). While Switch Joy-Con controllers are convenient for multiplayer games, there are superior options available. Our roundup of the best Nintendo Switch controllers in 2024 highlights Nintendo's Pro Controller and 8BitDo's Bluetooth Ultimate Controller for docked play on your TV. For portable gaming, we recommend Hori's Split Pad Pro and CRKD's Nitro Deck.
