Better than Split Pad Pro - ECHZOVE Dobe Switch Grip Review

In this episode, we unbox and test out the ECHZOVE Dobe controller grip designed for the Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED.Show more

While the Nintendo Switch and Switch OLED have been my 2 primary gaming machines for over 5 years now, I've never really loved playing the Switch in handheld mode. I think the system isn't very comfortable to hold, the Joy-Cons are too small, and it's just not an ideal experience for me. That's where the folks from ECHZOVE have stepped up with their new Dobe grip, and the awesome thing is that it has been designed to be compatible with the Switch and Switch OLED. They sent us one in white to check out, they also offer it in black if you prefer, and we spent some time checking it out.

From the box, it includes the grip itself, a pair of adapters for the original Switch they call Gaskets (they're more like spacers), and several thumbstick caps. I was a bit taken aback that they decided to not include any matching pairs of thumbstick caps, so you'll never be able to have the same feeling on the left and right stick. I found that to be a bit of an odd choice.

The overall design of the grip adds quite a few additional features to enhance gameplay. The left side of the controller features a large analog stick but replaces the A/B/X/Y buttons with a more traditional D-Pad. While this would be a good thing normally, this is a super-firm D-Pad with what seems like limited travel. As such I have serious concerns regarding its performance. The right side features large A/B/X/Y buttons above another analog stick. The back of the grip features 4 programmable finger buttons that you can easily program and customize. There isn't a turbo mode on this, which is a bit of a bummer.

The controller grip connects to your Switch or Switch OLED thru the USB-C port. There isn't any battery in the grip, so there's no benefit such as extended playtime. There is a female USB-C port on the bottom of the grip, so you can connect it to a power supply while you play. One thing you'll need to make sure you do is turn on USB Communication in the system menu; if you don't, the system won't recognize the grip when you connect it.

To test the grip out, I first slid the "gaskets" onto the rails of my original Switch. These slide in and out fairly easily, but to be honest, aren't totally necessary. I started off with a few NES and SNES online games to put the D-Pad to the test, and I am sorry to say my concerns were well founded as it is really not very good. It is far too rigid and firm and doesn't allow for very precise or accurate gameplay. I quickly found myself abandoning the D-Pad and simply using the analog stick instead. I also tested several other games, including Street Fighter, and I also found that the D-Pad wasn't suitable for this either. The Analog stick was just fine, however.

Next, I swapped out the Switch for the Switch OLED and fired up the N64 Online application. When I did this I was super impressed with how the rumble worked; it was pretty amazing! The analog stick also worked great for this application. I also fired up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with some of the new tracks, and again, it was really great.

Why It RoX:
- Compatible with both Switch and Switch OLED
- 2 Color Options
- Programmable back buttons
- Rumble is outstanding
- USB-C charging pass-thru
- Multiple stick caps included

What Could Be Improved:
- D-Pad is unusable
- No matching analog stick caps
- No integrated battery
- It is LARGE and WIDE
- No turbo function
- A bit expensive

Should you buy one?
If you're considering picking up a Split Pad Pro you should definitely give this a look. I think the overall form factor is much better, and it fits the system much more securely. The D-Pad is really bad, to the point it is basically unusable in my testing and that's unfortunate as the rest of the grip is really decent. It comes in black or white to match your system, and the overall control using the analog sticks is decent. To top it off, the rumble is fantastic! This is so close to being great, but as it is it is decent, with the potential of being good.

#Nintendo #Switch #Grip #SwitchOLED