A Must-Have Switch & Switch Lite Accessory? Use Bluetooth Headphones with the Switch & Switch Lite

In this video, we test out the Ziocom USB-C Bluetooth adapter for the Nintendo Switch & Switch Lite.

One of my biggest complaints about the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite is the fact that neither one of them are compatible with Bluetooth headphones. I have some really nice corded headphones, but ultimately, I'd like to be able to cut the cord. Well searching on Amazon recently, I found the Ziocom USB-C Bluetooth dongle you see here. For $30, I was intrigued.

The adapter itself is pretty small, and it includes a few accessories in the box. I was not expecting a USB-C OTG cable in the box, but there it was. At first I didn't understand why this was included, however, I quickly discovered why and appreciated it. One item that's included that I never did figure out the purpose for was the 3.5 mm headphone plug. It doesn't affect performance, it doesn't really do anything.

The pairing process was pretty simple and straightforward. Well, if you follow the manual it's not. See, the manual indicates that Bluetooth will automatically connect the first time you go to pair a set of headphones to it. That is simply not the case. You need to press down on the button on the face of the adapter to enter pairing mode. Once you are in pairing mode on the adapter, simply put your headphones into pairing mode and you should be ready to go.

After I got my headphones paired, and my headphones are super cheap for the record, I sat down to play some Super Mario Odyssey on my Nintendo Switch Lite. I have to admit, the sound is really really good. It sounded very similar to my AKG headphones I normally use that came with my Samsung Galaxy Note 9. I wish the volume would have been a little bit louder, but that's my only real complaint.

Since the Switch powers the dongle, this will affect your battery life. On my Switch Lite, I went from 70% battery to 23% battery after about an hour. This isn't a major impact, but it is an impact.

Remember that USB OTG cable I mentioned? Well, you can plug that into your dock and listen to the audio from your Switch directly through your headphones! This allows you to play without disturbing others in the area, very similar to plugging in a set of headphones to a PlayStation 4 controller.

Why it RoX
- Color scheme matches the blue and red switch
- Under $30
- Compatible with both the switch and switch light
- Very good audio quality
- Very good range
- Included USB OTG cable allows you to use with your Switch docked

What could be improved?
- The manual is terrible
- Includes a 3.5 mm plug with no explanation of what to use it for
- It is a little bit on the long side
- It will reduce your battery life
- Volume was a little bit low for my taste, but that could be the headphones

Should you buy one?
This makes me angry, you shouldn't have to buy this. Nintendo should have designed Bluetooth into both the Switch and especially the Switch Lite. That being said, for what this does and the price, if you use headphones quite a bit and use your Switch portably and you would like to cut the cord this is a pretty decent way to do it. The instructions suck, let's just be honest about that. That being said, I kind of expected that going in with this sort of device. For me to use while I fly or travel, using my Switch with wireless headphones is a definite bonus. This helps me make that happen, and the battery life trade-off is not significant enough to keep me from using it.

#NintendoSwitch #Bluetooth #ZIOCOM
The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;
(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.
(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)