Are you looking for an affordable dock for your Nintendo Switch 2? Whether it’s to take on trips or for a secondary setup at home, be it in the lounge or your gamer den, you may be interested in the Antank Switch 2 Dock. It is completely compatible with the Nintendo Switch, and its simplistic yet sleek design will never scratch your screen.
What to know more? Well, we have accepted a product sample by Antank that we have been putting it through its paces. On paper, it ticks all the boxes, but does it hold up in real-life scenarios? In this product review, we will find out.
Aesthetics – Antank Switch 2 Dock
At first glance, the Antank Switch 2 Dock is rather minimalistic, and the packaging is the same. It is compact with very little flair, and yet, it is far from being crude or rudimentary. The box, for example, doesn’t have any flashy colours to draw you in. It is simply white with the words Switch 2 Dock printed in red and an image of a Nintendo Switch 2 sitting in the dock alongside the model name S3 Max.
On the back of the packaging is where all specifications on the dock can be found. It includes all the big key points that people want to see, like 4K@120Hz HDMI 2.1 output, USB-C input at 5V/3A DC, two USB-A 3.0 ports so you can attach wired controllers, and there is another model that includes an Gigabit ethernet port that supports 1000 Mbps. I can’t really fault the packaging as it literally says everything on the tin, and is quite well represented.
As for the Switch 2 Dock itself, I am quite impressed with its design. It is shaped like a trapezoidal prism with a curved indentation in the top that seats the Nintendo Switch 2 snugly. It also provides an unrestricted view of the screen so you can play it in tabletop mode and is less likely to get scratched up, which can occur with the official dock. It also has a slight inclination to it so that the console can be used fairly comfortably in tabletop mode and is another plus in our book.
In regards of coloring, the dock is black for the most part with a light blue and red coloring on the sides to somewhat match the coloring on the Nintendo Switch 2 console. It isn’t an exact match but it is certainly close enough to not stick out like a sore thumb. There is also a tiny blue LED light at the front centre of the dock to indicate when it is recieving an electrical current, be it from the USB-C in port, or from when the Nintendo Switch 2 dock is seated.
Functionality – Antank Switch 2 Dock
So, let’s jump into functionality. On the back of the dock, you can find the necessary ports you would require a Switch 2 Dock to have. There is your HDMI out port, two USB-A ports for connecting wired accesories to, and a USB-C in port so you can power up the device via a USB-C lead. Now, the Antank Switch 2 Dock itself does not come with any cables whatsoever. A slight letdown, but on the plus side, it will easily connect to any cables you may already have lying around.
There was some speculation that the Switch 2 will only connect to a TV by using its own AC adapter and leads, however, I can actually confirm that this Switch 2 dock can use any leads and AC adapter and will work no problem. In fact, you don’t even need an AC adapter to connect the dock to a power source. If the TV or monitor you are using has a USB-A port, you can connect a USB-A to USB-C cable, which you may aready have lying around if you possess any of Nintendo’s accessories like a pro controller that comes with such a lead.
While the Antank Switch 2 Dock that was sent to me doesn’t possess a LAN port, there is a model that does have one. For Switch players who want to use a LAN connection for the ethernet, or for LAN play on certain games, that model may certainly interest you more. For myself, though, I will be using it more as a secondary dock in the lounge for when I have friends and family round and to take with me when on my travels as it is so much more compact and easy to carry around than the official dock. I can also use it with my phone charger or power bank so I don’t have to carry extra cables with me either.
One particular feature that I really do like is the small button on the back. It permits the user to swap between Docked mode and Tabletop mode on the device. It makes it quite a versatile device indeed as you can play in docked mode until your partner or roommate wants to take control of the TV and then switch over to tabletop mode to keep on playing without having to take the console out of the dock. I wil admit that I may have preferred the button to be in a more accessible location, rather than inbetween the HDMI and the USB-C port. It is not that it is out of reach, but I am not a fan of fumbling around looking for a button surrounded by cables that are carrying an electrical current to and from a connected device. I respect that the button is tucked away in the back of the dock to keep the front and the sides clear of protrusions. That said, I think it would have been much more user friendly to at least have it to one side on the front face of the dock so that it is easily visible and accessible to the user when required.
A Firm Base But Not Without Fault
While for the most part its design is quite sturdy on its own, the Antank Switch 2 Dock is quite light at only 109g or so. With that in mind, you will have to be careful no to knock the Switch 2 when the console is docked as it can tip over with enough force from a simple push of if a cable is pulled a bit too hard from the back.
Another thing I should add, is that when the Switch 2 is docked, it is reasonably secured in place by the prongs near the USB-C male connector. This is great as you want the Switch 2 to have a firm connection that won’t break any sensitive parts, but at the same time, you can’t easily slide the console out of the dock as the dock will lift up with the console. You will need to hold the dock down to remove the console with the other hand.
Conclusion – Antank Switch 2 Dock
Having played around with the Antank Switch 2 Dock, I must say that I am actually quite satisfied with the device. I like it’s sleek and minimalistic design. It is not in your face and it supports the Switch 2 extremely well. It is also priced considerably as well at around $34.99 USD so it is not going to break the bank, it is cheaper than the official dock and is actually a lot more versatile. Sure it doesn’t have the cooling fans installed to keep the system cool but the console itself is exposed on five of its six sides so it is less likely to overheat in well ventilated rooms.
Antank has also responded to out critiques with some valid counterpoints that I would like to share with you:
1. Cable Not Included
We made this decision to keep the price point more accessible, especially for users who already have compatible accessories. And we completely agree that a complete docking solution is more convenient—actually we’re actively developing a bundled version with all necessary cables. I will keep you updated.
2. Slightly tighter dock design
While the dock requires slightly more force to plug/unplug, this design serves critical purposes:
Stability: Prevents accidental disconnections during gameplay.
Safety: Ensures consistent power/video transmission.
3. Thermal Performance
Our tests show the dock runs cooler than the official Nintendo dock.
If I didn’t already have this dock, I would have most definitely have bought it willingly. It is ideal for my requirements and its versatility makes it a justifiable purchase. The fact that I can use it with any USB charger and connect my portable monitor to it makes it an absolute winner and if you are looking for not just a decent Switch 2 Dock but one that will tick all the boxes, you can’t really go wrong with this one.
If you are interested in picking up the Antank Switch 2 Dock for yourself, be sure to check out their website Antank.net and use the coupon MIKETENDO64 for 10% off!
