Nintendo seemingly designed its latest console to be a mystery for third-party accessory makers. With the Switch 2, the company changed the wireless protocol for connecting controllers to the new system, as well as how it outputs video over USB-C, making it clear at launch that every third-party manufacturer needed to start over from scratch.

Figuring out how to speak the Switch 2’s language — and ensuring reliability even after system updates — is an ongoing challenge. But now there are two reliable USB-C dock alternatives I can recommend, if you need one. Jsaux was one of the first to land with its $45.99 OmniCentro Dock last year, and now Genki’s crowdsourced Covert Dock 3 is available for $69.99.

Both docks can output up to 4K at 120Hz, though keep in mind that the Switch 2 tops out at 4K / 60Hz in TV mode. They can also scale down to 1440p or 1080p at 120Hz, with HDR support and up to 65W PD fast charging, and include a spare USB-A port for connecting accessories, such as a 2.4GHz wireless transmitter or controller. Genki’s dock seems to cost more simply because it features translucent orange components on two sides. I couldn’t find another spec or feature to justify the $24 price discrepancy between the two.

At this point, we’re several years into having gadgets like these around — after all, this is the third iteration of Genki’s Covert Dock. Just like previous USB-C dock alternatives, having one of these hubs around can be handy for travel (both have foldable prongs, so they won’t bend or snag on your bag), or even if you don’t leave the house. Sometimes, I like to use my Switch 2 up in my office, while leaving Nintendo’s first-party dock downstairs.

While the novelty of this kind of charger has worn off (they felt revolutionary when the first Covert Dock launched in 2020), it’s great to have two options that work great with Nintendo’s latest console, as well as the Steam Deck and other handhelds.

It’s also nice that, whichever model you choose to buy, they both support upgradeable firmware, should a system update change how the Switch 2 communicates with docks. Overly cautious? Not so much. A November 2025 console update blocked some third-party docks, and if it happened once, it could happen again.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge