This third-party Nintendo Switch dock could be better than Nintendo’s
If you’re looking for a replacement for your bulky Nintendo Switch dock, this new model from innoAura might be worth a look. As well as featuring two out of the three USB ports found on the first-party model, it also includes an Ethernet jack, which gives you a much more stable internet connection and even unlocks some additional functionality in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
It’s this Ethernet adapter which is what gives innoAura’s dock (available from Amazon UK for £30.99) the edge against Nintendo’s official dock which, as NintendoLife points out, requires the use of an external device.
Related: Best Nintendo Switch games
The most obvious use for Ethernet connectivity is internet speed and reliability. Wi-Fi has got a lot better over the years, but it’s still far from perfect and can suffer from inconsistent performance if you’re on the opposite side of the house from your router.
But there’s one instance we can think of where being connected via Ethernet actually unlocks additional functionality in a game.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Ethernet exclusive
Mario Kart has always been a game designed to be enjoyed in multiplayer, and thanks to the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons it’s easier than ever to race with a friend on the same console.
But if you’re serious about your karting, then you’re going to want to use multiple Switches to allow each player to have an entire screen to themselves.
In this mode, you’re normally limited to eight players, unless you have your console’s connected together via Ethernet, in which case the full 12-player limit is unlocked and you’ll be able to fill a complete race with human players.
Read more: Best PC games
We’re skeptical that many places outside of professional tournaments are going to have the 12 consoles, 12 Ethernet-equipped docks, and 12 televisions that are required to make this happen, but at least the dock part of the equation has been made slightly easier with this latest release.
Do you have an Ethernet adapter for your Switch? Let us know @TrustedReviews.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
