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Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case for Nintendo Switch 2: review
The Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 makes a good first impression. It’s quite sleek for a large Switch 2 carrying case, and also rather stylish. This is thanks to the dark grey color and the surprisingly elegant suede strip that runs around it, offset to the right. It features subtle blue and orange stitching, a nice detail and a nod to the color coding of the Joy-Con 2 controllers.
The material of the entire unit also impressed me with its ruggedness. The shell of the main compartment feels solid, too, with only a slight amount of flex. As for the detachable travel case on top, I appreciated the small rubber strip that runs along its back edge, as it provides a little more durability and protection when opening it up. What’s more, the entire case is pleasingly light and slender, which is all the more impressive considering what it’s designed to carry.
The zips are similarly well-made, with a reasonably long string and a thin plastic topper that’s easy to grip. However, I did find them a little awkward to open at times, as the lids of both the travel case and main compartment have a tendency to sag inwards, slightly obscuring the teeth. This is a minor issue, though, and not one that’s likely to frustrate.
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It’s quite versatile in terms of storage. As mentioned, and as the name suggests, there are two elements to the PlayTrek 2-in-1. The first is the travel case, which is attached via hook-and-loop fastening. This feels quite strong, so I wasn’t worried about it detaching unintentionally. The case houses the console and up to 14 game cards, courtesy of the elastic slots attached to the screen protector flap. The inner part of the lid features zipped netting for storing other accessories, such as cables and the like. There’s no carrying handle, though, which is an oversight.
The fit for the console is very snug, and the case itself is thin all over with next to no extraneous bulk. This makes it great for tucking into a backpack, like the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. However, it isn’t a hard shell; it flexes quite readily, so I wouldn’t be confident stacking anything heavy on top of it.
By contrast, the main compartment feels sturdy. The sides can bend inwards quite easily, but the same isn’t true of its corners, so I wouldn’t be concerned if it were subjected to outward forces.
Inside there are inserts for the console, the dock, the Joy-Cons, the charger, and a large gamepad, such as the Switch 2 Pro Controller. I managed to fit the GameSir G7 Pro here instead, which is one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers you can buy, with ease. The fit was snug and secure, as it was for all the other parts. Nothing moved out of place when I threw the loaded case up and down and spun it upside down several times.
The mold material is also just about soft enough to prevent scratching or marking the items within. However, during the course of my test, the glue adhering one side of the mold base to the bottom of the case failed, coming loose.
Obviously this was disappointing, although it’s possible I got unlucky with my particular unit. Regardless, it at least suggests some quality control issues. Despite the failure, I wasn’t too concerned that this would compromise the security of my contents: the other side of the base remained affixed, and since it sits tightly within the compartment, I wouldn’t be worried if all the glue came unstuck.
There are two straps adorning the main compartment. There’s a small carrying handle with a soft neoprene cover that’s very soft and comfortable in the hand. It provides just enough slack, although it’s quite tight, which makes it awkward to move out of the way when accessing the main compartment and detaching the travel case; the handle slid out of one of its buckles accidentally on numerous occasions. On the other hand, this tightness does help to pin down the travel case on top, adding an extra layer of security to the hook-and-loop fastening.
The shoulder strap is a typical affair, with its nylon design and plastic karabiners. It’s a small shame these and the buckles aren’t made of metal, but I guess this helps to keep the weight down. Fortunately, the karabiners are very solid, which can make them a little tough to remove, but this is a price I’m willing to pay for the security they offer in return.
The length of the strap is adjustable to a reasonable degree, although it could perhaps offer more slack to more easily accommodate taller users. The padded cover over the adjustment buckle is a little thin and lacks the cushioning of the neoprene carrying handle, but I still found it sufficient to prevent the strap digging into my skin.
At $50, the PlayTrek 2-in-1 is a reasonable price for such a feature-filled carrying case. It also has the quality to match, aside from the aforementioned issue with the inner mold. And since it’s cheaper than Nintendo’s own counterpart, it’s a compelling alternative.
Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case for Nintendo Switch 2 review: Price & specs
|
Price |
$49.99 / £39.99 (about AU$70) |
|
Dimensions |
5.83 x 12.60 x 7.99in / 148 x 320 x 203mm |
|
Weight |
1.78lbs / 809g |
|
Number of game card slots |
14 |
|
Compartments |
7 |
|
Handle |
Yes |
|
Color |
Grey |
Should I buy the Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case for Nintendo Switch 2?
Scorecard
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|
Design |
Light and bulk-free, while still providing enough protection. The travel case is a bit too soft, though. |
4 / 5 |
|
Storage |
There’s plenty of room for your entire gaming setup, which is all the more impressive given its slender form. |
5 / 5 |
|
Value |
It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s cheaper than Nintendo’s equivalent, yet has more features and storage space. |
4.5 / 5 |
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Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case for Nintendo Switch 2 review: Also consider
Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case
As Nintendo’s official carrying case, you’d imagine the quality would be high here. And indeed it is, but it’s more expensive than the PlayTrek, yet less solid and with fewer features. There aren’t as many game card slots, and there’s no detachable travel case. Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case review.
How I tested the Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case for Nintendo Switch 2
I tested this case for a few days, storing the Switch 2 in the travel case compartment, as well as in the main compartment along with the dock, Joy-Cons, and a large controller.
I carried the case around, via both the handle and the shoulder strap, and regularly removed and replaced the handle to test how easy this was. I also tested the zips thoroughly by opening and closing them repeatedly.
I threw the case up and down and spun it upside down several times to test both the hold of the detachable travel case and the hold provided by the inner molds of the main compartment.
