N64 Dock for the Switch! Should You Buy the Hyperkin S64 Retro Themed Dock for the Nintendo Switch
177In this video, we unbox and test out the new Hyperkin S64 Retro Themed Dock for Nintendo Switch.
The OEM Nintendo Switch Dock is pretty expensive, almost $100, and it's also not very portable. Many manufacturers have come out with other, smaller docks for the Switch, but the gurus over at the #HyperkinLabs have raised the bar when it comes to their new dock, the S64.
What makes the S64 so unique is its appearance. See, it's designed to mimic the look and feel of the N64, but not just any N64. See, Hyperkin has replicated the look and feel of the jungle green Nintendo 64 in the S64, and man does it look great!
Before talking about the aesthetics, we need to talk about the size of the S64; this thing is TINY when compared to the OEM dock from Nintendo. It is perhaps the smallest dock I've used to date, if not it is awfully close. There's a lot of tech packed into this dock too. The face of the unit features 2 USB ports right where the controller ports would normally be located. Around back is a third USB port, this one a USB 3.0 port, a USB-C port for power, and of course the HDMI Port.
The top of the S64 has a push button to toggle between TV and Charge/Tabletop mode. In Tabletop Mode you can play the Switch while charging, something the stock dock doesn't provide. Finally, there is a black button on the underside of the dock and it is curiously not referenced in the manual. I reached out to Hyperkin and they informed me this is a reset button. Finally, two tiny LEDs are housed inside the unit itself, basically these act as power indicators.
The S64 does not include a power supply, and I see this as a bit of a mixed bag. By not including a power supply it helps keep costs lower. Also, after the 5.0 firmware update, some who used an aftermarket power supply found that their Switch could be bricked due to out-of-spec voltage and current. Per Hyperkin's recommendation, I used my original Nintendo power supply with the S64, so if you need to get a power supply just know that's what is recommended.
For my testing, I connected the S64 to my Samsung 65" 4K TV and my Vizio 75" 4K TV. I know with other docks I have used in the past there can be a difference between units regarding picture quality. To the naked eye, I did not see any differences between what the OEM dock and the S64 dock delivered. I have been playing my Switch through the S64 for some time now, playing a lot of Cuphead and Yoshi's Crafted World, and I can also say there wasn't any additional lag or delay added into the gameplay through the S64.
Why it RoX:
- Hyperkin nailed the N64 styling
- 3 USB Ports for connecting accessories or charging controllers
- Small Size makes it super-portable
- Toggle button to change between TV & Tabletop mode
- Charges while in tabletop mode
- OEM-level picture quality
- Improved airflow and cooling
- No risk of scratching your Switch
- US-based Support
What Could Be Improved?
- HDMI cable and power supply sold separately
- Other docks are available for the same price that includes all accessories
- Additional colors would be nice
- Manual should be updated to indicate what the black button on the underside is for
- It would be nice if you could turn the LEDs off
- Not Compatible with Cases
Should You Buy One?
If you are a fan of the N64 and are in the market for a Switch dock, the Hyperkin S64 is pretty slick. While other docks may include a power supply or HDMI cable for the same price, none do it with the style this has. It worked exactly as advertised for me, and I love the styling and looks. For the foreseeable future, the S64 will be my primary Switch dock!
The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107
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(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.)