One in all my greatest complaints about utilizing a Nintendo Switch in handheld mode is that its display screen is simply too small. And in contrast to earlier Nintendo handhelds like the Recreation Boy and Recreation Boy Advance, no firm has been courageous sufficient to launch a straight-up e book mild and magnifying glass window combo for the Switch.

If you happen to requested me how I’d be, then, in a Switch that had a large 11.6-inch show, I’d rely the times down till I may personal what sounds like an excellent factor. (Not fairly what I had in thoughts for a Switch Professional, however I assume Nintendo is aware of greatest.) Nicely, that future is right here — and it has apparently been right here for longer than I spotted. An organization known as Up-Switch makes the Orion, a glorified Switch dock-meets-screen that may be sandwiched between two Pleasure-Con controllers.

This $299.99 accent is like if Kirby inhaled your Switch, and the byproduct delivered an even bigger display screen. The Orion’s again pops open, revealing a slot that opens to suit the console, connecting through the Switch’s USB-C port. It has a kickstand on its rear, together with built-in audio system. The Orion has an HDMI port, which Up-Switch says can be utilized for different gaming consoles or streaming units.

Up-Switch

I’d have given this gadget some credit score for letting you slap the Pleasure-Con controllers on the aspect, but it surely contains detachable controller grips, which appear all however essential to make it comfy to carry up the Orion’s full 1.5-pound weight. Observe, nonetheless, that weight doesn’t embrace the Switch’s 10.5 ounces, nor does it embrace the load of the transportable energy financial institution that you simply’ll have to have strapped to its again if you wish to go cell with this considerably freakish setup. You can ditch the ability financial institution and plug in with the USB-C energy adapter that Nintendo contains with each Switch, but it surely defeats the aim of utilizing the Switch in handheld mode if you’re not cell.

The Orion made the rounds with a number of media shops in late 2021 when it launched a crowdfunding marketing campaign on Indiegogo. I notably loved Nintendo Life’s in depth protection of it, together with the video evaluation, which pulls no punches in exposing some flaws you’d in any other case solely know by attempting it out your self — like that the Orion’s show is 768p decision and that it pales compared to the Switch OLED and the unique Switch’s show. Additionally, puzzlingly, its twin audio system are positioned on the again of the Orion, aimed away at the one that’s holding it.

Their advice, if you actually, actually wish to reside out some model of this dream that’s clearly not meant to be a actuality, is to put money into a 1080p transportable monitor. As for me, I assume I’ll simply hold dreaming of what may be to come back within the oft-rumored Switch Professional.