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Snakebyte Starter Kit S2 for Nintendo Switch 2: review
The Snakebyte Starter Kit S2 for Nintendo Switch 2 is, as the name suggests, a complete package of accessories to kit out your handheld console from the get-go. If you can’t be bothered researching and purchasing a variety of accessories, it offers a quick and easy way to upgrade your Switch 2 with no stress. But how effective are its constituent parts?
First off, the Snakebyte Nintendo Switch 2 case is slim, meaning that tucking it into your backpack should be easy, although this does reduce its capacity for additional accessories. Unlike the Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2, you’re not going to be squeezing your Dock in here. In fact, you can basically only fit a USB-C cable and the Joy-Con 2 straps – if you had visions of fitting in the console’s power brick or Joy-Con 2 grip, you’ll be sorely disappointed. You can fit in up to 10 Switch cartridges, though, allowing you to take a decent selection of your gaming library on the go with you.
Snakebyte’s wired in-ear buds hit a better note for me. They sit pretty deep in your ear canal, so how comfortable you find them depends on your personal preference. However, I found that no amount of head-jostling could dislodge them. And their sound quality is absolutely fine – you won’t get Sennheiser IE 200 levels of audio fidelity, but they render sound effects and in-game music in enough detail to be enjoyable.
I’m actually a pretty big fan of the thumb caps that came as part of the Snakebyte Starter Kit S2. They can be a little bit of a pain to get on, as they sometimes resist tucking under the far side of the thumb cap. But once they’re on, they work great. Not only did they make a palpable difference to the grip of my sticks as I flung Dry Bones around various courses on Mario Kart World, but they also have a superior tactility when compared to the Joy-Con 2’s built-in thumb caps.
I wish I could say the same for the supplied silicone Joy-Con grips. Not only do these feel a little loose to me, especially compared to the snug thumb caps, but they jut out quite far from the body of the Switch when the Joy-Con 2 are harnessed. I also felt they made a huge amount of difference to my gameplay – they didn’t enhance my grip that much at all. Maybe Donkey Kong Bananza doesn’t have enough violent flailing to make extra grips necessary, but if I’m honest, I rarely felt the Joy-Con 2 were likely to slip without them.
Having managed to take a huge chunk out of the screen of my Gen 1 Switch, I was keen to see how effective Snakebyte’s screen protector was. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite manage to keep up with the competition.
Applying the Snakebyte screen protector was a little more slapdash than I’m used to. You just peel back the film and apply – there’s no proper guides included. It also didn’t adhere as well as some other products. When I tested the Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for Nintendo Switch 2, it stuck firmly in place; the Snakebyte had a lot of bubbles left after application, even after concerted effort and a lot of pressure trying to smoosh them to the edges.
Snakebyte’s screen protector is also a magnet for finger smudges. The prints I left on the screen were honestly so clear that if I were wanted for a crime, forensics would identify me in 90 seconds. And while they wipe off relatively easily, removing all the remaining skin oils required some pretty aggressive work with a microfiber cloth. Once it was clean, though, it did look pretty decent, and doesn’t dim the Switch 2’s vibrant screen, even at extreme angles.
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Under stress testing, the Snakebyte screen protector didn’t hold up as well as some of the others I’ve tested. The second I picked at one corner of the display with my nail, it lifted away from the display, something that didn’t happen with the Belkin.
Fortunately, it resisted scratches much more effectively. I tried to score it with my keys, gently at first, then much more forcefully. And while it didn’t always slip over it like a penguin tobogganing off an iceberg, meeting the occasional bit of resistance, it still didn’t come away with any significant marks.
Weighing up the Snakebyte Starter Kit S2 for Nintendo Switch 2 as a whole is tricky. On the one hand, it’s an all-in-one package that costs very little, allowing you to kit out your Switch 2 for less than a meal out. On the flip side, the quality of the accessories varies pretty wildly, with some, like the earbuds and thumb caps, faring better than others, like the screen protector or case. Ultimately, if you’re keen to save time or money, it’s probably worth buying. Otherwise, picking individual items from among the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories will probably serve you better instead.
Snakebyte Starter Kit S2 for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price & specs
|
Price |
£15 |
|
Screen protectors |
2 tempered glass (without application frame) |
|
Case Dimensions |
11.8 x 5.9 x 2.4 inches / 300 x 150 x 60mm |
|
Case Number of game card slots |
10 |
|
Case compartments |
1x accessories compartment; 1x Switch 2 console compartment |
|
Joy-Con 2 Thumb caps |
Silicone |
|
Joy-Con 2 grips |
Silicone |
|
Additional items |
Wired headphones, microfiber cloth |
Launched on May 1, 2025, the Snakebyte Starter Kit S2 is available direct from Snakebyte and Argos, with the former charging £15 and the latter £20. This is pretty competitive, with many of the other Switch 2 accessories we’ve tested costing at least that for each individual item. So, for an all-in-one package, it seems like a good price.
Should I buy the Snakebyte Starter Kit S2?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Ease of application |
Screen protector doesn’t have a frame and it’s hard to remove all bubbles; grips can be hard to get on neatly. |
3/5 |
|
Design |
Thumb caps are nicely designed and earphones stay in firmly, although the case’s capacity is pretty limited. |
4/5 |
|
Toughness |
Silicone accessories and case are hardwearing; screen protector resists scratches but seems to peel off easily. |
3.5/5 |
|
Value |
Super affordable compared to buying accessories separately, even though quality of accessories varies. |
4.5/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Snakebyte Starter Kit S2 for Nintendo Switch 2 review: also consider
How I tested the Snakebyte Starter Kit S2 for Nintendo Switch 2
I tested the Snakebyte Starter Kit S2 for Nintendo Switch 2 over the course of several days. I applied the silicone Joy-Con 2 thumb caps and grips to see how they felt during gameplay, and used the wired earbuds for several long gaming sessions to see how well they conveyed game music and sound effects.
I applied the screen protector to see how easy the process was before testing how it affected the display performance. Next, I conducted multiple stress tests to see how well it coped with damage. First, testing how easily it peeled away at the corners, then trying to scratch it with my keys to see how easily it would mark.
I bring a lot of experience to the table when conducting these tests. Not only have I been gaming on portable consoles for several decades, but I’ve also spent more than 10 years writing about tech and trying out gadgets. As a result, I’m well aware of the kind of abuse gaming handhelds need to be able to withstand and have bought more than my fair share of protective accessories.
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