The Pokémon GO Plus arrives at retail this week after a lengthy delay, but there's still an awful lot of confusion about what this diminutive device actually does, what it's limitations are and how it can be used to improve your Pokémon GO experience.
Fear not however, because we've compiled this handy one-stop guide to the device which explains exactly what's involved and why you need one in your life. Ready? Let's get started.
The Basics
The Pokémon GO Plus costs £34.99 / $34.99 and comes with a plastic clip and wrist strap, which can be switched by removing the back panel with a screwdriver. It's powered by a single CR2032 battery which needs to be replaced once exhausted.
Compatibility
You'll need to make sure your phone can connect to the GO Plus before buying one - here are the important details:
iOS
Compatible OS versions: iOS 8 - 9
Compatible with: iPhone 5 / 5c / 5s / SE / 6 / 6s / 6 Plus / 6s Plus / 7 / 7 Plus
Android
Compatible OS versions: Android 4.4 - 6.0
Compatible with: Android 4.4 or higher that have Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth v4.0 or higher) capability and 2GB RAM or more.
Connecting the Pokémon GO Plus to your phone
The process of linking the GO Plus to your handset is all handled within the Pokémon GO app itself. First, make sure you're running the latest version of the app and then navigate to the settings menu. You'll see "Pokémon GO Plus" as an option - select this and you can pair the device with your phone by pressing the GO Plus button to establish a link. If you have issues connecting or the app doesn't seem to be able to find your GO Plus, try toggling the phone's Bluetooth connection.
If your GO Plus has previously been paired with another device, hold down the button until the blue light appears, release, then hold it down another five more seconds to reset it.
Capturing Pokémon with the Pokémon GO Plus
When you're out and about the GO Plus can be used to capture Pokémon without the need to remove your phone from your pocket. When a nearby Pokémon is in range, the GO Plus will vibrate once and the light will pulse green (note - while "lured" Pokémon at Pokéstops will trigger notifications on the GO Plus, those attracted by the Incense item will not - you'll need to use your phone to see and capture those).
Pressing the button on the GO Plus will attempt a capture. If you are successful, the GO Plus LED will pulse white with three vibrations, followed by multicolor lights and vibrations. However, if you're unsuccessful in your attempt, you'll get the same pulsing white light and vibrations but with three short vibrations and a red LED.
If you decide to remove your phone from your pocket and attempt a capture that way, the GO Plus connection will be severed and you'll have to reconnect by tapping the GO Plus icon on the main screen of the app. Again, if you have problems connecting at this stage try turning your phone's Bluetooth connection off and on again.
When using the GO Plus to capture Pokémon you are limited to normal Pokéballs and cannot offer Razz Berries to pacify the monster. If you run out of normal Pokéballs the GO Plus will blink red during capture.
Pokémon that aren't in your Pokédex can still be captured with the device - the LED will flash yellow in these cases.
Getting items from Pokéstops with the Pokémon GO Plus
When you pass a Pokéstops the GO Plus will vibrate twice along with a blue light pulse. Pressing the button will collect the items on offer, and afterwards you'll receive notification of how many items you have gained. For example, three vibrations means three items have been collected. Should your bag be full, you'll get a single vibration alert along with a white light.
Hatching eggs and earning candy with the Pokémon GO Plus
While Nintendo previously insisted that the GO Plus would not track your distance when in use, that's not actually the case. Distance is still counted making it possible to hatch eggs and earn candies with your buddy Pokémon, even when your phone is in your pocket with its screen asleep. However, you will not be notified of hatched eggs or candies gained until you next look at the app itself.
Has this guide answered your burning questions about the Pokémon GO Plus? Let us know if we've missed anything out, or if you'd like any other quries answered.
Comments 27
But do you need the app running in the background while you use it?
Only thing people need to know about it, is that it's overpriced. >_>
The fact that it can track your distance while your phone is asleep is really convenient. It's still too pricey for me though.
It would have gotten a lot more sales if it was released earlier in Pokemon GO's lifetime. I know a lot of people that have cancelled their pre-orders of the Plus accessory because they have grown bored of the game.
Sounds groovy. I'll get one if I can find it in stores....
@BensonUii The Plus is totally dependent on your phone - all it does is gives notifications and allows you to interact with the app.
It sounds neat, just not all that useful.
The main battery drain on your is the continuous GPS usage, so having this run in the background is probably going to drain the battery like crazy.
Despite this I still bought one, I like it as a little fashion accessory and look forward to trying it out.
This is amazing news! I have one arriving soon and I've had so much trouble trying to keep my phone from activating randomness in my pocket and fumbling about when I do finally notice the buzz for a pokemon. Plus I can finally skate and GO!
2GB RAM or more
Isn't that a lot for an Android phone? We have this game on 3 Androids phone and a tablet or 2 in our house and I'm pretty sure they all max out at 1.5GB of RAM. (Though I could be wrong, but I don't think I am.)
@rjejr That's not that much for an Android phone. Pokemon GO itself also says it requires 2GB of RAM on the Play Store(Although it can be run with less, it often lags or crashes). Most Android phones that have been released within the past 2-3 years should have 2GB of RAM or more.
@Xaldin I checked my phone I got for Father's Day and it has 1GB. My sons phone from Christmas has 1GB. My kids phone we just bought the other day for back-to-school that just came out in May has 1GB. We all play Pokemon Go on them. No AR on any of them, but the game works.
cool, but not worth it unless the game itself gets better
@rjejr That's pretty surprising that a phone released this May only has 1GB of RAM. A lot of the phones being released this year have 4GB of RAM. I also find it surprising that you can run Pokemon GO just fine with 1GB of RAM. I had a phone with 1GB of RAM until I upgraded a month ago, and Pokemon GO would overheat my phone and crash all the time.
@Xaldin Well the phones do get hot, all of them, but I don't think we've ever played for more than 15 or 20 minutes, we're all around level 5, 6 or 7. I said we play it and it works, not that we play it a lot.
TracFone LG L22C Power -June 2015
TracFone ZTE Citrine LTE - May 2016
TracFone Samsung Galaxy Core Prime S820C LTE - Jan 2016
I was expecting something more hi tech and helpful that adds to the experience.
Complete fail of a device. The one that designed it should get fired and look for a different job.
Seriously! Whoever came up with this overpriced useless garbage.
So it's cool for picking up the basic Pokémon for stardust experience and candy and/or building up a bunch for lucky egg sessions where you evolve a bunch of common Pokémon. I can see that as a nice benefit. It's not for when you are trying to expand the pokedex or get the Pokémon you'll want to battle with, but for the "exp grinding" part. Really if it worked for the other stuff it would reduce the interaction to just tapping the button and that wouldn't be fun so it makes sense. Still, the price is a tall order. I'd probably look at what $35 would get me in-game first :/
This would be fine enough if not for the price. It should've been 20 max.
I'm definitely gonna man one for while I'm at work, especially because I work at a restaurant that has a PokeStop a few feet away that I can access anywhere at work. It'll be real handy for catching Pokémon and collecting EXP and items while on the clock without getting in trouble (tap of the wrist!)
My only concern is that it doesn't list iOS 10 as compatible. I'm sure it will become compatible with iOS 10 but how long will that take? And of course, I just upgraded last night and can't exactly take it back.
Edited for a couple gooofy spelling errors don't mind me
@GoshDangTravino
You can downgrade just download the version compatible to your device and then you go to iTunes on a computer and hold shift and restore then select the downloaded file
I wonder how man cancelled preorders they had from people who no longer play Pokémon Go.
Too many restrictions. I will pass for now and await for more functionalities.
It looks like a cat collar.
Mine arrived this morning. The strap is awful and really difficult to adjust when on your wrist. As I've now got it running my phone is constantly reminding me that the app is using my location in background so I'll check what the battery usage is like. Assume marginally better than having the app open AND using GPS but we'll see!
Mine also arrived this morning. I've attached it to a lanyard round my neck - I don't trust the clip to stay on and I don't want to wear it round my wrist. I can confirm it works in that you don't need your phone's screen awake for it to let you know there's a Pokemon nearby. In fact, if my screen is on I can't see any Pokemon on it at all, even though the Go+ is buzzing like mad. However, I have tried to catch at least a dozen Pokemon so far using it, and all I get is the red light of "darn".
"It's also worth noting that you will only be able to capture Pokémon with the GO Plus if they are already listed in your Pokédex - new Pokémon which you've not yet captured can only be snared using your phone."
This is SUCH a shame. I was hoping that the LED light would flash in a unique way to signify a new Pokémon. Or am I misunderstanding this in that it will still notify you of a new Pokémon, but you can only catch it by using your phone device?
I've ordered mine months ago, and am unusually excited for it. Some consider this device cheating, but I consider it a more relaxed way of playing.
And besides, when trading and battling arives, this device is a clear giveaway that you're into Pokémon and it's sure to spark some gameplay with strangers (on the phone, that is!) due to that!
I can see that it might be useful if, and only if I were going to a rave and needed plastic jewlery with flashing lights. It's perfect for that!
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