Introducing Dongii, The Dinkiest Nintendo Switch Dock We Ever Did See

Isn't there a different product in development exactly like this?

Yeah... here it is:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/humanthings/genki-covert-dock

The guy in the video sounds incredibly Scandinavian. Or what is that accent he has?

"Save your switch from overheat before it wraps."
lol

My only concern here is that it claims (well, "suggests") the official dock causes "overheating" - why put such a thing in, unless you're trying to sort of goad/trick folk in to backing this.

There is a pretty good write-up on the Genki site regarding the reason for 3rd party docks bricking the Switch, and how the Genki will avoid it... I hope they are correct and I hope Dongii uses the same tech to avoid destroying Switches.

@mandlecreed

Agreed... no one is buying this in order to avoid overheating with the OEM dock.

In fact, I would bet that there is a FAR better chance of the Dongii damaging the Switch in some way.

This is amazing, I always wanted one for my Switch Lite. Now I can finally put it on the big tv.

One thing I have not been able to discover... will the Switch run at "docked performance" when using these portable "docks"?

I realize that the OEM dock doesn't do anything all that special... But I am assuming that the Switch over-clocks a bit when the 15v/39w power supply is provided by the OEM dock.

So if a game runs at 720p in handheld and 1080p when docked... how will it perform when using these portable docks? And if the answer is 1080p, is that safe? Does the Switch console need to be vertical when running at docked performance levels for heat dissipation?

@mesome713 Switch lite can't dock. It's not able to due to *edit: missing hardware on the board in the switch lite. So getting this dock won't help you I'm afraid.

Spawnwave has a good video on YouTube on the matter. https://youtu.be/mF3hsaZviUU?t=962

@Friendly I would imagine the hardware is also missing something required for display output?

If it is just software, then it could be dock-able in the future?

@holygeez03 I can answer for the Genki one: Yes, it runs in docked profile, any time it's outputting to an external screen it considers itself docked. As for heat issues, I usually leave mine upside down, so all the vents are exposed, and it doesn't feel like it gets as warm as the normal dock.

@Friendly Seriously? I'm a native and I would never have guessed that O_o

Ontopic: well, it sounds great, but the big question is: will it brick my Switch?

@Friendly If that's true, I wonder why hackers haven't docked it yet. I thought it could since the company didn't say it couldnt. It's docks so many different devices, I figured it would.

The last time I put my Switch near my Dongii, I got called a pervert 😫

It does seems a bit small... is there any way to expand it?

So it's basically something I bought two years ago for 19 bucks on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076Q629PL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

Cool idea. My concern is it won’t damage the Switch, but it looks like they’re trying to be boarder by appealing to other devices.

@holygeez03 It even mentions a Nintendo Life review, lol

@sleepinglion
First of all... the device you bought has a completely different form factor and does not appear to include the power supply... so it's not nearly as portable.

Second... I hope that TUTUO device isn't bricking Switches.

Every time he says the name of the device this is what I hear.

@Dazza Should you guys really be promoting a product that says:

"This campaign is under review. It is not accepting contributions."

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/dongii-nintendo-switch-dock-65w-gan-charger#/

@nessisonett I see what you did there heh

I'm still scared of 3rd party docks. I don't know if the fear is still justified these days. I know some will agree & disagree here in comments & forums. As much as I'd love to have a compact dock option, I'm not sure what could done to earn my trust of 3rd party docks.

this just seems like one of those crowdfunding scams. please don't promote anymore products from indigogo or kickstarter.

@holygeez03 Yes it's missing hardware. See the mentioned Spawnwave video. He shows the lack of video output.

@mesome713 @holygeez03

Good questions. I rewatched the video of Spawn Wave and turns out I was wrong, excuse me. It is indeed a hardware issue, but hardware that's missing on the board of the switch lite, not the dock:
https://youtu.be/mF3hsaZviUU?t=962

So how quick will it brick switch's?

......the video’s been copyright claimed, I can watch it :/

@Friendly Makes sense as it would provide cost savings.

A Switch Lite with an OEM portable dock would be pretty cool though.

@Darkwario1 Aye, copyright claim from better DiGi beacuse of their product here:
http://www.better-digi.com/Products/132.html

& just like that, the campain on Indigogo has been suspended on copyright grounds.

@holygeez03 I've been using it on the go for 2 years. No issues

This must be the fastest video to be removed I've ever seen. Errm seen not.

After watching the video. I keep thinking about donkey kong

@mandlecreed Exactly, I've only ever used the official dock that came with my Switch and I've sunk some pretty long hours with graphically intense games on the television. My Switch has never overheated and I've never even heard the fans running (I hear them more when playing in handheld). I trust the official dock over any third party, especially with the bricking issue. Wasn't that caused by a Switch firmware not communicating correctly with third party accessories? At least with first party, you know things are tested to work properly.

Unless their product is approved and licensed by Nintendo, I don't think it would be going anywhere any time soon and those who dropped money for this good luck playing your Switch on it.

I own the Genki dock and it works like a charm.

If they can guarantee it won't break my system, I'm definitely intrigued.

@holygeez03 Yeah, this "Dongii" (really??) looks bigger than Genki's as well.

Edit: I hadn't seen the breakaway thing yet. That looks... cool? This could be a great little gadget and I'm glad there are some more options, but I'm still not convinced this thing won't be bricking Switches. Heck, the only reason I halfway trust the Covert Dock is that one of their engineers is the one behind this awesome write-up explaining why 3rd party stuff causes bricking in the first place https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/ckaiiv/an_engineers_pov_on_the_3rd_party_dock_switch/

This more or less is a copy of this KS:
GENKI: Covert Dock for the Nintendo Switch
And worse that little small piece if you loose it your up the Fhists. How would they think that little piece won't get lost or broken. That is one KS I won't support because of that little removable piece. If it can be taken off it will be lost or broken. Now if it snaps in that is different but from the looks of it doesn't give me confidence. If that is what they are doing I would just use my other aka:
Jumpgate: a versatile dock for Switch and smart devices this would do more to prevent loosing the device.

@holygeez03 Yeah it is as everyone is saying. I actually have a Covert Dock and the durability of this thing is AMAZING. This Donkii looks like something similar but has other features as well. I am not sure if it has or will have the extensive testing that Human Things did to make sure their Covert Dock didn't brick any switches since this Donkii is an everything machine. I was a Kickstarter backer for the Genki Covert dock and I reviewed it below! This is now my go-to dock for my Switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_T0yaEgngI

The issue for me is is connects to the Switch via cable, rather than being a compact USB stand.

@Steven_the_2nd you should've included a actual video output from Genki that would help other KS and those wanting something like this.

What about the potential 3rd party dock bricking Switches issue? Frankly, I don't trust any 3rd party docks at this point.

@mesome713 Nintendo specially says its hand held only.

@Rohanrocks88 As far as I know, the issues weren't software related, but hardware. But yeah, I understand your point.

I only want this for the wireless earphones compatible with Switch. I wonder if the sound quality is up to snuff?

@mesome713 nope, switch lite do not have any means to connect to a tv. Don't waste your money.

@Rohanrocks88 True and the worst part is if your Switch got brick from a product not licensed by Nintendo you're basically screw as Nintendo will not fix a brick system that was cause by a third party unofficial product. If you invest in this third party product, you're basically using it at your own risk.

Wait, what cord goes from the switch to the Dongii?
Does it come with that cord?

@Heavyarms55 I've been using cheapo USB-C adapters marketed for Macbooks for over a year with no issues. As long as the actual charger has protections it is fine. The problem is with super cheap chargers that don't have voltage regulation.

@Krazzar Chargers aren't the issue, it's the audio video aspect. Many 3rd party docks were confirmed to brick Switches - according to what I read on several sites, because they didn't handle it properly because even though it looks like standard USB-C, the way it handles the audio video is something specific to Nintendo.

Of course take that with a grain of salt, it's second hand info at best.

I would buy a 3rd party dock like this if it was proven not to brick the Switch.