dbrand’s Joy-Lock Holder Finds the Sweet Spot Between Basic Grips and a Pro Controller

dbrand has recently launched the Joy-Lock Controller Holder, a new Switch 2 grip attachment with a central hinge mechanism.

Unlike Nintendo’s own Joy-Con grip and similar products like JSAUX’s JoyVerse grip, the Joy-Lock Holder doesn’t lock the controllers into one fixed position. Instead, it lets you adjust the angle and spacing of the Joy-Cons depending on how you prefer to play.

The holder also pairs with dbrand’s separately sold Joy-Lock Grips, which slide onto each individual Joy-Con to add more comfort and hand support when the controllers are used in split mode.

The Joy-Lock holder is priced at $19.95 on its own, with the matching grips available for the same price, or bundled together for $34.90. Stick grips for the analogue controllers are available as an optional add-on for an additional $9.95. All in, a fully kitted-out setup runs about $45, roughly half the cost of Nintendo’s official Pro Controller.

As always, dbrand hasn’t been shy about the comparison. The company is marketing the Joy-Lock as not just a cheaper alternative to the Pro Controller, but a more comfortable one, a claim that has raised some eyebrows. The Pro Controller is one of the best gamepads out there, with excellent ergonomics, while the Joy-Cons are more compact, with smaller sticks and buttons, and no holder changes that. The Joy-Lock holder itself might feel as great in the hands as they say, but whether that translates to a superior overall feel will be highly subjective. We’re yet to get our hands on one to find out for ourselves.

That said, the adjustable angle is definitely an interesting differentiator. For players who enjoy using Joy-Cons for longer sessions but find themselves reaching for a more comfortable hand position, the hinge system could be more than a gimmick.

The Joy-Lock holder is available now at dbrand.com.

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