Fixture S1 (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Official Store: https://fixturegaming.com/products/fixture-s1
When the Switch was first announced, it promised seamless play between docked and handheld modes, which it has lived up to for the most part. That said, it isn’t without its issues, such as Joy-Con drift and a weak kickstand in the case of older revisions. I myself have pretty large hands and when playing handheld, I often get cramps and numbness in my fingers. There are a number of alternatives such as large Joy-Con replacements. Today, we’re gonna go a different route and take a look at the Fixture S1 grip, a mount for the Switch and Pro Controller.
Getting a Grip
Out of the box, it sports a small form factor with two hinges; one for the arm connected to the controller mount and another connecting the arm to the mount for the Switch itself. Both the hinges are tight and keep their position well. There is a slot in the arm as well to thread your charger through if you want to keep playing while you charge it. It works well and serves its purpose, but the cable can get a bit in the way and requires a touch of repositioning on the arm and Switch. There is also a slot on the controller mount to charge or sync up the controller to the Switch.
Quite a few grips out there feature a design similar to a mount for a phone or tablet, holding it in place at the corners. The S1 is designed specifically for the Switch, with two nubs sliding right down the Joy-Con rails. It’s a tight fit and the back of the mount has small rubber feet to help keep the Switch in place; not once did I ever feel it was going to come loose. You can adjust the position of the Switch to pretty much any placement as well, though I prefer it all the way set in. It loses a bit of multipurpose functionality compared to other grips but it’s a fair trade-off for how well it docks the Switch.
Much like sliding the Switch into the mount, the grip for the Pro Controller is quite snug. It takes a fair amount of effort to place it, but this works quite well as there is no movement at all once it's placed. Again, there is some rubber to help keep the controller secured so there is no movement. The position of the Switch can impede certain things, such as button mashing, but not too much so that it makes it uncomfortable. Another thing is that the S1 only supports Nintendo Pro Controllers. It’s a bit of a bummer as I would much prefer my Power A controller but it works all the same, so it’s not the end of the world. Inserting or removing the controller takes quite a bit of force and I was concerned the first couple of times I might break it. Luckily despite its all-plastic build, it’s nice and sturdy and survived a couple of falls as well.
I had mentioned previously how the kickstand, particularly in older Switch consoles, is quite weak. Lacking the increased rubber footing of new revisions and not really even locking all that well, it can be frustrating to play tabletop with a friend. Thankfully, the S1 works quite well as an alternative to using the kickstand and does the job exceptionally well. The first and my preferred method is with the Pro Controller still in the grip. It gives it fantastic stability (something Nintendo loves) and allows you to also use the arm to position the Switch to your liking, though it can be a bit top-heavy and certain angles and heights can make it a bit wobbly. The second way uses just the S1, as it has padding at the bottom. It requires a bit of positioning to get everything flush but works just as well with the previous method, while taking a bit less space. I sadly could not get it to reliably stay up as they do in a photo on their Amazon, considering how top-heavy it is.
Comfort is a big thing, particularly when you’re playing for an extended period of time. As I said before, I experience cramps when playing handheld with the Joy-Cons. I’m pleased to say that this was not an issue. I’ve always preferred playing with a Pro Controller when docked and now it’s the best of both worlds. The weight is a little different from the standard approach but it only takes a moment to adjust to. One unfortunate downside I would like to mention is the size when it’s collapsed. It’s clearly a bit larger than normal handheld and it makes traveling a bit more difficult. While you can simply take it apart and reassemble it easily enough, it could get pretty annoying, especially if you play your Switch on the go quite a bit. It does fit well in a backpack and Fixture Gaming does offer its own carrying case for a S1 setup which certainly is a welcome alternative.
A Fix Indeed
I have to say, I love the Fixture S1 and honestly I don’t think I could ever go back to playing handheld in the traditional way. It does its job but what's more is it does so well. From keeping both the Switch and controller secure to being more comfortable than just with the Joy-Cons, this is an excellent accessory for your Switch. It has a couple of issues but not one is a deal-breaker by any means. The price however is a bit steep, at $34.99. That said, if you're tired of the issues and the lack of comfort with Joy-Cons or just prefer a Pro Controller, I highly recommend checking out the Fixture S1.
Bonus: Travel Case
While the case wasn’t a part of the initial review, they did send out one as well. So let’s take a quick glance at it. It has all the bells and whistles of most standard cases but is built for an S1 setup. In the top half, you have ten sleeves for physical carts as well an inner pocket to hold cables or Joy-Cons. The inner pocket has a decent amount of storage space as well, as I could fit my PSP in there as well. The bottom half is shaped much like a Pro Controller and securely holds it in place, while case itself is particularly sturdy with a minimal amount of give and has a handle as well to make carrying nice and simple. It does take a bit more room given the size so fitting it in a backpack is difficult but offers more protection than letting it be loose or deal with having to take it apart between plays.
Verdict
- Snug fit all around
- Works as stand for tabletop
- More comfortable than Joy-Cons
- Only supports official Pro Controllers
- Larger size when folded
