Okay, so it doesn’t last forever, but it lasts a really long time. Nyko says that its new Power Grip for 3DS gives you three times the playtime of the standard battery, but that number on the box means nothing to me. I recently put it through my own tests to get a feel for how this accessory would work for me on the road.
I’ll probably never take this off my 3DS now.
Power Grip for Nintendo 3DS
Manufacturer: Nyko
MSRP: $29.99
Let’s put it straight: the 3DS battery sucks. I travel frequently, and I don’t like taking my 3DS with me because I know I’ll have to always be mindful of the battery life. Nyko’s Power Grip looked like it could be the answer to my problems, but I needed to put it through its paces first.
Installation is easy, as you simply snap the grip onto the bottom of your 3DS. It latches into place easily, connecting with the 3DS’ battery contacts. To charge, simply plug in the 3DS charger to the Power Grip. An indicator light lets you know if you’re good on power. It seemed to take a few hours to charge, but nothing too excessive.
The hand feel of the Power Grip is pretty good. It’s kind of rubberized, so you won’t need to worry about slippage. There’s indentions for your fingers on the back, and the corners are a nice place to keep your fingers when they’re not on the L and R buttons. Not bad, though your fingers might not fit in the grooves if they’re of the sausage variety. Overall, I was expecting something really thick and bulky, but the 3DS takes to the Power Grip really well.
The battery life with this thing on is fantastic. I spent an entire day playing Cave Story 3D and never had to worry about needing to charge up. This was the first time I could ever say that! I started playing around 9:00am off and on through my work day, and I never suspended or shut off the system. I’d pick the game up every 30 minutes or so to play a bit more. The Power Grip’s battery did not start to trail off until about 4:00pm. When it finally gave up, the 3DS battery was still charged. It’s safe to say that you could play an entire day without suspending with the Power Grip on.
Yes, the grip does detract from the sexy gloss of the 3DS, but I’m sure it’ll make up for that in battery life.
Nyko’s Power Grip is available now for $29.99.
