The Ultimate Nintendo Switch Dock? Skull & Co JumpGate Dock Review

Next to clone consoles, I have possibly reviewed more docks for the Nintendo Switch than any other sort of product. And with good reason, there are many different form factors and features out there, and each one does something a little bit different. For some time I have had folks asking me to check out the Skull & Co JumpGate and Core Drive docked for the Nintendo Switch, and thanks to their generosity we now have one to test here on the channel.

Skull & Co took a unique approach to a dock for the Switch. The JumpGate is actually two different components, a traditional dock, and a USB-C hub which plugs into the dock itself. The integration is seamless and truly adds features I have not found on other docks. All the standard ports you would desire are here. Two USB 3.0 ports, USB-C for power, and an HDMI port. If you remove the Core Drive from the JumpGate, you also get MicroSD and standard SD ports as well.

One of the most unique features about the JumpGate is the adjustable height USB-C port. The reason why it is important is the fact it will allow you to use most cases and still dock your Switch. Many cases use a thicker material which moves the USB-C port too far away to make a positive connection. Kudos to Skull & Co for this truly unique approach.

Connecting everything up with super simple, the only things missing are an HDMI cable & power supply. As always, I recommend sticking with the Nintendo OEM power supply to ensure that you don't have any issues. On my television, the picture looked terrific! There was little if any difference between this and the stock Nintendo dock, and I also did not feel any additional lag or latency throughout gameplay. You can even use the Core Drive alone to connect your Switch to a television if you don't want to travel with the entire JumpGate, and it works flawlessly.

Another great feature about the Core Drive is it's compatibility with smartphones, specifically Samsung devices that feature Dex. If you are not aware, Dex is a baked in desktop experience that you can use on most Samsung devices from the Galaxy note 8 forward. I'm pleased to say that the Core Drive worked precisely as the actual Samsung components do, and I was able to quickly and easily launch and utilize Dex.

Why it RoX:
- Unique two-in-one design with terrific functionality
- Exceptional performance
- Reasonably priced
- Accommodates most cases
- Does not sacrifice functionality over size
- Sounds and looks great on TV
- Dex compatible

What Could Be Improved?
- The aesthetic design is kind of uninspiring
- An additional USB-C Port would be nice
- Being able to buy the Core Drive alone would be awesome for those who travel
- HDMI cable and AC adapter sold separately
- No Bluetooth support for wireless headphones

Should you buy one?
People have been asking me to check out Skull & Co company's offerings for some time, and I wish I would have checked it out sooner. This is an exceptionally well put together device that simply works. Beyond that, the Core Drive adds functionality unique to any Switch dock, and again, it just works. It'd be interesting to see them offer the Core Drive as a standalone product for those who travel, but the entire system is so reasonably priced I don't think there would be enough of a difference to justify a standalone SKU. The only thing keeping me from making this my daily driver is the fact it does not have integrated Bluetooth to connect to my headphones. Above and beyond that, this is one of the best docks I have ever tested and you would be hard pressed to find better performance. If you are looking for a secondary dock for your Nintendo Switch, this should be in your top two or three to consider.

#SkullAndCo #JumpGate #NintendoSwitch #SwitchDock #Unboxing #Review

The footage used in this review are used under the Fair Use laws, referenced below:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/107

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.

(Pub. L. 94–553, title I, § 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 101–650, title VI, § 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132; Pub. L. 102–492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)