The Nintendo Switch revolutionised portable and home gaming with one simple device: The dock. Being able to charge and output a tablet console to a TV screen in seconds changed the landscape of gaming, spurring on a fundamental shift toward hybrid consoles. Video output and docking station technology isn’t new, but to the average consumer – the simplicity of the Nintendo Switch mechanism just works.
The Nintendo Switch, and the more recent Nintendo Switch 2, are compact enough to carry about, but the official dock may add extra bulk. To combat this, the original Nintendo Switch era introduced a slew of third-party options, each seemingly smaller than the next!
However, the Nintendo Switch 2 makes things slightly trickier. The console uses a proprietary protocol when it comes to video output to the dock. Essentially most USB-C connectors will provide power to the hardware, but correct authentication is required for video to grace your TV screen, according to accessory manufacturers.
One accessory brand, Antank, has created a compact third-party dock that does speak Nintendo’s USB-C language, allowing for both charging and a fully docked experience up to 4K / 120Hz.
How does the Antank S3 Max TV Dock Station hold up compared to the official Nintendo Switch 2 dock?
At first glance, the Antank S3 Max TV Dock Station lives up to the size claim at roughly a third in height and fractionally smaller in both width and depth. It’s lightweight in feel, yet surprisingly sturdy enough to let the Nintendo Switch 2 sit securely, too. In addition to the travel-friendly size, the S3 Max also benefits from being able to act as a table-top stand, too, allowing for the Switch 2 to be proudly displayed without being enclosed by the dock. It looks sleek and complements Nintendo’s console well, though the accent colours don’t quite match Nintendo’s!
Aesthetics aside, the S3 Max has the standard dock options: two USB ports, full-size HDMI output, USB-C for power and a button to toggle between TV output or table-top charging. The default model doesn’t include a LAN port, however, but Antank does have an option with LAN support for those who need it. It is worth noting that the S3 Max does not include a power adapter or HDMI cable, so these would need to be purchased separately. It is always recommended to use the official power adapter for the dock, however, due to specific voltage requirements.
Crucially, the question remains – what is the docking performance like for the S3 Max? Quite simply, it works out the box – compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 and the system’s display protocols. When in TV-output mode, the S3 Max offers a similar output to the official dock – a signal up to 4K @ 120Hz, plus support for HDR. There was an initial issue with HDR colours at launch, but Antank has since issued firmware updates that address performance niggles.
One of the benefits of the official dock, however, is the seamless feel of connecting the console. Slide it in and the image pops up on the TV near instantly. The S3 Max mimics that snappy feel perfectly – docking the Switch 2 hardware mid-game instantly works in the same way, perhaps just fractionally slower. Turning on the dock via a controller is also possible, too, without the need to fiddle about with the S3 Max’s connections to get it to work. In a nutshell, the docking mechanism is near-identical to the official setup.
The only real gripes with docking on the S3 Max are the physical connector and lack of venting holes at the bottom.
The protruding USB-C socket served a consistent signal during testing; however, the small grip plate that holds the Switch 2 in place is slightly tight. The console does stand securely in the dock; however, it means docking and undocking can be fiddly. The lack of venting holes at the bottom, compared to the official dock, could be a concern – though testing the Antank S3 Max for review hasn’t caused any major heating issues. Not being enclosed within a dock itself could mitigate some of the heat dissipation issues.
