Gulikit's next dock trades plastic for aluminum, adds proper cooling vents, and folds down small enough to toss in a bag. It works across the original Switch, the OLED model, and the Switch 2, though pricing and a launch date are still missing.
Gulikit just teased its next docking station for Nintendo's handhelds, and the pitch is simple: take the cheap plastic dock most people tolerate and rebuild it as something you'd actually want to carry. The teaser landed on X without a name, a price, or a ship date, but the hardware on display tells you most of what matters.
What's new
The headline change is the chassis. Gulikit swapped the ABS plastic shell of its older NS05 Dock Set for aluminum, with a plastic underside to keep weight and cost in check. That metal body matters for more than looks. Nintendo's stock dock and most budget clones trap heat, and a Switch 2 pushing higher clocks in docked mode generates more of it. The new Gulikit base adds vents for heat dissipation and air intake slots flanking the USB-C connector on all sides, so the system can actually breathe while it runs to your TV.
The clever bit is the removable cover block over the USB-C connector. When you pull it off to dock the console, the cover magnetically snaps to the top of the dock and doubles as back support for the handheld. It's the kind of small, practical touch that suggests Gulikit has used a travel dock and gotten annoyed by the same things you have. Slip-resistant feet on the base round out the design.
Port selection is unchanged from the predecessor: a single HDMI output, one USB-A port, and a USB-C port for power input. A dedicated button labeled dock mode lets you flip between TV output and a standby dock mode rather than fumbling through settings.
How it compares
Against its own NS05, this is a clear generational step. The NS05 sells for around $21.99 and gets the job done, but it's plastic, it runs warm, and it offers no real airflow. The new model keeps the same three-port layout while addressing the two biggest complaints. Gulikit hasn't published specs, but the obvious wins are a higher-wattage USB-C power input to feed the more demanding Switch 2 and faster transfer speeds on the USB-A port. If the older dock topped out at USB 2.0 speeds, even a bump to USB 3.0 would make a noticeable difference for external storage and accessories.
Compared to Nintendo's first-party dock, the appeal is portability. The official Switch 2 dock is fine at home but bulky and awkward to pack. Gulikit's design is small, metal, and built around travel, which puts it up against compact docks from JSAUX and others that have crowded this category since the original Switch launched. The differentiator here is the magnetic cover that converts into a stand, plus the aluminum cooling story that most sub-$30 docks skip entirely.
The three-port count is worth being honest about. Travelers who want Ethernet, multiple USB-A ports, or pass-through charging for other devices won't find them here. This is a focused TV-out-and-power dock, not a full hub.
Who it's for
If you own a Switch 2, regularly play on hotel and friends' TVs, and you've been carrying the chunky official dock or a flimsy plastic one, this is aimed squarely at you. The aluminum build and added venting make it a better thermal bet for the more powerful console, and the fold-flat cover trick means one less stand to pack. Owners of the original Switch and Switch OLED are covered too, since Gulikit lists compatibility across all three systems.
The catch is that none of this is buyable yet. Gulikit hasn't confirmed pricing or a release window, so the only firm reference point is the older NS05's roughly $22 street price. Expect the aluminum version to land higher than that, and watch for the actual power and data specs before deciding whether it beats the cheaper plastic docks already on shelves. For now it's a teaser worth bookmarking, posted to Gulikit's X account, with the real verdict waiting on hardware in hand.
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