Is Pokemon GO Plus+ worth it? 

Pokemon GO Plus+ was released in July 2023 and has become a prominent tool for fans of Niantic’s mobile title as well as the sleep-tracking game Pokemon Sleep. The tracker can be used to automatically catch Pokemon and interact with Pokestops in GO while also keeping track of a player’s sleep patterns in the Pokemon Sleep application, but is this device worth its asking price? In many ways, this device falls short of expectations and likely isn’t worth it.

According to the Nintendo Shop, the Pokemon GO Plus+ currently costs approximately $54.99 (US) or equivalent in a player’s country, placing it in a relatively costly tier as far as auto-catchers go. However, the GO Plus+ has additional functionality that integrates with Pokemon Sleep, and there are other bonuses in GO that the average run-of-the-mill auto-catcher can’t always accomplish depending on the brand/build.

With that in mind, it doesn’t hurt to examine why the Pokemon GO Plus+ is not worth its price as well as the pros and cons of the device in general.

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Examining the pros and cons of the Pokemon GO Plus+

The Pokemon GO Plus+ has plenty of upsides but some drawbacks as well (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The Pokemon GO Plus+, like any auto-catcher Bluetooth device used for Niantic’s mobile title, has its upsides and downsides. Some off-brand auto-catchers have advantages over it, but the GO Plus+’s extra functionality with Pokemon Sleep does give it an upside that some of its market competitors don’t have. Whatever the case, players can check a few of the pros and cons of the GO Plus+ below to help inform their purchase decision:

Pros

• Relatively small and light with a diameter of 64.5mm and a thickness of 18.3mm with a weight of 50g.
• Lasts approximately three and a half hours on a single battery charge.
• Easily chargeable with a USB-C charging port.
• Vibration and sound functionality like many auto-catchers.
• Packaged with a carrying strap with a clip as well as a charging cable and an operation manual.
• Can use Great and Ultra Balls to catch Pokemon in Pokemon GO while some auto-catchers only permit standard Poke Balls.
• Tracks players’ sleep habits when connected to Pokemon Sleep and provides an in-game Nightcap Pikachu to help trainers raise their sleepy Snorlax. Pikachu’s voice will even sound off when it’s time to wake up or go to sleep.
• Grants access to Special Research that can allow trainers to catch a Nightcap Snorlax in GO during certain events.
• Receive notifications for obtaining new medals and hatching eggs in GO without checking players’ mobile devices.

Cons

• Not compatible with some mobile devices regardless of whether they meet the minimum requirements or not.
• Some players have complained that the Pokemon Sleep tracking does not operate well unless trainers effectively leave the device on their pillow.
• Bogged down by a large selection of menus to change the device’s settings.
• Seeing new Pokemon in GO will occasionally cause the device to pause and not catch other Pokemon in the background, according to some trainer reports on social media.
• Occasionally doesn’t connect with GO while minimized as intended, purportedly somewhat based on a player’s device’s Bluetooth settings and available memory.
• Some trainers have stated that the device is too loud and the vibration is too strong, causing sleep disruption or day-to-day disruption while not playing Sleep/GO
• Compared to other auto-catchers, some players have stated that the catch rate of the GO Plus+ is poor, and trainers have complained about missing out on several Pokemon/Pokestops or catching creatures they don’t want.

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Why the Pokemon GO Plus+ isn’t worth its full price

The Pokemon GO Plus+’s drawbacks may be too much for its price point (Image via The Pokemon Company)

While the Pokemon GO Plus+ might be a decent enough way to supplement a trainer’s activity in Niantic’s mobile title, many players have complained that its Pokemon Sleep functionality simply doesn’t work as advertised. The sound effects and vibrations have been a sticking point so severe that some players have disabled them, and trainers who don’t play Pokemon Sleep don’t really gain much from the GO Plus+ compared to other auto-catchers.

All in all, trainers are free to purchase a Pokemon GO Plus+ and try it out for themselves, but they may find themselves disappointed with its functionality overall, especially if they have experience with other (cheaper) auto-catchers in the market.