I’ve Tested The Latest Switch 2 Controllers And This One Is The Best

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If you take to get an other controller for your Nintendo Switch 2, you tin walk a batch — and get a batch successful return. Buying Nintendo’s ain $89.99 Switch 2 Pro Controller, for instance, will nett you nan console’s only wireless controller pinch a 3.5mm headphone jack, not to mention awesome rumble and a slick design. It’s not perfect, but it’s nan full package. 

But it’d beryllium a disservice to you to telephone it a time there. There are respective third-party offerings that are importantly cheaper, yet don’t make excessively galore compromises successful position of features. I’ve spent clip testing a fistful of them, and there’s a mini batch of models that I deliberation will fulfill astir people, pinch a scope of styles, prices, and features.

Every controller I’ve included successful this guideline is compatible pinch some nan Switch 2 and nan original Switch (some tin moreover remotely aftermath nan Switch 2), arsenic good arsenic platforms for illustration PC and mobile. More importantly, each offering includes better, longer-lasting joystick exertion than you’ll get pinch Nintendo’s flagship controller; nan Switch 2 Pro Controller’s potentiometer-based joysticks are prone to degradation complete time, aft all, but our picks see either Hall effect aliases TMR joysticks.

The champion Switch 2 controller for astir people

Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, 2 / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,200mAh artillery / Console wake-up: Yes

The EasySMX S10 is astir arsenic tin and comfortable arsenic nan Switch 2 Pro Controller, yet it’s $30 cheaper astatine $59.99. It’s afloat of surprises, too, including nan champion adjustment of Nintendo’s HD rumble that I’ve felt successful a third-party controller. It’s besides 1 of nan fewer options that tin remotely aftermath nan Switch 2 from slumber mode via Bluetooth. Lastly, it includes built-in amiibo support — different uncommon characteristic to find successful a third-party gamepad.

However, nan S10 isn’t a Switch 2 Pro copycat; it’s a batch grippier, some astir nan grips themselves and connected its instrumentality caps. Button presses and trigger pulls consciousness different from astir different controllers, too, yielding a softer property and shorter travel, which is apt to beryllium nan astir divisive facet of nan S10. One of my favourite aspects of nan S10’s creation is its swappable eight-way (circular) D-pad, making diagonal attacks successful Hollow Knight: Silksong considerably easier to execute than pinch a four-way D-pad.

If I could alteration 1 point astir nan S10, it’d beryllium nan system-level buttons (screenshot, GameChat, and home). They’re crammed awkwardly conscionable beneath nan D-pad and correct stick.

Honorable mentions

Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 950mAh artillery / Console wake-up: Yes

Gulikit’s ES Pro is simply a emotion missive to nan Xbox controller, but for Switch 2. It’s conscionable $29.99, which is simply a bargain considering this gamepad features an eight-way D-pad that’s awesome for fighting games, Metroidvanias, and retro titles wherever it’s an advantage to easy beryllium capable to purpose diagonally (a mounting tin make it truthful that it only registers inputs for nan cardinal directions, if you prefer).

This controller doesn’t request to do overmuch to warrant its price, but it does anyway. It features tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks that are resistant to drifting and connection improved powerfulness ratio compared to Hall effect tech, conscionable for illustration nan EasySMX S10. Similarly, it tin beryllium group up to remotely aftermath your Switch 2 aliases Switch console from crossed nan room utilizing its ain group of strange, one-time-only instructions that you tin position successful its instruction manual. 

I’ve sewage almost nary qualms pinch this controller, isolated from for its bad rumble. It conscionable has nary subtlety, rumbling successful an all-or-nothing manner. I was happier utilizing nan ES Pro pinch nan vibrations off, which isn’t immoderate fun. Also, it’s acold little complete than nan S10, missing amiibo support and a C fastener for GameChat, but depending connected your needs, those omissions mightiness not matter to you.

Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, 2 / Software customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,000mAh artillery / Console wake-up: Yes (but only original Switch)

8BitDo’s Pro 3 is simply a awesome yet pricey Switch 2 Pro replacement pinch a PlayStation-style instrumentality layout. At $69.99, it’s not arsenic affordable (nor arsenic overmuch of a value-packed purchase) arsenic nan apical contenders. However, nan Pro 3 offers a batch of customization, immoderate being cosmetic, while different aspects tin effect gameplay.

It has a batch going for it, pinch TMR joysticks, 2 backmost paddles, and a full of 3 enarthrosis buttons per broadside acknowledgment to caller civilization M buttons. Its analog instrumentality caps tin beryllium popped disconnected successful favour of glossy arcade stick-style nubs, which were my preferred prime successful fighting games (plus, they conscionable look cool). Its ABXY buttons tin beryllium suctioned disconnected pinch an included instrumentality to switch nan layout arsenic needed, and for ocular flair, each controller includes colored buttons to evoke a retro Nintendo console. Also, it has trigger locks, letting you group triggers to person a short, clicky propulsion aliases nan default recreation distance.

Skip this if you want bully rumble feedback. It’s beautiful lousy here, to nan constituent that I preferred to move disconnected rumble wholly successful games. Also, this is simply a mini nitpick, but nan Pro 3 can’t remotely aftermath up nan Switch 2, truthful you’ll request to locomotion complete to property nan console’s powerfulness button, past caput backmost to nan couch.

Read my afloat 8BitDo Pro 3 review.

Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two/ Software customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,000mAh artillery / Console wake-up: No

GameSir’s Super Nova is simply a passable Switch Pro transcript that I had a reliable clip warming up to. There’s a batch astir it that sounds awesome connected paper. It’s comfortable, it has rubbery grips and decent rumble, and it uses Hall effect joysticks. However, it has, by a wide margin, my slightest favourite D-pad and buttons to property retired of nan controllers successful this list. The underlying tech is responsive, but they consciousness inexpensive to hammer on.

That’s a shame, arsenic I deliberation it’s a slick-looking controller, pinch a magnetic look sheet that pops disconnected to fto you easy switch nan buttons astir without nan request for a tool. Its RGB LEDs are dazzling, if not a spot overkill (they tin beryllium turned off). The rear triggers person trigger stops, which tin trim nan recreation of each pull. The 2 backmost paddles are easy to press. It besides includes a charging dock arsenic good arsenic a USB-A 2.4GHz transmitter, allowing for easy connectivity pinch a PC.

Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No/ Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 800mAh artillery / Console wake-up: Yes

Gulikit Elves 2 is simply a compact, Sega Saturn-inspired controller I wanted to emotion a small much than I do. This gamepad has immoderate of nan aforesaid benefits arsenic nan identically priced ES Pro, including Switch 2 wake-up and multiplatform support. But it’s smaller, which could make it a awesome prime for kids aliases small-handed folks who person a difficult clip wrapping their digits astir larger gamepads. 

There isn’t overmuch wasted abstraction successful this controller, complete pinch a rechargeable battery, rumble motors, a gyroscope, and an eight-way D-pad that feels bully to use. Even for my medium-sized hands, its grips move this mini gamepad into thing that’s satisfying to hold. I don’t for illustration it arsenic overmuch for a fistful of insignificant reasons relating to semipermanent comfort, fastener and trigger consciousness preferences, and immoderate missing functionality. Compared to nan ES Pro, it misses retired connected TMR sticks (it has Hall effect), its amended triggers, and its swappable buttons.

What’s next?

A institution called GG-Gear (Good Game Gear) is sending its GG wireless Switch 2 controller, and it seems for illustration it mightiness springiness nan EasySMX S10 a tally for its money. It’ll costs $44.99 and will characteristic TMR joysticks, what it calls “HD” vibration, a 1,000Hz polling rate, amiibo support, gyroscope support, and a C fastener for GameChat, among different competitory features — successful nosy colors, to boot.

The hunt continues for gamepad contenders that battalion successful a bunch of features without breaking nan bank. They’re much uncommon than you mightiness deliberation they are! For instance, PowerA precocious launched a $69.99 Switch 2 controller called nan Advantage Wireless Controller. It has Hall effect joysticks, but seemingly nary rumble and nary expertise to aftermath nan Switch 2. Hori launched a Turbo Switch 2 wireless controller successful immoderate bully colors, each pinch TMR joysticks. Its item characteristic is simply a fastener that tin disable nan screenshot, home, and plus/minus buttons.