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

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 Switch 2 Pro Controller, for instance, will nett you nan console’s only wireless controller pinch a 3.5mm headphone jack for backstage listening, not to mention great-feeling rumble and a slick design. It’s not perfect, but it’s different nan full package successful position of features.

But it’d beryllium a disservice to you to telephone it a time there. There are respective third-party models that are cheaper, yet don’t make excessively galore compromises successful position of features. In fact, there’s now an affordable action that replicates nan Switch 2 Pro’s OS-level rear fastener customization connected a per-game basis, which was antecedently exclusive to Nintendo’s first-party gamepad. I’ve spent clip testing a fistful of these gamepads, including caller ones arsenic they release, 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 (all of them tin remotely aftermath nan Switch 2), arsenic good arsenic PC. Each offering besides 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. I’ve highlighted immoderate controller-specific perks successful nan blurbs below.

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

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 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.

Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, 2 / App customization: No / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,000mAh artillery / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: Yes

While virtually identical to nan S10 above, nan S10 Lite makes a fewer compromises to scope its little $39.99 value point. Most notably, it lacks support for amiibo figures, and its rumble effects are a clear downgrade compared to nan HD rumble successful nan S10. What is unusual, however, is that EasySMX’s budget-friendly gamepad offers a characteristic I wish were successful nan step-up version: autochthonal support for nan Switch 2.

Connecting nan S10 Lite to a Switch 2 is arsenic easy arsenic connecting different controllers. But what’s unsocial is that it doesn’t require a unusual series of fastener presses aliases Joy-Con removal for your console to retrieve it, which is not nan lawsuit pinch nan S10 and different gamepads. If you link it once, you tin aftermath nan Switch 2 by pressing its Home button. What’s more, you tin customize nan 2 rear buttons connected a per-game ground utilizing nan Switch 2’s interface, making it nan only third-party controller that tin utilize nan OS to representation commands to rear buttons.

The S10 Lite is an affordable controller that useful for illustration nan Switch 2 Pro controller successful ways that different manufacturers haven’t figured retired yet. That’s great, and I emotion that its grips and style make it conscionable arsenic comfortable to usage arsenic a Switch 2 Pro controller. But what it sacrificed (amiibo support, HD rumble) holds it backmost from being nan very champion action available.

Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, 4 / App customization: Coming successful 2026 sometime / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable battery, 950mAh / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: No

GuliKit’s newer TT Pro is focused connected cramming successful much features while keeping nan value reasonable. This wireless gamepad features TMR thumbsticks successful a PlayStation-style instrumentality layout. And notably, some sticks person adjustable hostility (like nan Xbox Elite Series 2 controller) via a Phillips caput screw that’s revealed erstwhile you popular disconnected nan instrumentality caps. A instrumentality is included that lets you dial successful nan sticks to beryllium accelerated and flighty aliases person them defy snapping backmost to their original resting place. It’s awesome to spot successful a controller that costs good nether $100.

The TT Pro has nan champion floating, eight-way directional pad I’ve used. I play games successful nan surviving room while my woman reads, and she can’t perceive its quiet yet tactile clicks, moreover arsenic I’m having a frantic conflict successful Hollow Knight: Silksong. Like nan KingKong 3 Max, nan TT Pro features adjustable trigger stops (full Hall effect analog propulsion aliases tactile click), and you tin instal up to 4 rear paddles to representation buttons to. Other niceties see other look buttons and a instrumentality to region them successful nan container (in lawsuit you want an Xbox-style look fastener layout while connected to a PC). It comes successful a difficult lawsuit pinch a Hyperlink Gen 2 wireless controller adapter, which makes it easier to link nan TT Pro (and myriad different controllers) to your Switch 2.

As for really nan TT Pro differs from nan step-up TT Max, present are nan highlights: The Pro doesn’t see other instrumentality caps of varying heights, nor tin its firmware move betwixt emulating a four- aliases eight-way D-pad for illustration nan Max tin (the Pro only supports eight-way).

Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, 2 / App customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable battery, 1,000mAh / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: No

It’s clear that Mobapad’s superior extremity pinch its $71 Chitu2 HD was to person group they were utilizing Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pro Controller successful a unsighted test. It crushed that goal. The curves consciousness identical to Nintendo’s $90 gamepad, arsenic do nan soft clicks of nan customizable GL and GR rear buttons. The rumble is great, too, and its TMR sticks are astir silent moreover erstwhile I deliberately effort to wiggle them chaotically. It’s awesome to person a controller that feels truthful akin yet doesn’t skimp connected features.

Build value is stellar, pinch nan pinkish colour action being peculiarly nice. As pinch its whisper-quiet TMR sticks, astir of nan Chitu2’s different buttons and triggers don’t output a clacky sound. However, location are immoderate mini issues that whitethorn not fuss you: its floating directional pad is simply a small louder and mushier than nan 1 GuliKit uses successful nan TT Pro, and its brace of L and R bumpers are louder to property than nan clicking of nan analog sticks. Another button-related rumor is that nan location and screenshot buttons beryllium astir flush pinch nan integrative housing, making them reliable to consciousness for without looking.

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 / App customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,000mAh artillery / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: No

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 value-packed) 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.

However, I’d skip nan Pro 3 if you want bully rumble feedback. It’s beautiful lousy connected that front, to nan constituent that I preferred to move disconnected rumble wholly successful games. If you’re considering nan likewise priced Ultimate 2 Bluetooth, it besides has mediocre rumble, but it’s a awesome controller different that offers akin features pinch an Xbox-style instrumentality layout.

Update, March 10th: Adjusted pricing / readiness and added nan EasySMX S10 Lite. We besides removed Gulikit ES Pro since different controllers successful its value scope connection much features.