Not everyone is keen to spend $90 on a single controller. Fortunately, affordable third-party options are available that offer excellent performance.
If you’re considering getting an extra controller for your Nintendo Switch 2, you might spend quite a bit — and receive substantial value in return. Purchasing Nintendo’s $89 Switch 2 Pro Controller, for example, provides the console’s sole wireless controller with a 3.5mm headphone jack for private listening, along with smooth rumble and a sleek design. While not flawless, it offers an impressive array of features.
However, stopping there would be shortchanging you. Several third-party models are available that are cheaper but don’t compromise much in terms of features. Affordable options are emerging, replicating the Switch 2 Pro’s OS-level rear-button customization on a per-game basis, something previously limited to Nintendo’s gamepad. I’ve tested a selection of these controllers, including new releases, and there’s a selection of models I believe will satisfy most people, featuring diverse styles, pricing, and features.
Every controller in this guide is compatible with both the Switch 2 and the original Switch (all can remotely wake the Switch 2) and PC. Each option also employs superior, more durable joystick technology compared to Nintendo’s flagship controller; the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s potentiometer-based joysticks are prone to degradation over time, whereas our choices feature either Hall effect or TMR joysticks. Below are highlighted features for specific controllers.
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— The Best Switch 2 Controller for Most People —
EasySMX S10 offers similar capabilities and comfort to the Switch 2 Pro Controller, retailing at $59.99, $30 cheaper. It holds surprises, such as the finest adaptation of Nintendo’s HD rumble in a third-party controller. It’s also one of the few options that can awaken the Switch 2 from sleep mode via Bluetooth and offers amiibo support, a rare feature in third-party gamepads.
Distinguishing the S10 is its grippy texture, both on the body and stick caps. Button and trigger presses feel different, yielding softer presses and shorter travel, which might be the S10’s most divisive feature. Notably, the S10 offers a swappable eight-way (circular) D-pad, simplifying diagonal maneuvers in games like Hollow Knight: Silksong compared to a four-way D-pad.
If a change was possible, I’d alter the positioning of the system-level buttons (screenshot, GameChat, and home), which are awkwardly placed just below the D-pad and right stick.
Honorable mentions:
While similar to the S10, the S10 Lite is available at a lower $39.99 price, though with compromises. It lacks amiibo figure support and its rumble effects are less impressive compared to the S10’s HD rumble. Uniquely, it offers native support for the Switch 2 interface, a feature absent in the higher-tier model.
Connecting the S10 Lite to a Switch 2 is straightforward, akin to connecting other controllers, without the need for unusual button sequences or Joy-Con removal for the console to remember it. Once connected, it allows waking the Switch 2 via the Home button. You can also use the Switch 2’s interface to customize the two rear buttons for specific games, a capability exclusive to this third-party controller.
The S10 Lite mirrors the Switch 2 Pro controller functionally more closely than other makers have achieved so far. It’s splendid, maintaining comfort on par with the Switch 2 Pro controller’s ergonomics, but falls short of being the top choice due to the absence of amiibo support and HD rumble.
Other noteworthy options:
GuliKit TT Pro and Mobapad Chitu2 HD offer extended feature sets, with the latter closely resembling Nintendo’s design. 8BitDo Pro 3 is a versatile alternative, offering extensive customization but falling short regarding rumble feedback.
Update, March 10th: Pricing and availability adjusted, EasySMX S10 Lite added. The GuliKit ES Pro has been excluded since other comparably priced controllers provide more features.