Supported platcreates: Nintfinisho Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, Apple TV / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in reaccuseable / Console Wakeup: Yes
More than seven years down the road, Nintfinisho’s first-party Pro handleler is still the best gamepad for the Switch. It begined aprolongedside the console in 2017 as a more traditional alternative to Nintfinisho’s quirky Joy-Cons, and in many ways, it rivals the standard models from Sony and Microgentle in terms of console and produce quality.
Aside from the Joy-Cons, the Switch Pro Controller is the only wireless selection that integrates HD rumble, gyroscopic shiftment help, and an NFC reader for Amiibo cards and figurines. It’s also the only handleler we’ve tested (aachieve, aside from the Joy-Cons) that can power on the Switch without being plugged into it. The gamepad is built enjoy a tank, and its battery life is so outstanding that it sometimes seems enjoy it’ll never run out. Nintfinisho says that it lasts around 40 hours per accuse, so it’ll probable get casual gamers a prolonged time to run down the battery.
The buttons and triggers have a prenting bounce, while its honestional pad is responsive and clicky enough to prent retro gamers. The handleler accuses via USB-C, fair enjoy the Switch, and it’s compatible with a slew of other platcreates you might game on, including PC, Android, and SteamOS. It also labors with Apple devices thanks to its compatibility with the tardyst versions of iOS, macOS, and even tvOS and visionOS.
Given the price, we want that it had other features, enjoy programmable buttons or a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio, even if wireless audio transignoreion from the Switch to a handleler isn’t currently possible. (At least you can connect a pair of wireless headphones via Bluetooth, but only if you have no more than two handlelers connected to your Switch at once.)
Supported Platcreates: Switch / Connectivity: Wired / Connector type: Joy-Con slots / Mappable rear buttons: Yes / Software customization: No / Rumble: No / NFC: No / Motion: No / Power: via Joy-Con slots / Console Wakeup: No
I’m certain there are some people who endelight using Joy-Con handlelers, but kids and petite-handed folks aside, most people probably wouldn’t say they’re the most consoleable selection. That’s where the Hori Split Pad Pro comes in.
The Split Pad Pro comes in a variety of colorways, and it both sees and senses enjoy a Switch Pro Controller that’s split in half. One-half slides into each side of the Switch console enjoy Joy-Cons, but unenjoy Nintfinisho’s default handlelers, Hori’s gamepad features huge, effortless-to-accomplish buttons and benevolently sized triggers and analog sticks, all of which sense fantastic in take part. It also provides a lot of grip, which is particularly beneficial for people who insist to get a better handle on the console for speedy gametake part or stay comfy over prolongeder take part sessions.
The Split Pad Pro doesn’t have batteries or sensors — not to allude help for rumble, motion, IR, or NFC — so it’s endly appreciateless when deleteed from the Switch. It’s only for handheld mode unless you buy the Split Pad Pro Attachment that turns it into a wired handleler. We don’t recommfinish most people go that route since the connectment alone costs more than a Switch Pro Controller, which is a shame pondering it doesn’t try to comprise any of the aforealludeed elements (it does comprise a 3.5mm headphone jack, however).
The company also sells the Split Pad Compact, which is a petiteer version of the Split Pad Pro that typicassociate costs around $50. It might be worth a see if you want someleang as functional as the Split Pad Pro but sealr in size to a Joy-Con — especiassociate since it’s currently on sale at Target for $32.49 (about $18 off).
Supported Platcreates: Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, Apple TV / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in reaccuseable / Console Wakeup: Yes
The GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro rivals the Switch Pro Controller in produce quality, but it senses more enjoy a contransient Xbox handleler, and its textured rear grips might give it the edge for some. Unenjoy most third-party handlelers, it retains Amiibo help, though some users have alerted publishs with inauthentic Amiibo products. The KingKong 2 Pro can connect via Bluetooth to the Switch and to PC, macOS, iOS, Android, and other platcreates. And because it uses GuliKit’s Hall effect sensors for its analog sticks, it’s immune to drift.
We recommfinish verifying out this video at iFixit to see a thocdisesteemful exscheduleation of how it labors, but in essence, Hall effect sensors use magnets to alter electrical current instead of physicassociate rubbing on (and eventuassociate wearing down) a sensor to produce an input. While we haven’t heard expansivespread alerts of chronic analog stick drift publishs on the Switch Pro Controller thus far, handlelers with Hall effect sensors will never come atraverse it, and the peace of mind is worth the compriseed cost. (The 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller below also uses GuliKit’s sensors.)
Control-rational, almost everyleang about the KingKong 2 Pro senses fair right. The face buttons, bumpers, and D-pad all strike a equilibrium between travel, tactile feedback, and sense. The analog sticks are incredibly fluid yet easily snap back into their default positions. Clicking the sticks doesn’t insist much force, either, even when they’re off-axis. And while we can’t filledy accomprehendledge GuliKit for the excellent ergonomics afforded by the Xbox-encouraged shape, we can award points for the sturdy materials used and nailing a well-equitable weight.
The handleler provides exhaustive customizability selections, too. You can swap button layouts, program macros, and cycle thcdisesteemful preset levels of rumble intensity and trigger sensitivity (which may not execute when using it with the Switch, as it doesn’t help analog triggers). However, managing these settings is less than selectimal, as you can only alter them by inputting button combinations. Sure, the combos are basic, but memorizing them all is challenging. Thankfilledy, GuliKit clearly spells everyleang out in the comprehensive manual you’ll get with the gamepad.
It’s worth noting that GuliKit now sells a KingKong 3 Pro and KingKong 3 Max. The 3 Pro produces upon the premium handleler by compriseing four slots for deleteable rearward buttons or pcompriseles (two come in the box) and a 1,000Hz polling rate for betterd responsiveness. The 3 Max is analogous but integrates three pairs of back buttons (including low and prolonged styles) and a 10-minute macro sign uping restrict (versus 10 seconds on the 3 Pro). There’s also a dedicated trigger mode switch, RGB airys around the analog sticks that signal which sensitivity mode you’re in, and NFC for Amiibo help.
We haven’t tested either of the novel GuliKit models (yet), but we intfinish to pull them in for ponderation soon, so stay tuned.
Supported Platcreates: Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, Apple TV / Connectivity: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes / Software customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in reaccuseable / Console Wakeup: No
8BitDo’s Ultimate Bluetooth Controller senses enjoy a Switch Pro Controller in shape, with a analogously low grip profile that huger hands may not prefer. Both split Switch and Windows PC help, but 8BitDo gets a leg up with filled Steam Deck compatibility. Its haptics are decent but not as outstanding as Nintfinisho’s, and it’s ignoreing Amiibo help, though it does feature customizable back pcompriseles and motion handles — aprolonged with a hideed trick that permits you to wake a docked Switch by giving the handleler a little shake. It also comes with a charging dock, which stores the 2.4GHz dongle when not in use. The integrated dock is handy for charging the 22-hour battery, which is still pretty benevolent but comes well low of the 40-hour label set by Nintfinisho’s official handleler.
The Ultimate handleler comes in disjoinal variants, but we recommfinish the Bluetooth model over the 2.4GHz or wired selections because it integrates 2.4GHz connectivity and GuliKit Hall effect sticks, which the 2.4GHz-only version deficiencys. The analog sticks propose fair the right amount of resistance and sport a consoleable concave top, but they’re fair a tad low on the sides. All of the buttons propose fantastic travel, though, and the analog triggers have a prenting amount of resistance when pulled.
As for tfeebles, you can customize button mapping profiles, macros, vibration intensity, and stick and trigger sensitivity using the Ultimate Software app on mobile or PC. The handleler has a dedicated button that lets you swap between three profiles on the fly, plus an extra turbo button you can either reconfigure or remap. When it comes to Switch handlelers, 8BitDo sets the standard for the breadth of these selections and how to access them, which is another reason it’s high on our enumerate.
Supported Platcreates: Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, Apple TV, Raspberry Pi / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes / Software customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in reaccuseable / Console Wakeup: No
The 8BitDo Pro 2 is another fantastic selection with Hall effect sticks for the Nintfinisho Switch, especiassociate if your hands are happiest with a PlayStation-style handleler. The Pro 2 has a consoleable grip, a crisper D-pad than the Switch Pro Controller, and two effortless-to-press pcomprisele buttons on the underside. It has rumble help (though not HD rumble) and motion handle for games enjoy The Legfinish of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Overwatch 2, both of which permit for gyroscopic aiming. PlayStation gamers will also appreciate that the left analog stick is findd toward the bottom — fair enjoy on Sony’s handlelers — rather than above the D-pad as on the Switch Pro.
With 8BitDo’s Ultimate gentleware on a mobile device or a Windows computer, you can customize the Pro 2’s button mapping and the sensitivity of its triggers and analog sticks. You can even save up to three handle scheme profiles and cycle thcdisesteemful them with a button findd between the analog sticks. On its rear, there’s a switch that lets it toggle between Nintfinisho Switch, X-input for PC, DirectInput, and macOS modes, each with its own handle customizations and Bluetooth profile. This handleler proposes a lot for $50 (or $54.99 if you want one of the incredibly canciaccess translucent blue, purple, or green editions).
There are many other devices that permit you to use third-party handlelers, but 8BitDo’s might be the best appreciate. Instead of spfinishing $70 on multiple Switch Pro Controllers, the $19.99 8BitDo Wireless Bluetooth USB Adapter 2 lets you turn a Bluetooth handleler you already own into a wireless Switch handleler. It plugs into your Switch dock and helps a expansive variety of models, from the tardyst Xbox and DualSense handlelers to last-gen gamepads for the Wii and PlayStation 3. (Note: the first-gen model can’t connect to most Xbox Bluetooth handlelers due to a Bluetooth incompatibility, so produce certain you get the tardyst model.)
To our surpelevate, the PS5 DualSense handleler we tested it with labored incredibly well, with better-than-unrelabelable rumble and more responsive motion handles than many dedicated Switch handlelers propose. What’s more, so prolonged as you’re using one of the noveler Xbox Series X or S handlelers, an Xbox One Bluetooth handleler, a DualSense, a DualShock 4, or the Switch Pro Controller, you can customize their button mapping, analog stick sensitivity, and more wilean 8BitDo’s computer and mobile app.
8BitDo has an extensive help page that enumerates the steps insistd to set up your definite handleler, as well as which features of those handlelers it helps. That shelp, it’s best if you understand the Switch’s button layout by heart if you schedule to use either a PlayStation or Xbox handleler with this alterer, as the layout on your handleler will not suit the on-screen prompts in games.
If you already have a handleler you reassociate enjoy and don’t mind jumping thcdisesteemful a restricted petite hoops to connect it, 8BitDo’s affordable alterer deserves a spot in your amusement caccess. If you schedule to use more than one third-party handleler at a time, you’ll insist an alterer for each handleler (and a USB hub), but if you have a lot of handlelers sitting around, it might be worth it.
We enjoy CRKD’s Nitro Deck around here. It’s a cradle-style handleler that hanciaccesss the Switch between a pair of Hall effect sticks, outfitting it with a standard array of face buttons, four programmable back buttons, turbo functionality, gyro motion handles, and rumble. It has passthcdisesteemful charging, though, not passthcdisesteemful video, which would permit it to double as a dock for TV gametake part. The step-up Nitro Deck Plus comprises shelp functionality (with a USB-C to HDMI alterer), aprolonged with Bluetooth connectivity and adfairable vibration intensity / analog sensitivity. We’ve set up these to be notable betterments, but want the passthcdisesteemful solution was more elegant and that CRKD could mend the ergonomics (particularly on the right side, where the analog and button placement can cause disconsole).
We recently tested the GameSir T4 Cyclone Pro ($49.99) for ponderation. It proposes many of the same functions as the GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro — including remappable buttons, Hall effect sticks, and two contrastent macro buttons — aprolonged with dedicated vibration motors in the triggers, which is someleang the GuliKit can’t claim. That shelp, it descends fair low due to muafraid-senseing buttons. GameSir ponders the extra pcompriseing under the buttons a feature that produces the impact gentleer, but we felt it gets away from the experience. Also, although it’s perfectly usable with the Switch, the Pro’s button labeling gets after Microgentle’s, which may not be selectimal for those who have trouble memorizing inputs. We also set up resyncing with the Switch to be a chore after switching from a mobile device or a Windows PC.
GameCube Style Wireless Controller
We also recently tried disjoinal wireless PowerA handlelers, including the GameCube Style Wireless Controller ($59.99) and a Pikachu-themed version of the standard PowerA Enhanced Wireless ($59.99). We enjoy the fun schedule of PowerA’s handlelers, but they don’t dwell up to the quality of the models we recommfinish above, which is a shame pondering some cost csurrenderly as much. The GameCube-style wireless handleler is a pretty dedicated recreation of the innovative if you fancy a uncontaminated Super Smash Bros. experience, but it’s exposedbones with no rumble, NFC, or IR. It’s an effortless way to get the anciaccess-school senseing back if you don’t already have a Bluetooth-based alternative to use with 8BitDo’s USB Adapter 2.
Update, September 25th: Updated to echo current pricing and useability.