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If you choose to get an extra controller for your Nintendo Switch 2, you can spend a lot — and get a lot in return. Buying Nintendo’s own $89.99 Switch 2 Pro Controller, for instance, will net you the console’s only wireless controller with a 3.5mm headphone jack, not to mention great rumble and a slick design. It’s not perfect, but it’s the total package.
But it’d be a disservice to you to call it a day there. There are several third-party offerings that are significantly cheaper, yet don’t make too many compromises in terms of features. I’ve spent time testing a handful of them, and there’s a small batch of models that I think will satisfy most people, with a range of styles, prices, and features.
Every controller I’ve included in this guide is compatible with both the Switch 2 and the original Switch (some can even remotely wake the Switch 2), as well as platforms like PC and mobile. More importantly, each offering includes better, longer-lasting joystick technology than you’ll get with Nintendo’s flagship controller; the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s potentiometer-based joysticks are prone to degradation over time, after all, but our picks include either Hall effect or TMR joysticks.
What I’m looking for
I put my pricey Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller away and cycle in each of these candidates for multi-session tests with a mix of games for the Switch 2. I spend time assessing their ergonomics, button location, and the quality of each button press and trigger pull. I also strive to test each controller’s unique functions.
Most people would rather spend $89.99 on a game or two, not a single controller. We sought cheaper alternatives to Nintendo’s fantastic Switch 2 Pro Controller, but we hate compromising on features and quality as much as anyone. We aim to include wireless gamepads that can remotely wake the Switch 2, as well as offerings that feature good-feeling rumble and controllers that sport a few extras, such as amiibo support.
Our top picks are just as comfortable to use as Nintendo’s flagship gamepad — perhaps more comfortable, depending on your taste. We’ve included picks with Xbox- and PlayStation-style stick layouts, as well as one that feels similar to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
Nintendo opted for potentiometer-based joysticks with its pricey Switch 2 controller, which may result in “stick drift” later on, if its last-gen controller tech is anything to go by. Every pick in this guide builds upon that technology with either Hall effect or tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks, which are drift-resistant by design.
The best Switch 2 controller for most people
$50
The Good
- TMR joysticks
- amiibo support
- Great rumble
The Bad
- Clicky buttons are divisive
- The grips might be too grating for some
Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,200mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes
The EasySMX S10 is nearly as capable and comfortable as the Switch 2 Pro Controller, yet it’s $30 cheaper at $59.99. It’s full of surprises, too, including the best adaptation of Nintendo’s HD rumble that I’ve felt in a third-party controller. It’s also one of the few options that can remotely wake the Switch 2 from sleep mode via Bluetooth. Lastly, it includes built-in amiibo support — another rare feature to find in a third-party gamepad.
However, the S10 isn’t a Switch 2 Pro copycat; it’s a lot grippier, both around the grips themselves and on its stick caps. Button presses and trigger pulls feel different from most other controllers, too, yielding a softer press and shorter travel, which is likely to be the most divisive aspect of the S10. One of my favorite aspects of the S10’s design is its swappable eight-way (circular) D-pad, making diagonal attacks in Hollow Knight: Silksong considerably easier to execute than with a four-way D-pad.
If I could change one thing about the S10, it’d be the system-level buttons (screenshot, GameChat, and home). They’re crammed awkwardly just below the D-pad and right stick.
$30
The Good
- Incredible value in terms of specs and comfort
The Bad
- Lousy rumble
- Lacks a C button
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 battery / Console wake-up: Yes
Gulikit’s ES Pro is a love letter to the Xbox controller, but for Switch 2. It’s just $29.99, which is a steal considering this gamepad features an eight-way D-pad that’s great for fighting games, Metroidvanias, and retro titles where it’s an advantage to easily be able to aim diagonally (a setting can make it so that it only registers inputs for the cardinal directions, if you prefer).
This controller doesn’t need to do much to justify its price, but it does anyway. It features tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks that are resistant to drifting and offer improved power efficiency compared to Hall effect tech, just like the EasySMX S10. Similarly, it can be set up to remotely wake your Switch 2 or Switch console from across the room using its own set of strange, one-time-only instructions that you can view in its instruction manual.
I’ve got almost no qualms with this controller, except for its bad rumble. It just has no subtlety, rumbling in an all-or-nothing manner. I was happier using the ES Pro with the vibrations off, which isn’t any fun. Also, it’s far less complete than the S10, missing amiibo support and a C button for GameChat, but depending on your needs, those omissions might not matter to you.
$63
The Good
- Includes dock and 2.4GHz dongle
- Highly customizable
- Comfortable for small hands
The Bad
- Bad rumble
- Can’t wake Switch 2
Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, 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 battery / Console wake-up: Yes (but only original Switch)
8BitDo’s Pro 3 is a great yet pricey Switch 2 Pro alternative with a PlayStation-style stick layout. At $69.99, it’s not as affordable (nor as much of a value-packed purchase) as the top contenders. However, the Pro 3 offers a lot of customization, some being cosmetic, while other aspects can impact gameplay.
It has a lot going for it, with TMR joysticks, two back paddles, and a total of three shoulder buttons per side thanks to new custom M buttons. Its analog stick caps can be popped off in favor of glossy arcade stick-style nubs, which were my preferred choice in fighting games (plus, they just look cool). Its ABXY buttons can be suctioned off with an included tool to swap the layout as needed, and for visual flair, each controller includes colored buttons to evoke a retro Nintendo console. Also, it has trigger locks, letting you set triggers to have a short, clicky pull or the default travel distance.
Skip this if you want good rumble feedback. It’s pretty lousy here, to the point that I preferred to turn off rumble entirely in games. Also, this is a small nitpick, but the Pro 3 can’t remotely wake up the Switch 2, so you’ll need to walk over to press the console’s power button, then head back to the couch.
Read my full 8BitDo Pro 3 review.
$42
The Good
- Comfortable, sleek design
- Buttons are easy to swap
The Bad
- Buttons don’t feel good to press
- Can’t wake Switch 2
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 battery / Console wake-up: No
GameSir’s Super Nova is a passable Switch Pro copy that I had a tough time warming up to. There’s a lot about it that sounds great on 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 least favorite D-pad and buttons to press out of the controllers in this list. The underlying tech is responsive, but they feel cheap to hammer on.
That’s a shame, as I think it’s a slick-looking controller, with a magnetic face plate that pops off to let you easily swap the buttons around without the need for a tool. Its RGB LEDs are dazzling, if not a bit overkill (they can be turned off). The rear triggers have trigger stops, which can reduce the travel of each pull. The two back paddles are easy to press. It also includes a charging dock as well as a USB-A 2.4GHz transmitter, allowing for easy connectivity with a PC.
$30
The Good
- Cute, compact design
- Can wake Switch 2
- Hall effect sticks
The Bad
- Sticks and triggers have limited range Lacks features from the ES Pro
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 battery / Console wake-up: Yes
Gulikit Elves 2 is a compact, Sega Saturn-inspired controller I wanted to love a little more than I do. This gamepad has some of the same benefits as the identically priced ES Pro, including Switch 2 wake-up and multiplatform support. But it’s smaller, which could make it a great pick for kids or small-handed folks who have a difficult time wrapping their digits around larger gamepads.
There isn’t much wasted space in this controller, complete with a rechargeable battery, rumble motors, a gyroscope, and an eight-way D-pad that feels nice to use. Even for my medium-sized hands, its grips turn this small gamepad into something that’s satisfying to hold. I don’t like it as much for a handful of minor reasons relating to long-term comfort, button and trigger feel preferences, and some missing functionality. Compared to the ES Pro, it misses out on TMR sticks (it has Hall effect), its better triggers, and its swappable buttons.
A company called GG-Gear (Good Game Gear) is sending its GG wireless Switch 2 controller, and it seems like it might give the EasySMX S10 a run for its money. It’ll cost $44.99 and will feature TMR joysticks, what it calls “HD” vibration, a 1,000Hz polling rate, amiibo support, gyroscope support, and a C button for GameChat, among other competitive features — in fun colors, to boot.
The hunt continues for gamepad contenders that pack in a bunch of features without breaking the bank. They’re more rare than you might think they are! For instance, PowerA recently launched a $69.99 Switch 2 controller called the Advantage Wireless Controller. It has Hall effect joysticks, but seemingly no rumble and no ability to wake the Switch 2. Hori launched a Turbo Switch 2 wireless controller in some nice colors, each with TMR joysticks. Its highlight feature is a button that can disable the screenshot, home, and plus/minus buttons.
