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<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is a must-have gamepad for the new console. Much like the original, it provides an astronomically more comfortable gaming experience than the pack-in Joy-Con 2 controllers, and rivals some of the best in the business when it comes to overall feel, build quality, performance, and – of course – battery life, which continues to be best-in-class for any console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
>>>HDH-003 Battery for Nintendo Switch Lite<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller launched alongside the console itself, and I\u2019ve been using it as my go-toSwitch 2gamepad since launch day. While I was already impressed with it at a Switch 2 hands-on preview event a few months back, actually having it at home has solidified it as perhaps my favorite controller of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mission statement is a simple one: provide an updated version of the excellent Nintendo Switch Pro Controller – easily one of thebest Nintendo Switch controllersfor that original console – while keeping the things players loved about that original model intact. I feel this has mostly been achieved with the Switch 2 Pro Controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s incredibly comfortable in the hands, sporting simply lovely build quality from chassis to buttons. The thumbsticks are ultra-smooth and responsive, and additions like two remappable buttons on the rear, as well as a headphone jack, are extremely welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, theoriginal Pro Controlleris remembered fondly for its frankly absurd battery life, lasting around 40 hours on a single charge. I\u2019m happy to report that\u2019s also the case with the Switch 2 Pro Controller; after three weeks of testing for a few hours most days, I\u2019ve only just seen the low battery warning flash up on my screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what\u2019s holding it back from truly being the greatest of all time? Well, unlike the original Pro Controller, this new model isn\u2019t currently compatible with PC. It\u2019s likely we\u2019ll need to wait for a Steam compatibility update, but I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if this happens in the near future. I also would\u2019ve loved a trigger lock feature, allowing players to switch between digital and analog sensitivities to suit a wider range of genres (analog triggers naturally work better for racing games, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, Nintendo seemingly remains committed to not having Hall effect thumbsticks, which is a massive shame. What this means is that, eventually, I expect the Switch 2 Pro Controller to develop stick drift. Perhaps not as quickly as the Joy-Con 2 – of which there are already reports of users experiencing drift – but for a controller that costs as much as it does, the lack of sturdier Hall effect thumbsticks hurts. Doubly so, considering the sticks themselves feel fantastic during play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there\u2019s one potential criticism I can levy at the Switch 2 Pro Controller, it\u2019s that it certainly isn\u2019t cheap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s available to purchase now from Nintendo\u2019s own website as well as stocking retailers for $84.99 \/ \u00a374.99 \/ AU$119.95. US folks have it slightly worse here due to a price increase that\u2019s seen the controller\u2019s RRP pushed up from the original $79.99.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, though, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is cheaper in the US than a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers ($94.99), while being priced the same as those in the UK (\u00a374.99).<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, cheaper alternatives do exist in controllers like the8BitDo Ultimate 2($69.99 \/ \u00a359.99 – around AU$90). This is an exceptional controller that\u2019s well worth looking into, especially as it\u2019s recently received a firmware update to allow for Switch 2 connectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n >>>HAC-006 Battery for Nintendo Switch Joy-con Controller<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Put the Switch 2 Pro Controller side by side with the original model, and you\u2019ll notice a lot of similarities. Its large face buttons are about the same size here, the d-pad is very similar, and the controller still uses digital triggers. I think an option for quicker triggers would\u2019ve been nice here, via trigger locks, for genres like racing games. But there are some other upgrades here that I\u2019m very happy about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Switch 2 Pro Controller adds some very welcome features. There\u2019s a dedicated GameChat button like we see on the Joy-Con 2 for accessing the console\u2019s bespoke voice chat system. Additionally, you\u2019re getting a 3.5mm headphone jack, which – alarmingly – wasn\u2019t present on the original Pro Controller. Lastly, a pair of GL\/GR buttons on the rear of the pad can be remapped on a per-game basis, though I\u2019ll touch more on those in the following performance section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of looks, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is simple, but pretty eye-catching. The semi-translucent look of the original has been replaced with a matte black shell. Meanwhile, the top that houses the bumpers and triggers – as well as the thumbstick shafts – have taken on a light gray coating that I think looks nice juxtaposed against the otherwise all-black gamepad. I wouldn\u2019t say it\u2019s winning any awards in the aesthetics department, but it\u2019s a simple and elegant design that doesn\u2019t look out of place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, there isn\u2019t much to report on the design front beyond the fact that this is an incredibly comfortable asymmetrical controller that sits firmly in the hands. I find that the Switch 2 Pro Controller\u2019s grips are of a perfect size, and the pad fits snugly in my hands with my index fingers set firmly on the triggers. I felt this way about the original Pro Controller, too, but its successor does feel ever so slightly more refined in this regard. Right away, let\u2019s talk about the thing that most people fondly remember the original Pro Controller for – its seemingly endless battery life. While there have been no noticeable improvements here with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, I can\u2019t exactly say that\u2019s a bad thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yep, you can expect this new model to go the distance with around 40-45 hours of battery life. Since launch, on average, I\u2019ve played my Switch 2 with the Pro Controller for around 1-3 hours daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three weeks later, I have only just seen the low battery warning flash up on my screen. This is absolutely best-in-class battery life that leaves even the best Nintendo Switch controllers in the dust. It is worth noting that such a hefty battery does take some time to charge up again – around 3-4 hours to be exact – but do this overnight via USB-C and you\u2019ll never need to worry about running out of juice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is just a joy to play games with. The thumbsticks are the real heroes here, feeling almost impossibly smooth and incredibly responsive during play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes precise platformers likeSuperMario3D World + Bowser\u2019s Fury<\/em>or white knuckle racers likeF-Zero GX<\/em>feel fantastic to play (even if the latter still benefits more from the wireless GameCube controller\u2019s button layout).<\/p>\n\n\n\n My one gripe here would be that the thumbsticks are not Hall effect, with Nintendo seemingly opting once again for more traditional potentiometers. It\u2019s a frustrating commitment that we also see fromSonyandMicrosoftin their first-party pads, and as a result, it\u2019s currently hard to gauge just how long the Switch 2 Pro Controller\u2019s sticks will last before developing drift. That said, the thumbsticks here do feel decidedly sturdier than those on the Joy-Con 2, so I do expect them to last a good deal longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, I think my favorite addition to the Switch 2 Pro Controller has to be the rear GL\/GR buttons. We\u2019ve seen remappable buttons like these on countless third-party controllers, but I really like how Nintendo has implemented them. By holding down the Home button while in-game, you\u2019ll bring up a quick menu that lets you assign GL and GR as secondary inputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This works on a per-game basis, too, meaning you don\u2019t need to constantly reassign them while you\u2019re hopping from game to game. They can be an absolute lifesaver, too. InThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom<\/em>,<\/em>for example, I bound the sprint and jump actions to these buttons, letting me still have access to camera controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, inHyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition<\/em>,<\/em>binding the left and right d-pad inputs to GL\/GR let me cycle through my inventory of items without having to stop moving or adopt an awkward claw grip instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, you can expect a controller that performs just as well as the original where it counts. Gyro aiming is still incredibly solid and accurate for games likeSplatoon 3<\/em>,<\/em>and you still have near-field communication (NFC) support for scanning amiibo figures in your favorite games. You want a cheaper (and better) Joy-Con 2 alternative You prefer wireless play You\u2019re on a budget You\u2019ve had bad luck with stick drift If the Switch 2 Pro Controller isn\u2019t exactly what you\u2019re after, there are a couple of great alternatives for you to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: one-minute review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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>>>HAC-006 Battery for Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Fits HAC-006 Left Right<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nNintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: price and availability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: Specs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/td> $84.99 \/ \u00a374.99 \/ AU$119.95<\/td><\/tr> Weight<\/td> 8.3oz \/ 235g<\/td><\/tr> Dimensions<\/td> 5.8 x 4.1 x 2.4in \/ 148 x 105 x 60mm<\/td><\/tr> Compatibility<\/td> Nintendo Switch 2<\/td><\/tr> Connection type<\/td> Wireless (Bluetooth), Wired (USB Type-C)<\/td><\/tr> Battery life<\/td> Around 40 hours<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n ![\"Nintendo](\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KBL4bXhMyRYVT2HfvctP8S.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\nNintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: design and features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nNintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nShould I buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Buy it if…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Sure, you\u2019re not getting the Joy-Con 2\u2019s fancy directional rumble or their aptitude for co-op play. But given the lower US price point, higher comfort factor, and sublime thumbsticks and GL\/GR buttons, the Pro Controller wins out for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>You\u2019re absolutely laughing here, as the Switch 2 Pro Controller seriously goes the distance in terms of battery life, putting in an impressive 40+ hours on an average full charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDon’t buy it if…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>While I wholeheartedly recommend the Switch 2 Pro Controller at its price point, I can\u2019t say it\u2019s exactly cheap. There are more affordable options around $10-$20 cheaper that do a similar job, such as the excellent 8BitDo Ultimate 2, or indeed the original Pro Controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Without drift-resistant Hall effect sticks, I can\u2019t say for sure just how long the Switch 2 Pro Controller\u2019s thumbsticks will last before developing drift. If you\u2019ve fallen foul of stick drift in the past, you may want to consider some alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review: Also consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n