Best Nintendo Switch Controllers in 2021 [Review]

This article is about Best Nintendo Switch Controllers in 2021. Nintendo Switch is performing exceptionally well since its launch in March 2017 and went on to be one of the fastest-selling systems ever. The game array for this mobile console has made it extremely popular, leading it to sell more than 55 million units.

Thanks to Nintendo Switch, you have plenty of options when it comes to accessories and gameplay styles. You can play it in tabletop mode, handheld, and even on the big screen.

Image Product Feature Price
best design



PowerA Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch

 

Classic GameCube design plus larger D-pad
AA batteries for up to 30 hours of gameplay
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best overall



Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

 

2 × Analog sticks.
Accelerometer.
Digital D-pad.
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best performance



8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ Bluetooth Gamepad

 

Wireless Bluetooth, rumble vibration, motion controls, USB-C.
Button mapping for system-changing accuracy and modifiable vibration.
Modifiable joystick sensitivity.
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top rated



Nintendo Joy-Con (L/R)

 

The square Capture Button on the Joy-Con (L) can capture screenshots of gameplay.
The Joy-Con (R) controller includes an NFC feature that can read and write amiibo data.
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best allrounder



PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Controller

 

3.5mm audio jack supports in-game audio and USB-chat, adjust volume on-the-fly using the D-pad on the controller.
Includes a 10-foot fixed USB cable.
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best budget



PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller

 

Bluetooth Wireless freedom.
Features motion controls and Advanced Gaming Buttons.
Ergonomic design with standard button layout.
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best comfort



Nintendo Switch Split Pad Pro

 

D-pad, and large shoulder buttons designed for comfort and accuracy, even during marathon gaming sessions. Check On Amazon
best features



PDP 500-100-NA-D12 Wired Fight Pad Pro

 

Gamecube inspired Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch
Ideal for use in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart
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buyer choice



Beboncool Switch Pro Controller

 

3 Levels Vibration & Motion Control
3 Levels Turbo Speed& Auto-Fire Function
12-15 Hours Playtime&Put Customer First
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best quality



RegeMoudal Wireless Controller

 

Lightweight & multi-person sharing
Long and Update Battle
Satisfaction & Confidence
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The Nintendo Switch’s included Joy-Cons make the system easy to enjoy, but there are plenty of other great controller options to enhance your play experience either at home or on the go, including the official Nintendo Pro controller which is still the best Nintendo Switch controller for the console overall.

But if you’re looking for an inexpensive Switch Pro alternative or just need something for your player two, from high-end gamepads to retro controllers for classic platformers, we’ve listed the Switch’s most popular controllers to help you find the best pick for your playing style.

Before we go through these controllers one by one, let’s try to understand some of the Switch controller’s features and parts which we will talk about in this article. This will help you grasp the specification of every controller and picking up the right one according to your preferences. Definitely, most of you already have a great idea of all these, but there may be few people who need this.

Nintendo Switch Controllers buying guide

The Nintendo Switch is nothing short of a sensation. After the mediocre reception to the Nintendo Wii U in 2012, the company knew it needed to re-imagine its home console offerings, and that solution ended up being the Switch. The gamble paid off, as sales for the hybrid console continue to climb even years after its launch.

In this Nintendo Switch buying guide, we’ll give you everything you could ever want to know about buying a Switch, owning a Switch, and accessorizing your Switch. If you’re on the fence about buying one, we have tons of tips here to help you make your decision, but there’s also plenty of info here for current owners who want to make the most of their console.

Editor’s note: This Nintendo Switch buying guide is current as of July 2020. We will update it with new content regularly. While we mention the Switch specifically, this guide is also written with Switch Lite in mind.

At a glance: What is a Nintendo Switch console?

Nintendo unveiled the Switch on March 3, 2017. The Nintendo Switch price was $299 at launch, which significantly undercut the price of the Sony PlayStation 4 ($399 at the time) and matched the then-current price of the Xbox One S.

Unlike the PS4 and Xbox One S, though, the Nintendo Switch is what’s known as a hybrid console. This means it can be used as a wireless handheld device — not unlike the Nintendo 3DS, another insanely popular Nintendo product — or it can be docked and connected to a TV to be played in the normal home console style.

In other words, the Switch offers the best of both worlds: the power to run home console games that look and play great on a television as well as the ability to play those same games on the go.

The Nintendo Switch is officially the company’s third-best-selling home console of all-time with over 55 million units sold to date. That puts it far behind the Nintendo Wii (~102 million units) but very likely to eventually surpass the original Nintendo Entertainment System (~62 million units).

Is the Nintendo Switch worth buying?

The popularity of the Nintendo Switch is not unwarranted. Not only is its unique hybrid design enticing for people who want some versatility with their gaming experience, but Nintendo has done a terrific job of releasing some stellar games for the Switch while also bringing over a staggering number of third-party titles.

That being said, the Switch isn’t without its faults. Its hybrid design prevents it from being as powerful as a PlayStation or Xbox, for example. Also, despite Nintendo’s exceptional efforts to bring over a plethora of third-party games, there are still plenty of major releases that are simply unavailable for the Switch.

The reality is this: in case you’re a Nintendo fan as of now, the Switch is a flat out must-purchase, beyond a shadow of a doubt. In case you’re an easygoing gamer, the Switch would probably be a wise venture since you can utilize it for both your home reassure and handheld comfort needs without purchasing two separate gadgets. In case you’re a bad-to-the-bone gamer who needs admittance to each game and the capacity to play them at the best conceivable, the Switch is likely not what you’re searching for.

Remember that the Nintendo Switch cost is extraordinarily serious when contrasted with other significant consoles. This could likewise be a factor in your choice.

Let’s have a look…

HD Rumble — This is Nintendo’s new gimmick: being able to feel specific sensations through the Switch’s controller.

Motion Controls — This feature utilizes the gyroscope in the Joy-Con and the Pro Controller for the Switch and lets the players rotate their device for movement.

Amiibo — is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. These toys use near field communication (NFC) to interact with supported video game software, potentially allowing data to be transferred in and out of games and across multiple platforms.

Nintendo Switch Dock —The main function of this device is to provide an output to the TV, as well as charging and providing power to the system.

Dpad — (short for a digital pad or directional pad; also known as a control pad) is a flat, usually thumb-operated, usually digital, four-way directional control with one button on each point, found on nearly all modern video game console gamepads, game controllers, and on the remote control units.

JoyCon — are the primary game controllers for the Nintendo Switch video game console. They can be used while attached to the main Nintendo Switch console unit, or detached and used wirelessly; when detached, a pair of JoyCon can be used by a single player, or divided between two as individual controllers.

JoyCon Grip— Every Nintendo Switch comes with a Joy-Con Grip, an accessory that holds two JoyCon controllers in a form factor that resembles a standard gamepad. The Grip that’s included in the Switch box is opaque, with a matte gray finish.

Analog stick— is a variation of a joystick, consisting of a protrusion from the controller; input is based on the position of this protrusion in relation to the default “center” position.

 

Now that we have a pretty good idea of a Switch Controller’s parts and features lets go through them one by one:

 

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

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You love to spend most of your time with the Nintendo Switch in its dock, but a small Joy-Con grip can create disruption to take the full pleasure of the game you most like. That’s the case that you should get the official Switch Pro Controller if you have a budget. The Switch Pro is a great buy for most players in terms of ease, working, and features.

Though a bit expensive but Pro Controller has the best ergonomics among its competitors’ first-party console video game controllers. Its large face buttons are easy to click, triggers are well-shaped, and analog sticks, just make it perfect fit into your hands allowing better control during intense gameplay.

Features that stand this official pro controller out of the crowd are: Amiibo support, HD rumble, and motion controls (you don’t have to switch to Joy-Cons for certain Switch games); All these advantages make it work brilliantly for most Switch games.

It’s got great battery life too, allowing you to play wirelessly for almost 40 hours before the next charge. Perhaps this is the best battery life of any controller. And definitely it comes with a charger and a USB charging cable.

Though D-pad isn’t the best for traditional fighting games, there’s no doubt this first-party Pro Controller is one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers and one of the best Switch accessories you can buy.

PowerA GameCube-style Switch controller

PowerA GameCube-style Switch controller

GameCube style controllers are generally considered the preferred way to play games like Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and PowerA is offering the same. PowerA GameCube-style Switch controller designs a larger D-Pad and extra left shoulder button which gives you an edge when playing against other players. It uses Bluetooth and 2 AA batteries allowing you to play Switch games wirelessly for up to 30 hours. An LED comes on for low battery warning.

It Does not support HD rumble, IR, or Amiibo NFC but it includes motion controls.

If you like games like Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Animal Crossing, New Horizons, and The Legend of Zelda; then the PowerA GameCube-style Switch controller is a nice choice.

8Bitdo SN30 Pro Plus wireless controller

8Bitdo SN30 Pro Plus wireless controller

If you have a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, you already have access to more than 70 classic NES and SNES games.

What are NES and SNES?

NES (Nintendo Console) is an 8-bit gaming unit. SNES (Super Nintendo Console) is a 16-bit gaming unit. The Super Nintendo is a newer more powerful console than the Nintendo. As with Playstation 4 and Playstation 3, the consoles are made by the same company but do not play the same games.

Sure, Nintendo sells SNES-style Switch controllers to subscribers as well, but they are almost always out of stock. The next best option is the 8bitdo SN30 Pro, which delivers the same feelings for Nintendo’s SNES controller. The 8Bitdo SN30 Pro Plus is one of the more exciting Switch controllers.

This is the perfect controller for the longtime Nintendo fan as not only it looks like the original Super NES controller but it also allows customization for button mapping, analog sticks, trigger inputs, and vibration adjustments. For up to 18 inputs you can even create a macro. Macro is a small program in which you can map up to 18 functions against only one button press. Though all of this customization has to be done on a computer, 8Bitdo’s software is very cool to use.

It allows you to play wirelessly for up to 20 hours using an internal battery pack and Bluetooth. Certainly, this battery life is relatively short than the other controllers we eyed at. But it is not a problem at all if you charge it during your game sessions.

Nintendo Joy-Con (L/R)

Nintendo Joy-Con (L/R)

The Nintendo Joy-Cons is still one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers, making new kinds of gaming possible. Certainly expensive, but technically these are two fully functional controllers which can be used independently in each hand, or together as one game controller when attached to the Joy-Con grip.

They can also attach to the main console for use in handheld mode, or be shared with friends to enjoy two-player action in supported games. Each Joy-Con has a full set of buttons and can act as a standalone controller. Each includes an accelerometer and gyro-sensor, making independent left and right motion control possible.

You can choose your favorite color combination from vast available options.

PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Controller

PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Controller

PDP Faceoff Deluxe+ Controller is a great alternative to Nintendo Switch Pro Controller with almost at one-third of the price with the compromise that it is a wired controller, but you have plenty of room to play with ease with the 10-feet wired connection, and you don’t have to worry about its battery dying. We can say it the best budget Switch, Controller.

It holds the similar features as Nintendo’s Pro Controller, plus a few extra as 3.5mm audio jack supports in-game audio chat, and adjust volume on-the-fly using the D-pad on the controller. It also allows you to customize your gameplay with dual programmable fantastic paddle-style back buttons.

You can map any button to these paddles, and it is incredibly useful for games that assigned sprint to a face button. The only drawback of these buttons is that one can hit paddles by accident in some cases.

These things make this PDP pad very close to Nintendo’s Pro controller if it doesn’t beat that.

PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller

PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller

PowerA offers a comparable design to Nintendo Switch Pro Controller — similar face buttons, triggers, and analog sticks — with additional buttons to excel in your gaming experience.

Though it isn’t as good as the Pro Controller, it is economical and offers many of the functions anyone desires. There are no features like HD Rumble or Amiibo NFC support as the Switch Pro controller has, but it includes motion controls.

It’s one added feature is the two additional “Advanced Gaming Buttons”. If you want these buttons to run the function of any other button, you can quickly customize. You can also program them to alter a specific game.

It’s also quite a bit lighter as it contains standard AA batteries instead of the internal built-in battery pack found on the Nintendo Pro Controller. So you don’t have to trash the controller once the battery stops holding a charge.

For those who want inexpensive Controller and don’t care to use Amiibo or HD Rumble while playing, it’s the best choice.

Hori Split Pad Pro

If you don’t like the feel of standard Joy-Cons, the HORI Split Pad Pro is a great option for you. They slide right into the same slots on the side of the console, providing enough extra material to easily fill your hands and make the button placement comfortable to interact with.

The analog sticks provide accurate results and a softer touch. The Switch with Split Pad Pro attached easily fits into the dock. The D-pad is bigger and outstanding.

Let’s look at the downsides… these Joy-Con replacements won’t work remotely and can only be used in handheld mode — it doesn’t support rumble or motion controls leaving you to miss out some specific features in some games like The Legend of Zelda, Link’s Awakening, and Cadence of Hyrule — and one more thing is it doesn’t support different Joy-Con options, so It’s not compatible with the Switch Lite.

In spite of these few drawbacks, the bigger size of the Split Pad, larger D-Pad and buttons won’t let you go back to Nintendo’s official Joy-Cons, especially someone with bigger hands.

PDP Wired Fight Pad Pro Controller

PDP Wired Fight Pad Pro Controller

If you want to enjoy the game with a GameCube-style controller, then you have to spend more on Nintendo’s USB adapter or a third-party adapter. But wait for a minute…  PDP’s Wired Fight Pad Pro Controller with the standard analog stick on the left and smaller C-stick on the right and similar face buttons resembles a classic GameCube controller. To switch to the games that standard GameCube controller doesn’t support, shoulder buttons and triggers on both sides are available.

The Fight Pad Pro’s grips are longer than the GameCube’s, making for more comfortable ergonomics that fit fine in the palm of your hands. Lastly, you’re able to replace the C-stick with a proper GameCube-style analog nub. It also has a 10-Foot USB cable for plenty of room to play with ease.

The Fight Pad Pro is primarily designed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Mario Kart in mind, and it works great for them but it doesn’t include motion sensors like the Joy-Con or Pro Controllers do.

Beboncool Switch Pro Controller

Beboncool Switch Pro Controller

Beboncool has all the Nintendo Switch Pro controller’s features that most of the third-party controllers usually do away with. For instance, vibration, motion control, and NFC Amiibo functionality.

Beboncool Switch Pro Controller supports most of Nintendo Switch games and the latest version of switch console. It adds a Turbo button to customize any of the X Y A B buttons to free your fingers and destroy the enemy with one press.

Its quality and performance pay you back the value for your dosh.

RegeMoudal Wireless Controller

RegeMoudal Wireless Controller

This lightweight RegeMoudal Wireless Controller is a low priced substitute for the Nintendo Switch Pro controller. Perfect for playing Zelda, Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, Mario Kart, etc. Its three-level of vibration shocks: Strong, medium, and week; make you feel the best gaming experience.

It connects to Switch console via Bluetooth and takes two hours to be fully charged and allows you to play 7 to 10 hours continuously until the next charge.

FAQs

Is the Pro Controller better than Joy-Cons?

As a rule, the Pro Controller has a ton of advantages that the Jon-Cons need. For one, the Pro Controller feels more like a customary gamepad you may be utilized to with a PS5 or Xbox Series X. It additionally includes more solid simple sticks when contrasted and the Joy-Con’s “float” issues. You’ll see that playing shooters with the Pro Controller will permit you to be more exact with your shots because of the size and design of the gadget.

What amount of time do Nintendo Switch regulators require to charge?

As indicated by Nintendo, the Joy-Con take around three to four hours to charge, regardless of whether they’re joined to the actual Switch, or the Joy-Con hold. Concerning the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, that will take you around six hours to charge. At the point when you boot up your Switch, you can check the battery life of your regulators by visiting the Controllers alternative on the framework’s fundamental menu.

Would you be able to utilize a Nintendo Switch regulator on your PC?

To put it plainly, yes! You can utilize a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller on PC in wired or remote arrangements. It interfaces utilizing Bluetooth, and underneath are the means for blending it with your PC.

What number of regulators accompany the Nintendo Switch?

All Nintendo Switch frameworks accompany two Joy-Con regulators each — a left and a correct Joy-Con. The Joy-Con can be joined to the Joy-Con Grip to work as a standard regulator for one player, with two simple sticks, a D-cushion, face fastens, and shoulder catches — or can be utilized independently, which means you’ll be prepared to play multiplayer games directly out of the case. Utilizing the Joy-Con exclusively isn’t ideal, however absolutely takes care of business when playing multiplayer games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

For what reason are Nintendo Switch regulators so costly?

In the event that you plan on purchasing another first-party Nintendo Switch regulator, you might’ve seen that they accompany a weighty sticker price. Another pair of Joy-Cons retails for around $70, while the Pro Controller is about $60-$70, also. These regulators are more costly for an explanation—they incorporate innovation like movement, HD Rumble, and an implicit NFC peruser.

Bottom line

We discovered that the best overall Nintendo Switch controller is the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller. It highlights movement controls settling on it an astounding decision for most activity RPG and fight royale games and comes in six distinct tones and plans. It additionally has a 30-hour remote battery life for those short-term gaming long distance races. The solitary thing it’s absent, likewise with most other Nintendo Switch controllers, is an earphone jack.

We went through more than 18 hours assessing Nintendo Switch controllers to figure out which ones to put on this rundown. We took a gander at accommodation, client surveys, cost, and exceptional highlights. There keep on being an ever increasing number of extras coming out for the Switch, so we’ll continue to hope to perceive what different controllers we should add.

The availability, prices and other details of these products which are described in this article might be subject to change any time, so prior to make a purchase, please be sure these are still in effect.

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