I’ve tested the latest Switch 2 controllers, and this one is the best

A striking development has emerged in artificial intelligence. 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 Switch 2 Pro Controller, for instance, will net you the console’s only wireless controller with a 3. 5mm headphone jack for private listening, not to mention great-feeling rumble and a slick design.

It’s not perfect, but it’s otherwise the total package in terms of features. But it’d be a disservice to you to call it a day there. There are several third-party models that are cheaper, yet don’t make many compromises in terms of features.

Technical Details

I’ve spent time testing a handful of these gamepads, 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 (all of them can remotely wake the Switch 2), as well as PC. Each offering also 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.

I’ve highlighted any controller-specific perks in the blurbs below. The best Switch 2 controller for most people EasySMX S10 The EasySMX S10 is our favorite Switch 2 controller for people who don’t want to spend twice as much on Nintendo’s option. It offers an excellent take on HD rumble, along with amiibo support and the ability to wake the Switch remotely.

It features a swappable eight-way (circular) D-pad, and can also work with PC, Steam Deck, and mobile devices. Score: 8TMR joysticksamiibo supportGreat rumbleClicky buttons are divisive Where to Buy: $59. 99 at Amazon (black, for Prime members) $59.

Industry Implications

99 at Amazon (white, for Prime members) Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two / App customization: No / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,200mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes / Native Switch 2 OS support: No The EasySMX S10 is nearly as capable and comfortable as the Switch 2 Pro Controller, yet it’s $30 cheaper at $59. 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 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.

This advance offers important signals about the future of the sector, and the tech world is watching closely.