Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller review — Don’t mess with excellence

Nintendo is usually a beacon of excellence. Whether in hardware or software, they make sure what they provide is quality. It may come at a hefty price, but it’s generally worth it. As someone who owns quite a few pro controllers, I can say assuredly that the Switch Pro controller is one of my favorites. With the Switch 2 Pro controller coming in with my Switch 2 console, I was curious how much Nintendo would mess with a good thing, and safe to say, they’ve only made a few adjustments.

In the box, you’ll find the Switch 2 Pro controller and a USB-C charging cable. I always forget how nice it is to buy a controller and have one of those, making the additional cost somewhat worth it. It’s a nice cable too, about three feet long in a silicone sheath. Nintendo’s proprietary cables are generally high quality, and always worth using to charge or connect your device.

Looking at the Switch 2 Pro controller, you won’t notice a ton that’s different. It’s largely what you’ll remember from the original: offset thumbsticks, D-pad, face buttons, usual menu buttons in the middle, along with the bumpers and triggers. The three main additions are simple, a C-button, two back buttons, and a 3.5mm jack for a wired headset. The C-button allows you to quickly enter the GameChat feature, and the back buttons are great for mapping additional inputs. Also returning are Amiibo NFC reading and HD Rumble (in its second, refined iteration), two features we don’t often think about until we need them.

As soon as you pick up the Switch 2 Pro controller, you instantly notice some minor differences. It’s a bit smaller than the original, and possibly a bit lighter. I love the feel, but I’m curious if bigger hands may clash with it. That said, the ergonomic grip is near perfection, with the handles extending out well to give you the best grip on your Pro controller. It’s just so comfortable to hold, one of the best controllers when in hand.

The Switch 2 Pro controller is a bit looser, and I think that works to its benefit. While the thumbsticks still feel tight, it seems like they’re malleable in the right areas, able to snap into position when you need them too. The D-pad features huge improvement, with the presses being lighter compared to its predecessor. Similarly, the face buttons are responsive, showing Nintendo made sure each sector of this controller is ready to rock.

This applies to the bumpers, triggers, and especially the back buttons. My time using the Switch 2 Pro controller has felt natural, with each of these right in grip and clicking as they should. The triggers may not be as fine-tuned as PlayStation or Xbox first party, but they’ll suffice in whatever you’re playing. The back buttons are surprisingly great, fitting into your handle grip and protruding just enough from the handle for you to know they’re there. Equally impressive is remapping them, as you can not only assign them from the Quick Settings menu in seconds, but if you do it in a particular game, your Switch 2 will remember your choices for later and for each separate game. That’s just a wonderful blend of hardware and software working together to create a fantastic user experience.

All of this together makes for the best way to play your Nintendo Switch 2. I’ve done my fair share of gaming with Joy Cons, and they’re fine for what they are. As soon as you play a game with the Switch 2 Pro controller, you don’t want to use anything else. The precision offered makes games like Cyberpunk 2077, Mario Kart World, and Split Fiction feel so good when you play them, left unhindered by the often inaccurate Joy Con thumbsticks. I know many handhelds struggle with on-device controls, but the difference in accuracy between the Joy Cons and Switch 2 Pro controller is massive.

I was most curious about shooters when it comes to the Switch 2 Pro controller, and I wasn’t disappointed. Cyberpunk 2077 feels like a near different game when using it, but it’s not the best barometer with flighty controls. I moved over to Fortnite for this test, as something competitive feels like it would bring out the best (or possibly worst) in the controller. To my amazement, I won my first match of Zero Build Battle Royale with 17 kills. Sure, I was most likely in a low bracket of matchmaking as I haven’t played in some time, but I also haven’t played Fortnite in forever, especially not with a Switch 2 Pro controller, no headset, and my Switch 2 sitting on my desk via the kickstand. All of the elements of this controller worked admirably, and I’m pretty sure it’d be easy to replicate those results with how responsive the Switch 2 Pro controller is.

If you want to go a little further in changing up your controller, you also have the option of remapping your buttons. This is a feature more of the Switch 2 than the Pro controller, but it’s nice that you can make adjustments for the controller alongside the Joy Cons. Even better, if the C-button isn’t useful for you, it can also be remapped, giving you an extra button to play with. It’s awesome to see accessibility options become the norm at a console's launch, and remapping is an important one.

Lastly, let’s hit the battery life. Nintendo advertises forty hours, and it’s at least that given I’ve recharged my Switch 2 Pro controller once. The only thing that drives me insane is that every button press activates the controller to find its connected console, so these little chips can eventually add up in draining your controller, especially if it’s in a backpack. It’s something worth remembering as you carry it around with you; keep an eye on the battery.