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In the event you select to get an additional controller in your Nintendo Swap 2, you may spend rather a lot — and get rather a lot in return. Shopping for Nintendo’s personal $89.99 Swap 2 Professional Controller, as an illustration, will web you the console’s solely wi-fi controller with a 3.5mm headphone jack, to not point out nice rumble, OS-level rear button customization, and a slick design. It’s not excellent, however it’s the entire bundle.
But it surely’d be a disservice to you to name it a day there. There are a number of third-party choices which might be considerably cheaper, but don’t make too many compromises when it comes to options. I’ve hung out testing a handful of them, and there’s a small batch of fashions that I feel will fulfill most individuals, with a spread of types, costs, and options.
Each controller I’ve included on this information is suitable with each the Swap 2 and unique Swap (all of them can remotely wake the Swap 2), in addition to platforms like PC and cell. Every providing additionally consists of higher, longer-lasting joystick know-how than you’ll get with Nintendo’s flagship controller; the Swap 2 Professional Controller’s potentiometer-based joysticks are susceptible to degradation over time, in any case, however our picks embrace both Corridor impact or TMR joysticks.
What I’m in search of
I put my expensive Nintendo Swap 2 Professional Controller away and cycle in every of those candidates for multi-session exams with a mixture of video games for the Swap 2. I spend time assessing their ergonomics, button location, and the standard of every button press and set off pull. I additionally attempt to check every controller’s distinctive features.
Most individuals would quite spend $89.99 on a recreation or two, not a single controller. We sought cheaper alternate options to Nintendo’s improbable Swap 2 Professional Controller, however we hate compromising on options and high quality as a lot as anybody. We goal to incorporate wi-fi gamepads that may remotely wake the Swap 2, in addition to choices that characteristic good-feeling rumble and controllers that sport a couple of extras, equivalent to amiibo assist.
Our high picks are simply as snug to make use of as Nintendo’s flagship gamepad — maybe extra snug, relying in your style. We’ve included picks with Xbox- and PlayStation-style stick layouts, in addition to one which feels just like the Nintendo Swap 2 Professional Controller.
Nintendo opted for potentiometer-based joysticks with its expensive Swap 2 controller, which can end in “stick drift” afterward, if its last-gen controller tech is something to go by. Each decide on this information builds upon that know-how with both Corridor impact or tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks, that are drift-resistant by design.
The perfect Swap 2 controller for most individuals
$42
The Good
- TMR joysticks
- amiibo assist
- Nice rumble
The Unhealthy
- Clicky buttons are divisive
- The grips could be too grating for some
Supported platforms: Nintendo Swap 2, Nintendo Swap, PC, Steam Deck, cell / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector sort: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Sure, two / Software program customization: No / Rumble: Sure, HD / NFC: Sure / Movement: Sure / Energy: Constructed-in rechargeable 1,200mAh battery / Console wake-up: Sure
The EasySMX S10 is sort of as succesful and cozy because the Swap 2 Professional Controller, but it’s $30 cheaper at $59.99. It’s stuffed with surprises, too, together with the perfect adaptation of Nintendo’s HD rumble that I’ve felt in a third-party controller. It’s additionally one of many few choices that may remotely wake the Swap 2 from sleep mode through Bluetooth. Lastly, it consists of amiibo assist — one other uncommon characteristic to seek out in a third-party gamepad.
Nonetheless, the S10 isn’t a Swap 2 Professional copycat; it’s rather a lot grippier, each across the grips themselves and on its stick caps. Button presses and set off pulls really feel completely different from most different controllers, too, yielding a softer press and shorter journey, which is prone to be essentially the most divisive side of the S10. One among my favourite facets of the S10’s design is its swappable eight-way (round) D-pad, making diagonal assaults in Hole Knight: Silksong significantly simpler to execute than with a four-way D-pad.
If I might change one factor in regards to the S10, it’d be the system-level buttons (screenshot, GameChat, and residential). They’re crammed awkwardly slightly below the D-pad and proper stick.
$24
The Good
- Unbelievable worth when it comes to specs and luxury
The Unhealthy
- Awful rumble
- Lacks a C button
Supported platforms: Nintendo Swap 2, Nintendo Swap, PC, cell / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector sort: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No / Software program customization: No / Rumble: Sure / NFC: No / Movement: Sure / Energy: Constructed-in rechargeable 950mAh battery / Console wake-up: Sure
Gulikit’s ES Professional is a love letter to the Xbox controller, however for Swap 2. It’s simply $29.99, which is a steal contemplating this gamepad options an eight-way D-pad that’s nice for preventing video games, Metroidvanias, and retro titles the place it’s a bonus to simply have the ability to goal diagonally (a setting could make it in order that it solely registers inputs for the cardinal instructions, if you happen to want).
The ES Professional doesn’t have to do a lot to justify its worth, however it does so anyway. It options tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks which might be proof against drifting and provide improved energy effectivity in comparison with Corridor impact tech, identical to the EasySMX S10. Equally, it may be set as much as remotely wake your Swap 2 or OG Swap console from throughout the room utilizing its personal set of unusual, one-time-only directions which you can view in its instruction handbook.
I’ve obtained nearly no qualms with this controller, apart from its dangerous rumble. It simply has no subtlety, rumbling in an all-or-nothing method. I used to be happier utilizing the ES Professional with the vibrations off, which isn’t any enjoyable. Moreover, it’s far much less full than the S10, because it lacks built-in amiibo assist and a C button for GameChat; nonetheless, relying in your wants, these omissions may not matter to you.
$56
The Good
- Contains dock and a pair of.4GHz dongle
- Extremely customizable
- Comfy for small arms
Supported platforms: Nintendo Swap 2, Nintendo Swap, PC, Steam Deck, cell / Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired / Connector sort: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Sure, two / Software program customization: Sure / Rumble: Sure / NFC: No / Movement: Sure / Energy: Constructed-in rechargeable 1,000mAh battery / Console wake-up: Sure
8BitDo’s Professional 3 is a superb but expensive Swap 2 Professional different with a PlayStation-style stick structure. At $69.99, it’s not as inexpensive (nor as value-packed) as the highest contenders. Nonetheless, the Professional 3 affords a whole lot of customization, some being beauty, whereas different facets can influence gameplay.
It has rather a lot going for it, with TMR joysticks, two again paddles, and a complete of three shoulder buttons per facet because of new customized M buttons. Its analog stick caps will be popped off in favor of shiny arcade stick-style nubs, which have been my most well-liked selection in preventing video games (plus, they only look cool). Its ABXY buttons will be suctioned off with an included software to swap the structure as wanted, and for visible aptitude, every controller consists of coloured buttons to evoke a retro Nintendo console. Additionally, it has set off locks, letting you set triggers to have a brief, clicky pull or the default journey distance.
Nonetheless, I’d skip the Professional 3 if you’d like good rumble suggestions. It’s fairly awful on that entrance, to the purpose that I most well-liked to show off rumble totally in video games. In case you’re contemplating the equally priced Final 2 Bluetooth, it additionally has dangerous rumble, however it’s an excellent controller in any other case that provides related options with an Xbox-style stick structure.
Learn my full 8BitDo Professional 3 assessment.
$40
The Good
- Comfy, glossy design
- Buttons are simple to swap
The Unhealthy
- Buttons don’t really feel good to press
- Can’t wake Swap 2
Supported platforms: Nintendo Swap 2, Nintendo Swap, PC, cell / Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired / Connector sort: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Sure, two/ Software program customization: Sure / Rumble: Sure / NFC: No / Movement: Sure / Energy: Constructed-in rechargeable 1,000mAh battery / Console wake-up: No
GameSir’s Tremendous Nova is a satisfactory Swap Professional copy that I had a troublesome time warming as much as, even when there’s rather a lot about it that sounds nice on paper. It’s snug, with rubbery grips and respectable rumble, and it makes use of Corridor impact joysticks. Nonetheless, it has, by a large margin, my least favourite D-pad and buttons to press out of all of the controllers on our listing. The underlying tech is responsive, however it feels low cost to hammer on.
That’s a disgrace, because it’s a slick-looking controller with a magnetic faceplate that pops off, permitting you to simply swap the buttons round with out the necessity for an additional software. The rear triggers even have set off stops, which might cut back the journey of every pull, and the 2 again paddles are simple to press. It even features a charging dock — in addition to a blinding set of RGB LEDs, which you’ll be able to flip off — together with a USB-A 2.4GHz transmitter that allows you to simply join the gamepad along with your PC.
$24
The Good
- Cute, compact design
- Can wake Swap 2
- Corridor impact sticks
The Unhealthy
- Sticks and triggers have restricted vary Lacks options from the ES Professional
Supported platforms: Nintendo Swap 2, Nintendo Swap, PC, Steam Deck, cell / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector sort: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No/ Software program customization: No / Rumble: Sure / NFC: No / Movement: Sure / Energy: Constructed-in rechargeable 800mAh battery / Console wake-up: Sure
Gulikit Elves 2 is a compact, Sega Saturn-inspired controller I wished to like a bit of greater than I do. The inexpensive gamepad shares among the similar advantages because the identically priced ES Professional — together with Swap 2 wake-up and multiplatform assist — however it’s smaller, which might make it an excellent decide for teenagers or small-handed of us who’ve a tough time wrapping their digits round bigger gamepads.
There isn’t a lot wasted area on this controller, both, because it comes with a chargeable battery, rumble motors, a gyroscope, and an eight-way D-pad that feels good to make use of. Even for my medium-sized arms, its grips flip the small gamepad into one thing that’s satisfying to carry. I don’t prefer it as a lot for a handful of minor causes regarding long-term consolation, button and set off really feel preferences, and a few lacking performance. In comparison with the ES Professional, it lacks TMR sticks (it has Corridor impact), the Professional’s higher triggers, and swappable buttons.
Since I final up to date this submit, I’ve obtained a number of controllers that I’m nonetheless within the technique of testing. Gulikit despatched its TT Max and TT Professional wi-fi controllers, each of which have PlayStation-style stick layouts, TMR sticks, and adjustable stick rigidity, spectacular rumble, amongst different fascinating options that ought to make them contenders for this listing. However GuliKit informed me it bumped into a number of points with early items, and it’s barely delaying the launch. I’ll have revised variations in my arms quickly, I’m informed.
I additionally obtained two promising gamepads from the corporate Mobapad, the budget-friendly N1 and the extra high-end Huben 2, and I’ll quickly obtain Turtle Seashore’s Rematch Wi-fi controller for testing.
The hunt continues for gamepad contenders that pack in a bunch of options with out breaking the financial institution. They’re rarer than you would possibly suppose! As an illustration, PowerA lately launched a $69.99 Swap 2 controller known as the Benefit Wi-fi Controller. It options Corridor impact joysticks, however seemingly lacks rumble and the power to wake the Swap 2. Hori additionally lately launched the Turbo Swap 2 in Japan, every with TMR joysticks. Its spotlight characteristic is a button that may disable the screenshot, dwelling, and plus / minus buttons.
Replace, November twenty fifth: Adjusted pricing as wanted, and went into element about some new controllers that I’m at present testing and anticipating to obtain quickly.
