9 Best Nintendo Switch Controller for 2022

 For more difficult games, the Nintendo Switch Pro controller is preferable to the brand’s smaller Joy-Con controllers. (Despite their drift concerns, the Joy-Cons are fantastic for straightforward multiplayer games.) The Switch Pro controller is comfier since real grips have been added.read more

The complete D-pad and bigger buttons make it easier to locate the appropriate controls while you’re in a stressful situation. It supports all of the features of the Nintendo controller, including HD Rumble, NFC for Amiibo scanning, and motion controls, and it can be used with or without cables. It’s excellent, but it often costs between $60 and $70.

However, there are some less expensive third-party controllers that resemble the Switch Pro. To determine the finest Switch controller currently available, we tried out a number of possibilities. However, several of these alternatives do come close to matching the button feel and comfort of Nintendo’s original gaming controller.

Additionally, just because Cyber Monday and Black Friday have passed doesn’t mean you can’t get a controller for a good price right now. The majority of our favourites, including the Nintendo Pro Controller, are currently on sale.

Best Nintendo Switch Controller for 2022

Choosing a third-party Switch Pro controller provides benefits outside decreased costs. Some devices, for instance, offer a Turbo button for higher fire rates or mappable buttons to make it simpler to execute certain commands. Additionally, some of the ones we selected work with MacOS, Windows, and Android as well. As we test new items, we’ll regularly update this list.

1. Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Get the official Switch Pro Controller if you can afford to. It offers the finest comfort, functionality, and features that are currently available. If you need to purchase more than one controller, perhaps get this one for your own use and one of the less costly choices listed below for guests.

2. PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller

You can often get the PowerA wireless controller from Amazon, Best Buy, and other retailers for $40 to $50, depending on the design, and it most closely resembles the feel and appearance of Nintendo’s Pro controller. While the Switch Pro controller supports HD Rumble, IR, and Amiibo NFC, the PowerA wireless controller just has motion controls. Animal Crossing, Mario, and Pokemon-themed variants are additionally available.

The underside of the controller has two additional buttons that may be added or removed at any time. The most recent variants of the Enhanced Wireless Controller contain a built-in rechargeable battery for up to 30 hours of playtime, as opposed to the older models, which relied on AA-size batteries.

3. PDP Gaming Little Wireless Controller

Although somewhat larger than a Joy-Con, the Little Wireless Controller—yes, that is its official name—is significantly more pleasant to operate. The D-pad is also devoid of any fuzziness, and the buttons are solid and responsive. Because the thumbsticks are taller than the Joy-Con, you can aim with more precision. 

Despite being immediately on top of one another, the back buttons are carefully designed to ensure that you press the right one. It has motion control but neither rumble nor NFC support. The back-mounted USB-C connector is used to recharge the rechargeable battery, which has a 40-hour wireless use rating. a fantastic small travel buddy.

4. Binbok Joypad Controller

Nintendo’s Joy-Cons and its wireless Pro Controller are combined to create Binbok’s Joypad. Similar to Hori’s Switch Split Pad Pro, there are left and right Joy-Con-like controllers that can be slid onto the sides of the Switch. This allows you to utilise the Switch portable while having the comfort and greater controls of the Pro controller.

The Binbok Joypad, in contrast to Hori’s controller, includes a built-in battery and Bluetooth, allowing for off-Switch use. They are difficult to handle like Joy-Cons due to their shape, but they can be done and each one contains rumble and motion controls that can be adjusted. Both of them have turbo buttons and a mappable button on the inside of their grips. When you’re ready to play a game, you may wake up the Switch by pressing the Home button. You can also modify the LED light rings around the thumb sticks’ hue.

Using the included holder, you can combine the two controllers into a single Pro-style controller that resembles Nintendo’s Joy-Con Comfort Grip. Unfortunately, this prevents you from charging both controllers at once; instead, you must charge each controller through its own USB-C connection or when it’s connected to the Switch while it’s charging (you can leave the controllers attached when docked). With the controllers attached, the holder is extremely broad and substantially bigger than a Pro controller.

It feels flimsy because of some flex when the controllers go into the holder. It seems fragile overall due to that flex and its small weight.Nevertheless, Nintendo’s Joy-Cons aren’t exactly renowned for their dependability, and altogether, this is a fantastic choice if you want to spend less and do more.

5. 8BitDo SN30 Pro Plus Bluetooth Gamepad

This Bluetooth controller is for you if you enjoy customization. You can simply build macros for complex button combinations using 8BitDo’s Ultimate programme, remap buttons, modify stick and trigger sensitivity, and vibrate the game.

Everything seems smooth and quick, despite the left-hand controls being reversed so that the layout resembles a PlayStation controller more. Although the black-on-black pattern makes it difficult to read the button labels, alternative colours are available, and it is still comfortable.

Nintendo Switch, Android, Windows, and MacOS are all compatible with the $50 8BitDo SN30 Pro Plus Bluetooth Gamepad controller. Another useful feature is that you may simply replace the provided rechargeable battery pack with a new one to continue using it.

6. PowerA Nano Enhanced Wireless Controller

It is comparable to the standard PowerA Enhanced controller, but smaller. The $50 Nano has the same appearance, feel, and functions as the $100 device, including mappable buttons, motion controls, and rumble (but not HD rumble). However, rather than using replacement AA batteries, it has an internal rechargeable battery. You’ll get up to 20 hours of use from a single charge, which is delivered through a six-foot USB-C connection.

The Nano is great for youngsters or anybody with little hands because it is made for travel (it even comes with a cute little pouch for storage). Additionally, even though the shell is smaller, the buttons are full size, which is normally a good thing. While button-mashing frantically in a few games, I would occasionally miss the Y button and press the Home button instead, which is bad if you’re in the thick of a battle. At least a solution was made available by the mappable buttons on the controller’s back.

One more small observation: I observed that my Bluetooth range is a few feet shorter than the full-size version’s. It’s a problem that can be readily fixed by moving closer to the Switch, and it’s a reasonable trade-off for a portable Pro-style controller.

7. 8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Gamepad Controller

The SN30 Bluetooth Gamepad controller is a more portable alternative to the Nintendo Switch Pro controller thanks to its full-featured $50 design. Additionally, this place lacks squishy buttons. Everything feels responsive and solid. Although it may resemble the PDP controller seen above, the thumbsticks are arranged differently. It can also be programmed for use with Android, Windows, and MacOS, unlike the PDP.

8. Horipad Nintendo Switch Wired Controller

The $20 Horipad is wired, but it’s one of the more cosy controllers we tried, and its buttons and sticks are very comfy. It does, however, lack motion control and vibration, despite having a Turbo button. Its D-pad is a plastic cover that clamps over four distinct buttons rather than a real pad. It functions perfectly, however some people might find the fact that it is a wired controller to be a deal-breaker. At the moment, finding the controller in black at its regular pricing is difficult, but you can purchase it in blue and red.

9. Insten Wireless Pro Controller

The Insten is a case of “you get what you paid for” in my opinion, but for what it’s worth, my 8- and 10-year-olds love it. It is really a straightforward wireless controller with strong dual-shock vibration. Although it seems cheap and fragile, it is comfy. To be fair, the controller did manage to withstand a violent collision with my TV, however I cannot make the same claim for the TV. The pricing of the Insten is its finest feature, particularly if you desire many controllers: A two-pack is available for less than $50.

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