The Switch 2 Pro Controller is a standalone controller that pairs with the new Switch 2 and provides a more comfortable gaming experience than the standard Joy-Cons. While it might look similar to the old model, the second-gen controller has a number of new features to help it earn that «Pro» title.
The 2 Pro retails for $85 — a pretty significant jump over the original’s $70. The good news is that, if you want to save some money, the Switch 1 Pro Controllers do work on the Switch 2. Since it’s detached, it’s really more useful when playing docked, connected to a TV. I really like the look and feel of it, but it’s definitely an expensive, unnecessary accessory.
Both Pro controllers feel pretty similar, which is good since I always felt the original was very comfortable. They’re the same size and shape, and the button layout is mostly the same, but the original has a subtle texture to its grip while the 2’s is smooth. I actually find the new controller a bit more comfortable than the first.
Just like the new Joy-Cons, there is a GameChat button near the bottom, a shortcut to screen-sharing gameplay and forming parties with your friends to video or voice chat together. Keep in mind that you can just pop back out to the Switch main menu and open GameChat manually without needing to hit the button.
Another new feature are back buttons on the underside of the handles, GL and GR. Back buttons — programmable buttons that you can assign to act like other inputs — are pretty standard on pro-style controllers but were absent on the first Switch Pro. For example, in shooters, players will often bind duck or jump so they can perform those actions without taking their thumb off the right stick.
Mapping these buttons is super easy through the Switch 2’s settings menu or by holding down the Home button and changing them there. These button maps are also saved on a per-game basis, which is great, allowing you to specify which actions you want available on different games instead of needing to adjust back and forth when you swap games.
The downside is that there are only two buttons, one on each side, like PlayStation’s DualSense Edge pro controller. I would have liked more options, like the Xbox Elite controller’s four programmable buttons. Both those controllers also allow you to swap the buttons’ shapes. Nintendo doesn’t.
Another upgrade on the Switch 2 Pro Controller is a headphone jack on the bottom, which is useful if you’re trying to play games quietly.
Battery life remains the same as the first Pro Controller: Around 40 hours on a single charge, which is definitely on the higher side for controller batteries. In comparison, the DualSense Edge lasts only 5 to 6 hours. The new Pro Controller also charges faster. Nintendo says it takes about 3.5 hours for a full charge, whereas the original Pro Controller takes six hours.
The large face buttons and analog sticks feel the same, which is good since the original didn’t need improvement. The D-pad, though, feels like it has more freedom of movement and accuracy. This makes hitting diagonal inputs easier to pull off, like in Street Fighter when a special move requires a quarter circle. I found it simply better for adjusting character movement in a 2D platformer, like Super Mario Wonder.
One of my major complaints is that it still lacks analog triggers. This feature has been on Xbox and PlayStation controllers for years and allows games to sense when you partially press a trigger. It’s important in racing games, for example, where pressing the trigger determines how much you’ll accelerate. But nope, that’s not a thing for the Switch 2 Pro Controller.
Curiously, the new Pro Controller can’t wirelessly connect it to a PC. Steam doesn’t yet recognize it, though it took a while before the original was directly supported as well. While it’s missing some key pro features compared to Xbox and PlayStation’s offerings, those controllers also retail for around $200, so the price difference makes sense.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller is best for someone who primarily games with the console connected to a TV. It’s an overall improvement on the first one and brings Nintendo closer to what we expect from a pro-style design, but it becomes a harder sell if you already have the original Pro Controller. Many of the new features — back buttons, a headphone jack, quick access to gamechat — are pretty easy to live without, in my opinion.
