Review: The Switch 2 Pro Controller is a massive upgrade over the original

The Pro Controller for the original Nintendo Switch was quietly one of the better first-party controllers you could get, not just for Switch but across the board. It boasted grips and an incredible battery life, making it one of my favorite controllers to use. The Pro Controller 2 has traded in the grips for a matte black finish, some of the smoothest video game controller sticks I've ever felt, and back buttons for true gamers. Not only does it feel like a massive upgrade compared to the first version, but some of the additional features on the Switch 2, like button mapping and saving controller setups, make this a must-have for Switch 2 owners.

The only knock against it are the bumpers and triggers, which are better than the first Pro Controller, but still aren't at the level of the Xbox Series and PlayStation controller triggers. They still feel more like buttons, and with a lack of clicking there is a bit of mush to them that's going to make first-person shooters feel just a little worse than other controllers. You also can't use it if you want to take advantage of mouse controls, but that should be obvious to anyone looking at the Pro Controller 2.

Switch 2 Pro Controller price and availability

At launch, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is only available in a black-and-white color scheme, costing $85. It's available from most major retailers, with the only exception being Amazon, but it has been in and out of stock, so it could be hard to track one down until a few months into the console's life.

A sleek and quality-feeling controller

What can I say? It feels good to hold

The smooth matte-black finish makes holding the Switch 2 Pro Controller feel right at home in your hands, although if you don't like having smudges on your controller you spend a lot of time wiping it off. The face buttons have a nice feel to them when pressed, not being overly noisy or clicky, but still having a distinct feel, so you always know when you've pressed a button. The placement of the back buttons, GL and GR, is perfect for my hands, exactly where I rest my middle fingers on the back of the controller. The buttons aren't overly sensitive, so I didn't have any issues accidentally pressing them while playing Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk 2077. The D-Pad is slightly improved over the original, making it serviceable, but not ideal.

The sticks are the most impressive upgrade here, as they feel incredibly smooth to move, but don't feel loose or imprecise. The sticks bounce back when let go, and don't rebound past the center. While I haven't spent nearly enough time to say if the sticks will drift or not, my original Pro Controller never did despite nearly eight years of solid use. The triggers and bumpers are a bit lackluster, although it does depend on the game. I had no issue playing something less trigger-intensive like Mario Kart World, but doing a bunch of shooting in Cyberpunk 2077 didn't feel as premium as the rest of my experience. I've also played for over a dozen hours between charges without the battery icon even dropping below 50%, so while the exact amount of time isn't clear to me, it seems like it has a long battery life like the original.

A feature-complete controller

Button mapping was on the original Switch, but saving presets is quite nice

In addition to the nicer hardware, there are a few additions to the Switch 2 console that make the Pro Controller 2 a smooth experience to use. You can swap the button mapping on the controller, which does it at a system level, but the inclusion of saved loadouts is a big improvement. Now, when I want to use the triggers for the gas in Mario Kart World instead of the A button, I can use the quick button mapping to swap over to my preset, and I can swap back when I'm done, so I don't have to deal with the hassle of digging into menus every time I want to swap.

There is also a separate menu for choosing which buttons to map to the GR/GL buttons, so you can quickly add them. For Mario Kart World, I put the drift button on one and the screenshot on the other. Drifting was mostly just to try out, but the screenshot button allowed me to hit it without taking my thumb off the stick, making it way easier to take good screenshots while playing.

A worthwhile upgrade over the original

While you can save yourself $85 by just using the original Pro Controller on the Switch 2, the extra buttons, improved quality, and button mapping features make it a worthwhile upgrade. I wish those bumpers and triggers were a bit nicer, and the black matte finish might frustrate people who hate smudges, but the new sticks feel incredible, and the smooth finish makes holding it for several hours of use not a big deal. If you use your Nintendo Switch 2 primarily docked, a Switch 2 Pro Controller is absolutely worth the investment. I wish I could tell you about its durability, but if it's anything like the original, it should last as long as your Nintendo Switch 2 does.

Should you buy the Switch 2 Pro Controller?

You should buy the Switch 2 Pro Controller if you:

• Like the original Switch Pro Controller
• Primarily play docked
• Enjoy extra buttons and button remapping
• Prefer a more quality feel compared to the Joy-Cons

You should not buy the Switch 2 Pro Controller if you:

• Primarily play handheld
• Don't care about back buttons or button remapping
• Don't like controllers that smudge easily