There are a lot of things to like about the Nintendo Switch 2, and its excellent Pro Controller is one of them. Nintendo’s own pad is of course top-tier, but that’s not to say there isn’t something out there that better suits your wants, your needs, or your budget.
As with the original console, there are a multitude of third-party options, packing extra buttons, charging docks, and remappable inputs, and many of them cost less than you may think. Here are some of our picks for the best Switch 2 Pro Controller alternatives.
[Ed. note: Prices taken at time of writing.]
1
8BitDo Ultimate 2C
8BitDo Ultimate 2C
Yes, sure, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is fantastic, but this 8BitDo alternative is a third of the price. With the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C, you get a very solid pad, additional remappable buttons tucked in alongside the shoulder buttons, and the knowledge that you’re saving enough to buy three-quarters of Mario Kart World.
In all seriousness, 8BitDo doesn’t disappoint, even with budget hardware, and there’s rumble included — albeit not to the extent you’d get on Nintendo’s own pad. It’s so affordable, it’s probably worth grabbing a couple for those heated Super Smash Bros. matches.
Amiibo fans need not apply, though: There’s no NFC support, sadly.
2
8BitDo Ultimate 2
8BitDo Ultimate 2
OK, yes, it’s another 8BitDo pad, but this one earns its $70 price tag with some neat upgrades on the model above. Most obvious is that the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 includes a charging cradle, making it ready to go whenever you are, connecting to your console as you pick it up from the dock.
Not only do you get the additional triggers, but you can find more remappable buttons on the backs of the grips. The D-Pad is very comfortable, the triggers spring nicely, and dare we say it, but it looks pretty slick, too.
3
PowerA Advantage Wireless
PowerA Advantage Wireless
The PowerA Advantage Wireless has a unique look because it pulls the traditionally central buttons from the controller and redistributes them at the bottom, branding its officially licensed chops in their place. That’ll undoubtedly take a few sessions to get used to, but the real draw here are Hall Effect sticks, the GameChat-activating C button, and up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge. You can remap the rear buttons to specific inputs without using additional hardware.
