If you choose to get an extra controller for your Nintendo Switch 2, you can spend a lot — and get a lot in return. Buying Nintendo’s own $89.99 Switch 2 Pro Controller, for instance, will net you the console’s only wireless controller with a 3.5mm headphone jack for private listening , not to mention great-feeling rumble, OS-level rear button customization, and a slick design. It’s not perfect, but it’s the total package.  But it’d be a disservice to you to call it a day there. There are several third-party offerings that are significantly cheaper, yet don’t make too many compromises in terms of features. I’ve spent time testing a handful of them, and there’s a small batch of models that I think will satisfy most people, with a range of styles, prices, and features. Every controller I’ve included in this guide is compatible with both the Switch 2 and original Switch (all of them can remotely wake the Switch 2), as well as the PC. Each offering also includes better, longer-lasting joystick technology than you’ll get with Nintendo’s flagship controller; the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s potentiometer-based joysticks are prone to degradation over time, after all, but our picks include either Hall effect or TMR joysticks. I’ve highlighted any controller-specific perks in the blurbs below. The best Switch 2 controller for most people EasySMX S10 Gaming Controller for Switch 2 Score: 8ProsConsTMR joysticksamiibo supportGreat rumbleClicky buttons are divisive Where to Buy: $59.99 $41.99 at Amazon $59.99 at EasySMX $59.99 $41.99 at Walmart Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes, HD / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,200mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes The EasySMX S10 is nearly as capable and comfortable as the Switch 2 Pro Controller, yet it’s $30 cheaper at its retail price of $59.99. It’s full of surprises, too, including the best adaptation of Nintendo’s HD rumble that I’ve felt in a third-party controller. It’s also one of the few options that can remotely wake the Switch 2 from sleep mode via Bluetooth. Lastly, it includes amiibo support — another rare feature to find in a third-party gamepad. However, the S10 isn’t a Switch 2 Pro copycat; it’s a lot grippier, both around the grips themselves and on its stick caps. Button presses and trigger pulls feel different from most other controllers, too, yielding a softer press and shorter travel, which is likely to be the most divisive aspect of the S10. One of my favorite aspects of the S10’s design is its swappable eight-way (circular) D-pad, making diagonal attacks in Hollow Knight: Silksong considerably easier to execute than with a four-way D-pad. If I could change one thing about the S10, it’d be the system-level buttons (screenshot, GameChat, and home). They’re crammed awkwardly just below the D-pad and right stick. Honorable mentions Mobapad N1 HD Score: 8ProsConsLogical button placementSolid rumble and amiibo supportYou can make your own power on / power off tunesPlain design, though it’s not necessarily bad Where to Buy: $74.18 $38.39 at Amazon (pink) $74.18 $34.5 at Amazon (white, with coupon) $74.18 $45.99 at Mobapad Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two/ Software customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: Yes / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable battery, capacity undisclosed / Console wake-up: Yes It’s getting easier to find wireless Switch 2 controllers for under $50 that closely match the features found on Nintendo’s pricier models (with some unexpected extras). The Mobapad N1 HD isn’t a new release — it was made for the original Nintendo Switch — yet it works great on Nintendo’s latest console after you update the firmware via Mobapad’s mobile or PC app. It can wake the Switch 2 from sleep mode, too, after you follow along with the one-time setup shown in this YouTube tutorial. Like the EasySMX S10, the N1 HD features excellent rumble, amiibo support, motion controls, and a comfy, lightweight design. I prefer the S10’s slightly more weighty feel, but I don’t have much to complain about here. In fact, the N1 HD may get the nod in more blind tests since its grips are less coarse and abrasive. The Hall effect sticks and triggers feel great, and the buttons have a quiet yet tactile press. It doesn’t have a dedicated GameChat button, although I’m willing to forgive that omission because no one I know (including me) uses that feature. The last thing that I want to shout out is that you can use the mobile app to customize the sound the N1 HD makes when it’s paired and when it turns off. The app has a little piano, and you can customize the sounds coming from each actuator. It’s just nice to hear “Jingle Bells” when I turn on my Switch 2. Gulikit ES Pro Score: 7ProsConsIncredible value in terms of specs and comfortLousy rumbleLacks a C button Where to Buy: $29.99 at Amazon (black) $29.99 at Amazon (white) Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No / Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 950mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes Gulikit’s ES Pro is a love letter to the Xbox controller, but for Switch 2. It’s just $29.99, which is a steal considering this gamepad features an eight-way D-pad that’s great for fighting games, Metroidvanias, and retro titles where it’s an advantage to easily be able to aim diagonally (a setting can make it so that it only registers inputs for the cardinal directions, if you prefer). The ES Pro doesn’t need to do much to justify its price, but it does so anyway. It features tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks that are resistant to drifting and offer improved power efficiency compared to Hall effect tech, just like the EasySMX S10. Similarly, it can be set up to remotely wake your Switch 2 or OG Switch console from across the room using its own set of strange, one-time-only instructions that you can view in its instruction manual.  I’ve got almost no qualms with this controller, except for its bad rumble. It just has no subtlety, rumbling in an all-or-nothing manner. I was happier using the ES Pro with the vibrations off, which isn’t any fun. Additionally, it’s far less complete than the S10, as it lacks built-in amiibo support and a C button for GameChat; however, depending on your needs, those omissions might not matter to you. 8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad Score: 7ProsConsIncludes dock and 2.4GHz dongleHighly customizableComfortable for small handsBad rumble Where to Buy: $69.99 $65.99 at Amazon (at checkout) $69.99 at 8BitDo $69.99 at Macy’s Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: Yes, two / Software customization: Yes / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 1,000mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes 8BitDo’s Pro 3 is a great yet pricey Switch 2 Pro alternative with a PlayStation-style stick layout. At $69.99, it’s not as affordable (nor as value-packed) as the top contenders. However, the Pro 3 offers a lot of customization, some being cosmetic, while other aspects can impact gameplay. It has a lot going for it, with TMR joysticks, two back paddles, and a total of three shoulder buttons per side thanks to new custom M buttons. Its analog stick caps can be popped off in favor of glossy arcade stick-style nubs, which were my preferred choice in fighting games (plus, they just look cool). Its ABXY buttons can be suctioned off with an included tool to swap the layout as needed, and for visual flair, each controller includes colored buttons to evoke a retro Nintendo console. Also, it has trigger locks, letting you set triggers to have a short, clicky pull or the default travel distance. However, I’d skip the Pro 3 if you want good rumble feedback. It’s pretty lousy on that front, to the point that I preferred to turn off rumble entirely in games. In case you’re considering the similarly priced Ultimate 2 Bluetooth, it also has bad rumble, but it’s a great controller otherwise that offers similar features with an Xbox-style stick layout. Read my full 8BitDo Pro 3 review. GuliKit Elves 2 Score: 6ProsConsCute, compact designCan wake Switch 2Hall effect sticksSticks and triggers have limited range Lacks features from the ES Pro Where to Buy: $34.99 $31.5 at Amazon (at checkout) Supported platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile / Connectivity: Bluetooth, wired / Connector type: USB-C / Mappable rear buttons: No/ Software customization: No / Rumble: Yes / NFC: No / Motion: Yes / Power: Built-in rechargeable 800mAh battery / Console wake-up: Yes Gulikit Elves 2 is a compact, Sega Saturn-inspired controller I wanted to love a little more than I do. The affordable gamepad shares some of the same benefits as the identically priced ES Pro — including Switch 2 wake-up and multiplatform support — but it’s smaller, which could make it a great pick for kids or small-handed folks who have a difficult time wrapping their digits around larger gamepads.  There isn’t much wasted space in this controller, either, as it comes with a rechargeable battery, rumble motors, a gyroscope, and an eight-way D-pad that feels nice to use. Even for my medium-sized hands, its grips turn the small gamepad into something that’s satisfying to hold. I don’t like it as much for a handful of minor reasons relating to long-term comfort, button and trigger feel preferences, and some missing functionality. Compared to the ES Pro, it lacks TMR sticks (it has Hall effect), the Pro’s better triggers, and swappable buttons. What’s next? Since I last updated this post, I’ve received several controllers that I’m still in the process of testing. Gulikit sent its TT Max and TT Pro wireless controllers, both of which have PlayStation-style stick layouts, TMR sticks, and adjustable stick tension, impressive rumble, among other interesting features that should make them contenders for this list. But GuliKit told me it ran into several issues with early units, and it’s slightly delaying the launch. I’ll have revised versions in my hands soon, I’m told. Update, December 11th: Adjusted pricing / availability and added the Mobapad N1 HD as another runner-up option. ...read more read less