As we enter 2023, the Nintendo Switch shows little sign of slowing down even 6 years after first launching. Having surpassed over 122 million units sold as of September 2022, the Switch could likely claim the coveted title of best-selling home console in the near future if momentum sustains.
What keeps gamers continually buying and loving the Nintendo Switch even amidst stiff competition from new-gen Xbox and PlayStation consoles? Its best-in-class portability certainly helps. But a less discussed key factor is the system‘s diverse, ever-improving array of controllers catering to all use cases and play styles.
From the flagship Pro Controller to the more ergonomic Split Pad series, Switch owners can choose from a suite of both first-party and third-party gamepads matching their needs and preferences. And there may be no better judge of which of these controllers deliver maximum gaming enjoyment than the Nintendo fans of Reddit.
Across Switch subreddits with hundreds of thousands of members, redditors have shared countless hands-on impressions about the console‘s wide assortment of controllers. Which truly stand above the rest in the eyes of gamers? Let‘s dig in to find out! All prices listed reference the MSRP or current retail price.
#1 Best Overall: The Nearly Flawless Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $69.99 |
| Battery life | ~40 hours |
| Charging time | 6 hours |
| Weight | 315 grams |
| Motion? | Yes |
Ask a room full of Nintendo Switch owners what their controller of choice is, and you will hear one gamepad mentioned more than any other: the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. 6 years after launching alongside the console itself, the Pro Controller remains Reddit‘s gold standard – and for good reason.
I polled redditors in this mega thread discussing Switch controllers and the vast majority vouched for the Pro Controller as the absolute cream of the crop. Praise centered around a few key strengths:
Comfort: Weighing in at 315 grams, the Pro Controller strikes a nearly perfect balance to feel just right in your hands for extended gaming sessions. Its grips and curves keep your palms snugly cradled in place across dozens of hours. As redditor sleepless3333 expresses, "I can play for 6+ hours straight with no hand cramps or discomfort." After this long on the market, Nintendo has surely perfected ergonomic comfort.
Reliability: While Joy-Cons remain notoriously prone to drift issues over time, Pro Controller owners happily report their gamepads holding up flawlessly over years of regular use. Replacement joysticks are affordably available, but may not even prove necessary for most. Given its premium $70 price tag, this reliability is exactly what you expect.
Features: All key capabilities you‘d want in a modern controller come baked in, including motion sensors, HD rumble, USB-C charging, amiibo NFC support, Bluetooth audio passthrough, and up to 40 hours of battery life per charge. It lacks haptic feedback, but makes up for this with tighter Joy-Con compatibility than any other third-party option.
If I‘ve yet to sell you on the Pro Controller‘s excellence, perhaps this redditor‘s closing perspective will: "It just works. It‘s hands down the best third party controller I‘ve ever used." Given gamers‘ prolonged satisfaction, dropping $70 for the Switch‘s premier controller seems a no-brainer investment.
What Could Be Improved?
No product is truly perfect though, and a couple small refinements could make an already outstanding controller even better.
For one, integrating a 3.5mm headphone jack directly into the gamepad itself (rather than the bottom) would improve on-the-go usage, where a protruding cable risks getting snagged.
Expanding battery capacity for 5-10 more hours of playtime per charge would be welcomed as well. When you already approach 40 hours, though, this feels nitpicky at best.
All in all, Nintendo nailed it on their first try with the Pro Controller. Its sustained popularity after 6 years shows why Reddit deems it a must-own for serious Switch gamers.
#2 Best Premium Pick: 8BitDo Ultimate
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 |
| Battery life | 15-20 hours |
| Charging time | 4 hours |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Motion? | Enabled |
In the premium controller space, one gamepad stands tall as a Switch favorite among Reddit users – the aptly named 8Bitdo Ultimate.
True to its labeling, the feature-packed Ultimate controller checks nearly every box you‘d desire. Its signature inclusion? Hall effect joysticks utilizing magnetic fields for unparalleled precision with dead zones and drift non-existent. Perfect for fighting titles demanding intricate input.
Equally appealing is the best-in-class d-pad adopting an 8-way design ideal for platformers and retro classics. No ghost inputs plaguing your Mario session here.
For further personalization, 8Bitdo‘s proprietary Ultimate Software grants button remapping, trigger & vibration customization, macros and more. Tailor every aspect to your liking.
The niceties don‘t end there either. An included charging dock displays your controller elegantly while doubling as a stand for multiplayer sessions. Expect 15-20 hours of uptime too between charges.
And with a smooth matte finish contrasted by severe, defined edges, the visually striking Ultimate brings a premium aesthetic missing from most competitors.
While a lofty $80 investment, redditors like liveoncehere indicate the extra spend worthwhile: "Seriously worth every penny. Feels like you are getting 3 controllers in one." For those seeking luxury features from their Switch controller, few best the Ultimate.
#3 Best Hall Effect Joysticks – Gulikit King Kong Pro 2
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $69.99 |
| Battery life | 20-25 hours |
| Charging time | 4 hours |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Motion? | Enabled |
Matching the 8Bitdo Ultimate‘s premium joystick functionality at a cheaper price lies the Gulikit King Kong Pro 2 controller.
Like the Ultimate, Gulikit leans on Hall Effect sensors for exception joystick precision and a sense of control distinctly lacking in Joy-Cons. Flying through shooters like Apex Legends with pinpoint camera movement makes aiming feel unfairly easy.
Four textured grips accompany the curved chassis to produce a pleasing hand-hugging form factor allowing marathon sessions without discomfort. Responsive face buttons and clickable low-drift joysticks make gameplay simply feel tighter overall as well.
Gulikit even bakes helpful extras like hair trigger locks for quicker firing inputs. Little touches like this separate it from a sea of lackluster budget controllers. Owners praise its premium accents on a third-party budget.
For a complete package combining comfort, control and capability at a palatable $70, the King Kong Pro 2 shapes up as a well-recommended option among Switch redditors like u/NintendoTheGuy:
"The features are absolutely perfect for shooters and fighting games. The joycons feel like cheap toys by comparison now in terms of comfort, buttons, sticks, triggers/bumpers, and especially control."
#4 Best Ergonomic Handheld Option – Hori Split Pad Pro
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $50 |
| Battery life | None (wired) |
| Charging time | None |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Motion? | No |
Anyone accustomed to gaming handheld knows the hand cramps and finger pains using Joy-Cons for extended periods inevitability yields. But Hori‘s Split Pad Pro elegantly solves this issue through better ergonomics.
Effectively functioning as a single unified controller, the Split Pad Pro replaces detachable Joy-Cons with a fixed grip sporting proper controllers buttons and analog triggers. Its increased surface area across all inputs reduces cramping substantially. No tiny buttons or shoehorned shoulder triggers present.
By plugging directly into your Switch rather than connecting wirelessly, no battery or latency concerns arise either. Just plug and play without hassle. Owners report the wireless sacrifice worthwhile solely for the vastly improved comfort.
Its wider design even leaves room for large hands unlike using naked Joy-Cons. And with programmable paddles found on elite controllers, configurable shortcuts further accommodate quick reflex gameplay. All at half the Pro Controller‘s cost.
As redditor skywalker506 encapsulates nicely: "This thing made handheld mode feel so much better. I don‘t get cramps nearly as quickly as I did with the joycons." For handheld enthusiasts, the ergonomic Split Pad Pro offers a transformative experience at a palatable price.
#5 Best Compact Size – Hori Split Pad Compact
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $50 |
| Battery life | None (wired) |
| Charging time | None |
| Weight | 283 grams (pair) |
| Motion? | No |
For some gamers, the complete handheld comfort afforded by the Hori Split Pad Pro comes at the cost of unwieldy bulk while traveling. Slipping such a beast into airplane seatback pockets or bags proves troublesome.
Enter Hori‘s Split Pad Compact – an elegantly downsized rendition retaining the critical perks for a pleasing handheld experience without the heft. All in a cute, colorful form factor as well.
At 283 grams all-in, the Pad Compact weighs nearly 100 grams below its bigger brother. And while you lose the rear triggers and programmable buttons, retain the excellent rubberized grips, clicky joysticks, and proper d-pad making gaming comfortable across all genres.
By plugging directly into the Switch‘s rails, zero latency or battery life once again concern you either. Just grab and game anywhere for hours on end.
As redditor drostandfound explains concisely, "I have the full pro and like this better as they are lighter and more compact. The Dpad and joystick are nice upgrades over the joycon." If portability matters above all else, Hori‘s adorable Split Pad Compact line perfectly transports console controls on the go.
#6 Most Customizable – Nyxi Wizard
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $89.99 |
| Battery life | 30 hours |
| Charging time | 5 hours |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Motion | Enabled |
For those unsatisfied with a one-size-fits-all controller configuration, the Nyxi Wizard provides deep personalization to suit nearly any preference or play style thanks to advanced software.
At the simplest level, the Wizard enables customizing colorful RGB lighting across 13 zones encompassing thumbsticks, ABXY face buttons, bumpers, triggers, and casing accents. Cycle between single colors or entire multi-color effects.
But you can tailor far more than just aesthetics. Through Nyxi‘s software, remap any button, fine-tune stick & trigger sensitivities, configure macros for executing complex input chains using a single button, and more. Realize the exact configuration matching your reflexes and tendencies.
Four mappable rear paddles accompany this customization as well, facilitating quicker access to essential game functions. Mechanical buttons and sensitive analog triggers translate inputs accurately every time too.
For personalization extending beyond standard remapping, redditor arc_medic_trooper praises the Wizard "allowing me to tweak stick acceleration helped immensely for my disability. Exactly what I wanted in a pro controller." Clearly the customization shines.
#7 Most Balanced Option – PowerA Enhanced Wireless
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $52.07 |
| Battery life | 30 hours |
| Charging time | 4 hours |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Motion | Enabled |
Realistically, dropping $70 on the Pro Controller gives pause to budget-focused gamers. Is more affordable alternative possible without sacrificing quality or essential features?
PowerA answers that need excellently with the Enhanced Wireless Controller. Molding a similar shape at two-thirds the cost, PowerA enhances expected capabilities via two mappable rear paddles for quicker response in titles like shooters.
Beyond these smart back buttons, all expected controller standards feature here without omission – motion controls and excellent HD rumble prove especially impressive at this price point. Plus at 30 hours per charge, it outlasts both Xbox and PlayStation counterparts noticeably.
By adopting a wired USB-C connection, no battery or connectivity concerns arise either. Just plug and play with minimal input lag. But the comfortable ergonomics retain a wireless focus still for focused marathon sessions.
As redditor thegamerpad summarizes nicely, "It feels like a high quality controller without paying a premium price. The paddle placement feels perfect." For a feature-complete middle ground both compromise and premium, PowerA‘s option undoubtedly tempts.
#8 Most Compatible – 8BitDo Pro 2
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Price | $44.99 |
| Battery life | 20 hours |
| Charging time | 5 hours |
| Weight | Unknown |
| Motion | Enabled |
While the preceding controllers focus squarely on delivering an exemplary Switch experience, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 swings the compatibility pendulum furthest by supporting nearly any modern platform.
The Pro 2‘s flexible operating modes allow seamless swapping between Switch, Windows, macOS, Android mobile devices, Raspberry Pi and even Apple gadgets running the Ultimate Software. Take your favorite gamepad anywhere without limitation.
Despite boasting multiplatform support, the core quality stands out all its own. An excellent ergonomic shape, responsive triggers, clickable joystick and 20-hour battery life give it staying power across long play sessions on any system.
For further specialization, 8Bitdo provides optionally granular customization like rebinding commands, adjusting stick sensitivity & vibration, creating macros and more based on the games you play most.
And priced below $50, you receive an immense value. As redditor qiiie puts aptly, "one of the best feeling controllers for under $50 and definitely beats PowerA." If you desire a comfortable, quality controller following you across ecosystems, look no further than 8Bitdo‘s Pro 2.
So there you have it – reddit‘s 8 controller recommendations bringing excellent quality, comfort and features to Nintendo Switch gamers of all types. Hope weighing the insight and options here helps you determine the ideal fit for your playstyle and priorities! Let me know if any other burning questions around Switch controllers arise. Happy gaming!
