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When the Nintendo Switch 2 arrived in stores in June 2025, it came with a key accessory: the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller. At first glance, it closely resembles the original Switch Pro controller, which is similarly compatible with the new console. After several weeks of testing, we investigated whether this controller justifies its premium price tag.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller review: price and availability
- Recommended price of €89.99
- Available since June 2025
- Widely available, sometimes for around €10 less
Let’s address the initial hurdle: the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller carries a price of €89.99. While it can sometimes be found for around €80, that remains the lowest price currently available. For comparison, the original Switch Pro controller now averages around €65.
This represents by far the most expensive Switch 2 controller available, but also the most fully-featured and the only one manufactured directly by Nintendo. Improvements over the original Switch Pro controller include two customizable buttons underneath the grips, a C-button for voice chat, new joysticks, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a matte finish, and HD Rumble 2, the controller’s haptic feedback system. Battery life remains consistent at a generous 40 hours.
While the priciest option, it’s also the only controller offering this complete feature set with several welcome enhancements over the original. The evolution of controller technology often mirrors advancements in gaming immersion.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller: review in a nutshell
- Matte plastic feels good in the hand and doesn’t get dirty easily
- Two customizable buttons and 3.5mm headphone port
- Much harder to repair
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller is entirely constructed from a matte, slightly shimmering plastic. It not only feels better in the hand than the original, but also resists getting dirty more easily. Personally, I preferred the transparent finish of the original Switch Pro controller, but that might be nostalgia for my first console, the transparent purple Game Boy Color.
All the original buttons are in the same locations. New is the C-button in the middle underneath the top, which is linked to GameChat. Underneath the grips are the customizable GL and GR buttons. By default, they do nothing, and if you prefer not to use them for fear of accidental presses, you don’t require to adjust anything. In the controller settings, you can assign each button to an action from another button. This can also be set per game.
For example, it’s not always easy to sprint (B) and jump (X) simultaneously in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. If you map the B button to GL/GR, it’s much easier to perform that action. Gamers who like to take screenshots can also map the screenshot button to GL/GR. The key is that the buttons offer extra options for those who want them, without getting in the way for those who don’t.
Another addition that will be more useful for some than others is the 3.5mm headphone jack on the back. So the indicator lights (to indicate which player the controller is for) have now been moved to the front, where the USB-C charging port is also located.
It didn’t take long for me to perceive that the joysticks have been updated. They move more smoothly and also feel more detailed in games. Especially compared to the joysticks of the Joy-Cons, the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller gives you more control and range of motion. It’s a shame that the ZR/ZL buttons still aren’t triggers like on the PS5 DualSense controller. On that controller, the lower triggers provide (customizable) resistance in certain games, making you feel like you’re pressing a gas pedal in racing games or getting some recoil from the gun in shooters.
A change you don’t see on the outside is HD Rumble 2. This is the haptic feedback system of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller, which adds extra detail and depth to certain vibration effects in games. The first time I noticed this was during the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Hollow Knight. There’s a region called The City of Tears, where it constantly rains. When I came out of the castle and stood in the rain, I noticed the controller made very fine, light vibrations to reflect the falling rain. It was so accurate that I felt the vibrations in different places, as if raindrops were actually falling on my hands.
Something that has remained the same is the battery life, as the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller also has a battery life of 40 hours. That claim holds up in practice, and this is once again a controller you rarely need to charge.
However, there’s one area where the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller scores much lower than the original Switch Pro controller, and that’s repairability. The original Switch Pro controller was easy to disassemble. I know this firsthand, as I took my controller apart with an iFixit screwdriver set when it suffered from stick drift. After just ten minutes, I was able to access the joysticks to thoroughly clean them, which solved the problem (albeit temporarily). You could also easily access the battery that way.
I immediately noticed that there were no visible screws on the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller and that the housing is largely made from a single piece of plastic. After some research, and in particular this video from iFixit, my fears were confirmed: it’s virtually impossible to take the controller apart yourself. The first step is to remove the glue from the top plate using isopropyl alcohol, and that alone is enough for me not to attempt it.
Finally, one last detail: the original Switch Pro controller works with both the Switch and Switch 2, but the Switch 2 Pro controller only works with the Switch 2. If you were to take the Switch 2 Pro controller with you when visiting a friend with an original Switch, you wouldn’t be able to do much.
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