Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: Is the $84.99 Gamepad Worth Buying?
Months after launch, reviewers and players are still weighing whether the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller earns its keep at $84.99 USD (£74.99 in the UK). Independent testing from outlets including Engadget, Tom’s Guide, Trusted Reviews, Console Creatures and GamesRadar+ points to a consistent verdict: the redesigned gamepad is Nintendo’s most refined controller yet, built around two new customisable back buttons, a dedicated GameChat button and a headphone jack — even though the asking price and a lack of Hall-effect sticks remain sticking points.
GL and GR Back Buttons Are the Headline Upgrade
For years, the original Switch Pro Controller lagged behind Sony’s DualSense Edge and Microsoft’s Xbox Elite pads by lacking rear paddles. Nintendo has now closed that gap: one of the most notable additions on the Switch 2 Pro Controller is a new pair of back buttons set into the underside of the controller grips, labelled GL and GR and positioned so a player’s middle fingers rest on each comfortably.
Reviewers particularly praised how the remapping works. According to Yahoo Tech’s hands-on testing, the back paddles can be easily reconfigured on a per-game basis using the home button side panel, and the microphone is useful for GameChat, with the same outlet noting paddles are mapped on a per-game basis rather than a handful of profiles. Console Creatures’ reviewer, who spent a week with a retail unit, called the GL/GR placement a genuine improvement, writing that the rear GL and GR buttons are great, positioned on the controller handles rather than the back like most rival pads, and are not only easy to use, but also satisfying to press, without feeling awkward.
A Dedicated GameChat Button and Built-In Headphone Jack
The controller also carries a new “C” button tied to Switch 2’s system-wide GameChat voice and video feature. Trusted Reviews confirmed the new C button sits bottom-centre on the top face, just above a new 3.5mm audio jack, letting players use wired headphones for GameChat and as a way to wirelessly stream game audio. That same outlet detailed the added port too: the integrated 3.5mm audio jack lets players plug directly into the controller for GameChat or game audio over wired headphones.
Engadget’s review added that the controller is customizable thanks to two rear buttons that can be quickly programmed in any game, plus a 3.5mm jack to plug in wired headphones — something never seen before on a Nintendo pad. Speaking on the broader Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller redesign, Nintendo producer Kouichi Kawamoto told Engadget the team “redesigned everything from scratch” for the new hardware generation.
Battery Life Still Rated at Roughly 40 Hours
Battery longevity was one area where reviewers found no regression. Trusted Reviews measured approximately 40 hours of use per charge, matching the excellent battery life of its predecessor but recharging in about half the time. Console Creatures echoed the figure, noting after two dozen hours of use the controller had only dropped to 67 percent battery, with Nintendo stating a single charge can last upwards of 40 hours and take around four hours to fully recharge.
The $84.99 Price Tag — and What NZ/AU Buyers Are Paying
Pricing has been the most contentious element of the launch. Trusted Reviews reported that the Switch 2 Pro Controller arrived at a generationally-costlier £74.99/$79.99, but US tariffs have since pushed Nintendo to revise American pricing by an additional $15, to $84.99. FullCleared’s review reached a similar conclusion on value, arguing it’s the customizable and easy-to-map back buttons that make the $84.99 price worth it for many players, even while acknowledging the Switch 2 doesn’t currently have any games where the back buttons are really advantageous.
For Kiwi shoppers, price-comparison site PriceSpy lists the controller with a current best local price of $132.95 NZD, while the pad is stocked in Australia through retailers including JB Hi-Fi and EB Games, which lists its headline features as GL/GR buttons that you can map to any button you choose, plus a 4-pole stereo 3.5mm audio jack for use only with the Nintendo Switch 2 system.
Where the Pro Controller Still Falls Short
Every review flagged the same two omissions: no Hall-effect thumbsticks and no analog triggers. Tom’s Guide summarised it plainly, saying reviewers don’t like the lack of Hall Effect thumbsticks, the digital trigger buttons and the steep asking price. GamesRadar+ was more forgiving of the overall package, concluding the pad remains the best way to experience the handheld in docked mode, offering one of the most comfortable and responsive gamepads its reviewer had used, while also confirming Nintendo quietly upgraded haptics, since Nintendo quietly upgraded the haptics in its Switch 2 Pro Controller, and it’s far superior this time around thanks to HD Rumble 2.
Engadget’s harsher framing put the trade-off in its own headline territory, ultimately assessing that as much as the reviewer liked the Switch 2 Pro Controller, it’s undoubtedly an extravagance at $85 when 8Bitdo’s Ultimate gamepad offers even more features for $50. For players locked into docked mode and Nintendo’s ecosystem, though, the consensus across reviewers leans toward recommending the upgrade — as long as buyers know exactly what they’re paying the premium for.
Read also: Mario Kart World vs Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: The Switch 2 Debate, One Year On
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