The Nintendo Switch is still a hugely popular console, but its joy-con controllers aren't to everyone's tastes. if you fancy a more traditional-style pad, look no further than the Nintendo Pro controller. This option is a great alternative to the Joy-Con controllers, and it's officially licensed by Nintendo so great quality is assured.
Much like the console itself, the official Pro controller still retails for a pretty hefty price tag at $59.99/£59.99. We'll be honest and admit that discounts on the Pro controller are very rare, so if you spot a deal or price cut then it's definitely worth claiming while stocks last.
Once you've picked up your new Pro controller, why not check out our guide to the best Nintendo Switch games for some gaming inspiration. We also have a detailed guide to the Nintendo Switch vs the Switch OLED if you're thinking about upgrading your console.
The best Nintendo Switch Pro Controller prices
The price for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller varies a bit, but as standard, it seems to retail at around $59.99/£59.99, but we do sometimes see it drop down to around $49.99/£49.99 – though the best price we've ever seen on the official black model was $42 over at Amazon last year.
You can find plenty of unofficial Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers out there too, also at varying prices. But why should you consider buying a third-party pad? Usually, they're less versatile than a pair of Nintendo Joy-Cons and do not feature motion controls. With that said, if you're a gamer who prefers the feel of traditional console controllers then a Switch Pro controller is a great option for you.
The official Nintendo Pro controller is a great alternative to the included Joy-Cons, especially for switch gamers who tend to have more long-haul gaming sessions, and even more so when playing docked up to the TV. The Pro controller also boasts double the battery life of the Joy-Cons, up to 40 hours of battery from a single charge, so your gaming session won't get interrupted.
We'd certainly recommend the Pro controller for bigger titles where you'll log hours of gameplay, such as Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Odyssey, two of the best Nintendo Switch games ever. Keep an eye on our live deals widget below which will pull in the very best prices as they go live, and based on your region.
Does the Switch Pro controller suffer from drift?
One major issue that players experience with the traditional Joy-Cons is known as drift. This hardware fault causes movement to be registered incorrectly during gameplay, meaning characters will move in the wrong direction or move when there's no input by the player at all.
It's a frustrating yet common problem with Nintendo Joy-Cons – but does it persist when using the Pro controller? Luckily, the issue seems to be a lot less common in the Pro controller compared to the original Joy-Cons. However, it's important to note that analogue drift is a universal fault that can affect any controller – even ones as expensive as the DualSense Edge and Xbox Elite controller.
Does the Switch Pro controller have motion controls?
A big plus of detachable Joy-Cons is the ability to use motion controls. Luckily, you don't miss out on said motion controls if you opt for the Pro controller as it features built-in motion sensors, HD rumble and the ability to register Amiibos using the analogue sticks.
