The Nintendo Switch is still as popular as ever. But maybe you don't like using the traditional Joy-Cons and fancy a more traditional style controller. If that's the case, look no further than the Nintendo Pro controller. This pad is a great alternative to the Joy-Con controllers, and as it's officially licensed by Nintendo great quality is assured.
Much like the console itself and official Joy-cons, the Pro controller still retails for a pretty hefty price tag at $59.99/£59.99. We'll be honest with you and say that discounts on the Pro controller are very rare, so if you see a deal it's definitely worth buying whilst stocks last. This page is a great place to keep an eye on, as our live widgets will pull in the very best prices based on your location. The Pro controller is a great alternative to the Joy-Cons for more long-haul gaming sessions, especially if you're playing with your Switch docked up to the TV as the Joy-Cons can feel a little restrictive if you're used to larger pads. The Pro controller also boasts double the battery life of the Joy-Cons, so you won't need to charge it as often.
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 Nintendo Switch Pro Controller price varies a bit, but as standard they seem to retail at around $59.99/£59.99, and we sometimes see the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller price drop down to around the $49.99/£49.99 mark – though the best we've ever seen on the official black model has been $42 over at Amazon. You can find plenty of un-official Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers out there at varying prices too.
But why should you consider buying them? It's less versatile than a pair of Nintendo Joy-Cons and doesn't feature motion controls, but if you prefer the feel of a traditional console controller this is a great option for you. And there's one particular area in which the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller greatly outperforms the Joy-Cons: battery life. You can get up to 40 hours of battery out of a single charge, which is perfect for lengthy gaming sessions. We'd certainly recommend it for titles where you'll log hours upon hours of gameplay, such as Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.
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 effect 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.
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