Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller vs Switch Pro controller

If you were playing a game with the original Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller and the new one, you could easily confuse the two. Although Ninty has made some modifications to the gamepad since the original 2017 accessory, playing Spot the Difference requires getting to know the pads up close.

The best Nintendo Switch Controller should undoubtedly be directly succeeded by the new Switch 2 gamepad. Right now, the original is comfortably at the top, and if it continues to be offered for less, it may stay there. But it lacks a few features that would make it work better with Nintendo’s most recent top contender for a gaming handheld, and the differences could be sufficient to give it the advantage.

For the time being, I intend to use the original Nintendo Switch Pro Controller with the Switch 2. Its eight years of continued use without any signs of aging is a major testament to the quality of its construction. However, I’ve been comparing the two to determine if it’s better to spend $84.99 on the new model or get the original for less money while it’s still available.

Cost.

To be honest, the price tag for the Nintendo Switch Pro 2 Controller makes me a little nauseous. That being said, $84.99/74.99 is a lot of money for a gamepad, especially one that doesn’t really use premium features. Sure, you get a few extras over the original, but aside from the aesthetic differences and additional back buttons, you’re not getting anything revolutionary for the money.

The simplest response is that, in terms of cost, the original Switch Pro controller is unmatched. I’m concerned, though, that Nintendo will probably retire the gamepad to make room for its new Switch Pro controller. The new pad may appear more appealing if that occurs because the influential people (resellers) may begin listing the accessory for more than MSRP.

Original Switch Pro Controller was the winner.

Comfort.

It feels almost the same in the hands as the original Switch 2 Pro Controller. Although it’s not a perfect duplicate and weighs 235g less than the original pad, Nintendo has essentially just improved upon its stunning original design.

Before I discuss other features, I would like to point out that some players will find the back buttons on the Pro Controller 2 more comfortable. Because the toggles at the back can be mapped, you can adjust things to your own tastes if you find it awkward to click the analog sticks for certain functions or even if you just want to keep your thumbs still when racing in Mario Kart.

Nintendo has also improved its thumbsticks, which are notably smoother than the original design. Although the new pad does not have hall effect sensors, it appears to improve movement ergonomics, which gives it a slight advantage.

Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pro Controller won.

attributes.

While it doesn’t have as many features as the original Switch 2 Pro Controller, it does have a few extras that work with the new handheld. Ninty’s new accessory now has two back buttons, which are becoming more and more common in even standard gamepads. You won’t have to stick with using conventional face buttons if you’re used to having toggles around your back because they’re even remappable.

A dedicated “C” button on the front that opens the new GameChat feature is the other new addition. You can respond to group invites right away without leaving your game and access the app without going to the home screen if you intend to use Nintendo’s new social hub.

You will need to exit your game and use the GameChat icon since the button was absent from the previous Pro Controller. The only way to fully utilize the feature is to pay $85 just to obtain that particular button, which feels wrong even though it will be more difficult and less slick.

You won’t be deterred from purchasing a Switch 2 Pro Controller by the ‘C’ button alone, as the original gamepad is also incapable of waking the handheld from sleep mode. It will be a hassle if you’re the type of player who prefers to relax and start up your setup from the couch. Additionally, if you want to use the original pad, you’ll need the appropriate Joy-Con to operate the system in docked mode.

Less annoyingly, Nintendo has also included a 3.5mm audio jack on the Switch 2 Pro Controller, which is a huge plus if you use an Xbox Series X or PS5 with a wired gaming headset. Given that the original handheld’s operating system lacks voice chat functionality, it makes sense that the connector is completely absent from the original.

I must reluctantly concede the Switch 2 Pro Controller the feature crown. The back buttons and 3.5 headphone jack are nice extras, but half of its new features could have been added to the original gamepad with a simple system update.

Winner: Pro Controller for Nintendo Switch 2.

The battery.

Using a 1,070mAh battery, the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and the original gamepad both have a 40-hour runtime. Depending on what you’re playing, especially if you’re playing a lot of HD rumble, your mileage will vary. That being said, the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s modern internal components will enable it to charge considerably faster when you do eventually run out of juice.

In particular, the Switch 2 Pro Controller will take 3 to 5 hours to fully charge, as opposed to 6 hours for the original Pro Controller. Staying with the original controllers will ultimately result in more time spent hooked up to a USB cable, and that will make a huge difference if you’re trying to get ready for large Mario Kart World sessions and need some pads juiced up quickly.

Although I haven’t had the opportunity to disassemble a Switch 2 Pro Controller yet, it might be a significant disadvantage if it’s more difficult to access the back than the original. You can upgrade the original accessory with a much larger capacity if you don’t care about charge times, but the 2017 gamepad has an incredibly easy-to-replace battery.

The Switch 2 Pro Controller still outperforms the original in terms of battery life due to its faster charging speed. It could be a winner again, but I would consider that MSRP and consider whether the benefit is worth the additional cost.

The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller was the winner.