Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: A Premium Gamepad Worth the $$$
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.
Just as the Nintendo Switch launched with the Switch Pro Controller to use in lieu of its detachable Joy-Con, the Switch 2 launches with the Switch 2 Pro Controller. Like the Switch 2 to the Switch, the $84.99 Switch 2 Pro Controller is a solid upgrade over its predecessor, with a higher price to match (the original Switch Pro is $69.99). It adds new features like programmable rear buttons and a headset jack that help justify the premium, along with several material refinements that give the gamepad a much more high-end feel. So while it's pricey, the Switch 2 Pro should be the first controller you reach for if you frequently use the system in docked mode, and that makes it our Editors' Choice award winner.
If the name doesn't make it clear, the Switch 2 Pro Controller is intended to work with the Switch 2. It will not officially work with any other device, including the original Switch or a PC. However, enthusiasts will likely create some form of workaround to let it function as a PC gamepad. Official Steam support might come down the line, just like with the first Pro Controller.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller looks similar to the original, with long grips and gentle curves that fit comfortably in your hand. Its shell is a satiny plastic that's smoother than the subtly textured grip of the original and pleasant to touch. The gamepad isn't completely black like the previous Pro Controller, though; it has light gray accents around the analog sticks, top panel, and shoulder buttons. The package looks and feels a bit more polished than the slightly glossy and partially translucent Switch Pro Controller.
The main control layout is almost completely unchanged, with offset analog sticks, large A/B/X/Y face buttons, a plus-shaped direction pad, and two pairs of bumper/trigger buttons. Although they're arranged the same, some components have been refined. The analog sticks are silky smooth in motion and are almost silent when pushed to their limit (instead of tapping loudly against the gamepad's casing). The face buttons and direction pad are also quieter, without losing any of their springiness. The plus and minus buttons are slightly raised, making them easier to press.
Subtle refinements are only the start of the upgrades. The Switch 2 Pro also has three important features that the original lacked. First, it joins the Joy-Con 2 controllers in GameChat functionality via a small, square C button located between the direction pad and right analog stick. Like on the Joy-Con 2 pads, this button launches the GameChat menu and lets you start or join voice and video groups.
Second, the gamepad has a 3.5mm headset jack just like the DualSense and Xbox Wireless Controller. So, if you have a wired gaming headset, simply plug it into the controller and use it instead of the Switch 2's microphone and your TV's speakers. The jack is located on the gamepad's bottom edge between the grips, where the status LEDs were on the original Pro Controller (those lights are relocated to the top panel next to the USB-C port and pairing button).
Third, the Switch 2 Pro Controller follows in the footsteps of other high-end gamepads like the DualSense Edge and the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller by adding programmable rear buttons. These GL and GR buttons sit flush on the back of the grips, right where your middle fingers naturally rest. You can set them to act like any single digital control input, such as the face buttons, shoulder buttons, direction pad presses, and analog stick clicks.
You access the GL and GR button-mapping menu by holding the Home button for a second. This lets you change what the buttons do with only a few presses. These settings are saved on a per-game basis, which is convenient. For example, you can have GL and GR act as LB and LR in Street Fighter 6 (Drive Impact and Drive Parry) or as LT and RT in Mario Kart World (Items and Drifting).
Quick menu GL and GR settings are separate from the full-button remapping available in the Switch 2's Accessibility menu. You can completely rearrange the Pro Controller's controls on a system level and save presets. These customizations are the same across all games and must be manually switched.
Besides the physical controls, the Switch 2 Pro Controller has the same extra functions as the first one, including motion controls and an NFC sensor for reading Amiibo. It also has vibration, specifically the same HD Rumble 2 as the Joy-Con 2 controllers, which gives detailed feedback in games that support it.
Nintendo estimates the Switch 2 Pro Controller's battery to last about 40 hours between charges, which seems in line with my tests. According to the console, two dozen hours of gaming took the gamepad a bit below the 50% mark. That's comparable with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller and far longer than the DualSense Edge's meager six-hour battery life.
I played several games with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and they worked perfectly. Precision platforming in Hollow Knight felt natural, and I could reliably perform moves and counters in Street Fighter 6. The analog sticks made for effortless steering in Mario Kart World, and the motion controls were accurate while aiming in Splatoon 3.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller simply feels better as a full gamepad than the Joy-Con 2 in the system's included gamepad grip. It's more comfortable to hold, and its components are better suited to the control style since they aren't designed around Joy-Con 2's modular, portable aspects. Likewise, the directional inputs are better than the Joy-Con 2's; I've already gushed about the tactile response of the analog sticks, but the plus-shaped directional pad is a superior way to input digital directions than the left Joy-Con's four face buttons.
The headphone jack worked as expected, too, piping sound through my wired headphones with no problem. That's probably the least important part of the Pro Controller, since the Switch 2 already supports Bluetooth headphones.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Workiva Inc. (WK) Appoints Astha Malik to Its Board of Directors
Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) is one of the 11 Best Tech Stocks to Buy On the Dip. On May 29, Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) announced the appointment of Astha Malik, Chief Business Officer of Braze, to its board of directors. Malik brings 25 years of experience in driving growth and scaling high-growth SaaS companies. The company also released its Q1 2025 results on May 1. The revenue of $206 million grew 17% year-over-year driven by a 20% increase in subscription and support revenue. Both of these financial indicators surpass management's guidance despite a challenging environment characterized by a cautious buying environment and flat professional services revenue. A software engineer debugging a compliance code on a laptop in a modern office setting. After the earnings release, analyst Alexander Sklar from Raymond James maintained an Overweight rating on Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) lowering the price target from $125 to $105. The analyst noted the company showed strong bookings in Q1 however, the tough macroeconomic environment led to a conservative outlook by Raymond James. Regardless, Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) maintained its full-year revenue guidance at $864 million to $868 million. Workiva Inc. (NYSE:WK) is a technology company that operates a cloud-based platform that enables organizations to streamline and automate financial, sustainability, and compliance reporting processes. Its SaaS platform combines ERP, HCM, and CRM applications, supporting real-time collaboration and integrated reporting across teams. While we acknowledge the potential of WK as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Melden Sie sich an, um Ihr Portfolio aufzurufen.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Citi Rates Protagonist Therapeutics (PTGX) as Buy Protagonists Drugs Opportunity
Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTGX) is one of the 10 biotech stocks screaming a buy. On June 17, Citi initiated coverage of the stock with a 'Buy' rating and a $72 price target. The research firm remains bullish about the company's prospects owing to the strong potential of its drug candidates. A scientist in a lab coat examining a Petri dish containing a biopharmaceutical culture. The company's partnership with Takeda on Rusfertide to treat polycythemia Vera (PV) and oral IL-23 (icotrokinra) is one of the developments that underscore the research firm's favorable rating. Rusfertide demonstrated strong potential in PV patients in phase 3 trials, affirming its potential to address unmet needs. Citi is especially bullish about adding Rusfertide to existing therapies to expand its use case. In addition, the firm echoed the company's strategic partnership with Johnson & Johnson for multiple inflammation indications. According to Citi, Protagonist Therapeutics shares have outperformed over the past three months, going up by a 40% gain compared to a 2% gain of the S&P 500. It expects the company's combined revenues to climb to $700 million by 2032, above consensus estimates of $680 million. Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTGX) is a biopharmaceutical company that develops peptide-based drugs to treat various diseases, including rare and prevalent ones. Its pipeline includes treatments for blood disorders like polycythemia Vera and inflammatory conditions like ulcerative colitis and psoriasis. While we acknowledge the potential of PTGX as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 13 Best Software Stocks to Buy Now and 11 Must-Buy AI Stocks Analysts Are Betting On. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Analysts reboot Micron Technology stock price target ahead of earnings
Analysts reboot Micron Technology stock price target ahead of earnings originally appeared on TheStreet. An elephant might never forget but Micron Technology () has more storage space. The Boise, Idaho, company makes memory and storage chips for data centers, computers and smartphones, and its client list includes such tech-sector superstars as AI-chip chieftain Nvidia () , Mac and iPhone maker Apple () , Facebook parent Meta Platforms () and software kingpin Microsoft () . 💵💰Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💰 Make no mistake, there's money in memories, and we're not just talking about those singing cats on Broadway. "After the historic downturn of 2022–2023, the memory industry has entered a phase of strong recovery. In 2024, memory revenue reached a record $170 billion,' according to market researcher Yole Group. "This rebound was fueled by AI-training requirements in data centers, with [high-bandwidth memory) playing a pivotal role due to its premium pricing and performance advantages," the firm added. HBM continues to outperform the broader DRAM chip segment, Yole Group said. This year HBM revenue is set to nearly double to around $34 billion. Micron is a key player in the HBM market, offering solutions like HBM3E and HBM4 designed for high-performance computing and AI applications. The company recently joined the Trump administration to unveil plans to expand its U.S. investments to about $150 billion in domestic memory manufacturing and $50 billion in research and development, creating an estimated 90,000 direct and indirect jobs. More Tech Stocks: Amazon tries to make AI great again (or maybe for the first time) Veteran portfolio manager raises eyebrows with latest Meta Platforms move Google plans major AI shift after Meta's surprising $14 billion move 'Micron's U.S. memory manufacturing and R&D plans underscore our commitment to driving innovation and strengthening the domestic semiconductor industry,' Chairman, President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said in a statement. The company's shares are up nearly up nearly 45% this year and off 16% from this time in 2024. Investment firms have been issuing research reports for Micron Technology ahead of its fiscal-third-quarter earnings report, scheduled for June 25. Wedbush boosted its price target on Micron to $150 from $130 while maintaining an outperform rating. The firm said memory-pricing trends turned more positive in the second quarter. And while Wedbush said it doesn't see as significant an inflection in Q3 as it had been expecting back in March, the firm said pricing for both DRAM and NAND, which are two types of semiconductor memory, "still will lift over the next couple of quarters." Better fundamentals are driven by stronger enterprise/server demand, which started around April and looks to hold through the rest of the year, Wedbush said. Demand for both AI and standard workloads appears better than might have been initially anticipated, it said. "Moreover, we view growing [high-bandwidth memory] requirements as not just positive for MU's numbers but also ultimately positive for industry dynamics as [capital spending] and clean-room space are reallocated to support HBM growth," Wedbush will limit the likelihood of too much supply of NAND/DRAM, and it increases the probability that production of more standard parts will trail demand. That, the firm said, would create a more positive pricing/margin cycle vs. what is embedded in its expectations, the firm said. Morgan Stanley maintained an equal-weight rating and $98 price target on Micron, given how much the stock has rallied already, according to The Fly. But the investment firm is "tactically bullish," given that AI spending is materially accelerating as Micron grows its participation. The investment firm, which notes that its estimates remain 20% above consensus for August-quarter earnings, also highlights Sandisk, () which it likes better long term and on which it has an overweight rating. Based in Milpitas, Calif., Sandisk designs and produces flash-memory products, including memory cards, USB flash drives and solid-state drives. Consensus numbers have started to come up for Micron over the past few weeks, but in addition to Morgan Stanley being about 20% above consensus for August earnings per share, the firm is also 14% above for November after it raised estimates six weeks reboot Micron Technology stock price target ahead of earnings first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 20, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
