iFixit Crowns Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller the «Worst Switch 2 Gamepad»

After tearing down the new Switch 2 Pro Controller, iFixit delivered a scathing verdict: Nintendo's $84.99 premium controller isn't worth its price tag when it comes to repairability and long-term durability, falling short of cheaper third-party options.

Despite gamers' hopes, Nintendo didn't equip the Pro Controller with drift-proof Hall effect joysticks. Instead, it uses the same old potentiometer-based sticks as before. While replacing them is slightly easier than on the old Pro Controller, the fact you'll likely need to replace them due to drift remains a major flaw.

Just getting to the battery – a part guaranteed to need replacing in a few years – requires literally prying the controller open. The faceplate is fused on with strong perimeter adhesive tape, and prying it off ruins the fit permanently. Add in a maze of tiny screws hidden in awkward spots, and any repair turns into a tedious puzzle.

iFixit directly calls out the mismatch between the price and the quality offered. Great alternatives already exist, like the $29.99 8BitDo Ultimate 2C wireless controller. It features preventative Hall effect joysticks, solid build quality, and Switch 2 compatibility (lacking only a few niche buttons). This seriously questions the value proposition of Nintendo's $85 accessory.

This isn't iFixit's first criticism of Nintendo's Switch 2 products. They previously blasted the console itself for poor repairability. This new wave of criticism targeting the Pro Controller fuels the debate: is Nintendo's premium accessory pricing justified when third-party makers offer more repairable, technologically advanced solutions for significantly less?