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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller’s biggest upgrade is not the C Button or its redesigned sticks. It is the pair of built-in, remappable GL and GR buttons on the back. They let you press face-button actions without moving your thumb away from an analog stick—a small addition that makes the controller considerably more flexible for action games, shooters, platformers, and players who experience thumb fatigue.
The controller retains Nintendo’s familiar full-size layout, adds a 3.5mm audio jack and HD Rumble 2, and feels broadly as comfortable as the original Switch Pro Controller. But it still uses digital triggers, Nintendo has not confirmed Hall-effect sticks in the cited material, and the official listing says it is for Switch 2 only.
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The rear GL and GR buttons are the real upgrade
The two buttons sit on the rear handles beneath your middle or ring fingers. Nintendo calls them GL and GR, and they can be remapped to supported controller inputs.
They are not extra game commands with special functions of their own. Instead, each button duplicates another input you choose. Map GL or GR to A or B, for example, and you can jump, attack, or interact while keeping your right thumb on the camera stick. You can also assign them to L3 or R3 to avoid repeatedly clicking the analog sticks.
#1 Best Overall
- HD Rumble 2
- Motion controls
- Built-in amiibo functionality*
- Capture Button
- C Button for GameChat**
That matters most when a game asks you to move the camera and press a face button simultaneously. Shooters, action games, platformers and camera-heavy third-person games can all benefit. The buttons may also reduce thumb travel and repetitive face-button reaches, although their accessibility value depends on your hand size, grip and range of motion.
The layout feels like a logical evolution of the original Switch Pro Controller rather than a radical redesign. In a hands-on report published April 5, 2025, the controller was described as similarly comfortable, with the rear buttons positioned for practical access without changing the familiar shape. The report also noted that the buttons could not yet be configured during the event; Nintendo’s later support documentation confirms that they are customizable.
Source: Tom’s Guide hands-on report
How to remap GL and GR
Nintendo’s Switch 2 button-mapping path is:
- Open System Settings from the HOME Menu.
- Select Accessibility.
- Select Button Mapping.
- Choose the connected Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
- Select Edit Controller Mapping.
- Select the button you want to change.
- Choose the input it should produce, then save the configuration.
There is an important exception: Nintendo says the GL and GR buttons on the Switch 2 Pro Controller—and on the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip—can only be mapped from Quick Settings while a game is running. Hold the HOME Button to open Quick Settings.
The system does not allow every control to be reassigned. POWER, Volume, HOME and SYNC inputs are excluded, and analog-stick directions cannot simply be converted into ordinary button inputs. Nintendo does allow certain left/right stick reassignment options.
Mappings are saved on the console, not permanently stored on the controller. A custom layout therefore may not follow the controller when you connect it to another Switch 2 system. Also, while the inputs are available system-wide, their usefulness and behavior can vary from game to game.
Rank #2
- This controller also works with Nintendo Switch 2 - C Button not available
- Eight RGB zones with four pre-set modes for dynamic lighting combinations
- Two programmable quick-action back buttons for customizable gameplay
- Built-in motion controls for immersive gameplay
- Ergonomic design for extended comfort
Sources: Nintendo Switch 2 button-mapping support, Nintendo mapping limitations and Nintendo configuration-storage guidance
What the controller feels like
The overall shape and button layout remain close to the original Switch Pro Controller. The hands-on impression was that the new model feels similarly comfortable, possibly slightly better, rather than dramatically different.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The sticks are the most noticeable physical refinement. Nintendo describes them as quieter and smoother-gliding, while the hands-on report found them smoother, more responsive and quicker to return to center. Those are useful improvements for games that rely heavily on camera control.
They should not be confused with proof that the controller uses Hall-effect sensors. Nintendo’s cited material does not confirm Hall-effect technology, and the available evidence does not establish that the sticks are drift-proof. Smoother movement is a hands-on observation, not a guarantee of long-term durability.
Other Switch 2 Pro Controller additions
- C Button: Opens the Switch 2 GameChat menu.
- 3.5mm audio jack: Supports a four-pole stereo mini plug using the CTIA standard.
- HD Rumble 2: Nintendo’s updated rumble system.
- Motion controls: Retained for compatible games.
- Built-in amiibo functionality: Retained as a first-party feature.
- Capture Button: Included on the controller.
- USB-C cable: Included for charging.
The C Button is convenient, particularly for TV-mode players who do not want to reach for the console or Joy-Cons. It is not, however, the reason to upgrade. GameChat requires internet access, a Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch Online membership, and availability varies by country. Video chat also requires a Switch 2 Camera or compatible USB-C webcam.
Rank #3
- Hall Effect Modules: Say goodbye to stick drift with contract-free magnetic sensors in the thumbsticks giving you smoother control, enhanced precision, and increased longevity
- Advanced Gaming Buttons: Get an edge over the competition with mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons you can program on the fly, mid-game—no system settings to configure
- Intuitive Motion Controls: Get immersed in your games with fluid, responsive motion controls that provide an intuitive way to aim, steer, fly, and more
- C Button: Easily activate fun GameChat features
- Rechargeable Battery: Get up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge. Includes an extra-long 10 ft. USB-C cable to recharge the internal battery*
Source: Nintendo Switch 2 accessories
What Nintendo still did not add
No analog triggers
The controller still uses digital triggers. They are appropriate for binary actions such as aiming, blocking or pressing the accelerator, but they cannot detect the same range of partial depression as an analog trigger.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThat omission matters most in racing games, where analog triggers can provide graduated throttle and braking. Players coming from Xbox, PlayStation or PC controllers may notice the difference immediately. Nintendo’s designers reportedly favored digital triggers because they are quicker and easier to press, but that choice limits the controller for players who want fine trigger control.
Only two rear buttons
Two rear inputs are useful, but they are less flexible than the four paddles or buttons found on some premium third-party controllers. Nintendo also has not established that the Pro Controller supports onboard profiles; its support documentation says configurations are stored on the console.
Switch 2 Pro Controller versus the original Pro Controller
| Feature | Switch 2 Pro Controller | Original Switch Pro Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Rear buttons | Two remappable GL/GR buttons | No built-in rear buttons |
| GameChat | Dedicated C Button | No Switch 2 C Button |
| Headset support | 3.5mm CTIA audio jack | No comparable standard headset jack |
| Rumble | HD Rumble 2 | HD Rumble |
| Compatibility | Nintendo lists it for Switch 2 only | Designed for Nintendo Switch |
| Sticks | Redesigned, quieter and smoother according to Nintendo and hands-on impressions | Original design |
| Triggers | Digital | Digital |
This is a meaningful upgrade for Switch 2 owners who want rear controls, headset support and a newer first-party gamepad. It is not a universal replacement if you still need a controller for the original Switch. Nintendo’s current U.S. accessory listing says the Switch 2 Pro Controller is only for use with Nintendo Switch 2.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you choose the Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip?
The Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip is the more economical first-party alternative if you already own Joy-Con 2 controllers. It turns them into a conventional-style grip, charges them and also provides GL/GR buttons.
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Rank #4
- This controller also works with Nintendo Switch 2 - C Button not available
- Experience the thrill of the race with the Grand Prix Mario design
- Glows in the dark
- Two programmable quick-action back buttons for customizable gameplay
- Built-in motion controls for immersive gameplay
It is not a complete controller in the box: Joy-Con 2 controllers are sold separately, and the grip cannot be used with original Switch Joy-Cons. It also will not provide the same full-size ergonomics as the dedicated Pro Controller.
Choose the Charging Grip if you already have Joy-Con 2 controllers and mainly want rear-button functionality. Choose the Pro Controller if you want a larger, more traditional gamepad with its own integrated controls, audio jack, motion features, rumble and amiibo support.
Who should buy the Switch 2 Pro Controller?
- TV-mode regulars: It is a natural full-size controller for docked and tabletop play.
- Action and shooter players: GL and GR can keep the right thumb on the camera while triggering face-button actions.
- Players with thumb fatigue: Rear buttons may reduce repeated thumb movement, though they are not a medical solution.
- Accessibility-focused buyers: Two additional physical positions may make some layouts easier, but they do not replace an adaptive controller.
- Headset users: The CTIA-compatible 3.5mm jack is a practical improvement over the original controller.
You may not need it if you mostly play handheld, are satisfied with the included Joy-Con 2 controllers, or rarely benefit from simultaneous camera and face-button inputs.
Third-party controllers are worth investigating if you specifically need four rear buttons, analog triggers, confirmed Hall-effect sticks, onboard profiles or compatibility across multiple platforms. Xbox Elite and DualSense Edge controllers offer premium rear-control designs, but they should not be treated as guaranteed Switch 2 substitutes without confirming platform compatibility.
Verdict
Nintendo finally added the feature its traditional controller was missing: built-in, remappable rear buttons. The GL and GR controls are more consequential than the C Button, and they can make camera-heavy games more comfortable and flexible without forcing players to buy a third-party pad.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller is therefore the strongest first-party choice for TV-mode players who want rear controls and a full-size gamepad. Its digital triggers, two-button limit, console-based remapping and unconfirmed Hall-effect status keep it from being the definitive premium controller for everyone. But for Nintendo’s own ecosystem, the rear buttons make this a far more convincing upgrade than a simple redesign.
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