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7 Best Third-Party Joy Con Controllers For Nintendo Switch

Are you looking for third party joy-con controllers for your Nintendo Switch? Well, you are in the right place. Several people face joy-con controller drift issues, and 3rd party joy-cons might be one of the solutions.

These 3rd party controllers are well built and come in different types. They don’t only look great but also come with different functionality. Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch in 2017, several third-party companies have manufactured better accessories.

Joy-Cons being the one.

There are different types of Joy-Cons –

Wireless – These Nintendo Switch Controllers connect to your switch just like the ones that come in the box. These are wireless and does not require it to be always connected. It also comes with a battery to keep your gameplay hours longer.

Wired – Wired are the ones that always have to be connected to the switch. Also, these do not come with a battery.

Handheld – Handheld are the ones that directly attach to the Nintendo Switch. You will be able to play with your Switch just like the joy-cons that it came with earlier. Few of these handheld joy-cons also are wireless.

Best Third-Party Joy Cons For Nintendo Switch

We have cumulated a list of best 3rd party switch controller. These range from wireless, wired to handheld. You can have a look at them below –

Image Product Name Type Price
KDD Joy-pad Controller Compatible with Nintendo Switch Wireless/Handheld
Joy-Con Controller Replacement for Nintendo Switch Wireless
Kinvoca Switch Controller for Nintendo Switch Handheld
KINVOCA C25 Joy Pad Controller for Nintendo Switch Wireless/Wired
PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch – Mario Silhouette Wireless
PowerA GameCube Controller Switch Wireless
PDP 500-134-NA-CM05 Nintendo Switch Wired

1. KDD Joy-pad Controller For Nintendo Switch

KDD Joy-pad Controller for Nintendo Switch

KDD Joy-Pad is one that comes to mind when you ask for the best controller for Nintendo Switch. It is not only similar to the factory joy-cons but is better in many other ways.

Just like joy-cons, these are of the same size & can easily connect or attach to your switch. These KDD Joy-Pad sports the same 525 mAH battery as the originals giving you an ample amount of charge for your long hours of gameplay.

These 3rd party joypads also support motion control and have 6-axis Gyro Sensor inside. Inside the box, rather than the controller, there are also white slides, which I think have fantastic triggers.

Talking about the buttons and triggers – these joy-cons have the same no. of buttons and triggers, just like the original. Triggers are snappier and are responsive, and the joysticks are precise and handy. D-Pad has some good buttons which do not make the joy-cons feel cheap.

Overall these are just the replacement joy-cons you should buy for your Nintendo Switch.

Pros

  • Good triggers and buttons
  • Long-Lasting Battery
  • Can be charged via Switch or charge dock
  • Wake Up Functions
  • Comes With Motion, Accelerometer & Gyro Sensor
  • Supports Switch Lite

Cons

  • Average Vibrators.
  • lack of Infrared
  • No support for NFC

 

2. Joy-Con Controller Replacement for Nintendo Switch

Joy Con Controller Replacement

Joy-Con Controller Replacement for Nintendo Switch is the sleekest looking thrid party controller you can buy. These also come in transparent and make the whole controller eyecatching. Even if you are not looking for a replacement, you would be tempted to buy these.

The Joy-Con controller also comes in regular colors such as – Blue & Red | Yellow & Green. Unlike the original joy-con controller, which has a flat back, these replacement controllers are curved and have a good grip.

Although these controllers have slightly less battery, it can last up to 8-10 hours of gameplay (400mAh). You will have no problem charging them with the switch or the charging dock.

These 3rd party joy-cons come with two joy-con pads – left and right & 2* Joy-Con straps.

These replacement joy-cons come with the same sensor as the last joy-cons we mentioned – 6 Axis Gyro Sensor, Accelerometer & Motion Sensors. You will have no problem playing multiplayer combat games.

If you are asking of you, can it play all games? Yes, these particular joy-cons are suitable for all the Switch games.

The most important advantage of buying these controllers is the after-sales support provided by the company. You can return these Joy-Cons if you do not like in 60 days – No questions asked. Also lifetime technical service for the controller.

Pros

  • Great Design
  • Wake Up function
  • 6-Axis Gyro Sensor
  • After Sales Service
  • 400 mAh Battery
  • Includes Wrist Straps

Cons

  • No NFC
  • Lack of Support for HD Vibrations
  • No Infrared

 

3. Kinvoca Switch Controller for Nintendo Switch

Kinvoca Nintendo Switch Controller

Kinvoca Switch Controller is the handheld switch controller and does not sport any battery. It connects to your Switch via a USB C port.

To connect, remove the joy-cons and slide-in the switch into the Kinvoca Switch Controller, and attach it to the  USB C port. The best thing about this controller that it easily slides in and connects. Now that you have connected this controller, you can use it in handheld mode.

You will have to turn on the “Wired Controller Communications” to connect the control. To do that, you will need to follow these steps.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Controllers & Sensors.
  3. Enable Pro Controller Wired Communications.

You can even charge the Switch even while you are playing. As this controller does not have an inbuilt battery, it will use the Nintendo Switch battery to work. Although charging USB C cable is not included in the box.

It has all the required sensors like 6- axis gyro sensor & double shock function, which is done by dual motors. It weighs in at 522 gm and has a good grip for longer gameplay hours.

There are replaceable rubber nibs for the joystick but we really hoped these joysticks had good rubber upon it rather than plastic.

Pros

  • Charge While Connected
  • 6 -Axis Gyro Sensors
  • Dual Vibration Motors
  • Compatible With Almost All Games
  • Easy Fit & Switch Latches On Quickly

Cons

  • For Large Hands
  • Replaceable Tips Could Have Been Rubber

 

4. KINVOCA C25 Joy Pad Controller for Nintendo Switch

KINVOCA C25 Joy Pad Controller for Nintendo Switch

Just like our previous Kinvoca controller, this Kinvoca C25 Joy-Con controller is the one to choose if you are looking for wireless controllers.

Kinvoca C25 can be connected as wired and wireless controllers to your Nintendo switch. These joy-cons can directly attach to your Switch. Else can be attached to the grip that is provided in the box. The joysticks are concave, giving your better placement and grip to your thumbs.

Although the company states 10 hours of gameplay on a single charge, the joy-cons have 300 mAh of battery compared to original joysticks having 425 mAh of battery.

These 3rd party joy-cons unlike original joy-cons are not flat but come with greater ergonomic design to fit properly in hand. Can be used horizontally & vertically.

Pros

  • Wired & Wireless Joy-Cons
  • Comes With An Grip
  • Better Design
  • 6-Axis Gyro Sensor & Motion Sensors
  • Dual Vibrations

Cons

  • No IR Sensor
  • Does Not Support Original Charging Grip
  • Bluetooth V2.1

 

5. PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch

PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch

These are the best 3rd party wireless controllers for Nintendo Switch. If you are the one who comes from the classic and pleasantly designed Xbox controller, then PowerA 3rd Party Controller is for you.

It does come in various colors and editions that you can choose from. Well, I’m just calling; you’ll have a hard time choosing between Pokemon, Zelda, Mario, Witcher & Animal Crossing versions of the controller.

Apart from this, this particular 3rd party controller has been officially licensed by Nintendo and comes with a 2 Year Warranty.

As it is a wireless controller but is powered by 2 AA batteries, which give about 30 hours of gameplay. Rechargeable batteries for this controller could have been so much better.

The controller has V5.0 Bluetooth to have a seamless and stronger connection with your switch. All the motion controls are present, but no HD rubble or NFC|IR.

Talking about the buttons – ABXY buttons are larger and convenient than the original controller. Analog sticks are precise and should not suffer from any drift. Other included buttons are – Switch System buttons (+, -, Home, Capture), Left/Right shoulder buttons, and triggers (L/R/ZL/ZR).

We recommend this as a third-party Switch Controller if you solely want to focus on gaming with the lack of HD rumble. But all in all, this is the best alternative for Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

Pros

  • Better Design
  • Cheaper Than The Most
  • Bluetooth V5.0
  • Wired & Wireless Controller
  • Precise Buttons & Triggers
  • Motion Controls
  • Warranty of 2 Years
  • Avaialbe In Different Designs

Cons

  • Supports AAA Battery Rather Than In-Built Battery
  • NO HD Rumble, IR or NFC Support

 

6. PowerA GameCube Nintendo Switch Controller

PowerA GameCube Style Controller

As we earlier had a look at the PowerA Enhanced Wireless controller, this ain’t of any different Kind. PowerA again has stuck with a unique controller for Nintendo Switch. This one particularly resembling of GameCube Controller.

If you want to get all nostalgic about the GameCube, this is the GameCube controller for Nintendo Switch.

It can be connected to the Switch wireless with Bluetooth v5.0 & is powered by two AA batteries. These batteries last the same for 30 hours of gameplay. The controller has been officially licensed by Nintendo & Pokemon Company International.

Although it might look exactly like a GameCube controller but has included all the required buttons and triggers for the Switch.

Motion control games can be played with the control but sadly you cannot wake up your switch with this controller.

Pros

  • Unique Design
  • Wireless Controller
  • Bluetooth V5.0
  • Motion Controls & System Buttons
  • Battery Indicator
  • Includes 2 AA Batteries In Box
  • Switch GameCube Controller

Cons

  • Cannot Wake Your Switch
  • NO IR, NFC Support
  • Lack of HD Rumble

 

7. PDP 500-134-NA-CM05 Nintendo Switch

PDP 500-134-NA-CM05 Nintendo Switch

Last but not least, we have PDP 500-134-NA-CM05 Nintendo Switch on our list. This is a wired controller that has to be always connected to the Switch via USB C. The main focus of this third-party switch controller is good to feel & audio.

Audio is the one where this controller wants to be recognized. You can connect any of your earphones/headphones via the 3.5mm jack present on the controller. You can plug in your headset but also control your volume via volume control buttons.

There are also programmable buttons present at the back of the controller, which is very much appreciated.

USB cable is about 10 feet long, which I think enough for regular usage. It would be a problem if your Switch is in the dock and you are far away from the TV.

There are swappable faceplates, and you can always order one from Amazon to customize your controller. But if you also have the freedom of choosing the controller designs that are already available.

Pros

  • 3.5mm Jack
  • Programmable Buttons
  • Swappable Faceplates
  • Officially Licensed By Nintendo
  • Also Works On PC

Cons

  • Few Units Face Drift Issues

Summary

These were our 7 Best Third-Party Joy Con Controllers For Nintendo Switch that you can buy today. But, it totally depends upon your requirement.

If you are looking for the best wireless joy-con controller for Switch, then KDD Joy-pad Controller Compatible with Nintendo Switch is the one to go with.

But if you are looking for the best Pro Controller alternative, then PowerA Enhanced Controller is the way to go.

So, let me know which one of the controllers are you looking to buy?

Soham

Soham is one of the best Call Of Duty player within Detective Gaming Team. Part time freelancer and spends all his days on twitter. But you can usually find him playing on his Playstation 4 Pro.

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