EasySMX S10 Lite vs Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller vs 8BitDo Ultimate 2C: Which Controller to Buy

A second controller is one of the first things many Nintendo Switch 2 owners buy, and the price spread is wide. Nintendo's own Pro Controller costs $90, according to Engadget. EasySMX's new S10 Lite sells for $39.99, and 8BitDo's Ultimate 2C costs about $30, also per Engadget. Our news story, EasySMX S10 Lite reviews, covers Engadget's verdict. This comparison puts the three side by side so you can decide which features are worth paying for.

We have not used these controllers ourselves. Feature details come from each maker's product page, and hands-on impressions are Engadget's.

The short answer

• Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller (about $90): buy it if you want every official Switch 2 feature, including the C Button for GameChat, an audio jack for headsets and HD rumble 2, and you do not mind the price.
• EasySMX S10 Lite ($39.99): buy it if you want Switch 2 wake-up and a GameChat button for less than half the price of Nintendo's controller.
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth (about $30): buy it if you want the cheapest well-reviewed option with Hall effect sticks and back buttons, and can live without some Switch 2 extras.

Side by side

A dash means the maker's page we checked does not state it either way.

EasySMX S10 Lite: features for the price

EasySMX lists Hall effect sticks, which it says eliminate drift caused by physical wear, two rear buttons, turbo, nine-axis motion, adjustable rumble and a toggle for Switch 1 or 2, PC, Android and iOS. It also says the controller can wake a Switch 2 with one button and has a dedicated C button for GameChat voice chat. It comes in blue or pink, and EasySMX's site lists discounts of 5 percent for two and 10 percent for three.

What Engadget liked. The reviewer praised the "supremely tactile" microswitch face buttons, the soft-hit feel of the sticks, which they compared to the Pro Controller's, and strong rumble with four intensity settings. They also liked that the home, GameChat and capture buttons are lined up at the bottom of the face, separate from plus and minus, which should reduce accidental screenshots. Remote wake-up, in the reviewer's words, is "one of the raddest features a controller can have."

What Engadget did not like. The triggers use a clicky digital microswitch action, which the reviewer found less comfortable in games than a smooth pull. The stick click was stiff. The biggest complaint was the magnetic faceplate: EasySMX's page promotes "DIY Magnetic Faceplates & Stickers", but Engadget found the company does not sell replacement faceplates or stickers, and the review unit's faceplate did not sit flush. Its conclusion was that the S10 Lite is fine for people who love a good click, "but otherwise, this thing is never beating the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C in terms of affordability and features."

Before you play. EasySMX's product page carries a notice about a firmware update for Switch 2 compatibility. Customer reviews on its site mention that EasySMX sent update and calibration instructions, so install the latest firmware first.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: the full official feature set

Nintendo's page lists a C Button for opening the GameChat menu at any time, GL and GR buttons you can map to any button, a 3.5 mm four-pole audio jack for headphones and headsets, HD rumble 2 and motion controls. GameChat needs an internet connection, a Nintendo Account and a Nintendo Switch Online membership, which is sold separately.

The headset jack is the feature budget controllers most often lack. If you plan to use GameChat with a wired headset plugged into the controller, that matters. Engadget's reviewer also used the Pro Controller's soft-hit sticks as the benchmark the S10 Lite matched.

What you do not get, according to Nintendo's listing, is a Hall effect stick claim. Whether that matters depends on how much you worry about long-term drift.

8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth: the value benchmark

8BitDo lists Hall effect joysticks, remappable L4 and R4 bumpers, back paddle buttons, a non-linear digital trigger and six-axis motion control with wake-on-shake for the original Switch. It works with the Switch on system software 3.0.0 and above and with the Switch 2 on 20.1.1 and above, over Bluetooth or wired. It comes in blue, pink and dark blue, with a transparent black edition at Best Buy.

Battery: a 480 mAh rechargeable battery, rated for 15 hours of play with a two-hour charge.

Watch the model name. 8BitDo sells more than one Ultimate 2C, and the Bluetooth version is the one listed for Switch. Its page also does not mention a GameChat button, so check whether that matters to you.

Which features are worth paying for?

GameChat. If your group uses GameChat, a dedicated button saves digging through menus. The Pro Controller and the S10 Lite both have one.

Wake-up. Turning on a docked Switch 2 from the couch is a small luxury, and EasySMX customers mention it often. 8BitDo lists wake-on-shake only for Switch 1.

Stick technology. Hall effect sticks use magnets to sense position. EasySMX and 8BitDo both list them.

Triggers. EasySMX lists microswitch triggers and 8BitDo lists a non-linear digital trigger. One EasySMX customer review says the lack of analog triggers is a limit set by Nintendo rather than the controller maker. If smooth analog trigger travel matters to you, check how your favorite games use the triggers before paying more for it.

Headset audio. Only Nintendo's controller lists a headphone jack.

Recommendations by player

Kids and casual players. The S10 Lite or the Ultimate 2C. Both cost well under half of Nintendo's controller. The S10 Lite's wake-up and GameChat buttons may tip it for a family Switch 2.

Online players who chat. The Pro Controller, for the audio jack and official GameChat support, or the S10 Lite if budget comes first.

Value hunters. The Ultimate 2C, following Engadget's verdict.

Multi-platform players. The S10 Lite, which also works with PC, Android and iOS through its mode toggle.

Price check before you buy

Prices in this comparison were checked on October 30, 2026. EasySMX's own site lists the S10 Lite at $39.99, and the same page links to EasySMX's pricier S10 if you want to step up within the brand. The Nintendo and 8BitDo prices come from Engadget's review, and retailers often run sales, so compare current prices before you order. Buying two from EasySMX qualifies for its multi-buy discount.

How to choose quickly

Ask three questions. Do you use GameChat? If not, the Ultimate 2C's lower price is hard to beat. Do you want a wired headset plugged into the controller? Then buy Nintendo's. Do you want wake-up and a GameChat button for $40? Then the S10 Lite is the one.

See more from EasySMX, or check the S10 Lite at EasySMX.

Editorial disclosure

SurfGirl may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. That does not affect our coverage. We have not tested the products discussed here; specifications and prices come from the companies' own pages, and hands-on impressions are attributed to the publications that reported them.

References

1. EasySMX. EasySMX S10 Lite Switch 2 Controller with Back Buttons. Retrieved October 30, 2026, from https://www.easysmx.com/products/easysmx-s10lite-switch2-controller
2. Engadget. EasySMX S10 Lite Review: A Switch 2 Fidget Toy With A Weird Removable Faceplate. Retrieved October 30, 2026, from https://www.engadget.com/2294413/easysmx-s10-lite-review/
3. 8BitDo. 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth Controller. Retrieved October 30, 2026, from https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-2c-bluetooth-controller/
4. Nintendo. Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories. Retrieved October 30, 2026, from https://www.nintendo.com/us/gaming-systems/switch-2/accessories/