Turtle Beach Switch 2 Controller Discounted as Engadget Flags Cheaper Pro Controller Alternatives
Turtle Beach's Switch 2 Rematch controller drops to £24.97 in the UK and $51.99 in the US. Engadget also lists cheaper alternatives to Nintendo's $90 Pro Controller.
TechRadar reported that the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller is £24.97 at Amazon in the UK, down from £49.99, a 50% discount during Amazon Prime Day Big Deal Days. The offer applies only to the Donkey Kong design. In the US, Best Buy has the same controller for $51.99, down from $64.99, a 20% saving, though that discount applies only to the Black colorway.
According to TechRadar, the Rematch uses drift-resistant TMR thumbsticks, which the official Switch 2 Pro Controller does not have. It also has a 40-hour battery life, an ergonomic lightweight feel and textured thumbsticks that provide good grip. TechRadar's writer said they use it daily for games including Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, Mario Kart World and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and that it has remained reliable after hundreds of hours. TechRadar described the controller as an absolute steal at these prices. The controller does make some sacrifices: it has no rumble, no NFC for Amiibo and cannot wake the console.
Engadget reported that the Switch 2 Pro Controller remains the standard-setter but costs $90. It launched last summer at $85 and rose to $90 a few months later, an increase Engadget linked to illegal US tariffs that were driving up gaming hardware prices. Engadget said the official controller is comfortable, can wake the console, and includes HD Rumble 2, motion controls, Amiibo support, an audio jack, mappable rear inputs and quiet, soft-hit thumbsticks. However, it does not use Hall effect or TMR sticks.
Engadget's roundup listed less expensive Switch 2 wireless controllers from Turtle Beach, GuliKit and 8BitDo, priced from $30 to $70. Those controllers work with the Switch 2 and offer features such as RGB lighting, Nintendo-themed designs and TMR analog sticks. Engadget recommended the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 as the best affordable alternative, noting that it is compact, remappable and can wake the console with a shake. Engadget also mentioned that it comes with a charging dock and a spare set of neon-dotted key caps.