PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller Puts Rear Buttons and 30 Hours on a Licensed Switch Pad

Nintendo’s official Pro Controller is still somewhat expensive for a full-size wireless pad. PowerA’s Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, priced at $35 (was $70) answers that with an officially licensed Bluetooth gamepad that keeps the familiar button layout, adds two programmable buttons on the back, and runs for up to 30 hours on a built-in 900mAh battery.

Pairing uses Bluetooth 5.0. After the first connection, the pad can wake a sleeping Switch the same way Nintendo’s own controller does, and then you’ll be ready to go. It’s compatible with the original Switch, Switch OLED Model, Switch Lite, and Switch 2. If you’re using the Switch 2, you’ll miss out on the extra C-button from Nintendo’s GameChat, which this pad didn’t have to begin with.

The rear grips feature two advanced gaming buttons, AGL and AGR. To assign a button to one of these paddles, simply hold the back button for a few seconds, then tap the desired action on the face button, bumper, trigger, or D-pad, followed by pressing the rear button you want to link. This happens immediately in the middle of a game, without the need to deal with settings or launch an app. Even when you turn off the console, the assignments are retained. So, if you’ve been wanting to map leap, aim, or map to a finger that can stay on the analog sticks without having to move, these two extra paddles are probably the major reason you’d pay a little more for this controller than a cheaper generic Bluetooth controller.

Motion controls are also good to go, as they function well in games that rely heavily on gyro aiming or tilt-based controls. The analog sticks have anti-friction rings, allowing your thumbs to glide across them without sticking on the plastic. The face buttons use Nintendo’s ABXY layout and are very large, which is a welcome departure from the Joy-Con buttons. The D-pad is a convenient plus-shaped 8-way controller that handles menus and 2D games without a problem. Then there are the shoulder buttons, digital triggers, and the typical +, -, Home, and Capture keys, all of which will be familiar to anyone who has used a Switch previously.

Power comes from a rechargeable lithium-ion cell that PowerA claims can last up to 30 hours, but as with any battery estimations, actual use times will vary. The box includes a 10-foot USB-C cable, which is quite long enough to play from the couch while filling it up. The LEDs on the object display the player number, mapping mode, and a low battery alert. Just keep in mind that the Switch will not display the amount of power remaining on this controller in the same manner that it does on Nintendo’s original.