The Switch 2 controller market has produced some unusual choices in 2026. EasySMX’s S10 Lite is a $40 gamepad with excellent controls and a baffling removable faceplate, while GuliKit’s TT Pro offers a bigger, more serious package for $60.
Then there is Crkd’s $99.99 Nitro Deck 2, a handheld accessory that improves comfort and stick quality but asks owners to trust a grip mechanism around a $500 console. Together, these products show that buying gaming hardware is rarely just about choosing the lowest price.
The EasySMX S10 Lite gets the basics right
EasySMX is not as well-known as 8BitDo or Turtle Beach, and the S10 Lite is its most pared-down Switch 2 gamepad. It is regularly listed for $40, which makes it stand out when most Switch 2 controllers cost around $70 and Nintendo’s own Pro Controller costs $90. That price is the main reason the S10 Lite is such an unexpected pick.
The controller is light and compact, with a creamy plastic finish and an anti-slip diamond texture on the backs of the grips. It comes in ice blue or pastel pink, and two buttons sit on the rear. You can map those rear buttons by pressing and holding the small nearby input marked M.
The S10 Lite’s controls are stronger than its price suggests. Its precise, anti-drift Hall effect analog sticks hit the sides of their enclosures silently and with a soft feel comparable to Nintendo’s proprietary soft-hit action on the Pro Controller. The stick click is a little stiff, though, and pressing it creates an audible pop.
The face buttons use tactile microswitches with a wonderfully clicky sound and feel, although they are fairly rigid. The triggers use the same clicky microswitch action, while the bumpers and wide-flared triggers stand out from the chassis. Home, GameChat and capture buttons line up along the bottom of the face, separate from the plus and minus inputs in the center.
The S10 Lite also has nine-axis motion controls, a Turbo function for setting input macros to a simple button combo, and the ability to wake up the Switch 2 from afar. Its haptics are nice and strong, with four intensity settings. At most, they make a slight whining sound rather than grinding. A helpful quick-start card explains how to connect the gamepad to the console.
The problem is the semi-transparent, magnetically attached faceplate. It feels wonky and cheap, and that flaw overshadows the controller’s more attractive features. EasySMX’s marketing around custom options has also created confusion, using misleading wording about what removable pieces are available. The result is a controller rated 7 / 10 that feels better in use than it looks on paper.
GuliKit’s TT Pro takes the premium route
The GuliKit TT Pro is a very different kind of controller. It is fairly large, sturdy, precise and professional-feeling, with aligned joysticks like Sony’s DualSense controller and the facial chunkiness of an Xbox gamepad. It feels solid and well-balanced, making it a strong choice for players who take their games on the road.
The TT Pro works across PC, Switch, Switch 2, Android and iOS. It comes with controller and accessory cases, including a hard case that can go in a bag without worry. The package includes a Hyperlink 2 wireless USB adapter, charging cable, keycap puller, tension adjustment tool, traditional D-pad and PC-layout buttons.
Out of the box, the controller uses the Switch 2 button layout. The PC-layout buttons can be installed with a little elbow grease, and four mappable metal rear paddles can pop into the chassis. The extra D-pad sits at the bottom of the controller case, while the cable is loose and the adapter arrives in its own disposable sleeve. The remaining accessories come packed in a clear box roughly the size of a deck of cards.
Its TMR sticks are designed never to drift and offer adjustable stepless tension. The triggers can switch between high-precision Hall effect and microswitch inputs using physical toggles on the back. Hall effect mode gives them an ultra-smooth pull and lovely bounciness; microswitch mode feels clean and subtly clicky.
The TT Pro has gyro controls, wide bumpers and smooth plastic circles for face buttons. It offers three haptic modes—rotary motor, maglev haptics and HD vibration—with three intensity settings. You can adjust them by holding the small settings button and pressing up or down on the D-pad, though the haptics stay fairly noisy across every mode and intensity.
The TT Pro costs $60, while the TT Max costs $70. Unlike the TT Max, the TT Pro cannot quickly swap face-button layouts through software, and its D-pad has no built-in four-way mode. The controller is fixed at 100 percent. It can wake the Switch 2, charges through USB-C and can last up to 26 hours with the lights off, according to GuliKit. It comes in black with neon green highlights or SNES-gray with matching purple buttons. Its rating is 8 / 10.
Comfort upgrades can cost more than a controller
Crkd’s $99.99 Nitro Deck 2 improves on the original Nitro Deck, which served as a saving grace for the original Nintendo Switch. The earlier $59.99 slide-on accessory brought Hall effect sticks to drift-plagued consoles, and the Deck 2 continues to offer better sticks than Nintendo’s newest Joy-Con.
Still, the Deck 2 feels less essential. Its ABXY buttons are too difficult to use without the right stick getting in the way. The original’s superior slide-in design gave way to a vice-grip design that works with older and newer Switch consoles. A twisting mechanism on the back can loosen, tighten or lock, but Crkd is asking Switch 2 owners to put a ton of faith in that mechanism staying tight around their $500 consoles.
The bulkier design makes handheld play more comfortable in medium-size hands. The accessory has adjustable tension on both sticks, four controls on its back and an extra control near the triggers. Not many similar accessories exist yet, and the abxylute N6 was not all that good either. Other options include the Dbrand Killswitch 2 and Mechanism Basecase, which can add comfort to the Switch 2 in handheld mode.
The bigger question is what “affordable” means once the console is in your hands. The lowest upfront price does not necessarily mean the most affordable option after adding games. The PlayStation 5 Pro debuted in 2024 for $700, but its sticker price is now $900, while resellers like GameStop charge upwards of $1,400. The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition costs $600, and the Xbox Series S costs $500.
The Nintendo Switch 2 starts at $500, with the advantage that some used games are available on physical cartridges. It can also come bundled with Mario Kart World or Nintendo Switch Sports Resort. The Switch Lite costs $230, but it is a variation of the original 2017 Switch, cannot play Switch 2 exclusives and cannot dock with a TV.
Valve’s Steam Deck OLED starts at $789, while the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X costs $1,000. New systems below $600 are hard to find unless they are used, and handheld PCs do not offer games on cards or discs unless retro ROMs copied to an SD card count. PC storefronts such as GOG and Steam offer stronger deals, and free games including Overwatch, Rocket League, The Finals, Fall Guys and Genshin Impact can provide hundreds of hours without another purchase.
That leaves the S10 Lite in an interesting place. Its faceplate is a needless distraction, but its sticks, buttons, motion controls and haptics make $40 look compelling. The TT Pro costs $60 and feels more complete, while the Nitro Deck 2 charges $99.99 for comfort and better sticks with clear trade-offs. For Switch 2 owners, the right choice depends on whether a controller needs to be compact, versatile or built for handheld comfort.
Based on
- EasySMX S10 Lite review: A Switch 2 fidget toy with a weird removable faceplate — engadget.com
- GuliKit TT Pro Review: The Ideal Switch 2 Controller For Players On The Go — engadget.com
- This Switch 2 sequel accessory was a few millimeters away from being good | The Verge — theverge.com
- What Is The Cheapest New Gaming Console You Can Buy In 2026? — engadget.com
