EasySMX just shook up the gaming accessory landscape. Their $42 S10 controller earned an 8/10 rating from The Verge, dethroning Nintendo's $90 Pro Controller as the best Switch 2 gamepad. The timing couldn't be better - Black Friday shoppers can grab premium features for half the price.
The controller wars just got interesting. While Nintendo charges $90 for its Switch 2 Pro Controller, EasySMX is delivering nearly identical performance for $42. According to comprehensive testing by The Verge's Cameron Faulkner, the S10 isn't just competitive - it's superior in key areas.
"The EasySMX S10 is nearly as capable and comfortable as the Switch 2 Pro Controller, yet it's $30 cheaper," Faulkner writes after extensive hands-on testing. The S10 earned an 8/10 score, matching or beating controllers costing twice as much.
What makes this particularly stinging for Nintendo is the technology gap. The S10 uses tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks that resist the dreaded "stick drift" plaguing Nintendo controllers. Meanwhile, Nintendo stuck with traditional potentiometer-based joysticks in their $90 flagship - the same tech that caused widespread Joy-Con drift issues.
The feature comparison gets worse for Nintendo. The S10 includes amiibo support, a rarity among third-party controllers, plus HD rumble that testers called "the best adaptation of Nintendo's HD rumble" in a non-Nintendo gamepad. It can even wake the Switch 2 remotely via Bluetooth - something missing from several competitors.
GuliKit's ES Pro grabbed the budget crown at just $24, offering Xbox-style ergonomics with an 8-way D-pad perfect for fighting games and Metroidvanias. Despite its rock-bottom price, it packs TMR joysticks and Switch 2 wake functionality. The only compromise? Mediocre rumble that testers preferred to disable entirely.
The premium tier tells a different story. 8BitDo's Pro 3 commands $56-70 but delivers extensive customization options including swappable stick caps, colored buttons, and trigger locks. However, its rumble also disappointed, leading reviewers to recommend turning off vibrations - hardly ideal for a premium controller.
This isn't just about saving money. As gaming budgets tighten and hardware costs climb, third-party manufacturers are delivering innovations Nintendo isn't. TMR joysticks offer better power efficiency than Hall effect alternatives while maintaining drift resistance. Eight-way D-pads provide competitive advantages in specific game genres. Some controllers include charging docks, 2.4GHz dongles, and RGB lighting as standard features.
The timing amplifies the impact. Black Friday shoppers can grab the EasySMX S10 for $42 down from $60, while Nintendo's Pro Controller holds steady at $90. For parents buying multiple controllers or gamers building out their setup, that's significant savings without sacrificing performance.
Industry watchers note this reflects broader trends in gaming accessories. Chinese manufacturers like EasySMX and GuliKit are leveraging advanced joystick technology and competitive pricing to challenge established players. They're not just making cheaper alternatives - they're making better products.
The review highlights what's coming next too. GuliKit's upcoming TT Max and TT Pro controllers promise adjustable stick tension and improved rumble, while Mobapad and Turtle Beach prepare their own Switch 2-compatible offerings. The accessory arms race is heating up.
For Nintendo, this creates an uncomfortable situation. Their premium controller uses older joystick technology than $24 competitors while costing nearly four times more. The company's traditional quality advantages are eroding as third-party manufacturers improve build quality and add features Nintendo omits.
The EasySMX S10's victory over Nintendo's Pro Controller signals a fundamental shift in gaming accessories. When third-party manufacturers deliver better technology at half the price, console makers can't rely on brand recognition alone. With TMR joysticks becoming standard and premium features trickling down to budget controllers, gamers have more choices than ever. Black Friday's timing makes this transition even more pronounced - why pay $90 for outdated joystick tech when $42 gets you superior drift resistance and feature parity?
