This would be a day one buy if this was released 2 or 3 yrs ago. But at this point where I have bought so many accessories for the Switch, and with the rumor of the next gen coming out next year, I’ll pass.
I'm not sure if he talked about that patent Nintendo filed back in September that showcased some sort of hall-effect joy stick & he's (& every other Nintendo channel is) the "switch 2" guy or anything about the Sonic frontiers final horizon update but I could be wrong.
I get having too many accessories but it's not like you're gonna throw your switch away just because the next gen is coming out. You should still use it from time to time even when the new one is out
100% agree! I feel the same. I love the switch, and I think it's still the best handheld, which gave birth to these wanna be pc handhelds, but I'm done collecting, buying accessories and games for it at this point. Haven't seen anything worth buying for it in the end of its life cycle. I'm looking forward to the more powerful switch 2.
I have a Nitro Deck and enjoy it. I really appreciate this critical look as I think this type of video can help with future revisions. My biggest issue is the eject of the switch and agree it needs a little kick. I don't like having to put pressure on the switch itself to remove. Better rumble would also be nice but not a deal breaker. Nice review. Thanks!
One interesting thing I noticed during the teardown was that they are using hall effect sensors for the triggers which is something that I never thought about. I think that Sony's adaptive triggers are probably much cooler tech but it did get me thinking that it would be cool if Nintendo finally went back to having analog triggers (or at least triggers that simulate that experience) simply to have a more nuanced experience when playing racing games or FPS games. While I'm not really a big fan of the latter, I do quite enjoy the former and I feel like Nintendo themselves could do some cool game design things with them aside from how it would also benefit third parties in bringing over ports with a similar feel to the other consoles that DO have analog triggers.
I looked in to this product quite extensively but they are too late to market. Hopefully the next iteration fixes the right thumbstick issue every review mentions as well. Definitely would consider this for switch 2
Do not buy. The thumbstick and right analog stick are an ergonomic nightmare. It makes Zelda almost unplayable. I'm surprised it was released like this. By the way, the company does not accept returns. What freaking year is this?
After using it for about a month now, I can honestly say it’s an awesome product. My two main complaints is the rumble being so strong and annoying and the bumpers being too clicky and loud. Other than those two things, I love it. Iv been using it for 100% of my gameplay on the switch. I’m more of a handheld player that’s why I got it. At first I was also one of those that complained about the right stick placement but I don’t even notice it now. I feel nothing uncomfortable about the layout. It’s been awesome
I find myself wanting to use my switch more with the Nitro Deck. For me its the grip and I've tried other third party accessories and this just worked for me. I do agree I don't like the fact that I need to remove the console from the deck in order to use it docked, but I find myself not wanting to dock it with this grip. Fun fact I learned, the internal USB output works the same as the External USB C output, so I 3d printed an adapter the allows me to slide my phone into the the deck and it works pretty well.
@@bocky7643 if you play a lot of games that require twinstick usage then it can be uncomfortable. I noticed it a bit when I was playing TOTK to adjust the camera angle.
I wish they had offset the sticks in the X axis, like the Hori Splt Pad Compact that I use. It's so much more comfortable to hit the face buttons quickly when the stick isn't in the way. For 50 bucks, I'm more than happy with those, it just feels more comfortable.
I bought this product and then had to resell it on eBay because this company does not do returns. The reason I got rid of it was because it is the worst feeling controller in my hand that I’ve ever experienced. I found it unusable.
I was excited to order this over the summer. I've never played handheld because it just wasn't comfortable. The grip seemed to be the solution. But like many others, within 10 seconds of using the Nitro Deck I knew it wasn't going to work. I immediately looked into the return window and found it's a final sale product. Ridiculous. The ergonomics are terrible and what kind of business doesn't accept returns? My worst purchase of the year.
I have had this for about three weeks and I have been playing Super Mario Bros Wonder exclusively on the Nitro Deck. I actually really been liking it and I haven't had a major problem with the stick placement so far. Feel very comfortable and make the Switch feel more premium/ sturdier. I got the clear blue one, and I absolutely love the way my Switch looks now!
I think the only problem is for people that play a lot of FPS shooters where you have to use the right stick a lot. In my case I only play high demanding games on Series X or Playstation and rarely going to play any of those on Switch. Also used to have a Switch Lite and loved how sturdy it felt on my hands and the regular and oled feels flimsy and with time Joyn cons start to giggle around while playing handheld. The Nitro Deck is the best option for me to play RPG's or Nintendo games on handheld mode.
@@FalcoMerc I can't imagine the Switch being the console of choice for serious FPS players as you confirm for yourself. I think it's fine for casual FPS and retro FPS games on the Switch. Maybe if Metroid 4 had hit this gen...
Well... The USB-C port being at the bottom is not all that weird of a choice... Knowing how the dock works, where would you have put the port? Now, there could have been a USB-C on top, and some proprietary magnetic contact point array on the bottom. But that's going to be 50$ more please!
Thats the only issue u have to three finger grip pull it out if u want it out hence why they have cloth to clean the screen. An actually ejector at the bottom should of been included to push the switch put an inch ir so to grab it from the top
I've been using the Hori Split Pad Pros for over a year now and I love them. Though the lack of internal batteries means they can only be used when attached to the Switch.
I just received my SNES version this last friday and i love it. And now that i have it in hand i dont have the same gripes that i see in alot of these reviews. The right joystick isnt too far down for me, the way the switch tablet is held in place feels secure (i know its not gonna fall out, and i dont have to press super hard on the screen to get it out if i want to dock it), and the rumble isnt as bad as alot of people make it out to be. Yeah its not HD rumble, but there are so many controller replacements out there for the switch that dont have rumble at all, or only have it on one side, that it makes me happy that they have a decent rumble feel on both sides. I also found that by turning down the intensity, it quiets the rumble sound enough for it not to be an annoyance. At least for me. Since i bought a limited edition version, it came with a charging cable, protective case (which is actually nice quality) and a micro fiber cloth to clean the screen. I only got my switch OLED just over a year ago, so i came to it late in its life cycle as is, so the timing of the nitro decks release also doesnt bother me much as i was able to get a limited edition version without having to go thru the after market process because i came in so late. Overall im relatively impressed by the nitro deck, and very happy with my purchase.
This is why the rumble doesn't bother me too much either. If I want good rumble I'll use my pro-controller docked. But for portable it's just a bonus that as you say, is absent on many alternatives including the Switch Lite.
The right stick placement issue isn't dependent on hand size, it is dependent on your ability to hold it with your thumb at a proper angle. Nobody had issues with that with retro controllers, but the second grips got introduced a lot of ppl suddenly felt strangely compelled to jam the edge of the controllers into their palms even if that kills the proper 45 degree angle for your thumb.
I primarily play in handheld, only when on trips or on the go. So this actually makes sense for me, just for the Hall effect joy sticks as I've been through multiple joy cons for drift.
I really like my Nitro deck. I bought the limited edition purple with the case. I have the original 2017 switch. But after getting the Nitro deck, I bought a switch OLED to use with it. It's my new favorite handheld gaming device now
The easiest way I have found to remove the switch is to put the screen facing down parallel to the ground, press and hold the release lever, then slide the switch out. It allows the switch to move ever so slightly in the z axis using gravity and comes out with out pressing very hard on the screen
I still think this isn’t better ergonomically than the binbok joypads or a satisfye grip. It’s nice that it has the 4 programmable buttons on the back and hall effect sticks and triggers but if comfort is the main schtick of this, it’s not a great layout to solve that problem.
I enjoy the controller overall but I have 2 gripes. Mainly in the amount of analog travel and the rumble. The amount of travel the sticks feels far to massive even compared to the pro controller and while I dont expect hd rumble, it really needs better motors or motor placement. It feels really cheap even at low intensity. I doubt theyll make a 2.0 since switch 2 is on its way. Maybe they make one for that and worl on those things.
I love it so far it’s my daily driver. The only thing I don’t care for but I am getting use to is the zl and zr. One thing I did notice in your video is you said the output could be used to charge a cellphone. You cannot charge anything on it. It’s exclusively for using a a plugged in controller on the dock, it also works on pc or with an adapter on the switch light.
Honestly you called it. The stick placement isn't ideal for anything that's right stick reliant, if they'd gone with the WiiU style they'd have had something special cause the wiiU gamepad was very comfortable
enjoyer of the nitro deck here, the limited edition gamecube one i got did in fact come with a case, thumbstick holding bad, usb-c chord and screen cloth!
So I had emailed the company and they told me that when the switch goes in and out, it actually has no contact with the back of the switch. I was a bit afraid of scratching it but it is a bit scary to remove the switch. No scratches so far!
I sold mine due to the stick and d pad placement, didnt mind them being that far down (after hori split pad compact being so cramped) but needed to be moved in toward the screen
I see no reason for buying it to replace my Hori Split Pad Compact. Hori is so comfortable, looks miles better and fits into dock without taking them off
I've had one for roughly a week now. The joysticks are fantastic. Shoulder buttons are awkward for a day or so, then they're great. This is WAY more ergonomic than the switch joy cons. Theres no flex like they Joy Cons. The offset right stick is not bad. I have yet to have issues with reachability. Fixed my problems instantly. I only have two gripes. The D-Pad is mushy. The thing is heavy and your hands will get tired after a bit. I noticed after a week of use my hands got used to the weight and they get tired less.
I so wanted to like the Nitro Deck. I tried it with some old-school style games (TMNT:Shredder's Revenge, Huntdown) and it worked well. That all changed when...... I tried to play Doom or any other game that uses the right stick. You cannot use the right stick without gnarling your hand into an arthritis inducing angle that makes it so uncomfortable that I gave up and went back to my Hori Split Pads. Support said that sales were final and I couldn't return it. I didn't want to exchange it because a different variant wouldn't solve my issue. Going to sell it on Marketplace and chalk it up to too much hype and not enough delivery from the folks at CRKD.
The dobe eggshell version is very good and comfortable. The sticks are small but decent. The split pad has better sticks than anything else I've tried on switch though. It's just that they don't have rumble/motion and they make the switch wide as heck.
I have some pretty big hands (25cm palm) I use switch since release. Never I felt like it's uncomfortable and I need something else to grip it. It just lays on my fingers. And I do play mostly in handheld mode. As my monitor is occupied by PC, PS5 and Series X.
Ejecting the switch easily - hold it so you have both thumbs on the back of the Nitro (with the back of the Nitro Deck facing toward you), right thumb on the 'eject switch', left around the kick stand/input output rige. Flick up the eject button with your right thumb and you can easily pull out the switch with just your left hand fingers. Slides out perfectly.
I wonder what the comfiest joycon replacement is for bigger hands. Also it'd be nice of the eject button functioned like a steam controller's battery ejection - it's basically a plastic lever that pushes the batteries diagonally out of the enclosure. Very easy to get to work - so long as you don't buy a used controller with corrosion in the mechanism.
While not for everyone, I built custom joycons with Hall effect stick and a D-Pad from ExtremeRate and a Skull and Co Grip. I have the new Satisfeye grip coming that's dockable on its way some time this month.
Great vid! I do agree with the placement of the right stick. It can get uncomfortable at least for my fingers but takes getting used to. I do want to find a way to protect my switch from the ejection process due to it being a limited edition OLED switch. Maybe they could have had some felt padding or something to prevent the sliding marks. Anyways great vid!
I got two of these.. both the classic nintendo gray one with purple buttons.. both didnt work with my switch OLED. Customer Service just told me to return my order.
I’m going for the plus version in black with caring case with midnight tops replacement if you want to change the tops for something else and very useful for emulating your favorite games from classic so you can show off your friends and family and play solo games with your wired and wireless headphones or earbuds in your room with a snack and a drink on your bed with no one to disturb your family.
mario wonder actual uses the hd rumble to make the controller play the notes from the blocks as you run across them so yeah without hd rumble would have been weird.
The Nitro Deck looks pretty neat, with it's new hall effect thumbsticks, and the build quality looks decent. It's got that Steam Deck vibe. But, that right thumbstick does look like a pain in the butt. Still, I'm sure it will be great for a lot of people. Although, I would not recommend it. The thing you need to understand, is that you'll never have that controller vibe, that in my opinion, is essential to playing any game. My #1 most highly recommended accessory you can buy for the Switch, is without question, the Fixture S2. The Fixture S2 is a clip-on, that attaches onto your Switch Pro Controller only, and then you slide the Switch onto the adjustable arm rails. It kinda looks like a typical phone controller clip-on, but this is no $10 cheapy phone clip-on that typically feel terrible. What makes the Fixture S2 feel so good, compared to many other controller clip-ons, is it's angular arm design position. The arm keeps the display hovered nicely over the front of the your controller, which creates this center of gravity and balance, that just feels perfect to hold. The Fixture S2 is an absolute Masterpiece. It's a must buy accessory for any Switch owner. Look, I can't stress this enough... No matter how hard you look for a great new accessory for your Switch, there is nothing that feels better than holding an actual controller. If you don't like the Fixture S2, then return it. But, I'll bet my bottom dollar that you'll keep it. I'm sure Spawn Wave has already reviewed it. If not, then it's time to. Anyways, Great Review Spawn Wave! Take Care Ya'll! Cheers! 🍻
Wow, this would have been an instant buy if it had come out sooner. Hopefully, something like this comes out for the Switch successor within the first year or two. I don't trust Nintendo to make something ergonomically comfortable for me.
Gonna be honest... I still use it while the Switch is docked more than in handheld but it works really well both ways. I did notice the right stick at first but I found a slight adjustment to my grip fixed that and made the back buttons easier to use at the same time.
I wish someone would make a design similar to the Wii U tablet controller. It's alot more comfortable to hold than the off set design of the joycons and switch controller
Once again, this is yet another accessory that I will pass up simply because of the rumble situation. I've tried several joycon replacements but honestly I've found that I just can't go without HD rumble as Nintendo actually builds it into all of their games and it becomes integral to the experience. If I'm just going to go without rumble entirely then I'll just use my Switch Lite as it's way more comfortable to hold in the hand as it is much lighter and I'll just use a Pro controller on my OG Switch docked.
I ordered one last week. I'm waiting for it to show up still. Mario Wonder is the exact reason I got it. The direction buttons don't feel right for a Mario game.
Might get one of these. I lost my OG white joycon ZL doesnt respond anymore. Bought the purple/orange ones but I feel now after using handheld mode for while they’re getting loose? This will be a nice attachment where it’s solid and doesn’t feel like it would break due to be wore out.
Personally I went for the split pads so I could have a chance in handheld with what few FPS games there are on the Switch. That said, while it’s better than joycons, I would’ve loved this Nitro Deck if it had a more Pro Controller layout.
I own one of these and the ouput is useless, its function is to connect the nitro deck to a docking station to be used as a controller without a tablet after pressing a combo of buttons to enable this feature
I’ve had mine for a while and I like it a lot. I do have a bit of a gripe with it but beyond that I generally have fun with it To be fair about some things the analog triggers are usable when having the deck as a wired controller for Steam/PC. Niche but it’s there
This is really neat but the timing is off. I would have bought this like 3 years ago but I have other grips that do the job for handheld mode. Neat idea for those that just got a switch.
How it compare to nexigo/dobe/echzove gripcon style controllers? As i have the first generation black and white style of the controller style with swappable thumbsticks. I still enjoy using it compared to any other joycon controllers i had used in passed with exception of binboks that i tend to use now and again for certain games.
I can't get over how awesome the new Satisfye Ronin grip is. Dockable, fits in their old cases, and it's extremely comfortable. I can't use anything but that grip anymore tbh, unless it's the fat boi's Hori Switch Split Pad Pros.
It's definitely nice but the timing for it is unfortunate for me. If this existed even half a year ago then i would have considered getting this over a pro controller, but i already bought everything for my setup including a dock station for my pro controller, so needless to say i'll pass. That dpad setup is a little unfortunate as well. overall more solid and with good pivot, but as someone who recently had a membrane tear in their 8bitdo controller, having relative ease of access to replace it would have been nice. 😑
I ended up purchasing it, thanks to this video. I do not like where the right thumb stick is located, way too low, but it’s also not a deal breaker. The rumble is pretty bad, so I turned that off. I didn’t have any issue ejecting the switch
Other than not being able to dock with it, it looks good. With that being said its not for me. Never play in hand held mode. Its either docked or table top using an 8BitDo controller.
Taller sticks need more hand space to operate. With how far down that right stick is, I'm 95% sure it would give me hand cramps. Idk why no one makes controllers with the sticks at the top anymore, especially in that "Wii U gamepad" form factor.
All i can say is the next console should work alongside the switch. I hope we get a homeconsole we can dock the switch in but we still get a new handheld with 2 screens. Nintendo needs to just bring back every game via backward compatibility. Including wii
Just to let you know on their website they have the GameCube Edition, the Mint Edition, Super Nintendo Edition, then multiple colors transparent, but they don't ship until December for those also the Super Nintendo Edition, the GameCube Edition, the Mint Edition and the transparent ones come with the case
I heard previously that 3rd party docks etc have issues where they could brick your system if you dont use the official power block. Is this the case with this when running it docked?
Bought the White Edition and been no-lifing my NS for the past month. I get to play handheld again! Even if the next Nintendo console releases soon, I'll still make use of my NS and Nitro Deck. I have the gen 1 NS, so I'll definitely be modding/hacking it when I get the new console
Great video! That d-pad! I would've been pissed off if I bought this and it started malfunctioning. I don't solder that good. But it is what it is. I prefer the modular parts on the board. I think I'd pass even if I had drift though. I'd probably just switch out the joycon, no pun intended. That's why special edition Pro controllers are a better buy imo. In the future it'll be the joycons that don't have drift will be outrageously expensive. Lol
I really wanted one of these, but getting one shipped to Japan costs more than the device itself, which is a little wild. I can literally buy another OLED Switch for the same price (not that I would, just highlighting the cost). I wish they would have a warehouse here in Japan seeing as how the Switch is huge here.
I would definitely be interested in this in a pre-Steam Deck world. I don't even use my Switch anymore at this point though and we're likely to see the Switch 2 in less than a year so what's the point?
Oh snap here we go. There’s one thing I don’t like and that is the right stick position. Maybe I got use to the Hori Split pad Compact/pro stick. I like the angle on that. Hopefully Hori makes something like this with there style
has already been reports of this bricking thier systems, just a heads up. great review and I've been waiting for you to drop a review on this before I made my move.
I've bought a Satisfye Grip a couple years back and haven't looked back. That being said, I thought about getting this but the fact everyone mention the right thumbstick being uncomfortable/bad makes it a non-starter
Whether or not it the dpad is better is very situational with your games. I play a lot of Puyo Puyo Tetris, so the 4 individual buttons give me a lot more precision.
I wonder if the triggers were made that way to future-proof the controller. If Nintendo releases a Pro Controller 2 with analog triggers, the Nitro Deck should only need a firmware update to act like one.
This would be a day one buy if this was released 2 or 3 yrs ago. But at this point where I have bought so many accessories for the Switch, and with the rumor of the next gen coming out next year, I’ll pass.
I'm not sure if he talked about that patent Nintendo filed back in September that showcased some sort of hall-effect joy stick & he's (& every other Nintendo channel is) the "switch 2" guy or anything about the Sonic frontiers final horizon update but I could be wrong.
I get having too many accessories but it's not like you're gonna throw your switch away just because the next gen is coming out. You should still use it from time to time even when the new one is out
@@quantrindic5488I'm not using old hardware when new hardware is out.
100% agree! I feel the same. I love the switch, and I think it's still the best handheld, which gave birth to these wanna be pc handhelds, but I'm done collecting, buying accessories and games for it at this point. Haven't seen anything worth buying for it in the end of its life cycle. I'm looking forward to the more powerful switch 2.
@@wodensthrone5215while I agree with the OP statement, it's kinda sad to read this. I still use my Wii U and PS3.
I have a Nitro Deck and enjoy it. I really appreciate this critical look as I think this type of video can help with future revisions. My biggest issue is the eject of the switch and agree it needs a little kick. I don't like having to put pressure on the switch itself to remove. Better rumble would also be nice but not a deal breaker. Nice review. Thanks!
Yeah I just ended up turning rumble off lol
One interesting thing I noticed during the teardown was that they are using hall effect sensors for the triggers which is something that I never thought about. I think that Sony's adaptive triggers are probably much cooler tech but it did get me thinking that it would be cool if Nintendo finally went back to having analog triggers (or at least triggers that simulate that experience) simply to have a more nuanced experience when playing racing games or FPS games. While I'm not really a big fan of the latter, I do quite enjoy the former and I feel like Nintendo themselves could do some cool game design things with them aside from how it would also benefit third parties in bringing over ports with a similar feel to the other consoles that DO have analog triggers.
Holy shit someone summarize this video
My back hurts
😅
I looked in to this product quite extensively but they are too late to market. Hopefully the next iteration fixes the right thumbstick issue every review mentions as well. Definitely would consider this for switch 2
I’m not sure that I’ll buy a switch 2 simply because I just recently got my first OLED in May. Would you recommend this controller then?
Do not buy. The thumbstick and right analog stick are an ergonomic nightmare. It makes Zelda almost unplayable. I'm surprised it was released like this.
By the way, the company does not accept returns. What freaking year is this?
There is a lot of cheaper options that are better@@CarlosCooksChi
well a switch 2 is gonna be leagues above oled apparently since the oled is sitll normal switch power@@CarlosCooksChi
@@nickbailey202 I mean under consumer law in NZ, you cant return it unless its actually broken. Change do change of mind unless specifically offered.
After using it for about a month now, I can honestly say it’s an awesome product. My two main complaints is the rumble being so strong and annoying and the bumpers being too clicky and loud.
Other than those two things, I love it. Iv been using it for 100% of my gameplay on the switch. I’m more of a handheld player that’s why I got it. At first I was also one of those that complained about the right stick placement but I don’t even notice it now. I feel nothing uncomfortable about the layout. It’s been awesome
I turned the rumble off and its been great every since lol
I find myself wanting to use my switch more with the Nitro Deck. For me its the grip and I've tried other third party accessories and this just worked for me. I do agree I don't like the fact that I need to remove the console from the deck in order to use it docked, but I find myself not wanting to dock it with this grip. Fun fact I learned, the internal USB output works the same as the External USB C output, so I 3d printed an adapter the allows me to slide my phone into the the deck and it works pretty well.
I bought the GameCube theme version a couple weeks ago. It a great alternative for playing in handheld. I also have the split pad pro
You think it's doable for competitive play. I so far use the 8bit do sn30pro with my switch and is the perfect smashbros controller.
@@omegafire6253 This helps with hand fatigue when playing handheld. I wouldn’t recommend this in competitive games. 8bitdo is still king.
Is the right thumbstick as bad as everyone is making it out to be?
@@bocky7643 if you play a lot of games that require twinstick usage then it can be uncomfortable. I noticed it a bit when I was playing TOTK to adjust the camera angle.
I wish they had offset the sticks in the X axis, like the Hori Splt Pad Compact that I use. It's so much more comfortable to hit the face buttons quickly when the stick isn't in the way. For 50 bucks, I'm more than happy with those, it just feels more comfortable.
Hori Split Pads are the best. I have the black and red ones
I bought this product and then had to resell it on eBay because this company does not do returns. The reason I got rid of it was because it is the worst feeling controller in my hand that I’ve ever experienced. I found it unusable.
@@perrybrashear Unlucky you for having hands that doesn't match with the size and shape of the split pad compact
I was excited to order this over the summer. I've never played handheld because it just wasn't comfortable. The grip seemed to be the solution. But like many others, within 10 seconds of using the Nitro Deck I knew it wasn't going to work. I immediately looked into the return window and found it's a final sale product. Ridiculous. The ergonomics are terrible and what kind of business doesn't accept returns? My worst purchase of the year.
@@nickbailey202 Then why don't you purchase the hori split pad compact? is cheaper and more comfortable
@2:45, for me that's a plus. It helps me tell the difference between the two.
I have had this for about three weeks and I have been playing Super Mario Bros Wonder exclusively on the Nitro Deck. I actually really been liking it and I haven't had a major problem with the stick placement so far. Feel very comfortable and make the Switch feel more premium/ sturdier. I got the clear blue one, and I absolutely love the way my Switch looks now!
I think the only problem is for people that play a lot of FPS shooters where you have to use the right stick a lot.
In my case I only play high demanding games on Series X or Playstation and rarely going to play any of those on Switch. Also used to have a Switch Lite and loved how sturdy it felt on my hands and the regular and oled feels flimsy and with time Joyn cons start to giggle around while playing handheld.
The Nitro Deck is the best option for me to play RPG's or Nintendo games on handheld mode.
How is the rumble?
@TheInfiniteNine It's okay not the best. Compared to the Pro controller you can tell it's a step down.
@@FalcoMerc This makes me want to test out Doom with it.
@@FalcoMerc I can't imagine the Switch being the console of choice for serious FPS players as you confirm for yourself. I think it's fine for casual FPS and retro FPS games on the Switch. Maybe if Metroid 4 had hit this gen...
Well... The USB-C port being at the bottom is not all that weird of a choice...
Knowing how the dock works, where would you have put the port?
Now, there could have been a USB-C on top, and some proprietary magnetic contact point array on the bottom. But that's going to be 50$ more please!
I like these handled dock controllers but it does make a good point about getting them out, an eject style button or switch would be nice on these
Thats the only issue u have to three finger grip pull it out if u want it out hence why they have cloth to clean the screen. An actually ejector at the bottom should of been included to push the switch put an inch ir so to grab it from the top
I've been using the Hori Split Pad Pros for over a year now and I love them. Though the lack of internal batteries means they can only be used when attached to the Switch.
There is a version where there is an attachment to use them separately. Annoyingly you can't buy just the attachment.
@@darkscot1338 That blows.
@@darkscot1338
It's still wired though.
Why does it need a kick stand, its only uses are if you're watching TH-cam or you have a controller with you as well as this unit???
I just received my SNES version this last friday and i love it. And now that i have it in hand i dont have the same gripes that i see in alot of these reviews. The right joystick isnt too far down for me, the way the switch tablet is held in place feels secure (i know its not gonna fall out, and i dont have to press super hard on the screen to get it out if i want to dock it), and the rumble isnt as bad as alot of people make it out to be. Yeah its not HD rumble, but there are so many controller replacements out there for the switch that dont have rumble at all, or only have it on one side, that it makes me happy that they have a decent rumble feel on both sides. I also found that by turning down the intensity, it quiets the rumble sound enough for it not to be an annoyance. At least for me. Since i bought a limited edition version, it came with a charging cable, protective case (which is actually nice quality) and a micro fiber cloth to clean the screen. I only got my switch OLED just over a year ago, so i came to it late in its life cycle as is, so the timing of the nitro decks release also doesnt bother me much as i was able to get a limited edition version without having to go thru the after market process because i came in so late.
Overall im relatively impressed by the nitro deck, and very happy with my purchase.
This is why the rumble doesn't bother me too much either. If I want good rumble I'll use my pro-controller docked. But for portable it's just a bonus that as you say, is absent on many alternatives including the Switch Lite.
I ordered the NYXI Hyperion Pro with Hall Effect analog sticks, can’t wait!
I think you can connect this to a pc as a controller over usb. Which is why the triggers are digital
The right stick placement issue isn't dependent on hand size, it is dependent on your ability to hold it with your thumb at a proper angle. Nobody had issues with that with retro controllers, but the second grips got introduced a lot of ppl suddenly felt strangely compelled to jam the edge of the controllers into their palms even if that kills the proper 45 degree angle for your thumb.
I primarily play in handheld, only when on trips or on the go. So this actually makes sense for me, just for the Hall effect joy sticks as I've been through multiple joy cons for drift.
I really like my Nitro deck. I bought the limited edition purple with the case. I have the original 2017 switch. But after getting the Nitro deck, I bought a switch OLED to use with it. It's my new favorite handheld gaming device now
The easiest way I have found to remove the switch is to put the screen facing down parallel to the ground, press and hold the release lever, then slide the switch out. It allows the switch to move ever so slightly in the z axis using gravity and comes out with out pressing very hard on the screen
I still think this isn’t better ergonomically than the binbok joypads or a satisfye grip. It’s nice that it has the 4 programmable buttons on the back and hall effect sticks and triggers but if comfort is the main schtick of this, it’s not a great layout to solve that problem.
I enjoy the controller overall but I have 2 gripes. Mainly in the amount of analog travel and the rumble. The amount of travel the sticks feels far to massive even compared to the pro controller and while I dont expect hd rumble, it really needs better motors or motor placement. It feels really cheap even at low intensity. I doubt theyll make a 2.0 since switch 2 is on its way. Maybe they make one for that and worl on those things.
Is there a way to change the intensity or is it on a per game basis?
I love it so far it’s my daily driver. The only thing I don’t care for but I am getting use to is the zl and zr. One thing I did notice in your video is you said the output could be used to charge a cellphone. You cannot charge anything on it. It’s exclusively for using a a plugged in controller on the dock, it also works on pc or with an adapter on the switch light.
Honestly you called it. The stick placement isn't ideal for anything that's right stick reliant, if they'd gone with the WiiU style they'd have had something special cause the wiiU gamepad was very comfortable
enjoyer of the nitro deck here, the limited edition gamecube one i got did in fact come with a case, thumbstick holding bad, usb-c chord and screen cloth!
Definitely gives it a more beefy Steam Deck look.....I like it!
I don't really think I have large hands but the offset joysticks has always been uncomfortable to me when using the switch
So I had emailed the company and they told me that when the switch goes in and out, it actually has no contact with the back of the switch. I was a bit afraid of scratching it but it is a bit scary to remove the switch. No scratches so far!
This was my main worry having a TOTK oled!
I sold mine due to the stick and d pad placement, didnt mind them being that far down (after hori split pad compact being so cramped) but needed to be moved in toward the screen
I see no reason for buying it to replace my Hori Split Pad Compact. Hori is so comfortable, looks miles better and fits into dock without taking them off
I've had one for roughly a week now. The joysticks are fantastic. Shoulder buttons are awkward for a day or so, then they're great. This is WAY more ergonomic than the switch joy cons. Theres no flex like they Joy Cons.
The offset right stick is not bad. I have yet to have issues with reachability.
Fixed my problems instantly.
I only have two gripes. The D-Pad is mushy. The thing is heavy and your hands will get tired after a bit.
I noticed after a week of use my hands got used to the weight and they get tired less.
I so wanted to like the Nitro Deck. I tried it with some old-school style games (TMNT:Shredder's Revenge, Huntdown) and it worked well. That all changed when......
I tried to play Doom or any other game that uses the right stick. You cannot use the right stick without gnarling your hand into an arthritis inducing angle that makes it so uncomfortable that I gave up and went back to my Hori Split Pads.
Support said that sales were final and I couldn't return it. I didn't want to exchange it because a different variant wouldn't solve my issue. Going to sell it on Marketplace and chalk it up to too much hype and not enough delivery from the folks at CRKD.
I had to by a regular controller to play Metroid Prime. The joy cons do not work well for fps games. That analog placement is not ideal.
Split Pad Pro is my go-to for using the right stick. I just love the position in it. Feels like the pro controller
The dobe eggshell version is very good and comfortable. The sticks are small but decent. The split pad has better sticks than anything else I've tried on switch though. It's just that they don't have rumble/motion and they make the switch wide as heck.
I was having no problems playing Metroid Prime with the Nitro Deck…
I have some pretty big hands (25cm palm) I use switch since release. Never I felt like it's uncomfortable and I need something else to grip it. It just lays on my fingers. And I do play mostly in handheld mode. As my monitor is occupied by PC, PS5 and Series X.
It's fire. Love the rear buttons. So good.
Ejecting the switch easily - hold it so you have both thumbs on the back of the Nitro (with the back of the Nitro Deck facing toward you), right thumb on the 'eject switch', left around the kick stand/input output rige. Flick up the eject button with your right thumb and you can easily pull out the switch with just your left hand fingers.
Slides out perfectly.
Can’t imagine a need for the kickstand since the controllers are attached to it
They fail on OLED models fairly regularly, and the company doesn’t acknowledge it.
I wonder what the comfiest joycon replacement is for bigger hands.
Also it'd be nice of the eject button functioned like a steam controller's battery ejection - it's basically a plastic lever that pushes the batteries diagonally out of the enclosure. Very easy to get to work - so long as you don't buy a used controller with corrosion in the mechanism.
Huge SNES fan here. That classic color is sick!
While not for everyone, I built custom joycons with Hall effect stick and a D-Pad from ExtremeRate and a Skull and Co Grip. I have the new Satisfeye grip coming that's dockable on its way some time this month.
Great vid! I do agree with the placement of the right stick. It can get uncomfortable at least for my fingers but takes getting used to. I do want to find a way to protect my switch from the ejection process due to it being a limited edition OLED switch. Maybe they could have had some felt padding or something to prevent the sliding marks. Anyways great vid!
there's one costumer review on that amazon page, about how it bricked their oled
I got two of these.. both the classic nintendo gray one with purple buttons.. both didnt work with my switch OLED. Customer Service just told me to return my order.
The same thing happened to me on my OLED. I've just ordered the replacement and praying it works, but I'm not optimistic.
@@phitdemon yeah not worth it. Get the hori pro attachment. It's way better and lighter.
I’m going for the plus version in black with caring case with midnight tops replacement if you want to change the tops for something else and very useful for emulating your favorite games from classic so you can show off your friends and family and play solo games with your wired and wireless headphones or earbuds in your room with a snack and a drink on your bed with no one to disturb your family.
mario wonder actual uses the hd rumble to make the controller play the notes from the blocks as you run across them so yeah without hd rumble would have been weird.
The bad rumble is a dealbreaker for me. Thanks for the review, I was debating buying this.
The rumble is not bad its good and its strong its just not hd rumble which 3rd party arent allowed to use i believe but i may be erong about that
It doesn't look like quality rumble to me if you look at those teardowns, I'm gonna believe Jon on this one.@@Soraking007
The Nitro Deck looks pretty neat, with it's new hall effect thumbsticks, and the build quality looks decent. It's got that Steam Deck vibe. But, that right thumbstick does look like a pain in the butt. Still, I'm sure it will be great for a lot of people. Although, I would not recommend it. The thing you need to understand, is that you'll never have that controller vibe, that in my opinion, is essential to playing any game. My #1 most highly recommended accessory you can buy for the Switch, is without question, the Fixture S2. The Fixture S2 is a clip-on, that attaches onto your Switch Pro Controller only, and then you slide the Switch onto the adjustable arm rails. It kinda looks like a typical phone controller clip-on, but this is no $10 cheapy phone clip-on that typically feel terrible. What makes the Fixture S2 feel so good, compared to many other controller clip-ons, is it's angular arm design position. The arm keeps the display hovered nicely over the front of the your controller, which creates this center of gravity and balance, that just feels perfect to hold. The Fixture S2 is an absolute Masterpiece. It's a must buy accessory for any Switch owner. Look, I can't stress this enough... No matter how hard you look for a great new accessory for your Switch, there is nothing that feels better than holding an actual controller. If you don't like the Fixture S2, then return it. But, I'll bet my bottom dollar that you'll keep it. I'm sure Spawn Wave has already reviewed it. If not, then it's time to. Anyways, Great Review Spawn Wave! Take Care Ya'll! Cheers! 🍻
Wow, this would have been an instant buy if it had come out sooner. Hopefully, something like this comes out for the Switch successor within the first year or two. I don't trust Nintendo to make something ergonomically comfortable for me.
Gonna be honest... I still use it while the Switch is docked more than in handheld but it works really well both ways. I did notice the right stick at first but I found a slight adjustment to my grip fixed that and made the back buttons easier to use at the same time.
At this point this is too little too late, Satisfye is already more convenient
I wish someone would make a design similar to the Wii U tablet controller. It's alot more comfortable to hold than the off set design of the joycons and switch controller
Weirdly I find the WiiU tablet controls to be very comfortable yet find the WiiU pro controllers to be really uncomfortable.
Once again, this is yet another accessory that I will pass up simply because of the rumble situation. I've tried several joycon replacements but honestly I've found that I just can't go without HD rumble as Nintendo actually builds it into all of their games and it becomes integral to the experience. If I'm just going to go without rumble entirely then I'll just use my Switch Lite as it's way more comfortable to hold in the hand as it is much lighter and I'll just use a Pro controller on my OG Switch docked.
Does it work only with OLED model or with og and V2 models?
Yes, although I hear the non OLED models don't slide in as smoothly
It's actually mostly OLED model owners that seem to report it not working for them. I'm one of them.
I ordered one last week. I'm waiting for it to show up still. Mario Wonder is the exact reason I got it. The direction buttons don't feel right for a Mario game.
Might get one of these. I lost my OG white joycon ZL doesnt respond anymore.
Bought the purple/orange ones but I feel now after using handheld mode for while they’re getting loose?
This will be a nice attachment where it’s solid and doesn’t feel like it would break due to be wore out.
Personally I went for the split pads so I could have a chance in handheld with what few FPS games there are on the Switch.
That said, while it’s better than joycons, I would’ve loved this Nitro Deck if it had a more Pro Controller layout.
Do you think the Joycon rumble packs will fit in the Nitro Deck? I have 3 dead Joycon I wouldn't mind harvesting some HD rumbles from.
loads of people (including myself) never got this to work any longer than 10 seconds using an oled switch ? so how did yours work ?
No John, not everyone is talking about it!
No coverage on the in and out put USB-C ports? Can you plug a dock/hub into them?
I own one of these and the ouput is useless, its function is to connect the nitro deck to a docking station to be used as a controller without a tablet after pressing a combo of buttons to enable this feature
I’ve had mine for a while and I like it a lot. I do have a bit of a gripe with it but beyond that I generally have fun with it
To be fair about some things the analog triggers are usable when having the deck as a wired controller for Steam/PC. Niche but it’s there
This is really neat but the timing is off. I would have bought this like 3 years ago but I have other grips that do the job for handheld mode. Neat idea for those that just got a switch.
the output isn't to charge your phone, it's to connect it wired to the dock so you can use it while in docked mode.
How it compare to nexigo/dobe/echzove gripcon style controllers? As i have the first generation black and white style of the controller style with swappable thumbsticks. I still enjoy using it compared to any other joycon controllers i had used in passed with exception of binboks that i tend to use now and again for certain games.
The nitrodeck looks very solid, nice video!!
I can't get over how awesome the new Satisfye Ronin grip is. Dockable, fits in their old cases, and it's extremely comfortable. I can't use anything but that grip anymore tbh, unless it's the fat boi's Hori Switch Split Pad Pros.
I just started using the Split Pad Pro and it's just better.
What size tool did you use to open it? I’ve been curious about some possible mod work with changing the sticks
you could probably 3d print a case that will enclose the guts of the Switch and the Deck. Collab with Bob Wulf as a big mod.
It's definitely nice but the timing for it is unfortunate for me. If this existed even half a year ago then i would have considered getting this over a pro controller, but i already bought everything for my setup including a dock station for my pro controller, so needless to say i'll pass.
That dpad setup is a little unfortunate as well. overall more solid and with good pivot, but as someone who recently had a membrane tear in their 8bitdo controller, having relative ease of access to replace it would have been nice. 😑
What games look best on the switch lite ? I got one for my train commute
I'd recommend super mario wonder or even luigis mansion 3
Cross code
Probably Luigis mansion 3
The whole library that doesn't need joy-cons to be used in each hand separatly (like wario ware, trombone, switch sports,...)
Anything that doesn’t require motion control or HD rumble.
switch can detect analogue triggers, but it depends on the game. Trials rising is the most notable one.
I’d get this for GRID Autosport, if that's the case. Ever tried it?
Hows cooling? Wouldn't the switch being smooched in make it hotter?
I ended up purchasing it, thanks to this video. I do not like where the right thumb stick is located, way too low, but it’s also not a deal breaker. The rumble is pretty bad, so I turned that off. I didn’t have any issue ejecting the switch
Mine didn’t work with my OLED so I use it with my normal original switch
Other than not being able to dock with it, it looks good. With that being said its not for me. Never play in hand held mode. Its either docked or table top using an 8BitDo controller.
Taller sticks need more hand space to operate. With how far down that right stick is, I'm 95% sure it would give me hand cramps. Idk why no one makes controllers with the sticks at the top anymore, especially in that "Wii U gamepad" form factor.
Im confused by the critique of the cost.. this being $10 less than the switch pro controller.
Satisfye grip FTW! I use mine daily and its the best!
All i can say is the next console should work alongside the switch. I hope we get a homeconsole we can dock the switch in but we still get a new handheld with 2 screens. Nintendo needs to just bring back every game via backward compatibility. Including wii
Nintendo calls it a “capture” button, not share or snapshot.
Just to let you know on their website they have the GameCube Edition, the Mint Edition, Super Nintendo Edition, then multiple colors transparent, but they don't ship until December for those also the Super Nintendo Edition, the GameCube Edition, the Mint Edition and the transparent ones come with the case
Impressive tear down!
I heard previously that 3rd party docks etc have issues where they could brick your system if you dont use the official power block. Is this the case with this when running it docked?
Bought the White Edition and been no-lifing my NS for the past month. I get to play handheld again!
Even if the next Nintendo console releases soon, I'll still make use of my NS and Nitro Deck. I have the gen 1 NS, so I'll definitely be modding/hacking it when I get the new console
Great video! That d-pad! I would've been pissed off if I bought this and it started malfunctioning. I don't solder that good. But it is what it is. I prefer the modular parts on the board.
I think I'd pass even if I had drift though. I'd probably just switch out the joycon, no pun intended. That's why special edition Pro controllers are a better buy imo.
In the future it'll be the joycons that don't have drift will be outrageously expensive. Lol
I really wanted one of these, but getting one shipped to Japan costs more than the device itself, which is a little wild. I can literally buy another OLED Switch for the same price (not that I would, just highlighting the cost). I wish they would have a warehouse here in Japan seeing as how the Switch is huge here.
I would definitely be interested in this in a pre-Steam Deck world. I don't even use my Switch anymore at this point though and we're likely to see the Switch 2 in less than a year so what's the point?
Oh snap here we go. There’s one thing I don’t like and that is the right stick position. Maybe I got use to the Hori Split pad Compact/pro stick. I like the angle on that. Hopefully Hori makes something like this with there style
has already been reports of this bricking thier systems, just a heads up. great review and I've been waiting for you to drop a review on this before I made my move.
Bricking? I've heard that the NitroDeck will not work but never bricking a Switch
well poeple are saying it's bricking their systems just like the 3rd party docks.@@gumbyx84
Happy Sunday Everyone!
Not bad. I'm currently using the Retro Flag controller.
Looks great! Definitely tempted
If you have a procontroller look for the fixture grip. So much better
I've bought a Satisfye Grip a couple years back and haven't looked back. That being said, I thought about getting this but the fact everyone mention the right thumbstick being uncomfortable/bad makes it a non-starter
Whether or not it the dpad is better is very situational with your games. I play a lot of Puyo Puyo Tetris, so the 4 individual buttons give me a lot more precision.
I wonder if the triggers were made that way to future-proof the controller. If Nintendo releases a Pro Controller 2 with analog triggers, the Nitro Deck should only need a firmware update to act like one.
It's like the NES accessories era all over again!