Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch review

When you buy a Nintendo Switch, you get a pair of Joy-Cons. The two halves of the controller snap into place on either side of the switch console so you can use it in handheld mode. In console mode you can separate the Joy-Cons, plug them together (or not) and use them as “normal” controllers. Joy-Cons are super cool, but also incredibly expensive to replace. As such, there is a robust market for cheaper third-party Joy-Con imitations.

In this Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch review, we’ll tell you all about why these imitations are actually a good buy, especially if you’re looking to save some cash. Even if you have money to burn off, there are a few reasons this could still be a cool addition to your stack of Switch accessories.

Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch Review: What is it?

Simply put, the Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch is a version of the official third-party Joy-Cons. They have a different design and multiple features that real Joy-Cons lack. They also sell at a significantly lower price. However, they will still be plugged into your console and function much like real Joy-Cons.

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If you want to play your Nintendo Switch the way Nintendo intended, then you should skip these. While there are some really cool aspects of these imitations, they are just that: imitations. Sure, you’ll gain some cool new tricks, but you’ll also lose some features in return.

What do you win and what do you lose? I’m glad you asked.

What is good?

As good as the real Joy-Cons are, even die-hard Nintendo fans will admit they aren’t too ergonomic. Unless you have tiny baby hands, Joy-Cons won’t rest as comfortably in the palm of your hand as all large controllers do. The Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch addresses this issue by adding a fully rounded handle to the back of each joypad. This makes it much more convenient to use in both connected and disconnected modes.

Another feature that the original controllers lacked is the ability to charge them without plugging them into either the switch or another proprietary charging station. However, these Esywen models each have a USB-C port on the back.

However, the main feature of the Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch is two programmable buttons. You will find a macro and a turbo button on each joypad. You can program time-controlled hits for the macro key, which are then stored in the controller’s memory. The next time you hit the macro key, your key hits will be accurately executed and it will even mimic how long you paused between hits.

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The turbo button behaves similarly. However, you can only program one key at a time as a “Turbo” key. Whichever you choose, it will either be played multiple times in a row with a hit, or played repeatedly and indefinitely until you turn it off. When setting up, you can choose which of these two systems you want to program.

Note, however, that each programmable button controls only one joypad. It would therefore be impossible to program a macro with both the A key and the D-pad, as these keys are on separate halves.

What’s not so good?

Unfortunately, there are a lot that you take for granted about your first-party Joy-Cons that the Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch cannot replicate. The biggest offense is the inability of these joypads to turn on the Switch console. You need to turn on your console manually and then connect it. Too bad.

There is also no IR support for these controllers. This probably won’t bother you very much as very few Switch games require IR. It’s a notable omission, however.

With these imitations, you can’t turn on your Switch console from the couch.

Elsewhere, the controllers don’t offer the minimalist, high-end design aesthetic of real Joy-Cons. The buttons feel cheap and toy-like, and the ABXY buttons’ lettering is ridiculously poor. Fortunately, the analog sticks don’t suffer the same fate. They feel even better than the real deal, probably because they’re significantly larger than those with real Joy-Cons. For the recording, I didn’t notice any drift issues with these controllers.

Finally, the special thing about these controllers is that the internal batteries are actually smaller. This is weird as the controllers are physically many times larger than Joy-Con. The real Joy-Cons have 525mAh batteries in each half, while the Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch has 300mAh batteries. That’s a big difference.

Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch Review: Should I Buy It?

Chances are, if you even think of buying Joy-Con imitations, because they are so expensive. At $ 69.99 per pair, a set of true Joy-Cons costs more than a Switch Pro controller or even a 2020 Xbox Core controller like the one found on the Xbox Series X / S.

Thankfully, the Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch is about half the price, starting at just $ 39.99. With such a large discount, these become a very attractive alternative indeed.

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The bottom line is that the Esywen joypad offers a lot of value if you’re looking for a decent replacement for your Joy-Cons. You get some cool extras like programmable macro / turbo buttons, a much more ergonomic handle, and custom charging ports.

Of course, you give up the ability to turn on your Switch console via the couch, IR support, and battery life. It is up to you to decide whether these tradeoffs are worth the money you save. However, if you can take them, the Esywen Joypad Controller for Nintendo Switch is an excellent option.