Review: NexiGo controllers for Nintendo Switch are decent for the price

NexiGo produces numerous controllers for the Nintendo Switch. They recently contacted me to ask if I was willing to take a look at some of them. I accepted and they sent me some of the colors for the NS53 Joypad controller and a model of the NS32 controller. All thoughts below are mine, but if you like what you read you can grab your NexiGo controllers from Amazon.

I am grouping both the NS32 and the NS53 into one review because they have a lot of similarities. First, they are very light. This is really shocking to me because they both have haptic (read rumble) feedback motors and gyro sensors. They feel light enough to feel almost super cheap and I will say they are not the strongest physically. One of the NS53s fell to the ground thanks to one of my children and the bumper button broke cleanly. Additionally, the NS53 is designed to function like JoyCon controllers where they connect to the Switch of a block. I found that more often than not, at least one of the sides didn’t slide smoothly into the block, but rather I should have been more energetic with it. That said, they turn on and off smoothly from the Switch, so this is indicative of a problem with the center lock being used. Both models also have LED lights around the sticks and you can adjust the colors and patterns displayed on them, which is fun. Plus, the sticks are concave with textured edges for a grip feel. They feel good, but it’s a very steep change from smooth center to textured edge compared to something like the Xbox Series S controller that feels like a smoother transition between center and edge. The latest similarity is that you use a USB-C cable to charge all of these although the NS53 can be charged while connected to the Switch.

Now, let’s dive a little deeper into the NS32, designed to be more of a Pro Controller competitor. I really like that it has a rumble and you can even adjust how loud the rumble is. These are definitive advantages. It fits well in the hands (I consider myself to have medium-sized hands) and anyone who loves a Pro Controller will feel at home in general. The weight is considerably lighter than a Pro Controller and the buttons feel cheaper. They don’t have that nice finishing feel that a Pro controller has. I also think they should color the letters and other markings to make them easier to see. Whether it’s white or different colors or something else, it would help a lot.

As for the NS53, this was very different. When I first saw it and held it in my hand, I didn’t see how comfortable it could be. These are absolutely huge. If you have big hands, some friends say you feel more comfortable, even if they noticed that they didn’t like the placement of buttons and toggles. One problem I have encountered is that the block they connect to isn’t as thick and therefore doesn’t seem as well connected as I hoped. When connected to a Switch, you have that feeling again and I was a little scared that something was going to happen to my Switch. That said, when I had to lower my Switch it was nice to have lifted it off the surface for this reason. The size of the NS53 gave me the feeling of not holding my Switch securely in portable mode. However, I’ve never had any issues with my Switch dropping or the controllers snapping (other than the aforementioned shoulder button). I’m not a big fan of the flat buttons used on the NS53, but I got more used to using it eventually. That said, I’d only use it connected to my Switch. Also, if you want to split an NS53 between two people like Joy-Con, it’s really awkward to hold it in your hand. It has a wing-like design which is good for holding it like a regular controller, but when you turn one sideways it just becomes awkward. I found that the wing tip helped it feel secure in my hand, but the very curved other end was difficult to hold. It’s nice that each half can be charged separately via USB-C.

When it comes to the NexiGo NS32 and NS53, they work and perform well, especially for the price. It’s hard to find third-party Switch controllers with rumble, not even officially licensed ones have rumble for a decent price. NexiGo also offers a lot of really fun colors and designs. The LED rings around the sticks are simple enough to adjust to your taste and add a touch of style to your controller. That said, they feel a little cheap and I’d only use the NS53 in portable mode unless you have huge hands, which makes me wonder if one of their other controller models would be a good fit for me. However, they are not bad controllers. I think they could just use some polish.