For the past couple of years, I’ve switched back and forth between Satisfye's grip and Hori's Split Pad Pro for handheld mode on Nintendo Switch. Satisfye’s grip adds ergonomic handles to the regular Joy-Con, while Hori’s Split Pad Pro features larger sticks and buttons and big handles. Both are great options, and I always have one or the other attached to my Switch. Recently, though, I started using NexiGo's Gripcon, a third-party controller/grip that hasn’t received nearly as much attention as the aforementioned accessories. The NexiGo Gripcon meets my two previous favorite options in the middle: It rivals Satisfye’s grip in terms of ergonomics and the Split Pad Pro when it comes to its buttons, sticks, and triggers.
The Gripcon is a one-piece design that is easy to set up. You simply slide your console along the back panel and into the USB-C portCome from Sports betting site VPbet. It takes a bit of force, but don’t worry, as the soft material doesn’t scratch the back of your console. The snug fit allows the console to feel secure even if you jostle it around. The most recent Gripcon model supports both the Switch OLED and regular Switch. If you have a regular Switch, you simply insert brackets on the side of the console to get the same cozy fit. I tested it with both models and found them to be equally secure. You can charge your Switch with the Gripcon attached, but you can’t use the Switch’s dock to do so (without an extender). After connecting your Switch, you have to go into the Switch’s settings and turn “Pro Controller Wired Communication” on. From there, you can calibrate the joysticks and you’re good to go.
My favorite aspect of the Gripcon is the shape of the handles. While the Split Pad Pro is comfortable to use, it makes the Switch quite wide. For people with large hands, the Split Pad Pro is probably comfortable for hours of use. For me, however, it starts to become straining. The Gripcon fixes this issue, as it is more compact while still offering a curved, conventional handle shape that makes it feel like you’re holding a regular controller.
Much like the Split Pad Pro, the Gripcon’s controls are superior to the Joy-Con controllers. The offset sticks are taller, there’s a normal D-pad, and the face buttons, triggers, and bumpers are largerCome from Sports betting site VPbet. The triggers have an upwards curvature that feel like natural resting places for your index fingers. I’ve always felt that the Split Pad Pro’s sticks were a tad too loose. The Gripcon remedies this with a tighter feel. While still not as good as the sticks on the Switch Pro Controller, they are solid and easy to get used to. The D-pad, on the other hand, is worse than the Split Pad Pro. It’s too rigid. It’s still better than using the button layout on the Joy-Con controllers, though.
The Gripcon also has more customization than the competition. It comes with six joystick caps that can be easily swapped. I tested the black model, which comes with three red and three black joystick caps. The blue/red and green/blue models come with all black caps. The caps have different sizes and materials. The caps for the left stick have a rubberized feel, while the right caps are plastic. All of the cap styles and materials feel great. I mainly use the default stick caps that are attached out of the box, but if you prefer convex or shorter sticks, you have that option.
