CRKD Ult Pro controller review finds strong sticks but weak shoulder buttons

What the Ult Pro offers

CRKD has joined the growing list of accessory makers building a premium alternative to Nintendo's own Pro Controller for Switch 2, according to a review published by Nintendo Life on 13 November 2026. The outlet's verdict is mixed: a capable pad overall, but one held back by its shoulder and bumper buttons.

The CRKD Ult Pro controller is priced at $69.99 / €79.99 / £64.99, which places it below Nintendo's first-party pad and roughly level with Gulikit's TT line. Nintendo Life notes that the spec sheet is generous. The pad uses TMR analogue sticks, a magnetic sensor technology the reviewer says should help prevent stick drift, along with Hall Effect triggers, four rear buttons, two extra bumper inputs, four switchable profiles, adjustable rumble and a charging stand.

Swappable grips are also supported, though alternative designs are sold separately. The reviewer would have preferred at least one spare set in the box.

Sticks and D-pad impress

The analogue sticks come in for praise. Nintendo Life describes a convex shape that is uncommon on modern pads, with a thin ridge near the edge of the grip that helps players keep track of thumb placement.

The default D-pad is circular with a raised cross marking the four main directions. The reviewer found it quiet and accurate, and reports it worked reliably in platformers such as Super Mario World and action titles like Contra. That design can be swapped out too.

The face buttons are not mechanical and lack a click, but Nintendo Life says they perform well. They are slightly convex and spaced for easy access, and the colour scheme echoes classic pads without copying the SNES or Xbox 360 layouts outright. An all-black version is also available.

Shoulder buttons are the weak point

The review's main criticism concerns the shoulder and bumper buttons. The trigger travel can be adjusted between a short, clicky input and a full, smooth pull. Nintendo Life found the full trigger motion pleasant, but judged the tactile option poor, describing it as weak and spongy rather than crisp.

The outlet urges CRKD to fix this in future revisions. It is worth noting that Switch 2 does not support analogue triggers outside of the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube pad, so the choice between the two modes comes down to personal preference rather than functionality.

The extra bumper inputs draw criticism as well. The additional L2 and R2 buttons sit so close to the main L1 and R1 buttons that a resting finger can cover both, making accidental presses likely. Nintendo Life suggests spacing them further apart, enlarging the main bumpers, or dropping the extras entirely, and points to 8BitDo's Pro 3 as a better reference design.

Rear buttons, remapping and odd choices

The four buttons on the back of the controller fare better. The reviewer has no major complaints about them and expects they will appeal to competitive players, though they produce a loud click. The exterior plastic also feels somewhat cheap for the price, according to the review.

All six extra inputs can be remapped using a Program button beneath the D-pad, and four profiles allow different configurations to be stored. Documentation is thin: the printed instructions are limited and the QR code linking to an online manual led to a dead page, although CRKD does publish a setup video on YouTube.

Nintendo Life also questions two unusual design decisions. The Start, Select and Capture functions are combined into two rocking inputs, so pushing one rocker up or down triggers different commands. There is no dedicated C button either; instead, pushing down on the right rocker runs a macro that opens the Chat app.

Connection options and power

Three connection methods are supported. Bluetooth pairing works by holding a large black button until it flashes blue. A USB dongle stored in the charging dock can be plugged into the Switch 2 dock for a wireless link, and a USB-A to USB-C cable offers a wired option. The reviewer noticed no meaningful difference in latency between the three, though players sensitive to lag may prefer one over the others.

Power flexibility is a highlight. The pad can be topped up on the included dock, which the reviewer says looks tidy beside a television. The rechargeable battery can also be replaced if it degrades, and the controller can run on a pair of AA batteries as an alternative.

One notable omission is wake-up support, meaning the controller cannot turn the console on. Combined with the casing quality and the shoulder button issues, Nintendo Life concludes this is not yet the Pro Controller rival it hoped for, but argues that with refinement CRKD could have a strong product on its hands.