Ckrd's Nitro Deck and Nitro Deck+ are solid handheld controller upgrades for the original Switch and Switch OLED, providing drift-resistant sticks, programmable buttons and other nice-to-have pro features. I used one for many years on a Switch OLED model I bought sans Joy-Cons, and now the Nitro Deck 2 is here for the Switch 2.

Like its predecessors, it adds more durable sticks and triggers, advanced programmability and other features, but this time around it's more of a backbone-style controller that expands or contracts to fit both original Switch models or the Switch 2. It's an interesting proposition to say the least, and I keep going back and forth over whether it's worth recommending - as in some ways it's a welcome upgrade over the standard Switch 2 handheld experience, and in others it's a step backwards.

Let's cover off the good stuff first. First, the Nitro Deck 2 is handsomely made, with a semi-transparent black plastic that fits the natural look of the Switch 2 while rewarding closer inspection. As there's no bottom to the design, as there was on the Deck and Deck+, there's instead a dial on the back that pulls the two halves together around the Switch 2, with pads to keep the console safe, and locks it in place. This mechanism feels robust, and I didn't ever have the Switch 2 fall out after inserting it in this way.

The controls here are laid out a bit differently than on the default Joy-Cons, with the + and - buttons paired with the program and capture buttons respectively. This allows space for additional buttons at the bottom of each half of the controller, though I personally would have preferred to keep + and - as dedicated buttons with more buttons further down. A second pair of shoulder buttons is also provided, opening up more options. There are also four buttons on the underside of the device, mapped to the face buttons by default, which can be rebound or disabled in the Ckrd mobile app if desired. Finally, the stick tension can be adjusted on the fly with rings around each stick, and the stick tops and d-pad can be swapped with alternatives (sold separately).

The Nitro Deck 2 is generally comfortable to use, with the (rare) capacitive triggers and sticks providing good precision, especially in the optional "no deadzone" mode, and the face buttons are comfortable enough to use - though I would have preferred clickier microswitches instead of the membrane underpinnings used here for a more premium feel. The Deck 2 is quite heavy, at 370 grams, so add on the Switch 2 and you're looking at around 792 grams total - more than the original Steam Deck or the Steam Deck OLED.

The Deck 2 connects via Bluetooth or an included U-shaped USB-C connector, which takes the bottom port of the Switch 2. Using it in wired mode ought to keep the controller topped up for consistent use, though I found that the controller could still lose connection mid-gameplay - very irritating and one of the biggest marks against the device, though I haven't found reports of similar problems online. Another fly in the ointment is that the Deck 2 can't turn the Switch 2 on, though generally as you're holding it this isn't a as big a deal as it is on controllers meant to be used with the Switch 2 when docked.

Beyond remapping keys, adjusting stick tension, the Deck 2 also comes with turbo modes, letting you quickly spam keys by holding them down. This is quick to enable and disable, and came in useful for Fire Emblem Engage, which has a mini-game that demands spamming the A button until have early onset carpal tunnel. You can also use the controller as a wired or Bluetooth controller on PC and mobile, though even with the Switch 2 removed and the Deck 2 in its narrowest configuration, it's still not particularly comfortable versus a standard controller shape. Still, nice to have in an emergency.

Ckrd's approach to mobile software worthy of praise. Aside from a cringy sequence that tells you how "rare" your individual controller is - a holdover from other, more limited edition Ckrd designs - the Android mobile app connects quickly and intuitively to the controller via NFC, the manual is easily accessible, and remapping buttons is straightforward. Other gamepad designers could take note.

Coming to the end of my testing period, I don't think the Deck 2 hits quite the same high notes as the original Deck and Deck+. I'd rather have seen a dedicated Switch 2 release that drops in, rather than the slightly clunkier ratcheting mechanism, even it does make the Deck 2 both backwards and forwards-compatible. Similarly, the connection issues in wired mode really soured me on the experience, as I'm not sure how a wired gamepad could be unreliable in this way - my only guess is that the Switch 2 is moving slightly in the grip to cause a disconnection - another point in favour of a drop-in rather than clip-on design.

That said, the Deck 2 does have pretty much all of the features you'd want from a pro controller, so if you play largely in handheld mode and want extra, remappable buttons, longer-lasting sticks and so on, then the £80/$80 outlay grants you a solid upgrade. For mixed handheld and docked use, the Killswitch 2 case offers a better balance of on-the-go comfort and convenient docking, though it lacks the pro features of the Deck 2 and relies on Nintendo's potentiometer-based Joy-Cons, which have their own issues. I'm curious to test other handheld upgrades for Switch 2 in the future, so stay tuned.

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