Nintendo made it hard for third-party Switch controllers to stand out because they won’t work well in all the different ways the Switch console can be used. Some Switch controllers may try to be flexible or just use a wireless connection, while others will try to be like the Switch Joy-Con. The new Split Pad Compact controllers from Hori are in the second group. They also make a new pad after the Hori Split Pad Pro that is smaller and has more colors.
In the end, they are better than the Joy-Con because they are bigger and can do more, and they cost less. There are some trade-offs, though, that keep them from being a perfect replacement for the original Nintendo controllers. There aren’t many good Joy-Con replacements for the Nintendo Switch, so anyone with the dreaded drift or just looking for a different gamepad won’t have to look far to find Hori’s range.
Even though these attachable controllers lack some of the more expensive features of the original Nintendo controllers, anyone looking for a more ergonomic way to play will be happy with the results. The Hori Split Pad Compact is the smaller of the two controllers Hori has made for the Nintendo Switch. Its name gives it away. This is still a full-sized gamepad, but it is much smaller than the Hori Split Pad Pro. It has a better grip, a D-Pad, and two programmable back buttons.
Hori Split Pad Compact: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Assignable rear buttons offer additional control options
- Compact and lightweight design for portability
- Directly connects to the Switch console, no wireless pairing required
- Suitable for players with larger hands or those who prefer a wider grip
Cons
- No motion control or vibration features
- Lack of wireless connectivity limits flexibility
- Does not include a built-in stand for tabletop gaming
- Availability and pricing may vary
Specification Table
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Nintendo Switch |
| Connectivity | Directly connects to the Switch console |
| Controller Layout | Split design with left and right separate controllers |
| Control Inputs | Analog stick (x2), D-pad, face buttons (A, B, X, Y), |
| L, R, ZL, ZR shoulder buttons, Capture and Home buttons | |
| Additional Inputs | Turbo function, assignable rear buttons (L1, R1) |
| Motion Control | No |
| Vibration | No |
| Battery Life | N/A (powered directly by the Switch console) |
| Dimensions | Approx. 160mm x 70mm x 30mm |
| Weight | Approx. 140g (per controller) |
| Ergonomics | Ergonomic grip design for enhanced comfort |
| Built-in Stand | No |
| Warranty | Limited 1-year warranty |
| Price | Varies (typically around $50) |
| Official link | Visit Website |
Hori Split Pad Compact: Design
At its most basic level, the Hori Split Pad Compact works just like a Joy-Con. They fit right into the sides of a Nintendo Switch where the Joy-Con would go, and they get their power from the Switch. The grips add some of the color of the Switch Lite to the regular Switch consoles. There is an Apricot Red model and one that is light gray on the front and what we an only describe as a sickly yellow on the back.
But don’t let the word “compact” in the name fool you. These controllers have a lot more room than the Joy-Con for people with bigger hands. The shoulder buttons and triggers are bigger, and the thumbsticks are taller, wider, and have different textures. Compared to the cramped Joy-Con, we find this extra size to be a big step up in comfort. we think it could still be bigger but this size will probably be more comfortable for most adults and even teens.
But this change in size has bigger effects for people who own a Switch. For one, if you already bought a case that fits your Switch, it will be hard to put your new Switch and Split Pad Compact in it. The Split Pad Compact also won’t fit in the Joy-Con grip, but even if it did, it wouldn’t work because it can only connect directly to the Switch. It doesn’t support USB, Bluetooth, or wireless connections.
In keeping with the fact that the Split Pad Compact doesn’t have a lot of features, it doesn’t have HD rumble (or even standard definition rumble), an NFC reader, an IR camera (though the Joy-Con rarely uses that anyway), or a gyro sensor. Sure, it’s nice to have Rumble, but the gyro sensor can be very important for some games. For example, in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you can’t beat all of the shrines without that gyro, and it may be harder to aim arrows.
Hori Split Pad Compact: Features
The Split Pad Compact is not a controller that works without a cord. To use it, you’ll need to put your Switch into handheld mode. There are a few other important features that the Joycon has that the Split Pad Compact does not.
You don’t get any HD Rumble features, NFC functionality for Amiibo support, or an IR camera. On the other side, you get an extra button that can be remapped and turbo functionality. To assign the extra buttons on the back, all you have to do is press the “Assign” button and then click the button you want to change. This can be very helpful for games that are hard to control.
Hori Split Pad Compact: Performance
how the Hori Split Pad Compact feels and works as a whole. Like the Pro model, the thumbsticks and triggers are much more satisfying and accurate than those on the Joy-Con. This made my short time with Wolfenstein: Youngblood more enjoyable. When it comes to aiming and snapping into place quickly and accurately, these feel a lot more like the sticks on the Pro Controller than the Joy-Con version, which often feels slippery.
But when we first turned on the Split Pad Compact, we were surprised by how soft the d-pad and face buttons were. That’s because I had just switched from the Pro, whose buttons move farther and click more satisfyingly. The Compact, on the other hand, feels soft and squishy when you press it with your thumb. Even though it had no effect on response times, it’s disappointing that the quality has gone down. Overall, the slightly smaller buttons are harder to press, and when Super Mario Sunshine got wild, I often hit more than one by accident.
Final Words
The Split Pad Compact is a nice upgrade and a good deal for playing games on the go, but it is not a well-rounded Switch controller. If you don’t always play in handheld mode, the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless or 8BitDo Pro 2 are probably better choices when you want to give the Joy-Con a break. And if you want to be sure you can play every Switch game, you’ll always need your Joy-Con as a backup for the Split Pad Compact.
FAQs
When the Nintendo SwitchTM system is in Handheld Mode, the Split Pad Compact can be attached to it to make it feel like a full-size controller. The ergonomic shape fits your hands perfectly to make them more comfortable and easy to use. There are full-size analog sticks and a D-pad, turbo functions, and rear buttons that can be set to do different things.
If you already know how to use your Switch, this controller will work much better with games that put more emphasis on the A and B buttons and less on the X and Y buttons. Because of this, it works really well with Smash Bros.
