What is the name of the Nintendo Switch’s official premium controller?

The Nintendo Switch’s official premium gamepad is called the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

Nintendo designed the wireless controller as a more traditional alternative to Joy-Con controllers. It has full-size analog sticks, a conventional directional pad, shoulder buttons, motion controls, HD Rumble, and an NFC reader. The NFC reader can scan compatible amiibo figures and cards.

The Pro Controller launched alongside the Nintendo Switch on March 3, 2017. It is especially suited to longer home-console sessions, although the Switch’s included Joy-Con controllers can perform the same basic control functions in supported games.

It is often confused with Nintendo’s Wii U Pro Controller, which has a similar name but belongs to a different console generation. The Switch Pro Controller connects to the Switch and is not the same accessory as the Joy-Con grip, which merely holds two Joy-Con units in a more traditional arrangement.