Hori Break up Pad Professional: One-minute assessment
The Hori Break up Pad Professional was simply one of many best Nintendo Switch controllers when it first launched along with Daemon X Machina over 5 years in the past, providing a unbelievable wired-only Pleasure-Con different that delivered superior consolation and efficiency at the price of a couple of nice-to-have options like HD Rumble, movement controls, and wi-fi compatibility. It stays an honest possibility in 2025, particularly given its comparatively modest value level, however the rise of completely killer, feature-packed alternate options just like the CRKD Nitro Deck or CRKD Nitro Deck+ imply it’s not fairly the titan that it as soon as was.
The complete-size thumbsticks, bigger face buttons, and massively improved shoulder buttons are amongst its largest benefits nonetheless, particularly in comparison with the usual Pleasure-Con controllers. It’s laborious to overstate simply how a lot this could enhance some video games, particularly shooters like Borderlands 3 or Doom Eternal the place the restricted thumbstick movement and shallow triggers of the Pleasure-Con are a continuing frustration. Even so, the absence of movement controls is an actual disgrace on this regard, particularly when most Nintendo Swap shooters now assist them for extra exact aiming, and makes it unsuitable for the likes of Splatoon 3 if that’s your most well-liked enter methodology.
The D-pad of the Hori Break up Pad Professional is a robust level too and excellent for exact platforming in video games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder. It’s joined by some helpful extras, like two remappable rear inputs and an non-obligatory turbo mode, although I don’t discover myself reaching for both of those that usually. All of this may be configured on the controllers themselves, which eliminates the necessity for any further software program.
There’s additionally the matter of the controller’s total form, which is considerably bigger than that of the Pleasure-Con. Does this make your Nintendo Switch more durable to stash in a bag? Completely, however I believe this trade-off is price it given the better stage of consolation that it brings. It makes the Nintendo Swap a pleasure to play over prolonged intervals of time and generally is a lifesaver if you happen to’re attempting to sport all through an extended journey.
Hori Break up Pad Professional: Worth and availability
- Plain fashions go for $49.99 / £39.99
- Licensed variations get costly
- Accent pack obtainable for TV mode wired play
The plain black model of the Hori Break up Pad Professional is straightforward to seek out for $49.99 / £39.99 at on-line retailers like Amazon along with Finest Purchase and Walmart within the US or Argos and Currys within the UK. There are additionally a plethora of licensed variations obtainable, although these are typically dearer. To present an instance, the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom variant that I examined prices $59.99 / £53.99 on the time of writing, so solely spring out for these editions if you happen to’re prepared to pay extra for the aesthetic.
This value level places the Hori Break up Pad Professional in shut competitors with the $59.99 / £59.99 CRKD Nitro Deck, particularly whenever you keep in mind that the latter is sort of perpetually on sale for as little as $39.99 / £37.99. Having examined each extensively, I can say the CRKD Nitro Deck is definitively higher due to a barely extra snug form (although the Break up Pad Professional remains to be cozy) and the addition of options like movement management and rumble. Nonetheless, the Hori Break up Pad Professional is price selecting if you happen to desire its smaller kind issue – or need one thing that doesn’t want a cell app to tweak.
You may as well purchase the Hori Break up Pad Professional in a bundle that comes with a small attachment that goes in between the controllers for wired TV mode play and in addition permits PC compatibility. This is available in at $79.99 / £69.99 and is the one approach to purchase that attachment as it isn’t bought individually.
Hori Break up Pad Professional: Specs
Worth |
$49.99 / £39.99 |
Weight |
0.18 lbs / 80 g (every) |
Compatibility |
Nintendo Swap, Nintendo Swap OLED |
Connection sort |
Wired |
Battery Life |
N/A |
Options |
2x remappable rear enter, turbo mode |
Software program |
N/A |
Hori Break up Pad Professional: Design and options
- Far more snug than the Pleasure-Con
- However gentle weight feels fairly low cost
- Turbo mode, plus remappable buttons featured
Taking the Hori Break up Pad Professional out of the field, the very first thing you’ll discover is its gentle weight. These controllers are available at simply 0.18 lbs / 80 g every – which is definitely a bit greater than the usual Pleasure-Con however, due to the elevated dimension, feels loads much less substantial within the palms. They arrive throughout as virtually hole, which isn’t one of the best first impression given the worth. Fortunately, that is barely noticeable as soon as you fit them into the Pleasure-Con rails, they usually slide in seamlessly earlier than securing in place with a reassuring click on.
Hori has opted for an uncommon, virtually squashed look with the Break up Pad Professional, giving the impression of a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller that somebody has by chance sat on. The grips are tiny, lumpy protrusions on the nook of every facet of the gamepad, which truthfully appears fairly ridiculous. That mentioned, the corporate have to be on to one thing right here because the Hori Break up Pad Professional is significantly snug to carry.
The grips match properly in my palms and the chunky depth offers you hundreds to understand on to. The shoulder buttons are a large enchancment over these discovered on the Pleasure-Con, coming in bigger and with a a lot softer press to them. The triggers are additionally enhanced, with a bit of additional motion for a extra satisfying pull. Likewise, the thumbsticks have an amazing vary of movement, permitting for extra exact inputs than the fiddly tiny ones on the Pleasure-Con – although they’re sadly not Hall effect like these of the CRKD Nitro Deck. There’s additionally a correct D-pad, with a satisfying, spongy really feel (not too dissimilar to that of the Nintendo 2DS) and a slight concave form that’s nice on the thumb.
On the subject of options, you will have a modest choice to select from. Either side of the Break up Pad Professional has its personal rear enter, which will be mapped by holding the tiny ‘Assign’ button on the entrance. This could solely be achieved whereas your Nintendo Swap is powered on however, fortunately, does save your choice in between makes use of. There’s additionally a turbo button, which you’ll be able to maintain to simulate speedy button presses with out ruining your thumb – helpful if you happen to play a variety of arcade shoot-’em up type video games.
As I’ve beforehand talked about, it is a wired controller that may solely be used hooked up to the Swap. Not like the Pleasure-Con, you additionally don’t get HD Rumble (or any vibration for that matter), gyroscope controls, an IR digital camera, or Amiibo assist which is a disgrace however not too shocking within the realm of third-party controllers.
Hori Break up Pad Professional: Efficiency
- Very snug to make use of
- Excellent for shooters
- Outclassed by the CRKD Nitro Deck
There’s little or no I can fault the Hori Break up Pad Professional on in uncooked efficiency. It feels nice within the palms and stays so over prolonged classes. I typically discover my fingers turn into cramped after a number of hours with the Pleasure-Con and that’s by no means the case right here.
The buttons and D-pad are completely responsive and an amazing dimension for these with bigger palms too, additional including to the consolation issue. The bigger thumbsticks don’t have a variety of resistance so are perfect for fast movement, whether or not that’s in 3D adventures like Super Mario Odyssey or fast-paced driving video games akin to Rocket League.
My solely criticism with the buttons is using a really comfortable rubbery materials for the beginning, choose, house, ‘Assign’ and turbo buttons, which makes them pretty uninteresting and sluggish to press. These aren’t buttons that you just’re going to be utilizing on a regular basis, after all, however plastic can be an enormous enchancment. Though I do miss the flexibility to tweak settings like thumbstick sensitivity, the truth that you don’t want an app to entry the rear button task and turbo is refreshing and would make this a very good match if you happen to’re purchasing for a kid.
Sadly, the Hori Break up Pad Professional suffers due to its relative age. The CRKD Nitro Deck and CRKD Nitro Deck+ have launched during the last couple of years and outclass it in virtually each regard – be that the presence of movement management, rumble, two extra rear inputs, a HDMI port, or Corridor impact parts. Having examined each extensively, I even discovered that the Nitro Deck is a tad extra snug due to its elevated heft and positively has a extra premium construct. The one space the place the Hori Break up Pad Professional comes up on prime is the truth that it’s smaller and simpler to take away, so barely extra transportable total.
Ought to I purchase the Hori Break up Pad Professional?
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Additionally take into account…
Contemplating the Hori Break up Pad Professional? These alternate options also needs to be in your radar.
Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Hori Break up Pad Professional |
CRKD Nitro Deck |
Nintendo Swap Professional Controller |
Worth |
$49.99 / £39.99 |
$59.99 / £59.99 |
$69.99 / £59.99 |
Weight |
0.18 lbs / 80 g (every) |
0.59 lbs / 269.3 g |
0.54 lbs / 246 g |
Compatibility |
Nintendo Swap, Nintendo Swap OLED |
Nintendo Swap, Nintendo Swap OLED |
Nintendo Swap, Nintendo Swap OLED, Nintendo Swap Lite |
Connection sort |
Wired |
Wired |
Wired / Bluetooth wi-fi |
Battery Life |
N/A |
N/A |
40 hours |
Options |
2x remappable rear enter, turbo mode |
Corridor impact thumbsticks, 4 remappable buttons, rear kickstand, gyro assist |
Gyroscope, NFC (Amiibo assist), HD Rumble |
Software program |
N/A |
True Assortment System App |
N/A |
How I examined the Hori Break up Pad Professional
- Examined this unit for 2 weeks
- Tried with an enormous a wide range of Nintendo Swap video games
- In comparison with different Nintendo Swap equipment
Though Hori supplied the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom version for the needs of this assessment, I’ve owned the black model of the Hori Break up Pad Professional for years with it being my most important Nintendo Swap controller between 2021 and 2023, at which level I upgraded to the CRKD Nitro Deck. I’ve spent actually a whole lot of hours with it, testing all of its features and taking part in an enormous number of Nintendo Swap video games.
For this assessment, I in contrast my expertise with the Hori Break up Pad Professional to that with different Nintendo Swap controllers and equipment – specifically the CRKD Nitro Deck.
First reviewed February 2025