Mobapad M6 HD
The Joy-Con Replacement You Didn’t Know You Needed

It’s no secret that Nintendo’s official Joy-Cons have their shortcomings. From the infamous joystick drifting to an ergonomic design that seems better suited for small children, Switch owners have long been asking, "Is there a better controller option?" In this review, we’ll answer that question.

Spoiler alert: Yes, there definitely is.

First Impressions

We originally ordered the Mobapad M6 HDs, along with two color-change shells (Pink, White) and the Mobapad Switch Protective Case from their official AliExpress store on August 11th. The Mobapads arrived on August 22nd via DHL, taking roughly 11 days to reach our regional location in Victoria, Australia. If you're in or around a major city, we imagine your delivery time would be quicker.

The packaging felt premium and retail-ready, more akin to unboxing an iPhone or some other high-end product. Everything was well-packed and arrived safely. The color-change faceplates came in a cool metallic tin with laser-cut foam to hold the accessories.

We also ordered the optional protective case, which is perfectly molded for the Nintendo Switch (both Original and OLED models) with the Mobapad M6 HDs attached. It feels sturdy, high-quality, and quite nice to the touch, featuring a sort of faux velvet layer inside. The included flap holds 10 additional Nintendo Switch game cartridges.

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Build Quality

In terms of build quality, wow, we're blown away. The plastics feel great, with a similar texture to a standard Xbox or PlayStation controller. It's as good as any other injection-molded plastic, but where we really get impressed is with the tactility. The ABXY buttons have a fantastic mechanical "click," quite similar to the feel of a premium mouse click. That's no surprise, as that's exactly the mechanism underneath these buttons. It's different from almost every other controller on the market, while being so satisfying. They truly are the best ABXY buttons I've ever had the pleasure of pressing.

The bumpers, triggers, and D-pad also share these mechanical switches, and they all feel sublime. In fact, I would even say that the D-pad is one of the best I've ever felt. If I had to nitpick, I find the ZL/ZR triggers to be at a slightly steep angle. You'd absolutely get used to it, and it's not a big deal, but it's the only part of the controller where I felt a sense of "This could be better." That said, the triggers are still far more comfortable than any of their competitors.

As for the thumbsticks, they're the highly regarded Hall Effect joysticks, with 75% sized caps that feel great. They have a rough-textured edge but a soft rubber/silicone center that feels fantastic. They're on par with any other full-sized thumbstick out there and are very comfortable to use. Personally, I've never been entirely in love with non-symmetrical thumbsticks, as I usually have to bend my right thumb down to an uncomfortable angle, but these offer one of the most comfortable experiences I've had.

And the rails/fit? In short, it's perfect. The Mobapads slide onto your Switch's rails more firmly than the original Joy-Cons, but not in an uncomfortable or concerning way. Once attached, they feel solid with absolutely zero flex. The black model specifically matches my Steam Deck OLED perfectly, making the entire console feel like a solid handheld similar to the Steam Deck.

Simply put? It's great.

Features

The feature set is where the Mobapad M6 HDs truly excel, and at the time of writing, we believe there isn't a competitor on the market that can match them. These controllers deliver essentially all the functionality of the original Joy-Cons, including elusive features like HD Rumble and Amiibo support—two aspects that many other third-party options fail to provide.

What sets the Mobapads apart is how they go beyond replicating the Joy-Con experience. They feel so refined that you might think Nintendo made them, and they easily surpass all of Nintendo's second-party offerings. The controllers include Sixaxis gyro controls for precise motion tracking, and they charge directly from the Switch, eliminating the need for extra cables or chargers. They also support wireless play and can wake the Switch from sleep mode, even when disconnected.

But the Mobapad M6 HDs don’t stop at matching the Joy-Cons; they bring extra aftermarket features to the table that elevate them even further. The Hall Effect sticks ensure no drift issues, the rapid-fire functionality and customizable rear buttons give you enhanced control, and the ergonomics make them comfortable for long gaming sessions. Plus, the interchangeable faceplates add a level of customization that’s rarely seen.

Value for Money

We paid $161 for our Mobapad M6 HDs with two sets of spare color-change faceplates, two D-pad styles, and a premium protective case to house everything. Less than two weeks later, they're already below $150, including shipping and taxes (GST in the case of Aussies, which AliExpress now automatically collects at checkout).

If you're just after the controllers themselves and don't need any accessories, they can be had for less than $100 AUD. Considering Nintendo's RRP on replacement Joy-Cons is $119.95 AUD, we're confident in saying that these aren't only good value, they're exceptional value.

Conclusion

By now, it should be no secret that we love this product. So much so that during the writing of this review, we worried it would come across as sponsored or ingenuine. To be clear, not only is this review not sponsored, but we actually reached out to Mobapad prior to purchasing these and inquired about a potential review/collab, where they ghosted us not once, but twice. We purchased these with our own money with hurt feelings when reaching out, and yet these are, without any doubt, the best experience I've had playing on a Nintendo Switch. Frankly, they blow both Nintendo's Joy-Cons and their aftermarket competitors out of the water. Whether it's the abysmal Hori Split Pad Pros, the ergonomically challenged NitroDecks, or even NYXI's range of Joy-Con substitutes, nothing comes close to how tremendous these M6 HDs are.

So should you buy these?

The answer is an astounding yes, you absolutely should, and you can do so here.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you buy something—at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we’ve personally tested and actually use ourselves. Prices listed are just a snapshot of what they were at the time of writing and may change.

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