Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller input lag comparison
| # | Connection | Mode | Min.Latency | AverageLatency (ms) | Max.Latency | Polling rate | Jitter | OSBuild ver. | FWTester ver. | Nintendo Switch Pro Controller - Polling Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
| Cable | Switch | 7.84 * | 13.3 * | 23.94 * | 75.17 of 125 Hz | 3.82 | Windows |
--- |  |
|
2
| Bluetooth | Switch | 13.81 * | 15.13 * | 30.05 * | 66.07 of 125 Hz | 1.54 | Windows |
--- |  |
Other tests
| # | Connection | Mode | Min.Latency | AverageLatency (ms) | Max.Latency | Polling rate | Jitter | OSBuild ver. | FWTester ver. | Nintendo Switch Pro Controller - Polling Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3
| Cable | Switch | 7.44 * | 13.52 * | 24.03 * | 73.99 of 125 Hz | 3.76 | Windows |
--- | |
|
4
| Cable | Switch | 7.36 * | 13.56 * | 23.77 * | 73.75 of 125 Hz | 3.72 | Win 11 10.0.22631 |
--- 1.1.5 |  |
|
5
| Cable | Switch | 7.72 * | 13.6 * | 31.87 * | 73.52 of 125 Hz | 3.93 | Linux #45-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC |
--- 1.1.6 |  |
|
6
| Cable | Switch | 7.94 * | 15.13 * | 40.19 * | 66.11 of 125 Hz | 6.22 | Win 10 10.0.19045 |
1.1.6 1.1.6 |  |
|
7
| Bluetooth | Switch | 13.51 * | 14.99 * | 30.03 * | 66.7 of 125 Hz | 1.15 | Win 10 10.0.19045 |
--- 1.1.5 |  |
|
8
| Bluetooth | Switch | 1.12 * | 15.15 * | 44.7 * | 66.02 of 125 Hz | 3.97 | Linux #45-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC |
--- 1.1.6 | |
Latency
This chart shows how quickly your gamepad responds to button presses as well as joystick deviation. Each point on the graph represents a test result.
- The horizontal axis (X-axis) measures the time elapsed from the button press or stick deflection to the game's response. This time is called “latency”.
- The vertical axis (Y-axis) shows how often we got such a result, in percentages.
If you hover over a point on the graph, you'll see how long the latency was and how often it occurred.
The lower the latency, the better. In a perfect world, as soon as you press a button or move the joystick on a gamepad, the action in the game happens instantly. If there is a long delay, you can press the button, but the action will take some time. In fast-paced games where every second counts, a long delay can be a problem.
Use this chart to figure out how fast your gamepad reacts.
Polling rate
The polling rate (also known as the Refresh intervals) in gamepads refers to how often the controller sends input information to the console or computer. It's measured in Hertz (Hz), which translates to the number of times per second the device reports its status to the computer.
For example, a gamepad with a polling rate of 125 Hz sends its status to the computer 125 times per second, or every 8 milliseconds.
The polling rate is essential in gaming for two reasons:
-
Responsiveness: A higher polling rate means the controller communicates its state to the computer more frequently, resulting in faster and more responsive gameplay. In fast-paced or competitive games, even a slight increase in responsiveness can give players an advantage.
-
Accuracy: A higher polling rate can also increase the accuracy of the controller. This is particularly important for devices like gaming mice, where precise movements can be critical, but it can also impact gamepads, especially in games that require accurate inputs.
However, it's important to note that a higher polling rate can also put more strain on the computer's CPU, as it needs to process inputs more frequently. Moreover, beyond a certain point, increases in polling rate may not yield noticeable improvements due to limitations in human reaction time and display refresh rates.
Jitter
Jitter is a measure of how much the gamepad's latency varies during testing. It is calculated as the standard deviation of the recorded delay times. A lower jitter value indicates more consistent latency, while a higher jitter suggests unstable performance. Low jitter is important for a smooth, responsive gaming experience.
Stick test of Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
- Inner DeadZonenone
- Asymmetry Index2.9 / 2.4%
- Circle Error3.4 / 5.5%
- Central Accuracy3.3 / 0.9%
Inner Dead Zone
The inner dead zone is an important parameter for stick control. It helps avoid drift or accidental movement, but if this zone is larger than the necessary minimum, it can significantly impact aiming accuracy in games. Therefore, it is better when the inner dead zone is minimal or absent.
Gamepad Nintendo Switch Pro Controller has no inner deadzones, which has which has a positive effect on aiming accuracy and micro control.
Outer Dead Zone
The outer dead zone indicates the extent to which there is an area where stick movement is not registered when fully deflected. If it's small, it indicates high stick calibration accuracy. In the case of a large outer dead zone, it significantly limits the useful range of motion and can have a negative impact on control.
The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller gamepad has normal external stick dead zones . Its significant presence does not limit the range of motion and does not have a negative impact on control.
Stick Resolution
The stick resolution of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller gamepad has a motion resolution of 0.0013. This means that it can register 769 positions from the center point of the stick to its outermost edge. This is similar to the resolution of a monitor, where more pixels provide a clearer image. In the case of gamepad sticks, higher resolution ensures smoother and more precise control. As a rule, 125 positions are more than enough for a comfortable game.
It is important to know that some gamepads do not have a constant resolution and give out 0.0078 or 0.0150 (for example). Therefore, the number of end positions may differ from the real ones.
Asymmetry Index
The Asymmetry Index measures the difference in the left-right and up-down deflection of the joystick. A higher difference indicates worse joystick movement. The largest difference in the X and Y axis deflection is selected as the index. This indicator helps to understand the joystick's performance during small, precise movements that are critical for aiming and typically use 25-60% of the joystick's range of motion.
The asymmetry index of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller gamepad is 2.9% for the left stick and 2.4% for the right stick.
Learn more about how the measurements are made.
Circle Error
The "Circle Error" parameter determines the behavior of the stick at its extreme diagonal positions. With the Joystick Tester program, you can check how accurately the gamepad stick draws a circle in its movement. The lower the error value, the better. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller gamepad has 3.4% left circle error, and 5.5% right circle error.
Central Accuracy
The stick centering parameter indicates how well the stick returns to the central position after the player releases it. This characteristic is responsible for stick drift: the lower the Central Accuracy value, the better. The average worst position at which the joystick stops is taken as a measurement and is not touched.
In the case of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, the Central Accuracy for the left joystick is 3.3%, and 0.9% for the right stick.
Disclaimer
All conclusions of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller gamepad are based on a single gamepad, which does not rule out the possibility that other units of this model may perform better or worse. However, this variation is usually insignificant. The test data was obtained using Joystick Tester program, and some parameters may differ in other programs.
Comparison of Nintendo Switch Pro Controller latency with other
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller specifications
Platforms
Internal
External
Features
Connection
Software
