The Nitro Deck is one of our favorite handheld controllers for Nintendo Switch, and right now you can save big on one of the awesome retro-themed models bundled with a custom hardshell carrying case. As part of Amazon’s Black Friday gaming sale, the Nitro Deck Limited-Edition Controller Bundles are discounted to only $50 (was $80). You can choose between six nostalgic color schemes, including one inspired by the purple GameCube controller and a handful of translucent editions.
Nitro Deck Nintendo Switch Controller + Carrying Case Bundles
The carrying case is a great add-on, especially since the carrying case you have now likely isn’t the right size for the Switch while attached to the Nitro Deck. But Amazon also has discounts on the Nitro Deck without a carrying case, including a Hellboy-themed edition, as well as the Nitro Deck+, which has a few new features, including two extra buttons, video out, and a modified layout.
- Nitro Deck Controller
- Nitro Deck+ Controller
$50 (was $80)
The Nitro Deck acts as a cradle for your Switch or Switch OLED. It has an extremely sturdy design and premium feel. The Switch slides into the U-shaped controller and connects via USB-C, just like when you dock the console, which reduces input latency compared to wireless controllers.
A number of features make the Nitro Deck stand out. It has full-size analog sticks and triggers, a conventional D-pad, four remappable back buttons, and curved handles that make it comfortable to hold. The analog sticks use Hall Effect sensors, which eliminates the components that cause stick drift. The analog stick caps are swappable, and each bundle comes with an extra set of caps.
It also has a built-in kickstand for tabletop mode and passthrough USB-C for charging. A companion smartphone app allows you to further customize the Nitro Deck’s features. A button on the back of the controller lets you remap the four back buttons on the fly, too.
The Nitro Deck has built-in rumble and motion controls and can be used as a regular wired controller for Nintendo Switch and PC.
The hardshell carrying case fits the Switch with Nitro Deck attached perfectly. It has a mesh pocket where you can store the included USB-C cable and analog stick caps as well as an insert for eight game cartridges.
$60 (was $80)
The recently released Nitro Deck+ is also included in Amazon’s Black Friday sale. One of the main changes with the new model is that the right stick is now above the buttons. The original Nitro Deck’s low right analog stick can take some getting used to, but after spending time with the new model, I actually prefer the original layout. The exception here is first-person shooters or games where you need to move the camera a lot. In those scenarios, the Nitro Deck+ is comfier, but you’ll probably want to map the face buttons to the four back triggers and/or make use of the new “sidekick” buttons–two remappable buttons next to the sticks.
The Nitro Deck+ also adds video out with an HDMI adapter, so you no longer need to remove the Switch from the cradle to dock it and play on TV. This is a welcome feature, and the bundle that’s on sale comes with the HDMI adapter. The Nitro Deck+ without the adapter is also available for $20 off, dropping the price to $50.
You can also save $10 on CRKD’s NEO S wireless controllers for Nintendo Switch and PC. A compact controller with an interesting form factor, the NEO S is available in a variety of colors, including an eye-catching gold.