GuliKit’s new budget-friendly controller can wake the Switch 2

GuliKit is following the release of its $49.99 Elves 2 Pro controller with a slightly cheaper alternative that brings a feature that’s still somewhat rare among third-party gamepads: remotely waking the Switch 2. The new GuliKit Elves 2 sacrifices some of the Pro’s more premium features like advanced haptics, but for $29.99 — available now in translucent black or coral red — it could be a budget-friendly alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.

The Elves 2 could also appeal to gamers who prefer a symmetrical joystick layout, similar to what the PlayStation’s controllers use, or those who still have a soft spot for the Sega Saturn gamepad.

It’s compatible with the original Switch and the Switch 2, as well as Windows, Android, and iOS devices. In addition to being able to wake the Switch 2, the Elves 2 has a six-axis gyroscope for motion controls like Nintendo’s new Pro controller, but it lacks an NFC chip for scanning Amiibos and the dedicated chat button found on the Joy-Con 2.

GuliKit says the Elves 2’s battery life is rated at up to 20 hours, which matches the Elves 2 Pro. Other premium features missing on the cheaper alternative include button remapping, adjustable joystick sensitivity, and the ability to record and replay up to 10 minutes of button presses.