PowerA vs HORI Pokémon Nintendo Switch Controller: Which to Buy (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 23, 2026 · 5 min read
Buy PowerA if you play on the TV at all, or want a wireless controller with Pokémon designs that works in every Switch mode. Buy a HORI Split Pad if you play entirely in handheld and want full-size thumbsticks without carrying a second device.
Both brands make officially licensed Pokémon controllers for Nintendo Switch, and both sit in the same general price range. The choice is not about quality or looks. It comes down to one question: do you ever dock your Switch?
At a glance
| PowerA Enhanced Wireless | HORI Split Pad Compact | |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Wireless (Bluetooth) | Wired via Joy-Con rail |
| Play modes | TV, Handheld, Tabletop | Handheld only |
| Power | Rechargeable Li-ion, up to 30 hr (powera.com) | Draws from Switch via Joy-Con rail (no separate battery) |
| Back buttons | 2 mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons | 2 assignable rear buttons |
| Motion controls | Yes | No |
| HD Rumble / NFC / IR | No / No / No | No / No / No |
| MSRP (Pokémon edition) | $49.99–$59.99 (powera.com) | $59.99 Pikachu & Mimikyu edition (horiusa.com) |
| Observed price, Oct 23 2026 | from $34.99 (wired) / $52.99 (wireless) | from $40.00 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Yes (confirmed) | No (Switch 1 and OLED only) |
On this page 6 sections
Where PowerA wins
Works in every play mode
The PowerA Enhanced Wireless is a standalone controller, exactly like Nintendo's own Pro Controller but at a lower price point. You hold it independently, connect via Bluetooth, and it works whether the Switch is in the dock, propped on a table, or in your hands. There is no physical attachment and nothing to remove between modes.
Wireless freedom
No cable to manage on the sofa. The rechargeable battery lasts around 30 hours per charge, per PowerA's published specs.
Pokémon editions include Pikachu Vortex, the Pikachu and Gengar design, and several others, all sharing the same internal hardware.
Nintendo Switch 2 compatible
PowerA has confirmed its Enhanced Wireless line works with Nintendo Switch 2 via Bluetooth. If you own or plan to buy a Switch 2, the controller carries over without any adapter. This is the detail that separates it from the HORI Split Pad options for Switch 1.
PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch (Pokémon: Pikachu Vortex)
$52.99 USD
Where HORI wins
Full-size feel in handheld
The Joy-Cons that ship with the Switch are compact by design. The HORI Split Pad replaces them on the rails with larger, full-size analog sticks and a proper D-pad. If long handheld sessions cause hand fatigue, the HORI is the direct fix.
It is sold under the HORI Pokémon Switch accessories line in several Pokémon designs, including Gengar, Pikachu, and Pikachu & Mimikyu editions.
No battery to charge
Because the Split Pad slots into the Switch's Joy-Con rail, it draws power directly from the console. There is no internal battery and nothing to charge separately. You never reach for the controller only to find it dead.
Lower observed prices on some variants
Older HORI Split Pad Pro Pokémon editions appear at $34.95–$40.00 from independent sellers, observed October 23, 2026. The Split Pad Compact Pokémon editions are also available from $40.00. That is below the typical storefront floor for new Pokémon-edition PowerA wireless controllers.
The deciding question: where do you play?
This is the one question that resolves the comparison cleanly.
The HORI Split Pad physically slots into the Switch's Joy-Con rail. To dock the console and play on a TV, the Switch has to slide free of those rails entirely. The Split Pad comes off.
This is not a settings issue or a firmware limitation. It is the physical design: the Joy-Con rails sit inside the dock. You cannot use the HORI Split Pad in TV mode by any workaround.
If you play docked even occasionally, the PowerA Enhanced Wireless is the correct choice. Buy the HORI only if you play exclusively in handheld mode and comfort in hand matters more than TV flexibility.
The 2026 Switch 2 picture
HORI released a Wireless HORIPAD Turbo for Nintendo Switch 2 in Pokémon Pixel designs (Green and Red). This is a full wireless controller from HORI, built for Switch 2, with Pokémon theming. It is a different product from the Split Pad line: it is not rail-attached and it works in TV mode.
If you own a Switch 2 and want a Pokémon-themed wireless controller, the HORI Wireless HORIPAD Turbo for Switch 2 is the new option alongside the PowerA Enhanced Wireless. If you own a Switch 1 or OLED and plan to stay there, the HORI Split Pad remains the only way to get HORI's handheld ergonomics with Pokémon designs. See the full Switch 2 Pokémon accessories guide for cases and dock covers for the newer console.
Frequently asked questions
Does the HORI Split Pad work when the Switch is docked?
No. The Split Pad attaches to the Switch's Joy-Con rail slots. Docking the Switch requires removing the console from those rails, which means the Split Pad comes off.
There is no way to use a Split Pad in TV mode.
Is the PowerA Enhanced Wireless the same as Nintendo's Pro Controller?
No. The PowerA Enhanced Wireless is a third-party alternative at a lower price. It is missing HD Rumble, NFC (Amiibo reading), and the IR camera that Nintendo's Pro Controller includes.
For most games, those omissions do not matter. Amiibo users will need the official controller.
Which Pokémon designs are available for PowerA?
Pokémon editions include Pikachu Vortex, Pikachu vs. Gengar, Pikachu High Voltage (wired variant), Pikachu Retro, and Pokémon Blossom, among others. Availability varies by seller; observed prices ranged from $34.99 (wired) to $59.99 (wireless) on October 23, 2026.
Is the HORI Split Pad compatible with Nintendo Switch 2?
The HORI Split Pad Pro and Split Pad Compact were built for Switch 1 and OLED. They are not compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. HORI's Switch 2 Pokémon option is the Wireless HORIPAD Turbo (Pokemon Pixel editions).
What is the difference between the HORI Split Pad Pro and Split Pad Compact?
The Split Pad Pro is physically larger and heavier, designed to feel closer to a standard Pro Controller in handheld. The Split Pad Compact is narrower and lighter, making it more portable.
Both work exclusively in handheld mode. Pokémon designs have been released for both models.
Browse officially licensed Pokémon Nintendo Switch controllers and accessories at DexHaul's console accessories collection, where results are sourced from independent shops across the globe. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with Nintendo, HORI, PowerA, or The Pokémon Company.
Catch 'em all
More Pokémon Nintendo Switch controllers and accessories from independent shops.