I appreciate the long-form review! It was a great read and really informative - I've yet to hear of a 3rd party controller that does HD rumble as well as (or apparently better than??) the official Pro Controller. Have you tried either of these controller/grips (OLED/ Original)? They're the only 3rd party accessories I've tried that have attempted HD rumble. The original did a decent job, but I'm actually awaiting the OLED one in the mail right now and I'm excited for the extra under-paddle buttons. Sounds like this controller could be a decent "equivalent" for less mobile gaming.
I love em. I hade this "pro" con for a while. i didn't like that I had to remove it to dock the switch. I was looking for something like the split pad. then I found these and it was exactly what I was looking for. it doesnt have rumble, which I'm okay with. priority was comfort and gyro. the former had rumble, but the mechanism was way too much. it was very audile.
as for my experience with the newer ones, I haven't had any issues. work exactly like joy cons. the switch recognizes them as gray joycons, even. the shoulder buttons feel a little "loose" and the triggers a tad mushy when compared to the pro controller. but the face buttons and d pad seem clickier, which I prefer. idk if it's because I put a SNES faceplate on my pro controller that made me prefer the face buttons on these "pro" cons.
but yeah. overall, would recommend. had all the same features as the split pad, but 4 programmable buttons, as opposed to the 2 on the split pad, and gyro.
the issue now is finding a case. the layout is slightly different from the split pad, and I'm afraid it just won't fit on any of the split pad cases.
Unnamed product alternative to Hori Wireless Controller for Nintendo for $40... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CDKDYXY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Single unit controller, same grip style, only downside is I hit mine a little rough during a move and now my up-key on D-Pad is a little harder to activate. But to be fair MH let’s you use up/down to activate quick-stuff, and the menus are easily enough navigated even when I need to press up a little harder.
Got a pro controller for when I’m connected to TV :)