The New Champion of Budget Switch Controllers? Rival Lab Gaming Contender Controller Review

In this episode, we unbox and test out the Rival Lab Gaming Contender Wireless Controller designed to work with PCs and the Nintendo Switch.

While the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is one of the best controllers on the market, that performance comes at a price. At $70, the Nintendo controller has a premium price to go with the premium performance. There are many 3rd party solutions out there, and a new manufacturer has thrown their hat in the ring. Rival Labs Gaming makes their debut with their new Contender Controller for the Switch and PC.

While Rival Labs Gaming is a new name to me, they are collaborating with our friends at Retro Fighters. The Contender is available in 2 different color layouts, blue/black/red and green/white/blue. The two controllers are definitely inspired by different Switch Systems; the red and blue by that version of the Switch, while the green and blue inspired by Animal Crossing. In the hand, they feel identical, regardless of color.

The Contender comes out of the box with the controller itself and a USB-A to USB-C Charge cable. The integrated 600 mAh rechargeable battery promises 8-10 hours of playing time, and I'll say the battery life is absolutely fantastic! I was a little concerned that the LED accent lights would speed up battery drain, but I am pleased to say this is 100% not an issue.

Looking at the face of the Contender, it has pretty much everything you'd expect for a Switch Pro Controller. You get all your face buttons, capture and home button, analog sticks, and D-Pad. I wasn't initially a fan of the flat face of the A/B/X/Y buttons, but that ended up being a non-issue during gameplay. One additional feature is the Turbo Button, which for shooters and such, can really help take you to the next level.

Pairing the Contender to your Switch is crazy easy. Simply connect the controller to your Switch dock via USB cable and it is registered to your system in seconds. I was able to pair both of the controllers this way, I just wish other manufacturers made it that easy. Now, one other feature of the Contender I cannot praise highly enough is the wake function. Many other 3rd party controllers for the Switch do not turn the system on when it is sleeping. The Contender does, and it's flawless. It seems like a minor thing, but it's so nice to have.

Speaking of features which may seem minor but are nice to have, one downfall of most other 3rd party Switch controllers is the lack of Amiibo compatibility. Well, the Contender may be the first controller from a 3rd party manufacturer I've tested with FULL Amiibo support! I don't know what took it so long to happen, but this is a welcome added feature!

During gameplay on the Switch, I felt the performance was overall pretty good. Keeping in mind that the contender is 1/2 the cost of a Nintendo Pro controller, button presses all registered accurately, the D-Pad felt good, and the analog sticks also worked well. I did feel the ZL trigger was a little more firm than the ZR trigger, but during the game play I never noticed it. Now I will say I did have some trouble pulling off the dragon uppercut in Street Fighter, but beyond this, the performance was surprisingly decent.

Why It RoX:
- Under $30
- 2 color options
- Amiibo Support
- Super easy to pair
- Good performance
- Fantastic battery life
- USB-C for power and charging
- Works on PC

What could be improved:
- Left trigger seems more firm than the right
- LEDs can be distracting if playing in a dark room
- Y & B buttons are a bit crowded to the analog stick
- Start/Select button positioning and Capture/Turbo positioning can lead to incorrect button presses

Should You Buy One?
At the time of this recording, the Contender is on-sale for $19.99 at Castlemania Games. For $20 this is a no brainer, especially if you are using the Joy Con grip and not a Pro controller. This is a MUCH better option than the Joy Cons! That being said, it isn't nearly as good as the Switch Pro Controller, but at less than 1/2 the price it still outperforms many of the other options out there. Add in features not found on other controllers, such as USB-C, Turbo, & Amiibo support, and you have perhaps the best budget controller for the Switch out there. I just wish the Analog Stick and D-Pad were a little more precise for playing Street Fighter!

#RivalLabGaming #Contender #NintendoSwitch #ProController

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