abxylute N6 | A High Stakes Handheld Pro Controller for Switch 2

The abxylute N6 solves the Joy-Con's biggest problems — comfort and controls — but one glaring design choice might be a dealbreaker before you even pick it up.

What Is the abxylute N6?

The abxylute N6 is a Dex-style controller for the Nintendo Switch 2, designed to address two of the Joy-Con’s most persistent criticisms: comfort and control quality. It’s not an entirely new idea — the CRKD Nitro Deck has been doing something similar for a few years, and a Switch 2 version of that is also due soon. But abxylute brings enough of its own thinking to make the N6 worth a proper look.

One important caveat: this is a review unit provided by abxylute, and it’s not the final retail version. There may be some differences between what’s described here and what ships to customers.

Comfort and Ergonomics

Hold the N6 for a few minutes and you’ll immediately understand the appeal. Where Joy-Cons are long, thin, and awkward to grip for extended sessions, the N6 sits naturally in the hands. Rounded sections slide into the palm, and the textured grips on the reverse give you something to actually hold onto. The Switch 2 slides into the dock securely — tight enough that there’s no wobble around the USB port, which matters for long-term port health.

abxylute have also rotated the face buttons and left joystick away from the right joystick and D-pad, making it easier to rotate your thumbs between inputs. It’s a small change, but one that makes a noticeable difference in day-to-day play.

Controls: A Genuine Step Up

If you spend any time with the N6’s controls, it’s clear that this is where abxylute have invested their energy. The D-pad is a traditional membrane style with good inputs and a satisfying bounce — a world away from the Joy-Con’s individual directional buttons, which only exist in that form so they can double as face buttons in tabletop mode. For anyone picking up Pokémon Fire Red or any side-scrolling platformer on Switch 2, a proper D-pad like this is genuinely transformative.

The joysticks are noticeably more rigid than the Joy-Cons, which makes them better suited to shooters and anything requiring precise analogue input. They’re also hall effect, which should help them hold up over time without developing drift. The ABXY buttons — fitting, given the brand name — are springy, smooth, and click back into position with confidence. Precision gaming on this device feels considerably better than on standard Joy-Cons.

The shoulder buttons and triggers are both clicky and well-positioned, sitting far enough down the grip that you don’t need to arch your finger to reach them. The triggers in particular suit fast inputs rather than analogue control, so they’re better suited to action games than something like Cyberpunk where nuanced trigger pressure matters.

abxylute have also included programmable back paddle buttons, set up by holding the end button and recording an input. They’re well-placed, unlikely to be pressed accidentally, and clicky in a satisfying way. A dedicated camera button mirrors the Joy-Con’s own, too — useful if that’s something you actually reach for.

Sound and Haptics

One unexpected highlight is the speaker design. The N6 routes the Switch 2’s downward-firing speakers into a small echo chamber, projecting sound out through two cutouts on the grip. abxylute claim a 10% volume increase and a fuller, bassier sound profile — and having used it, it does sound noticeably louder and rounder than the Switch 2 alone.

Haptics are a more complicated story. The Joy-Cons are genuinely class-leading when it comes to nuanced vibration, and the N6 doesn’t replicate that subtlety. What it does offer is power — strong, adjustable rumble that you can dial in using the D-pad while holding the M button. It’s a different experience rather than a worse one, but worth knowing if HD Rumble is important to you.

The Exposed Corners Problem

Here’s the issue that will make or break the N6 for most people: the corners of the Switch 2 stick out completely. There’s no protection around the edges of the screen, and no case is going to fix that while the N6 is attached. It’s reminiscent of an upside-down PlayStation Portal — a device that has survived over two years of use without damage — but the Switch 2 simply isn’t designed to have those areas exposed in the same way.

For home use, it’s a reasonable risk. For putting the device into a rucksack, taking it on holiday, or anywhere it might get knocked around, it’s a different calculation entirely. At $79, that’s a meaningful concern — for that price, you’d want something that felt safe to travel with.

Final Thoughts

The abxylute N6 is a genuinely comfortable, well-built grip controller that makes a real difference to the Switch 2 experience at home. The controls are improved across the board, the ergonomics are a step change over the Joy-Cons, and the speaker enhancement is a welcome bonus. But those exposed corners are a hard limit on how versatile it can realistically be, and that’s a significant trade-off at this price point.

My recommendation: If you primarily play in handheld mode around the house — especially if D-pad games are your thing — the N6 is worth serious consideration. If you need something you can confidently throw in a bag, keep looking.