Every Feature of the CRKD Nitro Deck Explained

Despite the Nintendo Switch entering its 7th year of existence and the purported arrival of the console’s successor roughly a year away, third-party manufacturers are still developing new ways to alleviate some of the known issues with the Nintendo Joy-Con controllers. One of the more common pitfalls of the Nintendo Switch’s first-party controllers is the prevalence of “stick-drift”, where an analog joystick registers movement in a particular direction without being physically pressed. Several first and third-party “pro” controllers are available that feature Hall-Effect joysticks, but those options do little to allow for handheld play without the use of a kickstand. In terms of “cradle”-style controllers with Hall-Effect joysticks, one of the more recent and well-received peripherals is CKRD’s Nitro Deck.

The Nitro Deck is a “cradle”-style controller for the Nintendo Switch that securely houses the console and comes with a wide range of features that position it as a direct competitor to “elite” controller options like the GuliKit KK3 or first-party Switch Pro Controller. Perhaps most surprising is that the Nitro Deck offers all the functionality of a higher-end controller but does so while embracing portability and having an MSRP coming in at a fraction of competing peripherals. For Switch owners who primarily use the console as a handheld device, the Nitro Deck’s features are worth a deeper look.

CKRD Nitro Deck Features and Functionality

The Nitro Deck’s release late in 2023 saw the device receive a fair amount of attention from the gaming world, primarily for how it translated a higher-end controller experience into a “cradle”-style peripheral designed for portability. Aside from the electromagnetic Hall-Effect joysticks that serve as one of the device’s definitive features, the Nitro Deck also has several other highlights worth examining.

• Hall-Effect joysticks with swappable stick tops
• Adjustable vibration
• Programmable back paddles
• Mechanical face buttons
• Programmable turbo functionality
• Pass-through charging using USB-C input
• Secure housing for either Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch OLED
• Mechanical bumpers and Hall-Effect triggers

At first glance, one of the more obvious comparisons that can be drawn is between the Nitro Deck and the Steam Deck. The rear of each device looks strikingly similar thanks to the presence of 4 programmable back paddles, and the Nitro Deck allows players to disable them outright, just like the Steam Deck does. However, the back paddles are a great addition for games where multiple button inputs can be condensed into a single programmable macro, making playing such titles far more efficient. The mechanical face buttons and L and R bumpers are also more responsive than what one would find on most third-party peripherals and give off a satisfying tactile “click” when pressed.

The face buttons and back paddles can also be completely customized, meaning players can re-assign button placements to anywhere on the device. One of the downsides to the Nitro Deck is its adjustable vibration, which fails to capture the subtle nuances of the Joy-Con’s HD Rumble feature even at higher settings. Breaking open the device reveals that the vibration functionality is enabled by a small offset motor similar to the initial internal components of controllers like the original PlayStation DualShock or the Nintendo 64 Rumble Pak. But with all the programmable buttons and the Hall-Effect joysticks (which also happen to provide slightly more resistance than the standard Joy-Con analog sticks) and a price point of $49.99 for the standard model, a Nitro Deck is decidedly more affordable than a pair of new first-party Switch controllers.

The Hall-Effect joysticks and pass-through charging are arguably going to be the highlight of the Nitro Deck for anyone who primarily uses the Switch as a portable device, as other “cradle”-style peripherals tend to offer one or the other but not both. That said, the placement of the right analog stick is slightly further from the face buttons than on a standard Joy-Con, but the Switch itself is housed securely in the device and requires pressing an eject button while pulling on the console to remove it.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is a hybrid portable and home console that aims to be the only gaming system anyone needs. The hybrid controller is an undisputed success because it provides a high degree of portable visual quality and converts easily into a home console.

Brand

Nintendo

Battery

1 Lithium Polymer batteries required

Dimensions

13.7 x 7.8 x 3.66 inches

Weight

2.65 pounds