Mobapad as a company has a clear pattern in my eyes: Making value friendly gaming accessories while maintaining a premium feel where it counts. The Mobapad C2 Lite controller in this case is no different, with a few caveats.
At a $33.74 (exact) price point, we can’t expect the latest technology or features. But what if I said that simply “Being enough” is it’s best feature? Is boring truly better here? By end, I think you’ll have your answer. This is our review of the Mobapad C2 Lite controller for Switch 1, 2, Android, and PC.
Disclosure:
The controller reviewed was provided as a review sample by Mobapad. This had no bearing on the conclusion of the review, nor did Mobapad have the opportunity to make edits or changes to the review before publishing.
Affiliate links might be present where applicable, and we may earn a commission on product purchases using those links at no extra cost to you. On Amazon, you can get an additional 10% off with code: 3UWC05C6.
Mobapad C2 Lite Specs
The C2 comes with a simple array of features that should all sound familiar. The controller uses regular Hall effect sticks (not TMR according) and uses the glide style sticks like with a Switch 2 Pro controller and the C2s older, more expensive, sibling, the Chitu2 HD. It has a standard Xbox controller layout and Nintendo style ABXY scheme.
All buttons, shoulders, and the D-pad have quiet rubber membranes while 2 back buttons seem to have a dome style switch. We also have a fairly standard set of rumble motors, 6-axis gyro support, button macros, and some tasteful RGB.
| Controls | |
| ABXY Button Type | Membrane |
|---|---|
| Stick Type | Hall Effect w/ LSR |
| Analog Stick Layout | Asymmetric |
| Trigger Type | Membrane |
| D-pad Type | Membrane |
| Motion Controls | 6-axis |
| Rear Buttons | M1/M2 |
| Extra Face Buttons | Start, Select, Home, Camera/Capture |
| Connectivity | |
| Compatibility | Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Options | Bluetooth (LE), USB-C (Wired), 2.4GHz Dongle (Sold Separately) |
| Extra Features | |
| Rumble Type | Dual Rumble Motors w/ 3-level adjustable vibration |
| Customization | via MOBAPAD app |
| Battery | |
| Battery Capacity | 800mAh |
| Charging Speed | ~3.5 Hours |
| Expected Battery Life | 18-20 Hours |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 146.6 × 101 × 66.5mm |
| Weight | 216g |
This controller is designed for Switch 2, but is also compatible with Switch 1, Android, and PC with an optional Dongle for a low latency 2.4GHz connection. The default configuration only supports Bluetooth and a wired connection. On the back we have our toggle switch between Bluetooth, Switch, and simply “Off” and tout a lone USB C connection on top.
We have an internal battery that claims an 18 – 20 hour battery life…and that’s it. Simple in scope, premium in execution. No NFC, no HD rumble, no true Switch 2 back button support, and no 9-axis gyro like on the Switch 2 Pro Controller. That out of the way, let’s get into the good stuff.
Ergonomics
If it wasn’t already clear, I like this controller and I’m fairly addicted to the way it feels. It’s nothing special, being nearly 1:1 with the feel of an Xbox Series controller, but the plastic quality and the bumpy back instantly give your hands something comfortable to sink into. The next thing you’ll feel is the smooth rubber of the Hall Effect analog sticks. The back buttons here are fairly easy to press, so you’ll have to adjust accordingly. Paired with the bumpy texture of the shoulder buttons, this package is familiar, safe, and works very well for it.
The analog sticks are the same sticks Mobapad uses on it’s Chitu2 and M12HD/S devices and they feel sublime. They are smooth, grippy enough, and glide just as well as more premium controllers. No other notes, bravo.
The face buttons here are about the size of the Switch 1 Pro controller and have a slightly stiff and thumpy feel to them. While I don’t feel they are too stiff, they could stand to be a little more lighter to the touch.
The same goes for the D-pad, which has a similar slightly stiff feel to the face buttons. The d-pad is fairly traditional with a center post and a generally good size for a standard controller. There’s a slight wobble to it though and could give some false directions if push came to shove.
The shoulder buttons share the thonky noise of the face buttons as well as the stiffness. While still copying the Xbox shape, I do wish the ZL and ZR buttons were larger like on the Switch 2 Pro Controller. I’m not wholly disappointed here because, again, the price is right.
Coming in at about 215g, this controller is light in the hands. This also means that the inside feels hollow, and it’s reflected in the noise as well. Being hollow feeling could also mean a cheap feeling, but it’s also a cheap controller. With good quality plastic, it doesn’t change much about the overall controller feel. But for a membrane controller, it is on the louder side.
Connectivity
For testing purposes, I tried this controller on a Switch 2, Switch Lite, through a MiSTer FPGA, and Odin 3 to understand the scope of how this controller works. Despite the advertising of this controller as a Switch 2 controller, this is actually running Switch 1 protocol.
Effectively, this means that the controller will function the same on a Switch 1 and 2 except that it will wake a Switch 1 up from sleep mode. Gyro, rumble, screenshots, etc. all work. Pairing the controller on both consoles took about 15 seconds and was simple as holding a button down for 3 seconds.
Bluetooth through the MiSTer was equally interesting. In PC/Android environments, it reads as an Xbox Controller and shares the same button names. Slight issue on the MiSTer though… Start, Select, RT and LT did not work.
It appears to be a MiSTer issue, but its worth noting my 8bitDo Pro 2, DualSense, and Switch 1 Pro Controller all function as they should on it while the C2 doesn’t (Probably an issue with X-Input over D-Input). Android worked without a hitch as long as you selected Xbox Controller and not Mobapad C2 Lite (which is… weird). Latency overall is snappy as Bluetooth would allow, and that’s fine with me.
Overall, connectivity is unproblematic.
Features
I’m pleased to say I don’t have much to say here. The controller doesn’t promise a lot, and the price reflects it, but what it DOES do, it does good enough (Trust me, it’s a compliment).
I was surprisingly impressed by the rumble on this. Yes, it’s standard adjustable rumble, but the sturdy plastic of this device make the rumble feel and sound pretty good. It’s by no means a substitute for HD rumble, but it gets the job done for just about everything else and doesn’t rattle the controller, even on the highest setting. 6-axis gyro also works as it should with no noticeable latency or drifting.
I’m not a fan of macros and would rather just use the back buttons as secondary buttons, or even turn them off altogether. This works as it should and I have no complaints, but the back buttons being light to the touch means you have to be careful what you map these to.
I haven’t found a way to configure RGB on this, but the default rainbow scheme paired with the gentle rainbow 16-bit retro look sells it for me and I don’t see myself using a different configuration anyways.
Is This Controller For You?
Probably. It is so inoffensive that it should be good enough for everyone with working hands. It just isn’t as feature rich as a Switch Pro controller or match the premium feel of an Xbox Series controller, with noise levels in between the two. The button membranes and glide style analog sticks feel great for a controller under $40 and measures up favorably to the GameSir Nova Lite or the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C.
For the value, this is a great all around emulation controller since connectivity is easy. I’d love to use it as a main MiSTer controller, but that seems to have its own issues. This isn’t a replacement controller for the Switch 2 Pro controller, but a decent player 2 or a budget option. It’s good value at $33.74, and even better value by buying through us for a small discount. On Amazon, you can get an additional 10% off with code: 3UWC05C6.
