Mobapad M6 HD Review: More Joy, Less Cons

Grippy Kong Country

The Nintendo Switch may be nearing the end of its lifecycle, with the Switch 2 launching on June 5, but that’s not going to stop companies from launching new products for the popular handheld console. For starters, the original Switch has a customer base of over 150 million, although some of those are Switch Lites, and Switch controllers will be compatible with the Switch 2 via Bluetooth. There’s also the fact that Switch Joy-Cons are notorious for stick drift, which is a major reason why third-party Joy-Con replacements are growing in popularity. Having endured the entire process of getting one of my Joy-Cons replaced by Nintendo for stick drift, I know firsthand just how annoying and frustrating it can be. So when Mobapad reached out to FullCleared to see if we would be interested in going hands-on to evaluate the Mobapad M6 HD Joycons, I didn’t even hesitate to say yes.

My initial reaction to the Mobapad M6 HD was how much bigger they are compared to the standard Nintendo Joy-Cons. This is far from being a negative though, as the normal Joy-Cons tend to be uncomfortable for a long period of time. The overall flat design on the Switch Joy-Cons isn’t very ergonomic, and if you have especially large hands, you’ll know just how uncomfortable playing the Switch in handheld mode can get. The design of Mobapad’s M6 HDs is noticeably more ergonomic, and it reminded me a bit of the Steam Deck in terms of comfort. And while on paper there’s a difference in weight with each M6 HD weighing 90 grams compared to the standard Joy-Con’s 49 grams, I found it to be negligible in the real world. I particularly loved the textured back of each controller, giving it an overall grippier feel.

Stick With It

The Mobapad M6 HD controllers have several standout features, but let’s start with arguably the most important one: Hall Effect joysticks. The reason why Hall Effect joysticks are so important is because they use magnets and sensors to detect the movement and position of the stick, instead of relying on physical contact. This ensures stick drifting won’t happen because there isn’t any physical contact between parts. Stick drift mainly occurs because there are little pads that are rubbing against each other inside the stick, and over time, these pads get worn down. Hall Effect joysticks don’t really have anything to wear out, and magnetic sensors are widely considered to be more precise. That means stick input feels smoother and more responsive. Most importantly though, these controllers should outlive their use.

In addition, the buttons use Omron mechanical switches along with liquid silicone gel, which gives better tactile feedback and smoother button presses. This one comes down to personal preference, though, as I prefer clickier buttons, like what’s found on the Switch Pro Controller. The face and shoulder buttons on the Mobapad M6 HD controllers are definitely not as clicky as the less important buttons, like screenshot and home. This is a minor criticism though, because after using the controllers for about half an hour, I forgot about the difference with the Switch Pro Controller. But it’s worth mentioning, because I know a lot of people are very particular about how button presses feel. The good news is, Omron switches are some of the best in the industry. They’re rated for over 10 million presses and they’ll feel the same on day 500 as they did on day one.

A Link Between Pads

Seemingly addressing every criticism gamers have with the Switch Joy-Cons, the Mobapad M6 HD also comes with two different D-Pads, a traditional cross design and a circular one, similar to what’s found on the Xbox Elite Series controller. Again, it’s another option that comes down to personal preference—or even the game you’re playing—and the D-Pad can be swapped in a matter of seconds. It’s also secure enough that you don’t have to worry about it popping off in intense gaming sessions. The circular pad is great when you need to rely on diagonal inputs, while the traditional cross is more ideal for platformers. The important thing here is that you have the option.

The controllers also come with magnetic faceplates that can be removed with a little bit of effort and each unit includes a pair of faceplates for each controller. The difference between the two is the gates around the joystick, with an option of either a round or octagonal design. The round gate is the more conventional choice, but the octagonal gate is great for games that need more accurate or precise directional movement. Again, the important thing here is that Mobapad is offering the option of customization, so players at least have a choice. It’s even more surprising that all these options are bundled into a competitive price point. At the time of writing, the Mobapad M6 HDs cost $79.99 for the pair.

Behind the Binds

Since the Mobapad M6 HD controllers are clearly inspired by Pro controller offerings like the PlayStation DualSense Edge and the Xbox Elite Series controller, it’s little surprise they also feature programmable back buttons. In terms of location, they feel just right to me as they sit within easy reach of my middle fingers. I never found myself accidentally pushing them, and they provide a nice, clicky feedback. Creating a macro or mapping a button can be done through the hardware. Each controller has a button on the bottom right or left side that is used to record the macro. It’s similar to recording macros on a keyboard or mouse, and they’re saved to the hardware so they persist even if you turn off the Switch.

When using that method though, you can only map button presses from that respective controller. If you want to map a button press from the opposite controller, you’ll need to download the Mobapad app. With the app, you have the ability to assign any input to the back buttons, which means you can assign input from the opposite pad by mapping it with a macro routine for the button press itself. The app can also be used to update firmware, adjust the sensitivity curve for the sticks, set inner and outer dead zones for the sticks, and download macros that others have uploaded. The app is pretty intuitive, and leagues better than the included paper instructions.

Fully Evolved

Clearly, the Mobapad M6 HD controllers have a lot to offer over the standard Switch Joy-Cons. They’re packed with features you’d expect to find on Pro controller-type offerings, with the quality hardware to match. The good news is, they also incorporate all the standard Joy-Con features, including NFC for Amiibo support, six-axis motion sensing, true HD Rumble, and Bluetooth connectivity. According to the company, the Mobapad M6 HD controllers use the same ALPS linear motor found in the standard Joy-Cons to deliver the same HD Rumble. It also claims to have a larger NFC coil for better recognition of Amiibos, though I couldn’t really tell the difference—it just worked.

When it comes to battery life, this will always range depending on what you’re playing, especially since these controllers have HD Rumble support. What I can say is that each controller has a built-in 500mAh lithium battery and Mobapad claims around 15 hours of battery life. Of course, your usage may vary, but from my experience, the estimate is pretty accurate. I did, however, spend most of my time playing with the controllers attached to the Switch. Regardless, the point is that the Mobapad M6 HDs will deliver everything you expect from the standard Joy-Cons and a lot more.

Wii Minor Thing

In case it wasn’t clear from the review, the Mobapad M6 HD controllers are fantastic. As someone who typically uses the Switch Pro Controller, DualSense Edge, and Xbox Elite, I’m glad to finally have a viable handheld option for the Switch. It’s even more exciting that these controllers will be compatible with the Switch 2, albeit through Bluetooth—meaning they won’t attach to the Switch 2 for handheld play. Still, they won’t be relegated to gathering dust once the Switch’s successor launches in June.

I do, however, have a few minor criticisms. The Mobapad M6 HD controllers do not slide in as smoothly as the standard Joy-Cons. There’s a bit of resistance when sliding in the controllers, and initially I thought it was a QA issue. I’m now under the impression that this is intentional, so that the controllers have no flex while connected to the Switch. They feel very sturdy and make the console and the controllers feel like one solid unit. This is worth mentioning though, if you’re someone who constantly needs to slide the controllers on and off the console. They can take a little bit of effort to get off; I would almost describe them as stubborn to let go.

My other criticism is that the charging grip is sold separately. Yes, you can use an existing charging grip if you already own one, but I feel like it would have been advantageous for Mobapad to include its SA1 charging grip with the M6 HD controllers for a complete package. The grip is sold separately for $19.99, so it’s not the biggest expense in the world. Finally, with magnetic removable faceplates, I’m shocked Mobapad doesn’t offer at least a dozen different colorways.

These are all minor quibbles though. If you primarily play the Switch in handheld mode, I’d argue the Mobapad M6 HDs are a necessity rather than a luxury item. They are, by far, the most comfortable third-party controllers I’ve used that can attach to the Switch, while offering far more features than some competitors. Right now, they’re about the same price as a standard pair of Joy-Cons, but they’ll last you a lot longer if you’re fine with the extra size and weight. If you’re interested in getting a set and supporting us, use the link below and the promo code fullcleared to save 10%.

This review is based on Mobapad M6 HD controllers provided by Mobapad. However, Mobapad did not preview or influence the content of this review prior to its publication. While FullCleared has affiliate partnerships, these do not influence our editorial content. We may, however, earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.

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