Bought a fake Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, so you don't have to (Splatoon 2 edition)

I suspected the Splatoon 2 edition's Nintendo Switch Pro Controller I just bought from Shopee is a counterfeit product, which I might not even know if I didn't have another Nintendo Switch Pro Controller to compare with. I made this video after I bought the 2nd genuine Splatoon 2 edition's Nintendo Switch Pro Controller from a more reputable merchant on Shopee as well. And yes, I did get a full refund from Shopee, including all shipping fees.
Some of the comparisons in this video should be applicable to any other edition of Pro Controllers. Hope this video helps create some awareness and help you verify your Nintendo Switch Pro controllers as real or fake.
0:23 Box colour tone (Nintendo Red)
0:52 Off-centered Nintendo Logo (to the top)
1:39 Warranty date sticker on the fake
1:54 Off colour tone of grips
2:05 D-pad comparison
2:24 Analogue stick comparison
2:32 Logo placement and art pattern comparison
3:07 Shake test
3:20 Back art pattern comparison
3:53 4-LED connection comparison
4:15 HD Rumble Test #1
5:45 HD Rumble Test #2

[@JPLenzi]

The fake hd rumble is the best thing to test. Literally only managed to pick mine apart as fake was the weird pattern on the search controller feature.

[@JordiumZ]

That what I do

[@FB1_Destro]

Thank you so much! I can now buy a controller and know for sure if it's fake or not when it arrives and be able to return it then! You're helping a lot of people!

[@Dando-1983]

Shocking, I feel sorry for people that get duped by fakes.. as they are unlikely to have the real deal to compare against.. great video. x

[@denverkweh1642]

I'm buying one knowing it's not the real thing,just hope it functions as well as the real one,I can't fork out RM200+ sadly

[@sodalite5294]

Does it work after months later and still charges?

[@Matthew93256]

I got the fake one for my birthday :(

[@MrDanielmarlowe]

I bought four fakes before I figured it out. Went to Walmart got a real one and feel really cheated. Real US versions have inverted letters on the back now and say Japan instead of Germany. The Fakes also won’t update which is probably the fastest way to tell other than the cheap feel and crappy rumble.

[@Matthew93256]

Another difference is that the fake one doesn't update (stuck at 0%) when you try to do the controller update thing. I know this because I got a fake one which I ended up returning it the day after I received it, and testing it before I returned it.

[@sweeching88]

That's a very good tip!

[@capn_l]

Wait you have to update them?

[@munfurai8083]

Would you happen to know if imported legit controllers can be updated on the consoles? Like say using a UK controller on an American Switch?

[@OroshiGerald]

​@@capn_l yes.

[@Reallife315]

@@munfurai8083that’s not a bad question actually

[@munfurai8083]

A few more tells I've found for some fake Pro Controllers: They won't be able to scan Amiibo. They'll connect too easily to PC without needing to do anything, and won't have the home button light up when it is.

[@user-gw4vb7ds6k]

Now the fake ones can scan amiibos too

[@Reallife315]

There must be fakes going around for the Tears of the kingdom pro controller. I have one from eBay and one from Best Buy. The eBay one looks like an import, with the box having some Japanese writing. And the controller has the weird vibrating, stuck on 0% update, and feels possibly a hair lighter but it’s hard to say.

[@andrew7629]

It's virtually impossible to buy one of these and know you got a real one now (until you can test it). Definitely buy from somewhere with easy returns. Where did you buy your second one that you were sure it was genuine?

[@k3ylimeash370]

Damn. I used this video while looking for a used one on ebay and paid very close attention for the visual differences and still got duped. The dude used a picture of a real one and sent me a fake one with the trash rumble. Ugh.

[@francoisdepotoir9396]

I just got duped. Bought the Splatoon 3 edition from Marketplace. While the controller looks like the real thing, the obnoxious rumble betrayed its origin. Another way to tell it's fake: impossible to update the firmware (you'll stay at 0% for hours).

[@user-hg6ou2ng2g]

Does it still have motion control and could detect amiibo? I don't have much budget tho.

[@sooodz]

I just bought a regular Pro from Ebay that turned out to be a fake. The old fakes didn't have a logo on the body but +2022 ones look like the real thing. The box art is same as this vid (dull red, square logo top left instead of rectangular) and the buttons are mushy but the easiest tell is the battery. Real ones are stamped Nintendo and 1300mAh, fake is 800mAh and lacks the logo (google how to check battery, just 6 screws).

[@ReyRamsesII]

Hello everyone ! im gonna help you with 2 more clearly things that you own a fake controller. I know this cuz i fall in a fake one miself... And thanks that i play Splatoon 3, (cuz i have a Smash controller Pro original), but i bougth an Splatton 3 one so i notice this: 1.- First i open my controller and no batteries, thats ok, i put in to charge and i realise i CANT play awhile was charging, and i always play on my Smash one even when is charging. if the guy in the video will put the fake to prove the rumble, he will notice that too, cuz if is conected you CANT play with it, and i mean Conected by the cable, NOT bluetooth, if is conected to the Dock and you want to play, you CANT, it only charge the controller. 2.- Second thing and MOST important: you CANT use Amiibos on a Fake because the fake Dont have the thing to Read the Amiibos... i notice cuz on splatton i make a safe of my clotes and weapons using amiibos, and when i use the amiibo in the fake controller, it never read my amiibo :/ ... I hope this help you, give it a like so more pleople can see this tips and know how to see what is real and what is fake n.n.

[@nathankellogg2640]

Is the red on the real box the same color as the red on the box of the Switch OLED? That'd be a really amazing tip to know.

[@sweeching88]

Yes it is. Not just that. From observation, all other Nintendo products such as the physical game's cover box's Nintendo red is of the same shade of red.

[@Julio3324]

In my country (Venezuela) at least the seller is ADMITTING that they're fake lol. Possibly bc they're so much cheaper. We don't get the real ones and when we do they're $120+, so I might just end up buying the fake one to use as a spare. EDIT: typo lol

[@Julio3324]

I was actually more using this video to see if the fake controller had passable enough quality for me to get it (they sell them for less than $40 here) and it seems it looks ok. Yeah it might not be the real deal, but it'll get the job done at a cheaper price and is actually available. When you live in the third world you gotta pick your battles lol. Anyway your video was pretty helpful, so thanks!

[@ping5825]

Can you do one for splatoon 3 controller please

[@Marcia5763]

Look as long as it works and it got good reviews I’d take it real or fake

[@herohour6496]

"works" is not the point. a $5 controller works. you're buying an Nintendo product that's fake.

[@derrickdzurko2068]

I purchase something from ebay for $50.00, because I have never owned a pro controller. I don't have a clue. it works - looks good feels heavy. Not sure what I have.

[@herohour6496]

50 bucks means fake. Not to ruin things, but it's an easy way to dump off tons of inventory to players saving a buck.

[@MrDanielmarlowe]

@@herohour6496you tell the seller within 30 days and they will give you a 50% refund and let you keep it they really aren’t worth more than 25$ imo..

[@czepek79]

does anyone know if the fake one connects to a linux device/a steam deck?

[@bezzuu]

where didya buy the real splatoon 2 pro controller?

[@GabrielSsilva15]

Hi some of the originals has a message "thanks all gamefans" this is also printed in the fake one?

[@sweeching88]

Didn't manage to check it, but from what I read, fake ones will print a different message.

[@JPLenzi]

Have a fake that has it.

[@OroshiGerald]

Yes

[@qud3913]

Thank you so much 😊

[@christopher2078]

How's much different between original and fake sir?

[@LETTITBITYT]

There is a huge quality difference

[@Delta_Edits.]

@@LETTITBITYT what about price?

[@shiedienad]

At the back u see certified by nintendo😅 for the real right?

[@sweeching88]

Both have identical Nintendo logo at the back. Shown in the video around 3:30.

[@PowerSynopsis]

get some real nail clippers

[@graall375]

lol u thinking u can buy genuine splatoon controller in 2022 for 50 $ ?

[@SussyBaka_irl]

I actually bought a legitimately brand new, Splatoon 2 Pro Controller, on eBay, just 3 days ago, for £55 + Free Shipping (around $65. You've just gotta know where to look (i.e. scour the internet, across 3rd party retailers & eventually you'll find something legitimate), have patience on waiting on new listings to appear & be willing to acquire proof that the Pro Controller is genuine. If you yourself are looking for some of these Limited Edition Pro Controller's, try asking sellers if the packaging is sealed, in English & for photos of the colour of the packaging. In my experience, fakes are usually contained in foreign packaging, like the Japanese version, are sometimes missing packaging, but most importantly, possess a different colour red box of packaging that Nintendo don't use, because across all software & hardware, that shade of red is something Nintendo uses universally now & is an amazing comparison point. Hope this advice helps if you needed it.

[@jotomato]

I think you missed the point. He bought at full price like the genuine controller but got scammed

[@samamesbury7697]

I bought mine at full price on walmart. Hoping it’s legit but sadly I don’t think it is. 😢 it’s shipping from china. Hopefully if it’s not I can return it

[@JohnDoeWasntTaken]

@@samamesbury7697 If it's coming from China it's doubtful that it is real. And are you guys talking about the Splatoon 3 controller that recently came out because last I checked Walmart still had them in stock directly from them. I bought the Splatoon 3 OLED from a seller on there and they send me the Japanese version so I prefer to get from Walmart directly.

[@ONE_For_100]

@@samamesbury7697 did you get it?

[@josephrivera2977]

Both of them 😂