I love that more companies are starting to use Hall- effect analog stick sensors! Hopefully the next console generation (or perhaps even the next half-generational upgrade), all controllers will come with Hall- effect sticks.
Potentiometer joysticks have planned obsolescence built in so the average consumer just ends up buying more controllers, which is better for Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo in monetary terms
@@Mariobius I mean that's the problem in general with controlers these days. I mean planned obsolescence is one thing but this is literally designing something to fail so you can sell more.
@@JohnDoe-wq5eu Which is alot of products nowadays. They can b made to last ALOT longer, but most are designed to live a certain life to push consumers to buy more or willing to fork more on longevity.
@@Daigon95 And then of course you have people like apple who go out of their way to create as many roadblocks as possible with new products to make it nearly impossible to fix on your own. It's amazing how both aggressively anti-consumer companies have become and at the same time how little pushback there is from the general public. Do you hear people grumble and whine about these problems but they just accept it in the end. That's the pathetic part there's not nearly enough pushback, not nearly enough actual outcry and anger. Just eventual resignation and acceptance which is just sickening.
The charging cradle also serves as the extension for the 2.4g receiver. so it is better to attach the charging cradle directly to the computer's usb port rather than using a separate power brick.
It's something that 8BitDo is SOMEWHAT friendly with. The SN30 Pro Plus has buyable parts, but they don't tell you that it comes with "tapped" (aka pre-stripped) screws of a custom size. Can't buy aftermarket screws to make it more friendly. Hopefully this Ultimate one doesn't use pre-stripped screws too since the battery is not easily replaced.
i talked with an employee about replacing parts a month ago. there is no such thing in work. maybe it will change some day. but i think, most of the parts are repairable with ebay parts anyway.
@@mr.number9279 that's true, this battery does not look easy to replace. I haven't broken any screws the times I've repaired my pro Plus so I fortunately never had to realize that myself but I agree, hopefully they are untapped and standard size.
@@mattyg_hd I didn't "break" the screws either, they came that way. It's the consequence of "self-tapping" screws. The Steam Deck, most Nintendo products, and most ASUS/MSI laptops use them too. They're either pre-stripped or will strip if ever turned due to being way too soft to actually use (MSI mostly), essentially making them pre-stripped.
I think he missed that the dock also works as a passthrough for the dongle. So you can just leave it plugged into the switch and swap over to using the dongle as another option
I have the SN30+ Pro for years now and the quality of that controler is so good. I'm gonna get the Ultimate for new-school games and keep using the 30+ for retro and platformers.
I'll get the Ultimate and a receiver for my Pro 2. I'll use the Ultimate for PC and Switch and I'll use the Pro 2 for playing PS2 games on an emulator since it has the same stick layout
had my sn30 since release and no stick drift,battery problems or button degradation also the best feeling controller with paddles for me. I plan on picking up the Ultimate soon though.
With the white case and the form-factor, this kinda reminds me of the Google Stadia controller, which is quite fitting since 8bitdo is mainly known for retro-style controllers 😉
@@jimmyconte2009 only the 70$ model with the switch layout has the hall effect sensor. got it confirmed by 8bitdo support. the cheaper xbox layout has no halleffect sensor.
I really appreciate 8bitdo. They could just keep doing retro solutions and maybe a new console controller here and there but they really go the full mile. Making controllers this good for PC at these prices is really appreciated, man. I'm actually excited for a controller, can't wait to get one.
I think the wake up thing is intentional. It's the answer usually given by their reps when asked in their Amazon store page. "Yes, you can. But in a different way. A. Pick up the controller from the charging dock to power it on. B. Then shake the controller to wake up your Switch" - Amazon Store page I'm just glad it works, even if it IS a bit weird. Might finally pick this over the Kingkong Pro controller.
wanted the king kong pro too. but it seems like the chromatic stuff on the controller does not last for long. and the 8bitdo looks promising. kk2pro seems to have some quality check problems too. and no buttons on the back.
@@Erbsengeneral I just found a problem that might be a deal breaker for me. I found ETA Prime's video and it mentions that on PC and Android, Bluetooth mode is only available as D Input, which can lead to some incompatibility issues. This isn't much of a problem for PC since you'll probably just use the 2.4GHz dongle, but it's a pain in the ass for Android if you want to use it for emulation since you'll have a dongle sticking out of your phone if you want to use X input on it. Furthermore, the 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller is around 20 USD more expensive than the Kingkong Pro 2, which can easily switch between X and D input. Kingkong Pro 2 sounds a lot more attractive to me because of this.
The hall sensors aren't fragile. I've taken them apart before. The joystick part is just a regular joystick. You can unclip the blue hall sensor assembly since they're not soldered to the board. The SMD hall sensors are soldered to the board under the blue parts and the magnets behind the blue part are in a pendulum type of holder.
Does the mechanism use any springs? The issue I've had with Xbox controllers is the analog stick sticking to a drift in forward or back direction and not returning to neutral.
That's actually a passthrough for the 2.4g dongle. If you plug the dock into your computer, it'll pick it up. The only things I don't like on this thing so far, is that Bluetooth isn't x-input so it's just for the Switch, and I don't like the grips. They feel like sandpaper after playing for a while. I don't like the Xbox controller grips either. It'd be nice as well if you could swap the ABXY buttons around to the xbox configuration. Also, shaking the controller to wake the switch is by design. Also, also, those hall effect sticks are Gulikit branded, so 8bitdo must have some deal going with them for the sticks. Gulikit makes their own controller too, and I think they're supposedly coming out with another one, so I wonder what kind of deal they made with 8bitdo.
I've been using the wired Xbox version of this for a while, and it quickly became my primary controller for most games there. I've become slightly addicted to the underside buttons for games like shooters and Elden Ring. Looking forward to this one and seeing what the Hall effect sticks are like. A shame the wired versions don't have those.
I believe they are making a new wired version that matches this one rather than the Xbox branded one, and that might possibly have Hall Effect sensors?
@@zkatt3238 They do have a couple variants of this like the wired one you mentioned and the 2.4GHz only version, but as far as I can tell the Hall effect sticks are only in this more expensive version. Would be great if they brought it to everything though.
@@Marko-ij4vy Sort of a blend between the two, like the one in this video. Series X layout and texture, but a very nice membrane d-pad instead of clicking. Solid pivot point so you can't mash the whole d-pad down at once like the Switch Pro Controller. Membrane LB/RB instead of clicking as well. Triggers feel a bit different from the Xbox, but they work well.
Nice! I've been waiting for you to review this controller since I heard about the pre-order. It looks great, but now I want to see the differences between this and the GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro controller. GuliKit being the supplier of the same hall effect joysticks 8bitdo uses.
Glad they are using those magnetic sticks. Those are very reliable, my Dreamcast controller still works perfectly fine, no drift. Magnetic sticks are the way to go.
Just a heads up if anyone is thinking of getting this and physically changing the positions of the X,Y,A,B buttons. They have different button paths and can't be swapped. I tried because I wanted to use bluetooth for my steam deck and use it on my computer mostly while still using it on my switch occasionally. I'll have to look around for buttons swapped to replace them.
@@jcmorales18is there anyway to fix the swap. I play Wuwa. The game says press B to procceed. But physically it wants me to press A on the controller because A is placed on the right side not on south. Help me.
I really like the switching feature on the Pro2. I switch between switch, PC and android using it often and it's super simple. I think I'm going to stick with that.
I wouldn't be surprised if another ultimate is released later on, "Ultimate +" or something, that has all the different profiles and such. 8bitdo has a history of iterative changes like that.
The thing about the lack of power brick is that you're better connecting it to your Switch, because the dock actually works as a USB passthrough for the USB receiver "stored" connected inside
Fine rumble like with the Switch or the Dual Sense is pretty cool and fun, but I'm also quite fine with good old regular rumble. It's also much more widely compatible with older games, emulators, software in general. I'm very ok with that choice 👍 As you said though there may be a push towards HD rumble in the years coming and hopefully this becomes a normalized standard coming forward. Right now with different games it's very spotty whether my controllers will get to make use of those fancy motors.
@@naam4769 That's the marketing name for the haptic feedback used by Nintendo, but it's a tech available to any party. Nintendo uses it in their Joycons and Switch Pro controllers. And Sony uses it in their DualSense, specifically in the triggers I believe. Those are the only three controllers I'm aware of, 3rd party included. It's a much finer rumble that is able to mimick various feels or even sounds when programmed to. Old-school rumble (GameCube, Xbox360, etc.) is also haptic feedback, just a basic form of it with less variant potential.
You don't have to desolder the sticks to get at the magnets. The blue section that holds the magnet pops out if you pry outwards directly from the top, it is designed that way to allow for cleaning.
Hope to see a comparison between this and the KingKong 2 Pro. Leaning towards the 8BitDo Ultimate because it has the back buttons and charging stand (though it's slightly more expensive).
Kingkong 2 pro has better face buttons. They are somewhat mechanic, like keyboards. They use a spring to push a ruber on the contact so it fells like a membrane button that most ppl are use to, but actually can last way longer. For me this is a must since I'm tired of changing the membrane on my 8bitdo's already.
Dude my KK2 Pro I was loving it but my left trigger just died on me after like a week! What is the story w the triggers? I've been trying to findout if others have had this problem or if I just got a lemon.
I would like to see a comparison between this and the KingKong2 controller since both have these sticks. Like comparing the sticks, motion controls, etc. KingKong2 has NFC and this doesn't appear to and since I use my amiibo fairly often, I'm kinda between these 2 controllers
@@PSYCHOV3N0M I hate having to go through online return processes and it's not like my controller is broken right now. I'd just like a better one. Since I'm only curious for convenience, I'm not that invested to trouble myself to do that kind of testing myself, but I'd totally watch a video on it and use that as a reference point for a single purchase decision. If the 8bitdo controller had amiibo support, I'd probably just buy that one.
I just want to know if the gyro is as good as the Switch Pro. Lots of good alternatives but so far none them have good enough gyro for Splatoon motion controls. Edit: I've heard about the Gulikit controller but I've not heard anyone who plays high level splatoon talk about the gyro in any of these controllers. It's one thing to have gyro that works, but if it's not as good as or better than the switch pro controller that's a huge disadvantage for competitive splatoon players.
I love my pro 2, but I much prefer offset sticks, so I’ve been looking forward to this one. Did you try out the gyro controls? I play a lot of Splatoon, so for me, that’s important.
i know cause some humans were born with Shorter right arms and cant reach the top joystick like regular normal same sized armed people where naturally there thumbs lay at the same level
I've been interested in this one since it was announced, so I'm glad to see that it doesn't disappoint. It seems like the only things the official Switch Pro controller has over it are the amiibo support and advanced haptic feedback. The macro buttons are arguably a good trade off though for a lot of games. Might just have to pick this one up.
I’m glad there’s a new standard for controllers at an affordable price. The console makers will have to keep up if they want people using their controllers
What I want is a modular controller that has its firmware in its button segment, so that you could just swap the button piece to the one you want to use, and its ready to go for that system.
I think I actually like the Wii U setup best. I never fully got used to it, but given FPS popularity, and the general need in gaming to control both movement and camera in nearly every 3d Game, making them the "main controls" makes sense. Also, you use the top & back of the controller for 3d/shooter games, and the shoulders/face buttons for 2d games. It just makes a lot of sense.
Its almost perfect, just a battery door and the ability to use AA batteries, and 8bitdo would have the best long latesting, easily repairable controller.
If I'm not mistaken, you can actually leave the dongle inside the charging stand, and it will function for 2.4G as long as the charging stand is plugged into the computer/console.
I'm glad i bought the Pro 2 recently instead of this, because of the better compatibility with Windows and Android over Bluetooth From what I've seen, in bluetooth mode, this only acts as a switch controller, that can also work on PC but isn't as compatible as xinput Using the dongle turns it into a xinput controller but that's not easy to use on Android, + the mode switch on the back of the pro 2 is really convenient
@@sweetenernj wired and dongle with make the controller x-input. Bluetooth makes it a switch controller. If you wanna use it on pc best to use wire or dongle
@@Dima26363 Hi, yes I do have it. X-input for pc works for EITHER WIRED/2.4 ghz connection. Connecting the controller to your pc via bluetooth will turn it into a switch controller. In case you are wondering, the 8bitdo ultimate bluetooth can be connected 3 ways (Wired, 2.4ghz, and bluetooth). Also, when in X-input mode you can ignore the switch design of the controller.
I'm so getting this next month when it comes here to the Netherlands, although not really for the switch as much as just for windows to finally retire my Xbox one controller
just beware this controller is using the switch button layout. they offer an xbox layout version that is 2.4 ghz only, not bluetooth and no magnetic sticks.
LTT did a review of the Gulikit KingPro2 Switch controller that claim to never be able to get Joystick drift as well as virtually no dead zone due to the type of joystick. It also features Amiibo reader and motion controls and can have the A, B X and Y buttons swapped on software and physically for people who prefer the Xbox Layout.
I love my switch pro controller but I've been looking for an alternative with back buttons but that could also be wireless. All options available look good but either they lack vibration or wireless functionality. However, this 8bitdo ultimate controller looks like it has it all, EVEN motion controls! I think I've finally found the controller I wanted!
how good vibration is on Ultimate controller ? Even on here it says that is just regular vibration, but nothing so special. I'm a bit concerned that this controller may have an even less vibration than a 10 dollars cheap controller that i got about a decade ago... Would appreciate the info.
@@naam4769 I haven't bought it yet. I'm planning on waiting a little until Zelda: TOTK releases to get the controller (hopefully at an even cheaper price). However, I've tried other 8Bitdo controllers in the past and the vibration in them is quite strong. I'd think it'd be the same for this Ultimate Controller, but it'd be worth asking others who have already experienced it or watching other videos where people talk about it.
@@moviegametime3891 Could you please tell me which controllers you used ? I may get a Pro 2 soon but I do not know how good or bad vibration is in there...
@@naam4769 Of course. The one I tried was the 8bitdo sn30 pro, and the vibration was definitely strong. And that one even "looks" more like a cheap controller than the Ultimate Bluetooth or the Pro 2, but it had a really strong vibration. I suppose that if 8bitdo can make that work on a controller that small, they can do something similar for bigger controllers.
I like the stand, I like that it can finally wake up the system. I personally prefer symmetrical sticks, and it looks like it STILL doesn't have NFC. (Not that amiibos are super widely used, but still. I have a $20 controller from Amazon that has NFC and motion controls, and it's a pretty good controller overall.)
Ngl I can live with no NFC if it means that you get Hall effect sticks AND a good SNES style d-pad for the same price as a Gulikit KK2 Pro. Plus I don't have any amiibos anyways. I'd gladly pay more though for Android support, NFC, a carrying case, and a phone clip. Hell, I don't even have an Xbox or a PS5 but put that in there too. I just want the whole package tbh. Now that'd be the ultimate controller.
I’ve loved both of my 8bitdo controllers but I can’t shake the feeling they always have the slightest input delay compared to others. I think 2.4ghz is going to be a big step up for me.
Yes Bluetooth connection does that. I do wonder how the systems default controllers avoids this issue. Using wired or 2.4 Ghz solves this issue for most 3rd party controllers tho
I have 8bitdo dongle for sn30pro+1 and Xbox dongle for win Xbox pad + wireless Xbox headset, yes that make me calm (that must be better that Bluetooth), but you very fast get used to, and think that wired will be better 😅
I was about to pick up this controller until I read your comment I bought the Gilikit King Kong 2 Pro and it had really bad lag both Bluetooth and wired
@@c2ironfist oof sorry bud. It’s been hit and miss for me. It’s like it works well with some games but every now and then I’ll have to switch modes or plug it in and it’s just really inconsistent. I’d say 8bitdo probably does make the best 3rd party controllers though. I’d say go for the 2.4ghz connection controller if you can find it. Saw one in bestbuy today.
It's already bad enough that Nintendo's official Pro controller has 12ms more input lag than the official Joy-cons's, I can't see this 8Bitdo controller doing any better. If anything, it's probably has even more latency. Plus no haptics/HD rumble and it's gyro might not be up to snuff either. I don't like it's boring sterile minimal design either. A little bit of colour would of been nice! :P
I wish you could switch the abxy buttons physically as well. Love that you can reprogram them, but switching them permanently would be great as I go back and forth between xbox and switch so much! Great video!
Yeah, it's a shame that they are using Nintendo's layout for the buttons instead of the standard PC/XBOX button layout, that's the one big turn off for me since I would want it for PC gaming.
@@sandrahiltz The Bluetooth version of the Ultimate Controller is marketed towards Switch users. Of course it's going to use the Nintendo layout. What you're asking for literally already exists because 8BitDo also made a wired XBOX version and a 2.4G version.
@@sandrahiltz Exactly. I want those sticks. It would be awesome if the buttons could be switched, like A could fit in the B slot, etc. Then anyone with a screwdriver could disassemble, change, and it would work great!
Just bought a GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro an its been my go-to. Really want this one too. I wish more companies did the modular joysticks like Dreamcast's. Great review.
What does this have over the pro 2 for instance? One of my favourite parts about that controller was the lithium battery enclosure that doubled as an alkaline battery enclosure.
I've got the wired Xbox versions of both the Pro 2 and the Ultimate. On the Pro 2 the rear buttons poke out just a slight bit making it easy to bump them. I don't have any issues with accidentally hitting the rear buttons on the Ultimate, on the Ultimate the rear buttons fit nice and flush to the controller, I rest my middle fingers on top of them the whole time I'm holding the controller and I never manage to press them unintentionally.
I watched this video as well as Wulff Den's and then I purchased two ultimate controllers for the switch. I've never owned pro controllers of any kind before. So getting these made a lot of sense as I don't feel like I'm getting something redundant. If these two controllers and my, now repaired, two sets of joycons, I finally feel equipped with some reliable controllers for friends and guests that come over. Thank you so much for this video.
My biggest complaint with this controller from what I've seen is that the controller can't do X-Input over Bluetooth like the Pro 2 can. It will over 2.4ghz, but still... I hope it's something they can fix with firmware updates. Also do wish it'd have NFC for the price. The Gulikit KingKong 2 Pro does have it, and wakes the console without the weird shaking. Also with the waking console, people asked 8bitdo and they said you have to "shake the controller to wake the console" which is a super weird design choice. Otherwise seems like a great controller though!
Good to know about x-input. Kind of an important tidbit when you consider how widely compatible x-input is, in good part because it's often the only available option.
Any idea how this compares to the KK2 Pro? I would like to see some comparisons, I have the KK2 Pro and it's the same price as this Ultimate Controller but it has more platform support and I think a better design.
It's better than the KK2 for one reason: that 8bitdo d-pad. I was thinking of getting either the KK2 or the 8bitdo Pro 2, racking my brain over whether the Super Nintendo style d-pad or the Hall effect sticks were the better investment. But now that Gulikit and 8bitdo have partnered up to release this controller that has BOTH at the same price point, I'd be insane not to go with this. That said, if you plan to use this to play mobile games, it doesn't have official x-input support for Android, so it'll act like a Switch controller there. Also, they haven't released a phone clip for it yet like they did their Pro series controllers. So if you're big into mobile emulation, then I suggest you get the Pro 2 with the dedicated phone clip. Gulikit doesn't have a phone clip so the Pro 2 is the best bet for mobile. Also games like FFVII are better played with a good d-pad anyways. I have the Pro+ right now with broken analog caps and the phone clip and use it to play games like Final Fantasy IX. If you're wondering why the stick caps broke, I transported them without a case, and didn't realize the sticks were so susceptible to friction.
@@McCaroni_Sup it should probably be noted that the Android/iOS mode on KK2 Pro just emulates an MFi controller that's also compatible with Android. You can, however, use the Xbox mode just fine with devices that support Xbox controllers. I think the gyroscope only works in the PC mode though, but I'm sure that'll work with some 3rd party drivers on Android if it does not work out of the box. Also the 8bitdo Pro 2 in my opinion seems to not have very pleasant ergonomics
@@Piipperi800 I have the SN30Pro+ which is basically the Pro 2's predecessor, and it is very comfortable to use. My hands don't cramp up when using it and I have decently big hands. The assymetrical sticks might turn you off, though. That said, the d-pad placement is really good for JRPGs. I'm playing Persona 5 Royal right now and it's in just the right spot to make menu navigation a breeze. It's also great for older games that mostly use the d-pad.
Awesome video! Thanks so much for doing the teardown - I really wanted to see the inside to see if I could swap the face buttons to end up with an Xbox layout, and seems to be pretty easy to do! (since I'll be using it on Windows)
I'd consider picking one up for PC gaming if the buttons were in an Xbox layout. I don't want to deal with A/B and X/Y being reversed on a hardware level.
If this is anything like their xbox wired controller that looks pretty identical, then I have some gripes. The bumpers have to be pressed from the center, or they stick (not a huge problem). And my BIGGEST gripe, if you map a button to the rear paddles, the original button no longer functions. Who thought that was a good idea???
The last thing you said was probably because you didn't configure it properly with the Ultimate Software. I've used a Pro 2 and the paddles are different buttons that can be assigned to any button on the controller.
Seems like something isn't working correctly, I have two of those wired Xbox controllers and I have not had that issue. I typically have A and B mapped to the paddles, but I still use the original buttons for menus or panic dodging in Elden Ring when I inadvertently revert to muscle memory.
@@kringhetto Yes, I have two of the Xbox Ultimate Wired controllers that I use on Xbox One and Series consoles. I set up the button profiles with the 8bitdo Ultimate Software app you can get on the Xbox itself.
I wish the xbox variant of this controller had the hall effect sticks like this one does, or if this one had swappable buttons. I mainly play pc games on controller and the misleading ui compared to buttons really throws me off sometimes.
This is gonna be a perfect controller for my streaming setup. My current PC motherboard doesn't have Bluetooth built in, so I can just use the receiver with this controller. Can't wait to get my hands on one!
The #1 thing I need a company like 8BitDo to do is make a controller with minimal spring tension in the sticks and triggers. For the last 20 years I've been ripping controllers apart to adjust/remove springs and help prevent my Tendonitis symptoms from flaring, it's a lot of work every time a new console comes out, if 8BitDo could make a controller with no more than 30 grams force on the sticks and triggers I would never buy any other controller.
This seems like a mostly good controller, but I hate that the battery is now no longer replaceable. One thing I love about the SN30 pro+ is that not only can you take out the battery from a hatch in the back, but you can even replace it with standard AAs. Seems crazy that they're now using sticks that are designed to last a long time but batteries that aren't.
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery will last for years and replacement is very easy, I'd always take Li-Ion over AAs that you can "run out" of, and have to go to a gas station in the middle fo the night
@@zlac He literally said in the video that the battery is welded in. And it's likely proprietary. Again, compare to their previous controller which gave you the option of what to use. Also, rechargeable AAs are a thing.
It looks like it can just be replaced with something like a standard 18650 if it comes to that 3.7v and 1000mah is in line with those, the form factor looks correct, and it probably wouldn't be difficult to work in. Honestly wouldn't even surprise me if that's just an 18650 in a sleeve so it doesn't look like one. Bought a speaker at 5 below like that once, it was just powered by a standard 18650 battery, put into a padded rectangular sleeve meant to make it look like it wasn't
bought mine, and with pro analog sticks that i plan on replacing the plastic ones with the metal and magentic sticks. i love how i can just remove the plastic covers and change the analogue sticks without have to break down the entire controller to access them to replace them with a more premium stick like the xbox1 pro controllers and ps pro controller with 9 pieces magnetic change.... a nice smaller stick for movement and a nice big one for camera view to really give you that extra control
It's the hall effect joy sticks, they are much more reliable than the piezoelectric joy sticks all the first party companies use and are much more resistant to stick drift. Ironically Nintendo was the first to use this tech back on the Nintendo 64.
Obviously the stick layout is different. The Pro is great for 2D games but its shape and stick layout isn’t super ergonomic for 3D left stick heavy games.
Right? I swear some youtubers are doing it intentionally at this point. It's been confirmed multiple times by people at 8bitdo that it is pronounced do, not doh.
I got this controller to replace my PC controller, it's fantastic. The reason it does not come with a charging brick is if it's plugged into your PC, the charging stand is not just a carrying case for the adapter it is also a splitter so the charging stand connects the 2.4 GHz straight to your PC so you do not have to have that little adapter plug directly into your PC only if you want to have the charging case in a different place it is a very well-designed unit, I recommended
When the USB 2.4GHz dongle is plugged into the base, the base passes the dongle through and effectively acts as the dongle, which is REALLY nice The only thing I dislike is that you can't get the BT+2.4GHz with the Xbox button layout, which is kinda annoying. You can get the 2.4GHz only and Wired versions, but not the BT version
A really solid controller! 8bitdo has stepped up their game every time, and continue to offer several different options. I agree that the next step is in adding haptics in rumble and maybe even the triggers like in the dualsense. Even then, it's nice that they have free software to customize things like button mapping and analog/trigger travel. I really hope they just keep building on these solid foundations!
Brilliant TechWave and Teardown Video Jon(SW). This New 8bitdo Controller is looking outstanding, I will have too Pick one Up for sure. If you like using D-Pad for Retro Games, Older Style Games and Fighting Games, you can't do much better that 8bitdo, I fully recommend any of their Controllers and this latest Controller is looking like the best out of the lot guys.
For those of you that own this version you have to press the power button and "shake" the controller to wake up the switch. 8bitdo has a video tutorial on this ,didn't notice it on the manual
I preordered a black bluetooth one for 55 USD, it's arriving today! I own a SN30 Pro+ and a Pro 2 and I love them to death. My Nintendo pro and my xbox series controllers are stored in their boxes now.
Great teardown & Review - Love the 8bitdo line of conrollers. I have a couple of wireless and wired USB ones I use on my raspberrypi build, the Nintendo switch and my PC.
It's almost like by pressing the power button you make the controller sensitive to input, and any further button presses actually activate it. What happens if you don't shake it or press any buttons within a few seconds/minutes of hitting the power button? Does it just turn back of? If so, it seems like a battery saving feature, to make sure that it doesn't waste too much excess power if that button wasn't meant to be pressed. If that's what it is, it seems like an interesting way to avoid accidentally wasting energy. If not, then that's one weird bug! I have a ton of Retro-Bit and 8BitDo controllers, I love the classic styles they put out. This one seems very interesting as a more modern type of controller. I'll definitely pick one up and check it out if I get the chance. The only problem is, because each system already has its own modern, high-quality controller, the usefulness of this one seems a bit diminished for me. You could argue that it can be used for a PC--but the official first-party controllers for all major consoles can also be paired with a Windows or Linux computer and used with Steam, and their prices are similar. The main advantage seems to be customizability of the inputs themselves, including stick deadzones, trigger sensitivity, etc.
I hear what you're saying it would be nice if for their ultimate controller they had a power brick. However none of their products do. Consistent I suppose.
Since you didn't mention it I'm going to assume that it doesn't have amiibo support? Until is fully functional I didn't think it will replace a pro controller any time soon.
FYI I just plugged the cradle into my switch and the 2.4GHz receiver was seen by the switch as a wired controller. Which is nice. You can leave it stored and its still useable.
I love that more companies are starting to use Hall- effect analog stick sensors! Hopefully the next console generation (or perhaps even the next half-generational upgrade), all controllers will come with Hall- effect sticks.
They probably won't because of current contracts, for this generation I mean
Potentiometer joysticks have planned obsolescence built in so the average consumer just ends up buying more controllers, which is better for Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo in monetary terms
@@Mariobius
I mean that's the problem in general with controlers these days. I mean planned obsolescence is one thing but this is literally designing something to fail so you can sell more.
@@JohnDoe-wq5eu Which is alot of products nowadays. They can b made to last ALOT longer, but most are designed to live a certain life to push consumers to buy more or willing to fork more on longevity.
@@Daigon95
And then of course you have people like apple who go out of their way to create as many roadblocks as possible with new products to make it nearly impossible to fix on your own. It's amazing how both aggressively anti-consumer companies have become and at the same time how little pushback there is from the general public. Do you hear people grumble and whine about these problems but they just accept it in the end. That's the pathetic part there's not nearly enough pushback, not nearly enough actual outcry and anger. Just eventual resignation and acceptance which is just sickening.
The charging cradle also serves as the extension for the 2.4g receiver. so it is better to attach
the charging cradle directly to the computer's usb port rather than using a separate power brick.
Yea and it works beautifully
Really? That’s brilliant, totally getting this one.
I was about to ask this, I was Hoping that was the case.
OP AF!!!
that's awesome to know, i just bought one online and was thinking on where to plug the cradle in before seeing this
wouldn't that cause more lag though as there are multiple attach points now
That's such a beautiful teardown, it really looks like they designed the internals with repairability in mind. Super well done!
It's something that 8BitDo is SOMEWHAT friendly with. The SN30 Pro Plus has buyable parts, but they don't tell you that it comes with "tapped" (aka pre-stripped) screws of a custom size. Can't buy aftermarket screws to make it more friendly.
Hopefully this Ultimate one doesn't use pre-stripped screws too since the battery is not easily replaced.
i talked with an employee about replacing parts a month ago. there is no such thing in work. maybe it will change some day. but i think, most of the parts are repairable with ebay parts anyway.
@@mr.number9279 that's true, this battery does not look easy to replace. I haven't broken any screws the times I've repaired my pro Plus so I fortunately never had to realize that myself but I agree, hopefully they are untapped and standard size.
@@mattyg_hd I didn't "break" the screws either, they came that way. It's the consequence of "self-tapping" screws. The Steam Deck, most Nintendo products, and most ASUS/MSI laptops use them too.
They're either pre-stripped or will strip if ever turned due to being way too soft to actually use (MSI mostly), essentially making them pre-stripped.
aside from the soldered on joysticks yeah looks really nice for easy repairs.
I think he missed that the dock also works as a passthrough for the dongle. So you can just leave it plugged into the switch and swap over to using the dongle as another option
This is what I wanted to know from this video
brilliant !
Ok now I'm buying it lol
Can you use it like this for the PC too?
Wym dongle?
8bitdo being more consistent than my grades
That's not saying much 😐
...sorry 😄
Jajajajajajajajajajaja
Consistently F's & D's, jk jk
Lol ur still at that point in life😂
I disliked this comment
I have the SN30+ Pro for years now and the quality of that controler is so good. I'm gonna get the Ultimate for new-school games and keep using the 30+ for retro and platformers.
*controller
I'll get the Ultimate and a receiver for my Pro 2. I'll use the Ultimate for PC and Switch and I'll use the Pro 2 for playing PS2 games on an emulator since it has the same stick layout
yeah it's awesome, I like that they've supplied updates since release.
That is a good controller. Even the regular snpro is good
had my sn30 since release and no stick drift,battery problems or button degradation also the best feeling controller with paddles for me. I plan on picking up the Ultimate soon though.
With the white case and the form-factor, this kinda reminds me of the Google Stadia controller, which is quite fitting since 8bitdo is mainly known for retro-style controllers 😉
I see what you did there because now stadia is now in the past, and therefore ’retro’
ouch 🤣
brooooo 😭
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who made that connection. Sadly I didn't come up with as clever a joke as you did.
DAMN SON.
I recently bought it because my old wired controller broke for
Xbox and so far no complaints. It feels amazing in hand.
You’re using it on an Xbox or on PC? Can’t find info if it works with Xbox series X or not
@@jimmyconte2009 yeah there’s one on Amazon that’s for the Xbox series x/s
@@ARod3 so you know if the Xbox branded one has the Hall effect sticks in it as well? That’s my main draw.
@@jimmyconte2009 no, it doesn't, just this one for now, but i think 8bitdo sell a stick to play with this controller on xbox wireless
@@jimmyconte2009 only the 70$ model with the switch layout has the hall effect sensor. got it confirmed by 8bitdo support. the cheaper xbox layout has no halleffect sensor.
I really appreciate 8bitdo. They could just keep doing retro solutions and maybe a new console controller here and there but they really go the full mile. Making controllers this good for PC at these prices is really appreciated, man. I'm actually excited for a controller, can't wait to get one.
I think the wake up thing is intentional. It's the answer usually given by their reps when asked in their Amazon store page.
"Yes, you can. But in a different way.
A. Pick up the controller from the charging dock to power it on.
B. Then shake the controller to wake up your Switch" - Amazon Store page
I'm just glad it works, even if it IS a bit weird. Might finally pick this over the Kingkong Pro controller.
wanted the king kong pro too. but it seems like the chromatic stuff on the controller does not last for long. and the 8bitdo looks promising. kk2pro seems to have some quality check problems too. and no buttons on the back.
@@Erbsengeneral i have the KingKong Pro 2 and haven't had any issues at all, but the back buttons have got me tempted to get the 8bitdo
@@Erbsengeneral I just found a problem that might be a deal breaker for me. I found ETA Prime's video and it mentions that on PC and Android, Bluetooth mode is only available as D Input, which can lead to some incompatibility issues. This isn't much of a problem for PC since you'll probably just use the 2.4GHz dongle, but it's a pain in the ass for Android if you want to use it for emulation since you'll have a dongle sticking out of your phone if you want to use X input on it.
Furthermore, the 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller is around 20 USD more expensive than the Kingkong Pro 2, which can easily switch between X and D input. Kingkong Pro 2 sounds a lot more attractive to me because of this.
@@xykros hope its get a firmwareupdate. seems fixable
The hall sensors aren't fragile. I've taken them apart before. The joystick part is just a regular joystick. You can unclip the blue hall sensor assembly since they're not soldered to the board. The SMD hall sensors are soldered to the board under the blue parts and the magnets behind the blue part are in a pendulum type of holder.
Does the mechanism use any springs? The issue I've had with Xbox controllers is the analog stick sticking to a drift in forward or back direction and not returning to neutral.
@@akashmakkar7187 I have the same question. Whoever can answer?
My only complaints so far is the non user replaceable battery. Design looks great and comfortable, even the internals look well thought out.
With basic mechanical and soldering skills should be a breeze to replace,
That's actually a passthrough for the 2.4g dongle. If you plug the dock into your computer, it'll pick it up. The only things I don't like on this thing so far, is that Bluetooth isn't x-input so it's just for the Switch, and I don't like the grips. They feel like sandpaper after playing for a while. I don't like the Xbox controller grips either. It'd be nice as well if you could swap the ABXY buttons around to the xbox configuration.
Also, shaking the controller to wake the switch is by design.
Also, also, those hall effect sticks are Gulikit branded, so 8bitdo must have some deal going with them for the sticks. Gulikit makes their own controller too, and I think they're supposedly coming out with another one, so I wonder what kind of deal they made with 8bitdo.
I've been using the wired Xbox version of this for a while, and it quickly became my primary controller for most games there. I've become slightly addicted to the underside buttons for games like shooters and Elden Ring. Looking forward to this one and seeing what the Hall effect sticks are like. A shame the wired versions don't have those.
I believe they are making a new wired version that matches this one rather than the Xbox branded one, and that might possibly have Hall Effect sensors?
How does it compare to xbox series x controller or switch pro controller?
@@zkatt3238 They do have a couple variants of this like the wired one you mentioned and the 2.4GHz only version, but as far as I can tell the Hall effect sticks are only in this more expensive version. Would be great if they brought it to everything though.
@@Marko-ij4vy Sort of a blend between the two, like the one in this video. Series X layout and texture, but a very nice membrane d-pad instead of clicking. Solid pivot point so you can't mash the whole d-pad down at once like the Switch Pro Controller. Membrane LB/RB instead of clicking as well. Triggers feel a bit different from the Xbox, but they work well.
@@Cetega Do you prefer it over switch pro/xbox controllers?
Nice! I've been waiting for you to review this controller since I heard about the pre-order. It looks great, but now I want to see the differences between this and the GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro controller. GuliKit being the supplier of the same hall effect joysticks 8bitdo uses.
Been planning to pick this up. Glad to see you tinkering with it!
Glad they are using those magnetic sticks. Those are very reliable, my Dreamcast controller still works perfectly fine, no drift. Magnetic sticks are the way to go.
Just a heads up if anyone is thinking of getting this and physically changing the positions of the X,Y,A,B buttons. They have different button paths and can't be swapped. I tried because I wanted to use bluetooth for my steam deck and use it on my computer mostly while still using it on my switch occasionally. I'll have to look around for buttons swapped to replace them.
There’s a varient with the a/b and x/y swapped for Xbox/steam layout!
@@Darkscore8 yes but that variant doesn't have bluetooth
@@jcmorales18is there anyway to fix the swap. I play Wuwa. The game says press B to procceed. But physically it wants me to press A on the controller because A is placed on the right side not on south. Help me.
I really like the switching feature on the Pro2. I switch between switch, PC and android using it often and it's super simple. I think I'm going to stick with that.
I wouldn't be surprised if another ultimate is released later on, "Ultimate +" or something, that has all the different profiles and such. 8bitdo has a history of iterative changes like that.
Adam do you know the title of the switch game thats tested out in the video. Couldnt hear the title correctly.
@@dannygonsalez27 he was playing Bayonetta 3
The thing about the lack of power brick is that you're better connecting it to your Switch, because the dock actually works as a USB passthrough for the USB receiver "stored" connected inside
Fine rumble like with the Switch or the Dual Sense is pretty cool and fun, but I'm also quite fine with good old regular rumble. It's also much more widely compatible with older games, emulators, software in general. I'm very ok with that choice 👍
As you said though there may be a push towards HD rumble in the years coming and hopefully this becomes a normalized standard coming forward. Right now with different games it's very spotty whether my controllers will get to make use of those fancy motors.
👆👆Thank you
You have been 🎉selected among my winners 🎁
For games that support HD rumble its great, but for every other game which is 99% of them, I find regular rumble preferable. More meaty.
What do you mean about HD rumble ? Are there type of controllers that have this feature ? Any suggestions please ?
@@naam4769 That's the marketing name for the haptic feedback used by Nintendo, but it's a tech available to any party. Nintendo uses it in their Joycons and Switch Pro controllers. And Sony uses it in their DualSense, specifically in the triggers I believe. Those are the only three controllers I'm aware of, 3rd party included.
It's a much finer rumble that is able to mimick various feels or even sounds when programmed to. Old-school rumble (GameCube, Xbox360, etc.) is also haptic feedback, just a basic form of it with less variant potential.
You don't have to desolder the sticks to get at the magnets.
The blue section that holds the magnet pops out if you pry outwards directly from the top, it is designed that way to allow for cleaning.
Hope to see a comparison between this and the KingKong 2 Pro. Leaning towards the 8BitDo Ultimate because it has the back buttons and charging stand (though it's slightly more expensive).
Kingkong 2 pro has better face buttons. They are somewhat mechanic, like keyboards. They use a spring to push a ruber on the contact so it fells like a membrane button that most ppl are use to, but actually can last way longer. For me this is a must since I'm tired of changing the membrane on my 8bitdo's already.
@@Aragoness kk2pro is great until the triggers give out
@@rileytedrow6732 The R1/L1 or the magnetic trigger?
@@Aragoness the triggers, r1 and l1 are bumpers
Dude my KK2 Pro I was loving it but my left trigger just died on me after like a week! What is the story w the triggers? I've been trying to findout if others have had this problem or if I just got a lemon.
I would like to see a comparison between this and the KingKong2 controller since both have these sticks. Like comparing the sticks, motion controls, etc. KingKong2 has NFC and this doesn't appear to and since I use my amiibo fairly often, I'm kinda between these 2 controllers
Just buy both and compare them yourself and return the one that doesn't satisfy you for a refund.
@@PSYCHOV3N0M I hate having to go through online return processes and it's not like my controller is broken right now. I'd just like a better one. Since I'm only curious for convenience, I'm not that invested to trouble myself to do that kind of testing myself, but I'd totally watch a video on it and use that as a reference point for a single purchase decision. If the 8bitdo controller had amiibo support, I'd probably just buy that one.
The King Kong has more input lag than the 8bitdo.
@@DerekMoore82 Oh, that's good to know. I wonder if the Zen Pro update to the KingKong2 fixed that at all
@@Chronoflation I've heard that the update fixed it by one guy in a comments section, but can't verify it personally.
I just want to know if the gyro is as good as the Switch Pro. Lots of good alternatives but so far none them have good enough gyro for Splatoon motion controls.
Edit: I've heard about the Gulikit controller but I've not heard anyone who plays high level splatoon talk about the gyro in any of these controllers. It's one thing to have gyro that works, but if it's not as good as or better than the switch pro controller that's a huge disadvantage for competitive splatoon players.
Have you scene much of the gulikit kingkong 2 pro? it might have good gyro
I wonder how many of us there are that are just looking for the ultimate Splatoon controller 🙂
Have you tried any of the 8bitdo controllers cos most of them do have good gyro and good setting for them
@@BobzBlue That controller amazingly also has amiibo support, I think it's the only third party controller that does.
I have the king kong pro 2 and use it on switch mode on the pc and th3 gryo works great. I use rewasd to configure it.
I got it for $30 today.
Got it for 22 :) (weird color, but still)
I got the Bluetooth one for 35
I love my pro 2, but I much prefer offset sticks, so I’ve been looking forward to this one. Did you try out the gyro controls? I play a lot of Splatoon, so for me, that’s important.
i know cause some humans were born with Shorter right arms and cant reach the top joystick like regular normal same sized armed people where naturally there thumbs lay at the same level
u know you can use the stick to aim right? who tf aims with gyro
@@Henrik1505 Who uses sticks in Splatoon? B rank roller mains, that's who. Everyone else uses gyro.
The "shake to wake" is a feature, it's listed on the product description!
I've been interested in this one since it was announced, so I'm glad to see that it doesn't disappoint. It seems like the only things the official Switch Pro controller has over it are the amiibo support and advanced haptic feedback. The macro buttons are arguably a good trade off though for a lot of games. Might just have to pick this one up.
I’m glad there’s a new standard for controllers at an affordable price. The console makers will have to keep up if they want people using their controllers
What I want is a modular controller that has its firmware in its button segment, so that you could just swap the button piece to the one you want to use, and its ready to go for that system.
Companies tried it and it failed… hard…
Very difficult to do
I think I actually like the Wii U setup best.
I never fully got used to it, but given FPS popularity, and the general need in gaming to control both movement and camera in nearly every 3d Game, making them the "main controls" makes sense.
Also, you use the top & back of the controller for 3d/shooter games, and the shoulders/face buttons for 2d games. It just makes a lot of sense.
I agree, my favorite set pu was the wii u style with the sticks up
Its almost perfect, just a battery door and the ability to use AA batteries, and 8bitdo would have the best long latesting, easily repairable controller.
*lasting
If I'm not mistaken, you can actually leave the dongle inside the charging stand, and it will function for 2.4G as long as the charging stand is plugged into the computer/console.
I'm glad i bought the Pro 2 recently instead of this, because of the better compatibility with Windows and Android over Bluetooth
From what I've seen, in bluetooth mode, this only acts as a switch controller, that can also work on PC but isn't as compatible as xinput
Using the dongle turns it into a xinput controller but that's not easy to use on Android, + the mode switch on the back of the pro 2 is really convenient
Have you tried using the USB-C wired? Does the controller work in wired mode even in X-input for 2.G mode?
@@sweetenernj I don't have the ultimate controller so idk, watch reviews
@@sweetenernj wired and dongle with make the controller x-input. Bluetooth makes it a switch controller. If you wanna use it on pc best to use wire or dongle
@@rafunson7321 you have 8bitdo ultimate Bluetooth? It work ixmput mode on PC? With Bluetooth or 2.4? I want to buy it for PC gaming
@@Dima26363 Hi, yes I do have it. X-input for pc works for EITHER WIRED/2.4 ghz connection. Connecting the controller to your pc via bluetooth will turn it into a switch controller. In case you are wondering, the 8bitdo ultimate bluetooth can be connected 3 ways (Wired, 2.4ghz, and bluetooth). Also, when in X-input mode you can ignore the switch design of the controller.
Returning my Switch Pro Controller for this NOW
It does everything that controller does but with a charging dock and sticks that don't drift, I'm SOLD
Was hoping to see you cover this controller. Good teardown, looks like a solid product.
just upgraded 2 months ago from switch to PC and needed a controller. WHERE WAS THIS THEN!!! would have bought it in a heart beat
I'm so getting this next month when it comes here to the Netherlands, although not really for the switch as much as just for windows to finally retire my Xbox one controller
just beware this controller is using the switch button layout. they offer an xbox layout version that is 2.4 ghz only, not bluetooth and no magnetic sticks.
Were you able to try the motion controls? How good are they?
No stick drift and 2 back peddles for only 70 that's a amazing deal. Hope it works well with Steamdeck too.
LTT did a review of the Gulikit KingPro2 Switch controller that claim to never be able to get Joystick drift as well as virtually no dead zone due to the type of joystick. It also features Amiibo reader and motion controls and can have the A, B X and Y buttons swapped on software and physically for people who prefer the Xbox Layout.
I saw that. I believe those guys also sell their joysticks for the Steam Deck.
I really want to see a comparison between these two controllers.
I love my switch pro controller but I've been looking for an alternative with back buttons but that could also be wireless. All options available look good but either they lack vibration or wireless functionality. However, this 8bitdo ultimate controller looks like it has it all, EVEN motion controls! I think I've finally found the controller I wanted!
how good vibration is on Ultimate controller ? Even on here it says that is just regular vibration, but nothing so special. I'm a bit concerned that this controller may have an even less vibration than a 10 dollars cheap controller that i got about a decade ago... Would appreciate the info.
@@naam4769 I haven't bought it yet. I'm planning on waiting a little until Zelda: TOTK releases to get the controller (hopefully at an even cheaper price). However, I've tried other 8Bitdo controllers in the past and the vibration in them is quite strong. I'd think it'd be the same for this Ultimate Controller, but it'd be worth asking others who have already experienced it or watching other videos where people talk about it.
@@moviegametime3891 Could you please tell me which controllers you used ? I may get a Pro 2 soon but I do not know how good or bad vibration is in there...
@@naam4769 Of course. The one I tried was the 8bitdo sn30 pro, and the vibration was definitely strong. And that one even "looks" more like a cheap controller than the Ultimate Bluetooth or the Pro 2, but it had a really strong vibration. I suppose that if 8bitdo can make that work on a controller that small, they can do something similar for bigger controllers.
I’d like to see them tackle a more premium controller to compete with something like the Elite Controller
Any chance you could test the input latency in both Bluetooth and 2.4ghz? There is software that does this. Great overall review of the hardware.
Average is around 4.5 ms with jitter rate around 0.1ms from my tests. Cant get it lower than that average so far. This is wired.
I like the stand, I like that it can finally wake up the system. I personally prefer symmetrical sticks, and it looks like it STILL doesn't have NFC. (Not that amiibos are super widely used, but still. I have a $20 controller from Amazon that has NFC and motion controls, and it's a pretty good controller overall.)
Cool, didn't think any cheap ones had NFC 🤔
Ngl I can live with no NFC if it means that you get Hall effect sticks AND a good SNES style d-pad for the same price as a Gulikit KK2 Pro. Plus I don't have any amiibos anyways.
I'd gladly pay more though for Android support, NFC, a carrying case, and a phone clip. Hell, I don't even have an Xbox or a PS5 but put that in there too. I just want the whole package tbh. Now that'd be the ultimate controller.
I’ve loved both of my 8bitdo controllers but I can’t shake the feeling they always have the slightest input delay compared to others. I think 2.4ghz is going to be a big step up for me.
Yes Bluetooth connection does that. I do wonder how the systems default controllers avoids this issue. Using wired or 2.4 Ghz solves this issue for most 3rd party controllers tho
I have 8bitdo dongle for sn30pro+1 and Xbox dongle for win Xbox pad + wireless Xbox headset, yes that make me calm (that must be better that Bluetooth), but you very fast get used to, and think that wired will be better 😅
I was about to pick up this controller until I read your comment
I bought the Gilikit King Kong 2 Pro and it had really bad lag both Bluetooth and wired
@@c2ironfist oof sorry bud. It’s been hit and miss for me. It’s like it works well with some games but every now and then I’ll have to switch modes or plug it in and it’s just really inconsistent. I’d say 8bitdo probably does make the best 3rd party controllers though.
I’d say go for the 2.4ghz connection controller if you can find it. Saw one in bestbuy today.
It's already bad enough that Nintendo's official Pro controller has 12ms more input lag than the official Joy-cons's, I can't see this 8Bitdo controller doing any better. If anything, it's probably has even more latency. Plus no haptics/HD rumble and it's gyro might not be up to snuff either. I don't like it's boring sterile minimal design either. A little bit of colour would of been nice! :P
I wonder if you can physically swap the abxy buttons to make it like an Xbox controller instead of the switch layout out. They might have set prongs.
Don't think you can since the buttons won't match up but maybe buttons from a old controller
I wish you could switch the abxy buttons physically as well. Love that you can reprogram them, but switching them permanently would be great as I go back and forth between xbox and switch so much! Great video!
Yeah, surely they could be mounted magnetically somehow?
Yeah, it's a shame that they are using Nintendo's layout for the buttons instead of the standard PC/XBOX button layout, that's the one big turn off for me since I would want it for PC gaming.
@@sandrahiltz The Bluetooth version of the Ultimate Controller is marketed towards Switch users. Of course it's going to use the Nintendo layout. What you're asking for literally already exists because 8BitDo also made a wired XBOX version and a 2.4G version.
@@spinzaku97 unfortunately they cheaped out on the analog sticks on the 2.4G one so no hall effect sticks, otherwise that would be perfect
@@sandrahiltz Exactly. I want those sticks. It would be awesome if the buttons could be switched, like A could fit in the B slot, etc. Then anyone with a screwdriver could disassemble, change, and it would work great!
Just bought a GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro an its been my go-to. Really want this one too. I wish more companies did the modular joysticks like Dreamcast's. Great review.
What does this have over the pro 2 for instance? One of my favourite parts about that controller was the lithium battery enclosure that doubled as an alkaline battery enclosure.
Hall sensor and gyroscope
I am bit surprised they haven't tried making their own joy-cons, specifically ones with a quality d-pad and possibly full size sticks.
The charging dock also acts like a usb pass through for the wireless receiver. If the dock is plugged into the device (like a pc) it will work.
Thank you been trying to figure that out
Does it need to have the dongle inside the dock? Or can the dongle be out but as long as the dock is plugged in it'll work?
I wasn't on board until I heard Hall Effect sticks. *Every single controller in existence should have Hall Effect sensors.* Full stop.
I’d like to know how the back buttons feel compared to the Pro 2. On the Pro 2 they were really easy to hit accidentally.
I've got the wired Xbox versions of both the Pro 2 and the Ultimate. On the Pro 2 the rear buttons poke out just a slight bit making it easy to bump them. I don't have any issues with accidentally hitting the rear buttons on the Ultimate, on the Ultimate the rear buttons fit nice and flush to the controller, I rest my middle fingers on top of them the whole time I'm holding the controller and I never manage to press them unintentionally.
I own a Pro 2 and I wouldn't say it's a frequent issue. However, I'll note that by default those back buttons do nothing.
I watched this video as well as Wulff Den's and then I purchased two ultimate controllers for the switch. I've never owned pro controllers of any kind before. So getting these made a lot of sense as I don't feel like I'm getting something redundant. If these two controllers and my, now repaired, two sets of joycons, I finally feel equipped with some reliable controllers for friends and guests that come over. Thank you so much for this video.
My biggest complaint with this controller from what I've seen is that the controller can't do X-Input over Bluetooth like the Pro 2 can. It will over 2.4ghz, but still... I hope it's something they can fix with firmware updates.
Also do wish it'd have NFC for the price. The Gulikit KingKong 2 Pro does have it, and wakes the console without the weird shaking. Also with the waking console, people asked 8bitdo and they said you have to "shake the controller to wake the console" which is a super weird design choice.
Otherwise seems like a great controller though!
Good to know about x-input. Kind of an important tidbit when you consider how widely compatible x-input is, in good part because it's often the only available option.
Can you wake it when wired?
8bitdo never disappoint me, i have their pro 2 controller for over a year and it's still working flawlessly on pc, android, and switch
Hi one question this controller have connect for headphones ?
Any idea how this compares to the KK2 Pro? I would like to see some comparisons, I have the KK2 Pro and it's the same price as this Ultimate Controller but it has more platform support and I think a better design.
It's better than the KK2 for one reason: that 8bitdo d-pad. I was thinking of getting either the KK2 or the 8bitdo Pro 2, racking my brain over whether the Super Nintendo style d-pad or the Hall effect sticks were the better investment. But now that Gulikit and 8bitdo have partnered up to release this controller that has BOTH at the same price point, I'd be insane not to go with this.
That said, if you plan to use this to play mobile games, it doesn't have official x-input support for Android, so it'll act like a Switch controller there. Also, they haven't released a phone clip for it yet like they did their Pro series controllers. So if you're big into mobile emulation, then I suggest you get the Pro 2 with the dedicated phone clip. Gulikit doesn't have a phone clip so the Pro 2 is the best bet for mobile. Also games like FFVII are better played with a good d-pad anyways. I have the Pro+ right now with broken analog caps and the phone clip and use it to play games like Final Fantasy IX. If you're wondering why the stick caps broke, I transported them without a case, and didn't realize the sticks were so susceptible to friction.
@@McCaroni_Sup it should probably be noted that the Android/iOS mode on KK2 Pro just emulates an MFi controller that's also compatible with Android. You can, however, use the Xbox mode just fine with devices that support Xbox controllers. I think the gyroscope only works in the PC mode though, but I'm sure that'll work with some 3rd party drivers on Android if it does not work out of the box.
Also the 8bitdo Pro 2 in my opinion seems to not have very pleasant ergonomics
@@Piipperi800 I have the SN30Pro+ which is basically the Pro 2's predecessor, and it is very comfortable to use. My hands don't cramp up when using it and I have decently big hands. The assymetrical sticks might turn you off, though. That said, the d-pad placement is really good for JRPGs. I'm playing Persona 5 Royal right now and it's in just the right spot to make menu navigation a breeze. It's also great for older games that mostly use the d-pad.
Grabbed mine after one of your preorder announcements. Thanks for the tip, works well
Awesome video! Thanks so much for doing the teardown - I really wanted to see the inside to see if I could swap the face buttons to end up with an Xbox layout, and seems to be pretty easy to do! (since I'll be using it on Windows)
I'd consider picking one up for PC gaming if the buttons were in an Xbox layout. I don't want to deal with A/B and X/Y being reversed on a hardware level.
If this is anything like their xbox wired controller that looks pretty identical, then I have some gripes. The bumpers have to be pressed from the center, or they stick (not a huge problem). And my BIGGEST gripe, if you map a button to the rear paddles, the original button no longer functions. Who thought that was a good idea???
The last thing you said was probably because you didn't configure it properly with the Ultimate Software. I've used a Pro 2 and the paddles are different buttons that can be assigned to any button on the controller.
Seems like something isn't working correctly, I have two of those wired Xbox controllers and I have not had that issue. I typically have A and B mapped to the paddles, but I still use the original buttons for menus or panic dodging in Elden Ring when I inadvertently revert to muscle memory.
@@manujerozx9492 I use it on xbox. I didn't install any software.
@@Cetega do you play on Xbox?
@@kringhetto Yes, I have two of the Xbox Ultimate Wired controllers that I use on Xbox One and Series consoles. I set up the button profiles with the 8bitdo Ultimate Software app you can get on the Xbox itself.
this is a great in-depth video. i really appreciate you going into the construction and the particulars of the dpad and analog sticks.
FINALLY, they made an offset stick variant. Just might get one because of this.
I wish the xbox variant of this controller had the hall effect sticks like this one does, or if this one had swappable buttons. I mainly play pc games on controller and the misleading ui compared to buttons really throws me off sometimes.
The none Bluetooth also doesn't have the hall effect joysticks. Which for me is a major selling point
The design looks cool
This is gonna be a perfect controller for my streaming setup. My current PC motherboard doesn't have Bluetooth built in, so I can just use the receiver with this controller. Can't wait to get my hands on one!
I really hope one day they do a ps layout design. Cause this sounds great, just I prefer the symmetrical layout just because of what I’ve used
Nobody cares about your preference
Dual sense is way better
The #1 thing I need a company like 8BitDo to do is make a controller with minimal spring tension in the sticks and triggers.
For the last 20 years I've been ripping controllers apart to adjust/remove springs and help prevent my Tendonitis symptoms from flaring, it's a lot of work every time a new console comes out, if 8BitDo could make a controller with no more than 30 grams force on the sticks and triggers I would never buy any other controller.
This seems like a mostly good controller, but I hate that the battery is now no longer replaceable.
One thing I love about the SN30 pro+ is that not only can you take out the battery from a hatch in the back, but you can even replace it with standard AAs. Seems crazy that they're now using sticks that are designed to last a long time but batteries that aren't.
Rechargeable Li-Ion battery will last for years and replacement is very easy, I'd always take Li-Ion over AAs that you can "run out" of, and have to go to a gas station in the middle fo the night
@@zlac He literally said in the video that the battery is welded in. And it's likely proprietary. Again, compare to their previous controller which gave you the option of what to use.
Also, rechargeable AAs are a thing.
@@spiritmacardi9300 "welding" a battery is not an issue for me, and you can solder any Li-Ion battery that will fit, 1000mAh is plenty.
It looks like it can just be replaced with something like a standard 18650 if it comes to that 3.7v and 1000mah is in line with those, the form factor looks correct, and it probably wouldn't be difficult to work in. Honestly wouldn't even surprise me if that's just an 18650 in a sleeve so it doesn't look like one. Bought a speaker at 5 below like that once, it was just powered by a standard 18650 battery, put into a padded rectangular sleeve meant to make it look like it wasn't
@@liamstanks1547 18650 is more like 2500mAh.
This might be 14500, the standard AA sized Li-Ion.
The pick-up thing is a feature not a bug, it doesn't start the Switch until you shake the controller, it's in the menu. I don't know why this is btw
I hope they will at some point release a symmetrical layout version of this someday, cause it looks so good other than that.
The USB dongle in the station is actually a dock, when you plug the dock into your PC for charging the dongle works too.
Ergonomics are important to me and while this controller feels good, it’s not quite great. I’d honestly rather just use a Dualsense where possible.
bought mine, and with pro analog sticks that i plan on replacing the plastic ones with the metal and magentic sticks. i love how i can just remove the plastic covers and change the analogue sticks without have to break down the entire controller to access them to replace them with a more premium stick like the xbox1 pro controllers and ps pro controller with 9 pieces magnetic change.... a nice smaller stick for movement and a nice big one for camera view to really give you that extra control
Why buy this over the pro?
Prob because its uni
Because of hallway effect thumbsticks I guess
It's the hall effect joy sticks, they are much more reliable than the piezoelectric joy sticks all the first party companies use and are much more resistant to stick drift. Ironically Nintendo was the first to use this tech back on the Nintendo 64.
Obviously the stick layout is different. The Pro is great for 2D games but its shape and stick layout isn’t super ergonomic for 3D left stick heavy games.
7 Years into the Switches Life and finally a Pro 8bitdo
How are you still pronouncing 8bitdo wrong
Right? I swear some youtubers are doing it intentionally at this point. It's been confirmed multiple times by people at 8bitdo that it is pronounced do, not doh.
No one cares.
I got this controller to replace my PC controller, it's fantastic. The reason it does not come with a charging brick is if it's plugged into your PC, the charging stand is not just a carrying case for the adapter it is also a splitter so the charging stand connects the 2.4 GHz straight to your PC so you do not have to have that little adapter plug directly into your PC only if you want to have the charging case in a different place it is a very well-designed unit, I recommended
When the USB 2.4GHz dongle is plugged into the base, the base passes the dongle through and effectively acts as the dongle, which is REALLY nice
The only thing I dislike is that you can't get the BT+2.4GHz with the Xbox button layout, which is kinda annoying. You can get the 2.4GHz only and Wired versions, but not the BT version
A really solid controller! 8bitdo has stepped up their game every time, and continue to offer several different options. I agree that the next step is in adding haptics in rumble and maybe even the triggers like in the dualsense. Even then, it's nice that they have free software to customize things like button mapping and analog/trigger travel. I really hope they just keep building on these solid foundations!
*every time
@@alvallac2171 thank you, my autocorrect threw that up for me lol
shaking it to wake up is an interestin wake-up approach......although potentially unintended xD
the reason you have to shake it to wake it up is a feature the controllers have called motion wake. it’s exactly what it sounds like
it supposed to make it harder to accidentally wake it up
Brilliant TechWave and Teardown Video Jon(SW).
This New 8bitdo Controller is looking outstanding, I will have too Pick one Up for sure.
If you like using D-Pad for Retro Games, Older Style Games and Fighting Games, you can't do much better that 8bitdo, I fully recommend any of their Controllers and this latest Controller is looking like the best out of the lot guys.
For those of you that own this version you have to press the power button and "shake" the controller to wake up the switch. 8bitdo has a video tutorial on this ,didn't notice it on the manual
I preordered a black bluetooth one for 55 USD, it's arriving today! I own a SN30 Pro+ and a Pro 2 and I love them to death. My Nintendo pro and my xbox series controllers are stored in their boxes now.
John can you compare this to the King Kong 2 controller I was about to purchase one of those before I seen this video please 🙏
Great teardown & Review - Love the 8bitdo line of conrollers. I have a couple of wireless and wired USB ones I use on my raspberrypi build, the Nintendo switch and my PC.
"Shake to Wake" is by design and is documented. :-) It lets it have its own wake function instead of forcing dual use of the pairing button.
..6:59
Wait what..? Why is it odd to not have a power brick included? I've never ever seen a controller come with a power brick..
I'm in need for a new controller for my switch and PC ,so I'll definitely try this one out
It's almost like by pressing the power button you make the controller sensitive to input, and any further button presses actually activate it. What happens if you don't shake it or press any buttons within a few seconds/minutes of hitting the power button? Does it just turn back of? If so, it seems like a battery saving feature, to make sure that it doesn't waste too much excess power if that button wasn't meant to be pressed.
If that's what it is, it seems like an interesting way to avoid accidentally wasting energy. If not, then that's one weird bug!
I have a ton of Retro-Bit and 8BitDo controllers, I love the classic styles they put out. This one seems very interesting as a more modern type of controller. I'll definitely pick one up and check it out if I get the chance. The only problem is, because each system already has its own modern, high-quality controller, the usefulness of this one seems a bit diminished for me. You could argue that it can be used for a PC--but the official first-party controllers for all major consoles can also be paired with a Windows or Linux computer and used with Steam, and their prices are similar. The main advantage seems to be customizability of the inputs themselves, including stick deadzones, trigger sensitivity, etc.
I hear what you're saying it would be nice if for their ultimate controller they had a power brick. However none of their products do. Consistent I suppose.
for this price its golden, joycons are super, the buttons are great, you have the premium 2 buttons on the back, man its the perfect controller
Since you didn't mention it I'm going to assume that it doesn't have amiibo support?
Until is fully functional I didn't think it will replace a pro controller any time soon.
For 70 bucks this is a steal
FYI I just plugged the cradle into my switch and the 2.4GHz receiver was seen by the switch as a wired controller. Which is nice. You can leave it stored and its still useable.
It just needs the additional paddle on the rear (4x rear buttons) and it would be THE go-to budget 'Pro Controller' on the market.