The single best wireless controller I’ve ever used

Sean Hollister is a senior editor here at The Verge. He runs news, writes reviews, and edits stories, and he specializes in, as he puts it, “fun gadgets.” He goes on to say, “It hit me recently that I’m basically a big kid: I want to play. So now I try to spend most of my time toying with nerdy hardware and filming it weekly for you. Please tell me if you see something I absolutely must try!” 

When we asked him to choose one of his favorite current gadgets, he volunteered to talk about the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller.

Where did you first hear about the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller?

Well, I heard about it in The Verge’s newsroom, and, frankly, I wanted to make fun of it right away because I thought it was bullshit. How could it be the “ultimate” controller if it only supports a single Bluetooth device at a time and has no interchangeable batteries, while the 8BitDo Pro 2 can switch between four different devices, supports both AAs and a rechargeable pack, and costs $20 less? 

I was wrong about the controller, but not about the name: 8BitDo has made so many different “Ultimate” controllers that the word is meaningless. Importantly, the one I’m talking about is the Bluetooth and 2.4G version with Nintendo Switch compatibility and drift-resistant Hall effect sticks.

When did you buy it, and what went into the decision to buy one?

Like so many of my favorite gadgets, I bought it when I realized I wanted to keep it. 8BitDo sent us one for review, and it’s Verge policy that our staff can’t accept anything of value from a company, even if they don’t want it back. As soon as we no longer have a valid editorial reason to keep it, it gets returned, donated, or given away (and not to our friends or relatives, either). 

But I didn’t want to part with it, so I paid cash for my own.

Speaking of which, my review unit is currently in a review closet awaiting a reader giveaway — I’m hoping to ship it to some lucky Verge subscriber this summer or fall!

What do you like about it?

It’s the single best wireless controller I’ve ever used. It’s the best I’ve used for a PC, and it doubles as one of the top three for the Nintendo Switch, which, for me, easily makes it the best overall. I know that sounds like a high bar, but most of the competition falls short because most manufacturers seem to think PC gamers will either tolerate Bluetooth latency or wired USB cables instead of building a bulletproof 2.4GHz solution. 

For over a decade, I’d sworn by Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows because of its unmatched speed, reliability, and wireless range, but the 8BitDo Ultimate finally beat it — and without sacrificing proper rumble like so many wireless PC and Switch pads do. Plus, it adds an above average D-pad and magnetic Hall effect sticks that should last. 

It’s one of the few controllers that can turn both a Nintendo Switch and a Steam Deck on from across the room, letting me laze on the couch while they’re docked to my TV — and a decent built-in gyroscope means I get gyro aiming on Steam Deck and Switch, too. (You hit power, then shake the controller to activate the wake-on-Bluetooth command.)

The battery life is excellent, too: I clocked over 33 hours of play across several months before needing to drop it back on its bundled charging dock, which also neatly turns the controller on and off when you dock and undock it.

Is there anything about it that you dislike or that you think could be improved?

I would definitely pay $10 more for a version that could pair to more Bluetooth devices, so I don’t have to disconnect from my Steam Deck when I connect to my Switch and vice versa. I suppose I could leave the 2.4GHz dock plugged into my Steam Deck dock, but I prefer to keep it connected to my desktop PC. 

I’d also like to be able to remap the two back buttons without plugging the controller into a PC and using special software. The new Ultimate 2 and 2C do that, but I don’t need any of the other new features like LED lighting, adjustable triggers, or extra buttons.  

Who would you recommend it to?

Do you have a PC and a Switch or Steam Deck? At its typical $50 sale, buy this gamepad. Do you only have a Switch and don’t care for how the Switch Pro controller feels? Buy this gamepad. But if you primarily play on home consoles, phones, tablets, etc., then don’t buy it. 

I also have an 8BitDo Pro 2 that I prefer to stuff into a bag for on-the-go use, and Mechanism makes a great grip for it that you can pair with its Phone Mount to magnetically attach it to your phone. 

Is there anything I should have asked that I didn’t?

Have I used the Ultimate 2C, which can be had for just $25-$30 with most of the same features and a few enhancements but has half the battery capacity and doesn’t come with a dock? No, I have not, as I’ve been completely satisfied with the Ultimate Bluetooth. At half the price, it might be the better pick, just so long as pastel colors are your thing.