The 8BitDo is a better Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

8BitDo has done it again! At the same price as an official Nintendo Pro Controller you can pick up the 8BitDo Ultimate Controller with charging dock, wireless dongle for ultra fast 2.4Ghz connectivity and that's all on top of just having better parts like d-pad, buttons and real analog triggers for total customization and super fast, responsive buttons even on your Nintendo Switch games.
Review unit provided free of charge for video purposes. All opinions my own.
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End date:
2023-7-30 23:59JST
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[@NihongoGamer]

As some have mentioned: Ultimate can actually wake up the Switch! Just shake the controller physically when you press the home button!

[@imnotbreno]

Another neat feature is that the dock is pass-through. So you can leave the dongle inside and use the same cable to connect to a device and charging!

[@Landonio]

Does it work when you're connected wired?

[@shura4136]

Please tell me what I need to do to remap my buttons I'm stuck I'm in the software but I can't figure out what I need to do. Help me please I'm on pc do I need to be on the switch to remap my buttons I just want to change the back buttons

[@imnotbreno]

@@shura4136 after changing the buttons you need to sync the profile

[@shura4136]

@@imnotbreno thanks I figured it out I'm mentally Deficient apparently I uploaded a video about what I couldn't figure out I'm laughing at myself thinking about it 🤣😭

[@blackstar-genX]

We went from never buy a third party controller to third party controllers are better than the original. Man how the years have changed

[@Jeno_Sinatra]

I dunno 'bout that...

[@ralphkleinguevarra]

You cannot say the same about Playstations though. Their controllers are almost perfect.

[@printer4661]

@@ralphkleinguevarra Stick drift

[@ralphkleinguevarra]

@@printer4661 hence the "almost".

[@Gle-lv2fm]

@@ralphkleinguevarra I'm a Nintendo/Xbox guy, but yes PlayStation has the best hardware when it comes to quality and durability.

[@travismarshall3089]

Also, if you keep the dongle inside the dock and then plug the dock into your PC, the dock will act as a pass-through essentially making the dock itself the 2.4GHZ receiver.

[@hapaxanthous]

does that make for better connectivity? or is it only there as an option if you dont have any more usb ports left?

[@theternal]

What!? That's so cool.

[@RoSoliTaire]

omg thank you! it does work! Now I don't have to constantly unplug/replug the dongle and the dock to switch between charging and connecting it to PC!

[@mikhailvillet9101]

Does the controller then connect to the dock with Bluetooth?

[@shinjid3705]

@@mikhailvillet9101 the dock doesnt have bluetooth. It has wifi. For bluetooth u need a device that has bluetooth or a bluetooth dongle

[@ruffierniert]

the 8bitdo can also wake up the switch. you need to turn on the gamepad with the home button and then shake the gamepad.

[@codak29]

Thanks, didn't know that.

[@Jahranimo_]

Beat me to it lol. It's an odd way to do it but it's there!

[@Sonchance]

This.

[@MathiasWolfbrok]

I just press the Home button twice, once to turn on the controller and then once it's connected to the dongle, I press Home again to turn the Switch on

[@NovaIsTheBot]

​@@MathiasWolfbrokbut that doesn't work

[@ThatGuyWhoComments1]

Have had this since launch and it's been nothing but amazing. There were some software issues but have been fixed. Hall effects and back buttons will make this my longtime switch/PC controller. Great battery life as well. Backup for PC if there is something better in the future (which I still haven't seen).

[@Cyliano]

Been using mine since it released in November, easily one of my favorite controllers, every feature is great and works as expected or better, especially on the software with macros and remapping. Only added a pair of thumb grips because the stock ones were a bit uncomfortable for me

[@FehAzeved0]

You can wake the Switch up on Bluetooth by Pressing the big button and shaking the controller Up and Down

[@TheRealProfessorChris]

I LOVE this controller. Played through all of Tears of the Kingdom with it and being able to run/jump with the triggers was a godsend

[@sebastianchavez9366]

How?

[@nakiado]

I've had this controller since February and it's stunning. I love being able to flip the toggle on the back to seamlessly swap between my desktop PC to Switch. I always have stick drift issues develop after around a year with my usage, but I'm pretty hopeful the hall effect sticks shouldn't give out. I love the charging dock because my last controller's usb-c port failed before the stick did which prevented me from charging it. So both those are covered by this controller's design! The way I see it there is no other controller as "endgame" as this one unless you look at triple its pricing, which aren't even proportionally better. I just hope they release one with a symmetrical design as I slightly prefer that.

[@x5ilco]

Is the deadzone actually 0 like they claim or is it more around 5 to 10?

[@nakiado]

@@x5ilco I don't have the slightest clue.

[@switchunboxing]

Great review! And I love that thumbnail. The dock is really cool but I still just plug it in. Less to mess with since I can use cable for everything!

[@muhammadshafieebinkhaidzir6371]

I have no idea if anyone else has commented this but you can actually wake your switch up using the 8bitdo ultimate! There are two ways to do this 1. If it is resting on the dock, you pick it up from the dock and the light around the home button should start to flash, you give the controller a little shake which will make the home button light flash faster and that wakes your switch up. 2. If it isnt resting on the dock, you hold the home button to get the light around home button to flash, then shake the controller abit to make it flash faster thus waking the switch up. I discovered this by accident when I picked up my controller and just threw myself on the bed without thinking, prompting it to wake the switch up.

[@haroldtorres2710]

I own the wired version for xbox and it's freaking phenomenal!

[@zeo_here]

Got this when I bought my switch in June, and its definitely my main. After settling down from work or wanna reset and relax from rank matches on the pc I shake this bad boy and presto. The sticks felt stiff at first on smash but I turned the sensitivity up on that. In zelda the gyro definitely helped with some archer shots.

[@erosennin4444]

Awesome. You got me sold on it. Definitely gonna go buy one now. I hate that my pro controller has left drift stick while playing Zelda. I was seriously bummed out and wanted and alternative

[@afaelr]

Celeste is impossible for me to play harder levels with the Original Pro controller BECAUSE of acidental diagonals when dashing

[@zombwars7749]

Then the back buttons use ribbon connectors and metal contacts for the L and R. Because of the imperfect seals, the L and R fail forcing you to disassemble your pro controller to fix it. It is a major problem because opening the controller will decrease the overall life eventually resulting in stick drift. Not fun. The D-pad is a problem, but yikes, the L and R have it way worse. Hope for new controller types for the next console... My slogan is bring back wii remotes and fix the pro controller. Make the dock more versatile being usable for both TV and portable play similar to nitro deck.

[@annareismith6843]

Once it's connected to the Switch. Just pick it up and shake the controller to wake your switch from then on. Do not even have to push a button. Make sure you update both the USB dongle and controller firmware or will not work right in some things. Since I got this I never use my Pro controller anymore. You get used to the stiffness fast and it does not bother me after a day of use and is great for using my bow in Zedla. It plays Zelda TOTK great. I can draw my bow faster with these triggers. And adjust them. And the back bottom comes in handy. I love using it for playing games on my PC. I have both the $50 and the $70. I like the $50 Xbox buttons better for my PC as almost everything on PC uses that. I do not really notice much difference in the sticks between the two. I use my $50 mostly for emulators and some Steam games and Genshin Impact. They are both great. I wish they would make a Sony version too. That plays on PS1, 2, 3, and 4.

[@jackyfan]

The gyro on the ultimate is not very accurate and moves by itself. I initially thought it was a fault but after replacing it, they had the same issue.

[@ericbloodsmith5161]

I noticed this while playing Tears of the Kingdom. After a firmware update, the issue is gone.

[@jackyfan]

@@ericbloodsmith5161 it still persists for me even after the latest update. Pretty sure it’s not a software thing for me.

[@pudinichigo91]

I have this controller for more than 3 months now, and I bought it just for $39 only during sales, it really worth it, so far I'm pretty satisfied with this controller perform with my PC & mobile gaming, the battery life also really good during my usage, the only problem for me is sometimes it just randomly disconnected from my PC like 1-2 times within an hour game session, and it only happened when I use 2.4ghz, but I'm not sure with Bluetooth because I rarely use with Bluetooth, so it quite annoying when it happens during fighting/shooting games, other than that I don't have anything to complain.

[@RealziesCuts]

Vouch I saw you post on Twitter this morning. It is indeed the best switch controller.

[@MarcConcepcion1313]

I never took the time to prove the theory, but I believe that the whole "accidental diagonal" issue that the Switch Pro Controller D-Pad suffers from has something to do with the posts that push the rubber membrane down to close the circuit. I think the posts on the D-pad are too long; when you press down on a direction hard enough, you'll feel the post act like a fulcrum for the D-Pad to rock like a seesaw, potentially hitting either adjacent direction (e.g. pressing right on the D-Pad hard enough will cause the D-Pad to rock to either up or down, accidentally inputting up-right or down-right). Perhaps the way to fix the issue is to shave the posts down just a smidge to that it reduces or eliminates the fulcrum effect. I don't have a large enough budget to risk causing irreparable damage to my controllers to prove this, but this is what I think will fix that pesky problem.

[@CallumDark]

I might have to give this a look! I got a driftless stick controller which used the same kind of sticks as this. It's the GULIkit KingKong2 which is also in the same price range as this. Here's hoping next generation official controllers use these magnet style sticks and just try to be better than the 3rd parties who are managing to do a quality job and for the same RRP.

[@prodigyweeb8986]

Its on sale for Prime Day so i might just pick it up for my Deck. Wish Valve would come out with a Steam Controller 2 so i can keep my sweet sweet Deck inputs for curtain games

[@mosesh06]

Cool ill look to get one, thanks nihango

[@jesuszamora6949]

8bitdo's controllers are amazing. The Pro 2 is amazing, and I'm actually looking at the Ultimate C (An Ultimate with a few less of the pro options for those looking for a straight-up controller). There aren't any bad 8bitdo controllers, it's amazing.

[@istriver.]

You kind of sound like Ali Abdal. Great review, by the way. You literally covered everything about it.

[@NihongoGamer]

Thanks! Haha maybe I’m secretly Ali!

[@Amperture]

Hey there! Did you happen to test yours for snapback on the left and right stick? I had one and it's amazing until I run into having bad snapback problems --sometimes even hitting the 100% snap --which makes this whole controller a non-starter for me. I can track this down with support or get another one if this is a problem unique to certain units, but if it's universal...

[@d9_1056]

Great review

[@liamx102]

If you shake the Controller that can wake the switch up which also is an amazing feature

[@BEED0GG]

It does wake up the Nintendo Switch. You have to sync it in Bluetooth mode first. After syncing. When the switch is asleep turn controller on in Bluetooth mode and shake the controller to wake the Switch Console.

[@zelgkopitar8799]

Bought this to replace a new EasySMX that was giving my thumbs issues. Will be returning the 8BitDo because my finger rubs just below the left trigger and the plastic there is rather sharp. It's a nice controller otherwise. It's amazing how hard it is to find a decent budget controller that that feels good, is reliable and durable.

[@mundusmamon5834]

Subscribed!

[@Negativvv]

I bought one and it's great. The only issue I have is 8BitDo sell multiple versions of the same external shell. Like the 2.5g one and the Bluetooth one. This resulted in me buying the wrong controller (I wanted the BT one but got the 2.5g one by accident). Amusingly a later firmware update gave all 2.5g controllers Bluetooth so my issue was solved...

[@forchyforchy5456]

i didnt like how square the corners were on this vs an xbox or switch controller... but im picky because of hand issues from a mild muscle disorder... but i never play fighting games on switch

[@travleefree]

This is my main Switch and PC controller now. I preordered months ago when it first came out. It's just so easy to go between Switch and PC with this controller that I choose this controller over my Series X controller even on PC. I love the feel of the dpad and buttons and I love the idea of the hall effect sticks.

[@SenpaiMD]

I wish I liked this controller but the handfeel I have with it is really uncomfortable plus I actually like the digital triggers

[@cd819]

It kinda sucks that there are no replacement battery's

[@SacrificiaLamb.The.Gixxerator]

HI There, I'm looking to get a Wireless Controller for PC Fighting games. Which of the Controller has the Best D Pad? 8BitDo Ultimate Controller or PS5 or XBox Series X?

[@Nikita13337]

nintendo’s pro controller’s dpad can be fixed with some tape, screwdriver and 15-ish minutes

[@sylvestervela6777]

Panel de pon, a man of class.

[@Fenri.]

I'm want to know how a GameCube style controller feels to hold and if I like the pro controller style better this controller is in my sight.

[@sheikhu1039]

Would Love a review on the Razer wolverine v2 pro, the dpad seems godlike

[@perrynguyen3184]

Would these be good for diagonal jumps using the dpad?

[@jteneb]

Hd rumble is the only reason I haven’t changed my pro controller to this

[@gapplssb]

Lame

[@zomb_lat3night282]

I wonder if this controller would be good for a game of borderlands, I notice a trend where alot of controllers dont have good jotsticks for fps games to aim properly for an example I cant make precise aim for small aiming adjustments when it comes to Zer0s sniper build so hopefully this controller with fix that I do have the pro but the joystick aint it for me

[@tobilind]

What console are you using for playing Street Fighter 6?

[@kitsunahri]

"fighting games don´t especially use the D-Pad very differently to other games" Pretzel input: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@gusblacksmith9]

I actually wish it had digital triggers...

[@coolstuffgaming]

wish I saw this earlier before prime day T_T

[@phillewis3095]

I read somewhere that you can wake up the console if you shake the controller after pressing the home button? Is this true?

[@LoserTry]

theres any type of info in therms of input lag

[@PHARAOH-ZODIAC]

They have stepped up their game.

[@enderalawi7513]

Can i use the 2.4 dongle to connect to other controlers? So i have this controler on bluetooth and i can connect xbox controler via 2.4 dongle. Please give me the answer bc this is a cheap controler

[@DrZomboss01]

I am looking forward to purchasing this controller, but I'm inbetween the 8bitdo 2 atomic purple edition, or this controller. Can someone please help me?

[@rytechplays1341]

My 8 bit Do Pro 2 controller can wake up the switch so maybe this may have to be programmed in the settings in it's software?

[@aweigh1010]

Ultimate controller can wake up the Switch by shaking the controller. Nihongo just missed this.

[@juanalfaro3526]

Im begging you, can you please do a video of the best fighting game d pad in your opinion?

[@BrianQuest64]

Can you remap the buttons on the 8bitdo with the switch settings? Thanks.

[@BreakingStubad]

Weird... my Ultimate controller does wake my switch. It takes a bit, but it does it

[@aweigh1010]

Ultimate can wake up the Switch. It's in the instructions. I believe you have to shake the controller.

[@rasul01]

0:09 Please tell me what game you're playing there (the one with nice visuals, the player is shooting two blue laser beams.)

[@MrNero645]

You can wake up the switch with the controller by shaking it 😂

[@brightsuperstition]

How is the input lag? 8BitDo controllers have been a mixed bag when it comes to input lag. Some have very low input lag (like their Xbox wired controller) while their Pro controllers can have rather high input lag.

[@purebaldness]

Did you buy it for yourself? I found the input lag in 2.4ghz wireless to actually feel good, better than the standard pro controller. However, the deadzones are still god-awful and the shape for me was enough to hinder my aiming in FPS games. There just isn't enough for my fingers to grasp. Great controller... On paper. I only used it on Switch. PC might be a different story.

[@soramercury7074]

i heard the face buttons are similar to the xbox controller. this would be a dealbreaker for me, since i really hate them. they feel awful to me and get stuck when i lightly press them.

[@audigex]

The main thing I love about this controller is the fact I can use it on pretty much any device: my PC, Steam Deck, Switch, and my Retroid Pocket 3+ etc - it works with everything, even consoles

[@hellolau]

Even mac os ?

[@inputfunny]

Good video, but it can wake the Switch. You press the home button and then shake the controller.

[@Raging_Red_Bulls]

I just got the 8bit do neo Geo controller

[@CandarianGaming]

As good as it is, the flydigi vader pro 3 is even better. 4 back buttons, 6 face buttons (4 mechanical/2 normal), Hall effect thumbsticks, trigger stops, best D-pad and hall effect rumble triggers

[@zartiz]

Someone made me realize how bad are the ergonomics for this controller and now I cannot get pass that. The sides are almost at a 90 degree angle, which makes my wrists hurt after like twenty some minutes of gameplay. If it just didn't have that shape it would be perfect

[@clackman622]

IS PANEL DE PON PLAYED ALOT ON NSO?

[@netako]

I still wish the Ultimate Controller also has HD rumble, sadly only Nintendo is allowed to add HD rumble on their Switch controllers. That's the only reason why I still use my Pro Controller (well, except for fighting games, platformers and retro games, I'd rather use my 8BitDo Pro 2 instead).

[@NihongoGamer]

I still don’t think I’ve experienced HD rumble. For most games is it really different to normal vibration? For HD rumble games you can still use the included joycons right?

[@netako]

@@NihongoGamer Absolutely, in fighting games it's not a big of a deal but outside of fighting games it simply feels better than regular rumble. Party games like 1-2 Switch or the Mario Party games has a very creative use of HD rumble where in some minigames, the rumble itself lets you guess which object is which, some games went even further like Golf Story, Super Mario Odyssey or the Kirby games where sometimes the HD rumble actually makes a sound. Yeah I know, I can still use the Joy-Con, but frankly it's nowhere near as comfortable as a Pro Controller, and the lack of an actual d-pad is annoying.

[@doggedmeerkat7785]

Wish there was any info on the gyroscope

[@KevinGeneFeldman]

Maybe I didn't see it, but does this have the same rumble technology and motion technology of the pro controller?

[@yoran4067]

yes it does

[@lowegule135]

​@@yoran4067hd rumble?

[@yoran4067]

@@lowegule135 i don't think its HD rumble, but it does have rumble

[@Magic-BS]

It’s been almost 1 year, any drift?

[@undine623]

Maybe I missed it or it really was not mentioned, does the 8bitdo have gyro controls? I would like to get one but I would like to use it for splatoon, if it does not have it it would be a major downside for me.

[@flesnuk]

It has gyro, yes.

[@Woodsmen31]

What part of "Better than the Official Pro Controller" you didn't get?

[@Halz0holic]

The Ultimate can indeed wake up the Switch. LOL. Just turn it on SHAKE it.

[@sandycrash8868]

Yea no magnet sticks no buy had 3 controller drift down wards because I main terry and smash and charging for some reason makes controllers drift in that direction

[@TheDragonfriday]

third party is the way if you knew that the product is bad already why keep getting them? better just get the third party that actually put features.

[@flesnuk]

About waking up the switch, it can only be done when connecting with Bluetooth and shaking the controller a bit when powering it on. Doesn't seem to work on 2.4Ghz connection :(

[@aweigh1010]

2.4ghz mode is XINPUT which is completely incompatible with the Switch. BT connection mode is DINPUT, which is what the Switch uses.

[@flesnuk]

@@aweigh1010 not true, you can use any connection method with the switch, in the manual they list both bluetooth and wireless (2.4G). On 2.4G, it switches automatically to either X-input (if on windows) or Switch mode.

[@Landonio]

Does it not work when wired?

[@MasterAct2009]

Fastest low-lag controller on the market Sry i mean the 8bitdo Ultimate Wired Controller for Xbox

[@zedxspecturm4698]

It's my favorite controller but there's a bug on my steambox where i get double input 😔

[@blazn0]

There might be some kind of negative edge option one.

[@jasonxhx7854]

So you don't need to buy the $70 Bluetooth version of the Ultimate controller to use on switch. It works perfectly fine with the Ultimate 2.4ghz wireless controller. NOWHERE doses it say that it does, except the 8bitdo faq page for the ultimate wireless. Plug dongle into switch Goto switch settings, controllers, enable wired pro controller communication Turn controller to X input Turn on controller, it will rumble Hold Minus key + LB for 5-7 seconds, it'll rumble again That's it, works perfectly. They're just hoping people will pay for the $70 controller when the $50 2.4ghz wireless connection works and is a faster connection.

[@rs.matr1x]

I've been ignoring third party controllers because they almost always have lackluster motion controls and lack HD Rumble or equivalent. The majority of third party controlers are essentially unusable on the switch for me. This one however now that you brought it to my attention might just be a decent replacement. Perhaps 8bitdo can fix that waking up the switch from sleep mode issue in a firmware update. Thank's for bringing it to my attention. 8BitDo did a pretty good job here, although it'd be nice if they took it a step further with the D-Pad and if they had magnet sticks to really make it the ultimate controller.

[@FehAzeved0]

It does have Hall Effect Joystics

[@aweigh1010]

It can wake up the Switch. Nihongo just didn't notice, or didn't fully read the instructions. The 8bitdo Ultimate wakes up the Switch by press the home button and then shaking the controller.

[@blakeandcamp]

I think I'll pick one of these up. I've bought and returned multiple Switch Pro Controllers and there's always one stick that's slightly off-kilter and it drives me crazy. Also just feels kind of cheap quality wise. I had been using the 8bitdo wireless dongle to use my Dualsense with the Switch because of this but this new Ultimate controller seems like a nice combination of a higher quality and more feature complete Pro controller with some PS/Xbox feel to it.

[@standardyeepz]

i like it but i’m not a fan of the r buttons stickiness

[@anata.one.1967]

What's with the coil whine?

[@hacksmash]

Does the wired version has gyro?

[@ToxcynArcade]

Eh... I stopped with 3rd party on switch. I used 8bitdo religiously until I just went back to pro controller. If it had NFC id go back but the rare times I need NFC for Zelda, omg it became a damn nightmare to use amiibos. With any missing features I cant call it ultimate. Its the best controller for other consoles though

[@GeorgeGeo]

What fighter game is that on the Switch??

[@ronaldcastaneda681]

You CAN wake up the Nintendo Switch with the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller. Here is how you do it. Press the Home button until the controller pares with the Switch and the light is blinking, then shake the controller a little. It will wake up the Switch, trust me.

[@kumite1984]

"in a platform or action game you're unlikely to notice this" Well... try Celeste with a bad D-pad. You'll notice it really fast. Also: Super Metroid annoyed the hell out of me with Switch Pro Controller D-Pad. This is the pure reason I think for platformers (especially Celeste) the Switch joycon is the best d-pad to use: you never do accidental diagonals!

[@NihongoGamer]

True, some pretty complex platformers out there now!

[@samiRetro777]

Hi Can you please review Pro 2 Wired Controller Designed for Xbox

[@yassirabdel-halim2884]

Do you use this for smash brothers?

[@gold4963]

I didn’t know this controller had so many features! I’m gonna put it on my buying list!

[@freddygarcia1434]

6:56 "This controller is highly based"

[@muggsyd]

I assume the 8bitdo doesn't register Amiibo's on the controller as well?

[@NihongoGamer]

Wow haven’t heard the word amiibo for a long time. I don’t think it has an amiibo function sadly

[@muggsyd]

@@NihongoGamer they're those figurines that I never ever opened and have stored in a box somewhere ahahahaha

[@chaoschief]

you can wake up the switch by pressing HOME + shaking

[@EdgardR.]

You should play Magical Drop 3

[@NihongoGamer]

I think I’ve played one of the older ones on switch snes/nes collection

[@neraknerak1]

what happened w dokdokidrawing?

[@yagi_661]

But does it also work Ps3? XBOX1?

[@blindfire101]

any drift after 6 months?

[@hitachiuchihamagicwand2776]

This or the Mobapad?

[@s4ltvin3g4r6]

What's the game @ 1m30s ?