Gaming has been an expensive hobby for a long time, but recently it’s begun trending toward downright unaffordable. That’s why I love 8BitDo’s budget-friendly controllers that punch well above their weight, like its flagship Ultimate 2 line that’s on sale for Prime Day 2025.
8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller
PC and Android gaming controller with TMR joysticks, a tactile D-pad, tactile bumpers, trigger locks, and mappable L4/R4 bumpers and back paddles. It also includes a gyroscope for motion controls.
What Is the 8BitDo Ultimate 2?
The8BitDo Ultimate 2is a pro-style wireless controller that represents the high-end of the company’s lineup.
ItsTMR sticksoffer the same long-lasting properties of the similar Hall effect technology, but with improved performance and power-saving. Hall effect sensors are instead used to increase the accuracy of the triggers, though if you prefer digital triggers, switches on the back of the controller decrease their travel distance.
Every other input takes on a strictly tactile feel, completely removing the mushiness of traditional D-pads and buttons for quick, mechanical clicks. There are four extra inputs (two extra bumpers and two back paddles) that can be customized using 8BitDo’s proprietary software available on PC, Mac, and Android. you’re able to store up to three profiles on the controller for easy access.
There are plenty of bells and whistles as well, ranging from motion controls to RGB lighting rings around each stick. You also get a nifty charging dock that complements the controller’s long-lasting battery to ensure you don’t run out of juice when gaming.
What’s the Difference Between the “Wireless” and “Bluetooth” Models?
While both the“Wireless”and“Bluetooth”models of the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 controller share all the same components listed above, they differ in a few significant ways that impact what platforms they’re compatible with.
Foremost, don’t let the names fool you: both controllers feature 2.4 GHz wireless (with a USB-C receiver), Bluetooth, and wired connections. However, these aren’t created equal. The “Wireless” variant offers a1000 Hz polling rateon PC over 2.4 GHz wireless, while the “Bluetooth” model can connect to the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 via Bluetooth. This model has proper motion controls and rumble on Switch consoles because of this.
Fittingly, the “Wireless” model has an Xbox-style ABXY button layout whereas the “Bluetooth” has the flipped Nintendo-style layout. This all underscores that the former is optimized for PC or Android gaming, and the latter is meant for Nintendo Switch gaming.
Why I Love the 8BitDo Ultimate 2
I’ve used the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless as my primary PC gaming controller since its release earlier this year. What keeps me coming back to it over other options is its tactile inputs.
I love how you’re able to feel a subtle click for every D-pad input. It’s particularly useful for feeling out every step of motion inputs in a fighting game, making it the rare gamepad I’ll use over afight stick. It’s also generally comfortable for other genres that make heavy use of the D-pad thanks to its lack of rigidity and low profile, though I imagine these traits won’t be to everyone’s taste.
I’m also partial to the linear bumpers and triggers. The bumpers are fairly unique as they’re clicky buttons rather than soft and cushioned. It’s great for fast reaction times in action games, making dodging and parrying far easier. Paired with a 1000 Hz polling rate, I feel more in-control of action games than ever when using this controller.
There’s also a lot to be said about the overall comfort of the 8BitDo Ultimate 2. Its grips are sufficiently large enough to keep my fingers from squishing together, and the back paddles are perfectly placed beneath where I rest my middle fingers. There’s also a good distribution of weight that prevents it from ever feeling too heavy (it’s comparable to a Switch Pro Controller).
The controller does have its downsides. There’s noDInputsupport over 2.4 GHz, which means the paddles and L4/R4 bumpers can’t be mapped as their own buttons. They can only emulate standard controller buttons using 8BitDo’s customization software. I also feel the RGB lighting is fairly distracting and a waste of battery, but it’s easily turned off.
As long as the lack of DInput isn’t a game over for you, I think it’s hard to go wrong with this controller at full price, let alone at a discount.
The Controller Is Cheap for Prime Day
For Prime Day 2025, you may pick up the PC-ready8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless for $48 (MSRP $60). This makes a controller that was already shockingly inexpensive for what it offers now criminally cheap.
If this proves outside your price range, the less expensive8BitDo Ultimate 2Cis also available, though it’s not on sale. It’s very similar to the Ultimate 2, minus the TMR joysticks (it uses Hall effect sticks instead), back paddles, motion controls, software customization, and RGB lighting. This may be the better deal if you don’t need these features, though it’s not a controller I can vouch for with any first-hand experience.
