8Bitdo Pro 2 Review: The last controller you’ll ever want to buy

In an international the place the most productive sport streaming apps are exploding, it will be important to discover a controller that may stay up. Thank you partially to the upward push in approval for services and products like Xbox Recreation Go (xCloud) and Google Stadia, discovering the correct controller in your wishes hasn’t ever been extra irritating. However I imply irritating in an effective way due to the sheer choice of nice controllers which are to be had.

One corporate that has been incessantly liberating new controllers and sport equipment is 8Bitdo. Through the years, there were unbelievable choices just like the SF30 Pro and SN30 Pro, at the side of others just like the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro+. Rapid ahead to previous this 12 months, and 8Bitdo launched its newest controller within the 8Bitdo Pro 2.

So if 8Bitdo already made one of the crucial highest controllers for Android, Raspberry Pi, and xCloud, what else may just it beef up upon? Neatly, because it seems, somewhat a little bit.

The 8Bitdo Pro 2 introduced in April of this 12 months and is to be had in 3 other colour choices: Black, Grey, and G Pro (White). Pricing for the Pro 2 begins at $50, however should you want to take advantage of out of it, you’ll want to snatch 8Bitdo’s Phone Clip to whole the ensemble. Each may also be bought from Amazon, however it nonetheless hasn’t made its approach into brick-and-mortar retail outlets like its predecessor.

8Bitdo Pro 2: What you’ll like

Some of the largest court cases concerning the earlier “flagship” 8Bitdo controller used to be the shortcoming to customise its buttons out of your smartphone. As an alternative, you could have to plug it right into a PC to use 8Bitdo’s Final Device customization equipment, then hope the onboard reminiscence would retain your alternatives. Along the Pro 2, 8Bitdo has launched the similar US app for each Android and iOS.

Merely put your Pro 2 into pairing mode, attach it to your telephone, then fan the flames of the Final Device app. From there, you’ll alternate up the button assignments, which is useful should you plan on enjoying some Recreation Go video games. The default button configuration strains up with what you could be expecting from a Nintendo Transfer controller. However with 8Bitdo’s tool, you’ll transfer it up to make the buttons fit an Xbox controller format as a substitute.

Being able to pass from enjoying Gears 5 by the use of Xbox Recreation Go after which switching over to play Pokemon by the use of an emulator with no need to pair a distinct controller is extremely helpful. After which, after all, firing up Useless Cells (my present favourite sport) does not in point of fact require any customized button layouts, however the usage of one controller for the entire video games that I want to play is simply a kind of quality-of-life enhancements.

In the event you plan on enjoying video games for lengthy hours, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 has an ergonomic design that you’ll admire. The controller suits the glance of an SNES controller whilst including longer grips for every hand to lend a hand your palms relaxation more straightforward. Different 8Bitdo controllers with extra classical designs have a tendency to make your palms extra cramped and claw-like through the years.

What in point of fact is helping the Pro 2 stand with the exception of the likes of the Razer Kishi and even the GameSir X2 is the Bluetooth 4.0 chip. It means that you can pair the 8Bitdo Pro 2 with almost anything else, from the Raspberry Pi to your pc and even the Nintendo Transfer. And that is arguably the following largest step-up over the SN30 Pro+.

Any other quirk of previous 8Bitdo controllers used to be that you simply had to take note and press particular button mixtures to transfer between other console configurations like Xbox and Transfer. With the Pro 2, there is a {hardware} transfer at the again now. It’ll want to be configured, after all, however that is the place the Final Device app is available in. So now, you’ll pass from enjoying one of the crucial highest Android video games to leaping into some Breath of the Wild simply with a flick of a transfer.

There may be in point of fact now not an excessive amount of that 8Bitdo Pro 2 can not deal with, and it has turn into my go-to controller for almost any gaming that I want to do.

8Bitdo Pro 2: What you will not like

Our gripes when it comes to the 8Bitdo Pro 2 are few and some distance between. However they’re nonetheless price citing so you’ll get an concept of what to be expecting. The largest factor, particularly in comparison to different sport controllers, is that you’ll want to acquire both a telephone stand or a gaming clip should you want to play video games on the most productive Android telephones.

This is not a serious problem, however I want 8Bitdo would provide some form of package, together with the Pro 2 and the corporate’s new telephone mount. Whats up, possibly they might even throw in a protecting case so you’ll relaxation simple, figuring out your controller and clip may not get tousled while you get started touring once more.

A brand new addition to the Pro sequence is its two new again buttons, which you’ll program or depart with none designation. The place the again buttons relaxation, chances are you’ll in finding your self urgent them unintentionally, particularly in case you are gripping the controller tightly in an intense Name of Responsibility fit. However you should not run into any problems if they are not assigned a serve as.

Not like different controllers, you’ll want a telephone mount to experience video games to your telephone correctly.

Any other factor that I had some issues of used to be in truth preserving the Pro 2 attached to the Final Device. When paired up with the OnePlus 9 Pro, the telephone and tool would acknowledge the controller, however any adjustments that had been made appeared to be immediately forgotten. It felt like a computer virus within the firmware, however I additionally made certain to set up the newest model after pairing for the primary time.

In spite of everything, chances are you’ll in finding your self a little bit pissed off with the battery scenario. 8Bitdo features a rechargeable battery within the controller, and you’ll use the most productive USB-C cables to juice it up. However the corporate recently does now not be offering a substitute battery pack, leaving you to attempt to in finding one by yourself. Or you’ll depend on the ones AA batteries that could be damn round in a drawer someplace.

8Bitdo Pro 2: Festival

There are such a large amount of other controllers up for attention, however it all comes down to a couple of issues. First, how huge is your system (i.e., are you the usage of the Z Fold 2)? 2nd, do you wish to have a telephone mount clip? 3rd, are you making plans on the usage of this along with your Transfer?

For most of the people, one thing just like the GameSir X2 Bluetooth will be the absolute best resolution, as it is a extra compact controller. As well as, it gives a telescopic design with out requiring a telephone mount of any sort. However the tool is a bit of bit strange and has quirks of its personal.

Any other nice telescopic possibility is the Razer Kishi, which held the highest spot as the most productive gaming controller for Android for somewhat a while. Now not to say that there is anything else unsuitable with that controller, however should you personal a bigger system just like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, you then will be unable to use it. However, you would not be ready to use a telephone clip and the Z Fold 2 with the 8Bitdo Pro 2, however nonetheless.

There may be additionally every other 8Bitdo controller this is nonetheless regarded as some of the highest, and that is the reason the SN30 Pro. This controller is sort of a precise reproduction of the SNES controller from the great ole days. However it is not just about as ergonomic, regardless of that includes the similar buttons and very good D-Pad because the 8Bitdo Pro 2.

8Bitdo Pro 2: Must you buy it?

You will have to buy this if …

• You want the most productive controller for almost your whole gadgets.
• You want a controller with customizable macros and configurable buttons.
• You do not want a telescopic controller.

You should not buy this if …

• You want a controller that may attach without delay to your telephone by the use of USB-C.
• You do not want to handle the usage of a telephone mount or stand the entire time.

Merely put, except you might be anyone who does not want to (or can not) handle a telephone mount, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 is really extra special. The closest festival is the GameSir X2 Bluetooth, however even the usual GameSir X2 with its USB-C connection could be the simpler wager should you want to scale back as a lot latency as imaginable.

4.5
out of five

The 8Bitdo Pro 2 is likely one of the highest controllers that I have ever used, and I am all the time looking for an excuse to use it. At the same time as anyone who does not in point of fact want to alternate across the button configuration, enjoying the most productive emulators for Android with the correct buttons is a godsend.

It additionally is helping that 8Bitdo has accomplished an implausible activity hitting at the nostalgia bone with its lineup of controllers. Whilst the Pro 2 does not game the similar design as vintage Nintendo controllers, that is a excellent factor. It is vital in your palms and wrists to be relaxed whilst gaming and the Pro 2 delivers.