8BitDo has a historical past of providing the most effective value-for-money controllers available on the market, with its flagship Final line standing on the apex of this philosophy. Nonetheless, with the Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller, the corporate has really outdone itself, a lot in order that it’s borderline extreme.

8BitDo Final 2 Wi-fi Controller

PC and Android gaming controller with TMR joysticks, a tactile D-pad, tactile bumpers, set off locks, and mappable L4/R4 bumpers and again paddles. It additionally features a gyroscope for movement controls.

Professionals & Cons

• Excellent TMR joysticks
• Satisfying tactile D-Pad
• Set off locks
• Fluid movement controls
• 1000 Hz wi-fi polling charge

• Further bumpers really feel extreme
• Lighting is a celebration trick
• Helps fewer platforms
• No DInput possibility for two.4 GHz

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Value and Availability

The 8BitDo Final 2 Wi-fi Controller is obtainable for $59.99 and is available in three coloration variants: black, white, and GameCube purple. Included within the field are a charging dock, 2.4 GHz adapter (USB-C), and a USB-A to USB-C cable.

Main Upgrades The place It Issues Most

The Final 2 is aware of what the Ultimate got right, to the purpose the place they’re nearly equivalent at a look. They share the identical ergonomic design, visible presentation, and charging dock, all of which I liked in my assessment of the unique mannequin. The variations develop into fairly stark when you begin utilizing the brand new iteration, although.

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The TMR joysticks are probably the most spectacular improve. TMR is a magnetic know-how that’s extra environment friendly than the unique Final’s Corridor impact sensors in energy consumption and efficiency. The comparability isn’t shut, both; TMR reads 10x extra factors than Corridor impact sensors can, which leads to extraordinarily excessive sensitivity when paired with the 1000 Hz polling rate of the Final 2’s 2.4 GHz adapter. They’re additionally a contact weightier, which helps with minute inputs and offers the sticks a premium smoothness.

I’ll love the brand new tactile D-pad much more, although. There’s a particular click on to every of the eight directional inputs. Functionally, it’s a boon for genres like combating video games that require movement inputs, as you possibly can really feel a click on for each step within the movement sequence. It’s the primary controller I’ve used—fight pads included—that has me considering ditching my arcade stick for sure titles. Even except for that particular use-case, the satisfying tactile nature goes to make it powerful to return to mushy D-pads.

The triggers and bumpers have additionally seen upgrades. The analog triggers are much less mushy and could be locked into digital mode utilizing switches on the again of the controller. Bumpers additionally obtain a tactile remedy that makes them really feel extra like buttons than levers you depress. It takes some getting used to, however I discovered this design enabled sooner reactions.

Lastly, the Final 2 Wi-fi mannequin provides a gyroscope, one thing that was beforehand unique to the Final mannequin designed for Swap compatibility. This may be assigned to imitate the left or proper keep on with adjustable sensitivity, and it really works splendidly as a method of constructing slight purpose changes or liberating up a thumb. It’s additionally simply ignored when you don’t care about movement controls.

Every little thing else stays largely the identical. The face buttons retain their snappy really feel, the back paddles are completely positioned for the place your center finger sits, and you’ll scorching swap between three profiles created utilizing the controller’s customization software program. Additionally, whereas the grip texture is much less aggressive on the brand new mannequin, it’s simpler on the pores and skin, and it would not really feel extra slippery in apply.

New Options Are Hit and Miss

Whereas I discovered the movement controls to be nicely carried out, the opposite new options to this product line felt extreme.

The L4/R4 bumpers wedged inside the precise angle created by the primary bumpers and triggers are a major instance of how extra is much less. It feels unnatural to hit them with out additionally clicking the tactile L1/R1 bumper and, given the unlucky lack of DInput help for two.4 GHz play, the one mapping choices are macros or mimicking the capabilities of different buttons. In addition they make the controller really feel extra sophisticated than it must be, particularly because the again paddles already serve this similar perform (however higher).

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I used to be additionally fast to show off the sunshine rings across the sticks. There’s some preliminary enjoyable available with how they mirror your inputs, however as a result of that’s not one thing you’ll see when really taking part in a recreation, it’s a ineffective battery drain.

Nonetheless, the true challenge right here is that the button to toggle them on and off is situated proper the place your thumb naturally extends to. On the unique mannequin this was the place the first menu button was located, however on the Final 2 it’s been relegated to a better, much less handy location. Compounding that is that you have to toggle by means of a number of lighting profiles earlier than they flip off, so by chance urgent that button means stopping to cycle by means of them.

Additionally, whereas the customization software does its job, I want 8BitDo would create a software program hub for its merchandise fairly than particular person downloads for managing every. My Final and Final 2 mustn’t require two apps. The upside is that you may customise profiles and transmit them wirelessly, one thing I want was extra widespread amongst gaming merchandise.

Nice Wi-fi, however There’s a Catch

2.4 GHz wi-fi, Bluetooth, and wired play all work nicely with minimal latency. The two.4 GHz receiver makes use of USB-C as a substitute of the industry-standard USB-A, letting you connect it to an Android gadget with out an adapter. The controller instantly connects to the adapter when undocked, making for a seamless expertise. Whereas I’m noting the positives, the battery additionally lasted me by means of lengthy gaming classes so long as I turned off the lights.

There are some unlucky cuts and omissions, although. For one, this controller removes native help for Apple units, SteamOS, and Raspberry Pi; solely Home windows and Android stay. I did get it to attach with my Mac with some improperly assigned buttons, nevertheless it did nothing when paired with my iPhone 16. That is an unlucky step again that hopefully could be patched in through a firmware replace. (Word that a different model exists for use with the Nintendo Switch.)

Additionally, it’s value noting that DInput is just not out there for this controller by means of a 2.4 GHz connection. That is one other characteristic that basically must be out there for individuals who need to map the paddles and L4/R4 bumpers with out utilizing 8BitDo’s software program.

Ought to You Purchase the 8BitDo Final 2 Wi-fi Controller?

At $59.99, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller is solely the most suitable choice at its value level. The TMR joysticks are a forward-thinking addition you’re not going to search out many different locations, and positively not for cheaper. Whereas overindulgent additions and diminished platform help maintain the controller simply wanting a house run, it’s a leap ahead in almost each division that issues.

Whereas I do nonetheless suppose the original Ultimate controller is incredible, I can solely advocate it over the Final 2 when you plan to make use of it with the extra platforms it helps. You are getting loads for the $10 value hike.

8BitDo Final 2 Wi-fi Controller

PC and Android gaming controller with TMR joysticks, a tactile D-pad, tactile bumpers, set off locks, and mappable L4/R4 bumpers and again paddles. It additionally features a gyroscope for movement controls.