8BitDo’s New Pro 3 Gamepad Is One Of The Best Switch 2 Controllers

8BitDo’s newest customizable controller for Nintendo Swap 1/2 and PC is out there now. The Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad, the successor to the favored Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller, is a wonderful alternative for anybody who prefers PlayStation-style, aligned thumbsticks in addition to for retro video games that gel higher with D-pad motion controls. It has a number of of the important thing upgrades present in 8BitDo’s Final 2 Bluetooth Controller, together with TMR joysticks, two set off modes, and 4 remappable buttons. The Professional 3 additionally presents new options not discovered on different 8BitDo controllers, together with swappable magnetic face buttons and an additional pair of arcade-inspired ball-top stick caps.

The 8BitDo Professional 3 Bluetooth Gamepad offered out on launch day (August 12), however Amazon continues to be letting prospects place orders; all three retro-themed colours are marked “briefly out of inventory” for the time being: G Classic, Gray, and Nintendo GameCube-inspired purple. The purple version additionally matches the GameCube controller’s face buttons: grey X and Y, inexperienced A, and crimson B.

Every controller features a matching charging dock, 4 further face buttons, a small software to take away the buttons, an additional set of ball-top arcade stick toppers, a 2.4GHz adapter, and a USB-C charging cable. Out of the field, the Professional 3 is appropriate with Swap 2, Swap, PC, Android, Apple gadgets, and Steam Deck. In a nod to the unique inspiration for the Professional sequence aesthetic, the 4 further face buttons match the Tremendous Famicom (SNES) controller: unlabeled crimson, yellow, inexperienced, and blue buttons.

I’ve discovered the Professional 3 to be as large of an improve because the Ultimate 2 was compared to its predecessor. The D-pad is noticeably higher than the one on the Professional 2, and it is superior to have the additional pair of remappable claw buttons on the shoulders and the 2 set off modes. Partaking the set off locks turns R2 and L2 into microswitch buttons which can be nice for speedy fireplace or for whenever you need to map face button actions to the triggers. With six buttons on the shoulders, you may actually mix-and-match management schemes to suit your private preferences. The microswitches used for the again buttons additionally really feel nicer and quicker than those on the Professional 2.

8BitDo’s TMR sticks are smoother and extra exact than the already-good Corridor Impact sticks discovered on the Professional 2 and different older fashions. TMR electromagnetic sticks devour much less energy, and the tech is meant to carry up higher over time in comparison with Corridor Impact. TMR is commonly introduced as Corridor Impact 2.0, as each function through magnetic sensors, which eliminates the chance of stick drift. For an added layer of sturdiness, 8BitDo’s sticks even have wear-resistant steel rings.

The 8BitDo Professional 3 prices $20 greater than the Professional 2, however the $70 value level aligns with the Final 2 Bluetooth, the producer’s flagship controller that helps each 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. The Professional 2, in the meantime, solely supported Bluetooth wi-fi and did not include a charging dock. The brand new model is the primary non-Final controller with a charging dock. A 2.4GHz USB-C dongle is saved within the backside of the dock. The addition of two.4GHz Wi-fi is definitely welcome, because it presents a quicker and extra secure reference to greater polling charges.

Just like the Final 2, the Professional 3 may be considered as a substitute for the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Nintendo’s official controller feels nice and even has a pair of again buttons, however there is no denying that 8BitDo’s pair of premium gamepads are extra versatile due to its suite of bodily modifications and programmable customization choices.

There are a few variations between the Professional 3 and Final 2 Bluetooth. The Final 2 sequence has rings across the sticks with adjustable RGB lighting results. The Professional 3 has an upgraded D-pad with improved tactile suggestions. Curiously, the G Basic version has a sequence of raised ridges–three in every direction–whereas the purple and grey fashions have the acquainted directional arrows as an alternative. I did not take a look at the G Basic, so I am unable to touch upon any tangible variations, however the D-pad on the purple Professional 3 feels higher to me than the Final 2’s D-pad.

The Professional 3’s coolest new customization choice is the flexibility to swap face buttons. On the underside of the charging dock there is a storage compartment for the two.4GHz adapter. On the within of the duvet, you will additionally discover the 4 further face buttons and a small plunger-like software used to take away the buttons. It solely takes a second to swap out the complete set of buttons.

Past altering up the look of your controller, you can also make a sensible change: Swapping A/B and X/Y to align with the Xbox button structure. Contemplating the Xbox button structure is commonly considered as the usual on PC, this can be a nice customization characteristic for many who play on PC/Mac, Steam Deck, and cellular. The Professional 3 would not assist Xbox consoles, however you should utilize it for Xbox Cloud Gaming. And since you may absolutely remap the controls utilizing 8BitDo’s Final Software program V2, you can even the swap the buttons and alter the controls in order that when a Nintendo recreation prompts you to press Y, you might be nonetheless urgent Y even when it is up high as an alternative.

With the Final 2 sequence, the Bluetooth mannequin will work on all the identical platforms because the Professional 3, however it has the Nintendo button structure. To get the Xbox structure, you’d must buy the Final 2 with out Bluetooth. This protects you 10 bucks, however the 2.4GHz model of the Ultimate 2 is not appropriate with Nintendo consoles. The Final sequence has at all times had a separate 2.4GHz mannequin for PC gamers and a barely dearer mannequin that provides Bluetooth and Swap assist. There’s nothing flawed with that launch mannequin, particularly for many who aren’t inquisitive about Nintendo consoles. But it surely’s cool that 8BitDo created a built-in resolution for many who have points with Nintendo’s management structure on different platforms.

The ball-top stick caps really feel extra like a throw-in bonus versus a characteristic 8BitDo expects to develop into a well-liked various to traditional sticks. The producer stated they designed the caps “purely for enjoyable.” After attempting them out, I truly suppose they’re fairly cool for brief spurts, however the spherical form naturally is not the very best from an ergonomics perspective. Your thumbs would most likely begin to damage should you used them constantly like conventional joysticks. I additionally experimented by inserting the controller on my desk and holding the stick like a (tiny) arcade stick whereas enjoying Galaga. Once more, not as dangerous as I anticipated, however the ball-top sticks actually are extra of a novelty than a sensible various for the superb conventional stick caps.

With 8BitDo’s Final Software program V2 app, you may regulate stick, set off, and movement management sensitivities, create lifeless zones, modify rumble depth, and remap inputs. As much as three distinctive management configurations may be saved on to the controller, and you may cycle by way of them on the fly by urgent the profile button. I have not skilled any points mapping

8BitDo is having a giant yr

The Professional 3 is simply the most recent main addition to 8BitDo’s spectacular accent lineup in 2025. As talked about, the Final 2 and Final 2 Bluetooth each launched earlier this yr. Earlier than that, 8BitDo kicked off the yr by introducing a transparent green mechanical keyboard and mouse which can be formally licensed by Xbox. The Retro R8 Mouse was 8BitDo’s first 2.4GHz gaming mouse, and an alternate NES-inspired model adopted just a few months later.

Simply final week, 8BitDo launched its first conventional Xbox controller with wi-fi assist. Formally licensed by Microsoft, the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition of 8BitDo’s Ultimate 3-Mode Controller has a classy blue-and-gold coloration scheme, a steel D-pad, two again buttons, Corridor Impact sticks, and an identical charging dock. Check out our restock guide for more details–the controller has offered out a number of instances since launch.

The Uncommon fortieth Anniversary Version arrived only a few weeks after 8BitDo’s final collaboration with Microsoft: a new version of the Ultimate Mobile Bluetooth Controller that helps iPhone and Android. The $50 Ultimate Mobile Bluetooth Controller is licensed by Xbox and may maintain all iPhone editions in addition to most Android telephones. In mid-July, 8BitDo launched a pair of all-button fight pads for Swap/PC and Xbox/PC.

8BitDo’s Professional 3 and the All-Button Arcade Controller work with Nintendo Swap 2 out of the field, however should you purchase the Final 2 or one of many different 8BitDo controllers with Swap 2 assist, you should still must update the controller’s firmware to get it to sync with the console. You’ll be able to check out the Amazon hub we created for 8BitDo’s Switch 2 controllers. We included a number of of the identical mannequin as a result of 8BitDo controllers usually have a number of retailer pages hosted by totally different respected sellers with Amazon achievement, and the costs can differ from daily.

The newest addition to the hub is 8BitDo’s reimagined N64 wireless controller, which was designed in partnership with retro {hardware} producer Analogue. The 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller can be appropriate with Swap, PC, and Swap 2 (with a firmware replace).

If you wish to examine the Professional 3 and Final 2 Bluetooth to Nintendo’s official controller, Amazon finally has the Switch 2 Pro Controller in stock for $89–one buck under the controller’s new $90 MSRP.