8BitDo Pro 3 Review

8BitDo has a knack for hardware that I would generally describe as “neat”. From its pleasant aesthetics, to its solid ease of exploit, to the recent addition of neat charging docks, my desk is now covered in the company’s technology. And for good reason.

My 8BitDo Retro R8 is not as competitive as the Logitech I replaced it with, but it is more convenient. The Retro mechanical keyboard doesn’t have a quick release button, but it does have some programmable keys and is solid. 8BitDo Pro 3 continues this tradition, but makes a few more compromises than its desk mates.

The controller I tested comes in a purple version, with red and green face buttons, and is very clearly inspired by the Nintendo GameCube. Looking like technology from a few decades ago is kind of 8BitDo’s crap, and 8BitDo does it better than almost anyone else.

The Pro 3 looks stunning both on and off the charging stand, and this charging stand is more than just a room decoration. There’s a compartment underneath where you can plug in a 2.4GHz dongle, which means if you connect the dock to your PC, it will both charge the controller and act as a connector. If for some reason you don’t want to exploit the dock, you can simply unplug the dongle from the bottom and insert it into your computer instead.

Everything is simple to set up, and the (aesthetically fitted) USB Type-C cable is the only cable that needs to be connected to your computer. The controller also slides easily into the stand thanks to the curves of the base and the satisfying click that lets you know it’s in place. Moreover, a lightweight at the bottom lights up when the controller starts charging. That’s all, well tidy.

After removing it from the stand, the controller fits comfortably and securely in your hands. It sits roughly in the middle of the controller stack and weighs 242g, a weight that’s well-balanced. I’ve played for long sessions without any discomfort, and it connects to my PC in about a second most of the time when I disconnect it.

Doom: The Dark Ages, a shooter designed with controllers in mind, is simple to play, with glossy buttons and the Pro 3 feels comfortable in your hand. As a person using “claw‘ more than I probably should have, I got used to having extra buttons next to the bumpers and on the back of the controller to break that habit.

Hades 2 is a game that wouldn’t feel right at home on a keyboard, which is fortunate because it runs well on the Pro 3. The game mostly consists of well-timed dodges and spells, and the face buttons are not only satisfyingly clicky, but also quick and easy to hit.

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While the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C learns from the Switch Pro Controllers or Xbox Core Controller in terms of look and feel, the Pro 3 feels much closer to what Sony offers. The weight, feel and look are best suited to the PS3’s DualShock controller. This means it may feel a little narrow if you’re used to a more powerful controller. Where possible, I choose an Xbox-style controller, but the grips are rounded and textured underneath, which means I’m never afraid of it slipping out of my hand in the middle of a game.

In fact, this is the only real place where the Pro 3 is not available feel high quality in the heat of digital battle is a slight rattle at the top of the controller. You really have to shake it to hear the rattle, but it’s there nonetheless and I’ve heard it in more animated moments.

I like that the programmable buttons next to the triggers have a noticeably different click between triggers, bumpers, and even face buttons. The bumpers make a deep impact sound and the programmable buttons make more of a “buzz” sound. Not only is this satisfying, but this stark difference helped correct erroneous clicks.

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In addition to the four programmable buttons, the Pro 3 comes with a switch next to each trigger that changes the action. This means that if you need to press the trigger frequently, you can change it to a linear switch, or you can go back to the traditional trigger for driving games.

I find adjustable trigger activation to be especially useful in games like Metal: Hellsinger, a rhythm shooter, because spending less time pressing the triggers gives me more room to prepare for the next attack.

Unfortunately, the 250Hz polling rate seems a bit hit and miss for a controller calling itself Pro. Even the Ultimate 2C has a 1000Hz polling rate for half the price of the Pro 3. In return for that extra cash, you get better build quality, a neat stand, and TMR sticks. However, the Gamesir G7 Pro has a 1000Hz polling rate, TMR sticks, a charging stand, and comes with replaceable faceplates for just $10 more.

A 250Hz polling rate is perfectly fine for single-player games and even multiplayer games, although it does lose some competitive advantage with the Pro 3. Another element that is noticeably missing is a 3.5 mm jack socket. You can’t connect a headset to the controller, which somewhat limits the use of the headset and limits the range of the wired set.

In the software, you can individually adjust the vibration intensity in both the left and right grip. You can also set a maximum number of times on triggers. Considering that the miniature press mode only has one toggle button, the actuation cannot be adjusted in it.

The roughly 20 hours of charge you’ll get out of the Pro 3 is powerful, especially when you consider that the stand is so nice you’ll want to throw your controller on it every night anyway. I can see an argument for replaceable batteries, especially when you consider that the TMR sticks and Hall-effect triggers are intended to extend the life of the controller, but even 15 hours of battery life would be more than enough for the Pro 3.

The box itself contains ball tip joystick replacements which, as the name suggests, replace the time-honored joystick with a ball. You can even remove the controller’s face buttons and replace them with others (although there weren’t any spares in my box). The 8BitDo website he says these ball thumb pads are “just for fun” and I believe it. It’s a bit of a silly accessory, and certainly one that adds a bit of charm.

This “fun” approach is indicative of the overall ethos of 8BitDo Pro 3. It has a great aesthetic and plenty of solid options from a hardware standpoint, but it’s not as “professional” as the name might suggest. There are similarly priced (and some even cheaper) controllers offering more competitive specs, although the sheer usability is great nonetheless.

The Pro 3 will become my everyday controller thanks to its ease of exploit and good looks, but I can’t facilitate but feel like it’s taking a hit to my already mediocre competitive skills in the process.

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