8Bitdo Ultimate Wireless Pro Controller (Switch, Windows, & Steam Deck)

Before getting this, I had the wired Xbox version. My particular model had somewhat sticky shoulder buttons, though I was able to fix that with some plastic lube, and that model generally doesn't have the hall effect joysticks. Otherwise, it is a fantastic controller. I thought it would be nice to have the hall effect sticks and wireless functionality, so I bought this. There's not much to be said about this that wasn't already said about that, so I'll start with what's different. Obviously this one is wireless, both 2.4G and bluetooth. When in 2.4G mode, it reads as an x-input controller, so the buttons, by default, will be swapped around. That is, your PC will read the B button as A and so on, just like an Xbox controller. You can change the buttons using the Ultimate Software if you want, but you get used to it (or you can buy replacement buttons from 8bitdo if you really care). You also get around a 250 Hz polling rate. In bluetooth mode, it will read as a Switch controller, so the buttons will actually match up and you can use the gyro functionality. However, you'll be limited to 125 Hz polling rate (or thereabouts). It has hall effect joysticks, which feel identical to regular sticks, really. But they shouldn't develop drift over time, so it's more of a future-proofing thing than anything else. I've seen where someone stated that in 2.5G/x-input mode, the sticks were not properly calibrated, but in Bluetooth mode, they are. They based this on a circularity test. The thing is, 8bitdo controllers intentionally read as non-circular because it makes certain games with axial deadzones work better. You can lower the outer deadzone to 99% if you'd rather it have perfect circularity and it's possible they did that with the Switch mode for better compatibility or something. At any rate, every 8bitdo controller I have does this, so it is intentional and should actually be beneficial in some games (while not hindering others). The buttons and triggers all feel great. Unlike the Xbox version, the shoulder buttons do not have any issues on this controller. If that changes over time, at least I know how to fix it now. The left trigger is slightly stiffer than the right for some reason, but it's not a huge deal. The face buttons are neither overly stiff nor mushy, providing a good amount of tactile feedback without making my fingers hurt after awhile. Also, unlike official Xbox controllers, these face buttons actually work 100% of the time. The d-pad feels basically the same (sorry, clicky d-pad enjoyers) and I am happy to report that it does a pretty good job of not triggering diagonals when I don't want it to. This was a big problem on their earlier controllers, but any that I have gotten more recently, including this one, have been much better. Not perfect, but close enough that it hasn't been a problem. The dock is a nice accessory. I just leave it plugged into my PC with the 2.4G dongle plugged into the bottom and that's that. There's a light on the bottom to indicate when it's charging; thankfully, it turns off when it is done. I haven't had any connectivity issues with the 2.5G mode, but I haven't messed around with bluetooth to see how that fares. There are a few small things I don't like, though. First, although it reads as an x-input controller in 2.4G mode, whether it is plugged in or wireless, it is not detected by Gamepad Tester. I'm not sure if that's an issue with the web site or with the controller, but it makes it harder to properly verify that it is working correctly. It still works fine with Steam, the Xbox PC app, and random fan games I've tested, though, so whatever. Second, I wish they would put some sort of anti-friction rings around the thumbsticks. The plastic is a bit rough there and while it may break in over time, it will never feel as premium as other controllers. Even the standard DualSense has those these days. Third, there doesn't seem to be any way to get it to work on Xbox. It isn't advertised as working with Xbox and I didn't really expect it to, but I've had some luck getting other controllers to work using my Brook 360-XB1 adapter, so I was hoping I might luck out. Nope. I can't dock them any points for that, but it's still a bummer. And finally, the cable it comes with is too short, IMO, for a PC setup. An extra couple feet would've been nice. All in all, a really excellent controller that I highly recommend. It works well and should continue to do so for a long time.