If you’re an Xbox user, you’re likely someone who’s stuck with the Xbox line of controllers since the 360 era. Only occasionally branching out when it came to trying something odd, whether it’s a wheel, a flight controller, or the shitty third-party Mad Catz controller.
Enter the age of the Xbox One and Series controllers, and Microsoft has tuned its controllers to near perfection (for most). So what do you do when a popular third-party controller manufacturer partners up with Microsoft for some of the few wireless third-party options on Xbox? Well, you review the 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode to see if it’s wireless.
And thanks to Stubbs sending me his second controller because AKNES sent him one as well, I can do just that.
The device reviewed was provided as a review sample by AKNES. This had no bearing on the conclusion of the review, nor did AKNES have the opportunity to make edits or changes to the review before publishing.
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8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Controller Specs
Today I’m taking a look at the Rare edition controller, which had a retail cost of $89.99. That being said, at the time of writing, you can find it for about $59 on Amazon, placing it between the cost of the standard 3-Mode controllers and the $50 sale price you can find the Jade edition (the best colorway). Is that worth it for the specs? Admittedly probably. But only you can decide.
| Spec | |
|---|---|
| Sticks | Hall Effect |
| Face Buttons | Membrane |
| D-pad | Tactile (Rare Edition: Zinc Alloy and Gold Color Painted Tactile) |
| Connectivity | Wired USB-C, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth |
| Compatibility | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, x86, Android, Apple |
| Additional Features | P1/P2 Buttons, Charging Dock, 3.5mm Jack, Wireless Xbox Compatibility, Multiple Profiles |
| Battery | 1,000mAh up to 20 Hours + Charging Dock |
| Software | 8BitDo Ultimate Software X |
| Weight | 253g |
Build Quality & Ergonomics
When it comes to both build quality and ergonomics, you’re getting exactly what you’d expect from an 8BitDo controller, especially out of the Ultimate line. You’re getting solid plastics that feel well put together and assembled. Nothing in particular feels out of place, and you aren’t finding major gaps that shouldn’t be there. The controller itself doesn’t creak and groan if you twist or pull it the wrong way, and it’s overall, solidly built.
As for ergonomics, it’s a love-or-hate-it thing. You’re getting the more spread-out and vertical grips on the 8bitdo Ultimate line, something of a mix between an Xbox controller and a Sony DualShock/DualSense. It’s not the perfect setup for everyone, but if you need it to land in between, it’s fine. Alongside that, everything is placed within reach and hasn’t given me any trouble along the way. It’s much more compact than the Steam Controller that I’m currently testing as well.
Controls
For the most part, controls are as good as most other 8BitDo controllers have been in recent memory. The membrane face buttons are nice and quiet in use, with proper travel on press. The Hall effect sticks are smooth as always, and during my time in Forza Horizon 6, they gave me no issues during that time. Menu buttons and the Xbox button are within reach, and all feature a nice click, and the two shoulder buttons are both of a quality feeling as well.
The two big notes are the triggers and the dpad. The Shoulder buttons on the tri-mode controller do NOT feature dual-stage functionality, meaning all you get is analog, and you shouldn’t complain about it. Personally, I don’t find that to be a big deal, but if you’re someone who plays shooters rather than racing games, you may want to find something that’ll allow you to quickly press your shoulders instead.
As for the D-pad, it’s tactile and clicky, but it’s not loud in the process. The pivot is decent, but the big focus is the material. It’s nice and cool to the touch, and thanks to tactile buttons underneath, it’s actually been a pleasure to use. I really hope 8BitDo uses a D-pad similar to this in future controllers.
Dock
I both love and hate 8BitDo and their docks. For the ultimate line, almost every dock looks identical. Low profile, and hugs the base of the controller really well. Basically preventing you from putting the controller on incorrectly.
That being said, 8BitDo has also made some adjustments to their controllers and docks over time. I can place my Ultimate 2 on the 3-Mode Dock and vice versa, but they suddenly seem a bit looser or don’t sit quite right, despite looking almost the same.
It’s not a huge deal, as most docks only work for one controller at a time anyway, but it’s an awkward thing to note.
Software
When it comes to software, I think 8BitDo does well enough. On one end, I think it’s a bit stupid that they have three different software programs all titled “Ultimate Software”. But at the same time, they do make it obvious what each one does and what each one is actually for.
The Ultimate Software X for Xbox products look nearly the same as the Software V2. Mapping controls, adjusting triggers, vibration, and completing software updates can all be done within this super clean setup. You can even set your three profiles to switch between once you’re back on the controller. It’s nothing special, but at the very least, it’s obvious that 8BitDo put effort into this software.
Compatibility
This is a section that I wanted to comment on purely out of interest for those looking at an Xbox controller. 8BitDo has done a lot to make this a really good controller for Xbox users, going as far as to process new updates that increase functionality.
At the beginning of my review process, I checked the software for updates, and 8bitdo introduced functionality to wake up the Xbox when simply removing the controller from the dock, and I think that’s an awesome addition.
As for PC, Android, and iOS, it works exactly as you’d expect from a 2.4GHz or Bluetooth controller. Connecting as most controllers do, and working right out of the box. If any company were to figure this out by now, it’d be 8BitDo.
Final Thoughts
At $89.99, it’s a bit of a tough sell as a lot of controllers do the same, or have similar functionality for less. At $59-$69, I think it’s a lot more worth it. Recently, I took a look at the Flydigi Vader 5S, and at the price, I thought it was fine enough if you wanted an Xbox-compatible controller, even if it was wired. But with the 8BitDo Tri-Mode being an option, I don’t think you should pick a wired controller if a wireless option is available with the features you want.
8BitDo has always represented solid value for the product, and I think the Tri-Mode controller stands for that as well. Will it continue to be the best option for Xbox? Absolutely not. They have two more Xbox-compatible controllers coming out for $99 and $149, respectively. But if you want the Ultimate setup for not a crazy amount of money. I think, ultimately, this will be one of your best choices.
