8BitDo Pro 2 review: The best ‘Pro’ controller for $50 - hollanderrines1975

The Pro 2 is the sequel to 8BitDo's SN30 Pro+ — a full sized controller designed with recent features and wrapped in classic gaming aesthetics. At early glance the new controller looks almost precisely like the used one and only, but it packs some wanted upgrades piece keeping the cost at a to a greater extent than reasonable $50 terms tag. These features make the Pro 2 worthy of the 'Pro' make and makes it an easy testimonial for any gamer looking for for a powerful and versatile gambling option.

Spec overview:

Compatibility with Windows 7 and up, Android 4.0 and up, Nintendo Replacement, macOS 10.10 and up, and Raspberry Sherloc 2B, 2B+, 3B, Zero
Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity
2 extra back paddle buttons
Bespoke visibility transposition that can switch 'tween the 3 profiles on the fly
Modality switch toggle (Switch, macOS, D-stimulus, X-input)
1000mAh Li-on reversible, replaceable barrage fire that lasts 20 hours on a 4 60 minutes charge concluded a USB-C connection
Enhanced spellbind
6 axis motion sensor
Fully configurable in Ultimate Software for PC and mobile

8BitDo evolution

The Pro 2 builds upon the controller legacy that 8BitDo has laid down concluded the course of ten-fold years – so it's important to review how we got to this point just in case you haven't been following. The party started out with a suit of hardware that was fashioned to bring modern features to classic hardware designs, with some of them primarily used for emulating classic games on current hardware.

8BitDo controllers — Bottom to crest: SN30, SN30 Pro, SN30 Pro+, In favou 2

Among nonpareil of the early releases was the SNES30 (subsequently renamed to the SN30) that looked and matte just like a Super Nintendo controller. This allowed me to use 1 of my front-runner controllers along my PC when playing A Link to the Past—and IT was a real process! Sounding to expand it's use, 8BitDo then released the SN30 Pro. It took the classic looking at and feel of the SN30 and added computer hardware features that rivaled controllers from the major console manufacturers and allowed for use with innovative games. It's still one of my dearie controllers to have round thanks to it's packed size.

The next logical place was to take the SN30 In favou and blow it high to full size, and in walked the SN30 Pro+. It's booming size made run feel better for those with bigger workforce, and it's new Ultimate Software allowed for a wide range of customization options. With this release it was obvious that 8BitDo wanted to play in the mainstream grocery store, far moving away from catering to retrospective enthusiasts.

This brings us to the In favour of 2. Gone is the naming and manifest color ties to the Super Nintendo—a go on generally likely to for legal reasons. It makes the naming conversion a bit awkward if in that location is e'er a sequel to the SN30 Pro, but these things are always a pain to deal with but probably requisite to happen.

Professional 2 vs SN30 Pro+

From a hardware and software perspective, the In favor 2 is similar to the SN30 Pro+ in almost everyway—merely builds upon the already impressive frame with smart upgrades. From the sized to the weight to the way of life it rests in the palm the Pro 2 is very familiar feeling for those who used the older SN30 Pro+. The first notable improvement is in a textured grip, which helps with handling. It's a coarse-textured plastic so it's not the aforesaid forgiving of clutch you would find on a higher priced controller, but it has a nice touch.

8BitDo SN30 Pro+ & Pro 2 — Top: SN30 In favour of+, Buttocks: Pro 2

The next advance is actually a pretty major one, and is where the 'Affirmative' name really comes into play. The Favoring 2 features two back paddles situated along the underside that is fully configurable in the newest version of the Ultimate Software (which I'll cover afterwards). They are buttons that offer plenty of tactile feedback, and sit flush sufficient with the handles that it's actually a routine more comfortable to use than the raised paddles happening other controllers like the Xbox Elite series. The switches tone isotropic to the face buttons and give a satisfying click when pressed. While I would of liked four paddles, two is still a receive improvement over the SN30 Pro+. More control options are always better!

The next upgrade comes in the form of a hardware toggle along the backside between the paddles for switching stimulant profiles. With previous 8BitDo controllers the path you organized the input for use in different platforms is by holding downcast a nerve button spell pressing the Commencement button to turn the social unit on. Keeping downhearted X and pressing start would boot the controller into X-input way for use on the PC, Y for usage on the Nintendo Switch, and then along. While I ended up learnedness the various it was by no means substance abuser affable. The Pro 2 solves this past allowing you to toggle between the four options with an easy flick—and son is that 100% meliorate. Sometimes it's just the bittie things that offer huge benefits, especially for those gamers like myself who use the restrainer across multiple platforms a great deal.

The next improvement to discuss is the plus of a Profile button situated between the two thumbsticks. Up to three different controller configurations can exist appointed easily inside the Ultimate Software and personify switched on the fly. With a press, the button will toggle between the profiles in regularize with configurations loaded in a flash. I establish this useful for assignment different inputs onto the back paddles for use in variant game styles. I did find the button to be a hard to hit sometimes because it was close to flush with the face of the controller.

The last notable departure between the two models was the slight shifting of any face buttons. To be honest it ever bugged ME a moment that the Originate and Select buttons connected the SN30 Pro+ weren't situational equally between the thumbsticks, but that was just a personal nitpick, not one that got in the way of using the device. For the Favoring 2 those buttons accept now shifted over to the symmetrical location that I like. I'm not sure if that had a knock-on effect for the other front buttons, but those shifted slightly as wellspring. The inner distance between the Y and A button went from 1.7mm on the SN30 Pro+ to 1.4mm on the In favor of 2. This change is very nestlin, and I didn't downfall my muscular tissue memory while using it, but information technology's unruffled notable.

When it comes to the contrive there are a few lean tweaks to cover before we move on. While the Black and G Classic options remain unchanged, the 'SN Edition' found on the SN30 Pro+ has been replaced with a Thomas More generic 'Grey Edition'. I was a huge fan of the Super Nintendo coloring on the SN Edition and I don't like the look of the Grey Edition, which amounts to a major bummer. I can understand making the change to further space 8BitDo from Nintendo stylings, they still have the GameBoy design option in the G Classic and so I confused on top of being bummed. Of less grandness is the personnel casualty of the circular styling around the face inputs — information technology was a nice design touch but it does make the look of the controller more clean.

The same (mostly) great feel for

Everything other astir using the SN30 Pro+ applies to the Pro 2 — and that's a good thing! The controls are nice and sloshed, and offer the right amount of feedback for even the just about demanding games. The sticks and triggers offer fortunate resistance and the feel of all below my finger and thumbs is really comfortable. 8BitDo has always nailed the feel of the classic D-pad as asymptomatic so there is No demand to touchthat winning formula!

American Samoa 8BitDo moves away from the classical stylings it's focused connected, I act hope they move away from the unerect typeface design. While it works for little controllers, I get myself reach just a bit to hit au courant the d-pad and the X button more than than I would on a more traditional controller conformation. If you are more sensitive to joint anguish in your thumbs you power want to consider that extra strain if you put away much of clock on a controller.

When IT comes to the Ultimate Software, its almost identical for the Pro 2 — but it is a different download from the SN30 Pro+ option. Configuration options are distillery plentiful, including the ability to fine tune thumbstick start and hitch distances and even barter trigger inputs. Other than the ability to map custom key presses on the PC, it's got everything you'd need.

When the controller is first plugged into the PC, you are now given with platform options for the ability to have different mappings depending on which political platform you want to manipulation. This fundament be configured regardless of which stimulant is currently enabled which is very nice.

The only hang astir I've encountered using the software is around custom mapping. The labeling on the face up buttons features the Nintendo classical layout with Y on the left, B along bottom, X on whirligig, and A on the redress. This can be confusing if you are using it in X-input mode which has X the left, A along the bottom, Y on the top, and B on the right. So for example, if you are in X-input fashion and go to map a boldness button to a back paddle, you want to make a point you are mapping the X-input input rather than what is written along the face up button. I had to do the mental vault of thinking "the X input is mapped to the Y button happening X-input mode, so I need to put X along P1". After that initial confusion I was small, but information technology is something to note.

Speaking of chromosome mapping the rachis paddles, I likewise got hung up away the fact that P1 and P2 are labelled left to right reported to how it's viewed from the bottom. So when you are material possession the controller normally, P2 is actually connected the left hand and P1 is on the proper. That also tripped me up when I went to configure the options.

Moving back to hardware experience, the Pro 2 ships with the same 1000mAh battery equally the SN30 Pro+. No really, it's the exact same battery! The unit I received contained a battery with a SN30 In favor+ label thereon. Regardless of the naming scheme, I get great life out of IT and the fact that it's replaceable is a huge fillip in case it's life diminishes o'er time. Along top of that, the form factor allows for orthodox Associate in Arts batteries if you need that option. It really is a come through-win-acquire for users considering most controllers lock you in with a not-replaceable battery OR only have an option for Alcoholics Anonymous use.

And for us PC users the Pro 2 can still be secondhand wired in via the USB-C port. this is assistive for those who don't have the choice to use Bluetooth or World Health Organization want the lowest latency connection possible.

End

All of the hardware upgrades make the In favou 2 a great improvement over the SN30 Pro+ — which was already one of my favorite controllers out there. Particularly on the PC where thither is the option to use the controller via USB, and ability to quickly customize configurations inside of the Ultimate Software program. The In favor 2 adds adequate to being ace of the outdo controllers out there, regardless of price. It's just the cherry red on top that it costs $50 and offers soh much.