8BitDo Ultimate 2C review: a fabulous Switch 2 controller at a fraction of the price
The price of 8BitDo’s Ultimate 2C Bluetooth Controller is crazy in the best way possible. At just $30, the Ultimate 2C has the essential features gamers expect from a contemporary gamepad, including haptic feedback and Hall effect joysticks, while avoiding frivolous additions like RGB lighting and back grip buttons. Even then, it has features that other, much more expensive Switch 2 controllers don’t have. Compact, comfortable and perfectly precise, the Ultimate 2C is a fundamental gamepad that is absolutely worth every penny.
It’s now clear that 8BitDo knows how to build a great controller, and the Ultimate 2C is a stripped-down model of that expertise, edited to feature only the features gamers actually need. The Ultimate 2C features six-axis motion control, vibration, tactile bumpers, a D-pad, and Hall effect triggers. There’s an extra mappable button on each shoulder, sandwiched between the main bumper and the trigger, and it’s particularly useful for Twitch gaming. Plus, it doesn’t get in the way of the traditional shoulder row, and it can just be a little toy if you don’t want to map it to anything. The extra bumpers are 8BitDo’s signature at this point. The Ultimate 2C also features high-sensitivity Hall effect joysticks, which provide smooth sliding, easy clicking and a lifetime drift-free warranty.
The body of the Ultimate 2C is eggshell-style plastic, with added texture along the grips. It’s lightweight without feeling cheap and feels well balanced in my hands, similar in size and shape to Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pro controller. The face buttons are shiny pill-shaped domes with the letters printed rather than engraved. Home button aside, the small entries in the center of the face (minus, plus, square, and star) are difficult to read at a glance. However, this isn’t a glaring problem, as it can be fixed with a little time and muscle memory. The square and star buttons are flat, while the minus and plus buttons are slightly rounded, making them discernible by touch.
The Ultimate 2C cannot wake the Switch 2, although 8BitDo says it can wake the original Switch. The more expensive Ultimate 2 was in the same boat until a firmware update, so perhaps this capability will come in the future (fingers crossed firmly).
I haven’t had any issues with the Ultimate 2C’s battery life yet, as it has a battery life of 15 hours and is easy to charge via a standard USB-C port, with a charge time of two hours. There are three colorways available for purchase directly through 8BitDo – baby blue, pink and dark blue with a beige back – and a clear black model exclusive to Best Buy. And yes, they really only cost $30 each. In a world where Nintendo charges $90 for the Switch 2 Pro controller and comparable third-party gamepads cost around $60, this is an incredible deal.
8BitDo
Of course, at a third of the price of Nintendo’s Switch 2 Pro controller and half the price of 8BitDo’s Ultimate 2, the Ultimate 2C doesn’t have all the features it could offer. The Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller is my favorite Switch 2 gamepad, and it features dual RGB lighting rings, buttons on the rear grips, TMR thumbsticks, Hall effect triggers with mode switching, a charging stand, a 2.4G dongle, Windows compatibility, console wake-up capability, and a suite of customization options via 8BitDo’s Ultimate V2 software. It costs $70. Meanwhile, the fantastic and even more expensive Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller has an NFC touchpoint and audio jack, as well as exclusive soft-tap joysticks that look like clouds. Find more details on the differences between all of these gamepads in our guide to affordable Switch 2 Pro controller alternatives, if you’re interested.
But you know what they say: comparison is the thief of joy. The Ultimate 2C offers everything a good gamepad needs and nothing more, and it disappears into your hands once you start gaming, a true sign of great design. It’s cheap enough that you can stand back and let the kids abuse it, but it’s also responsive, ergonomic, and satisfying enough for full-time play at any age and genre.
Additionally, it is unique in terms of cost. You can buy two Ultimate 2Cs for the price of one Ultimate 2 controller, and still have $10 left to invest in an awesome co-op game like Reanimal Or Overcooked 2. Or buy three Ultimate 2Cs for the price of a Switch 2 Pro and have a little (Mario) party. The Ultimate 2C is a fully capable, comfortable, and cute gamepad that promises to play with precision for years to come, and it’s made by a company with a fantastic reputation in gaming accessories. Don’t wonder how such a spectacular Switch 2 controller only costs $30; just be happy that’s the case.
