8Bitdo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller, Hall Effect Joystick Update, Compatible with Switch, PC, macOS, Android, Steam Deck & Raspberry Pi (Gray)

This controller is fantastic. I got it mainly for my ROG Ally X and PC, and it connects flawlessly every time. The Hall Effect joysticks feel super smooth, and the classic SNES-inspired design is perfect for retro games while still handling modern ones really well.It’s compact, responsive, and works across all my devices, even tried it with my phone and Switch. Battery life is great, and the build quality feels premium. If you're into emulation, handhelds, or just love the retro vibe, this controller is a must.

8Bitdo have done it again, but this time they've taken their retro gamepad to new heights.Pros:- Wireless works flawlessly with both RetroPi and Recalbox. I run RetroPi on a RP4 and Recalbox on a RP3, and this controller's Bluetooth is immediately detected and works beautifully with both. With my TVs on "Game Mode," there is absolutely no perceived lag on this controller with Dreamcast games and earlier.- The gamepad itself has perfect heft and even sports rumble motors. You can FEEL the quality of this controller in every aspect. The buttons are all snappy and the analog sticks work beautifully. Think Super Nintendo controller except with two extra shoulder buttons and two analog sticks (except not even Nintendo could build this any better).- Excellent battery life as far as can tell. At least a couple hours even when playing a Dreamcast game.- Perfect for my medium-sized hands. I suppose guys with large hands might not like this controller as much, but they probably wouldn't be using SNES type gamepads, anyway.Cons:- 8BitDo does sell a dongle for this controller, but I think it's strange that it doesn't just come with one (sometimes it's better to use a dongle depending on your setup... gives a stronger Bluetooth connection).- The price point is high and you'll never find this thing on sale. But I guess you get what you pay for.

I love that it has different controller modes to emulate and connect to whatever system you want. Since Apple plays better with PlayStation controllers, the DualShock option comes in handy! USB-C, Hall effect, joysticks, four shoulder buttons AND a built in battery? Chefs kiss.

I have to admit that I took a gamble with this one. Having experienced issues with the now-discontinued NES30 Pro, I had some low expectations for this controller, but after several hours with this thing, I was pleasantly surprised by how it performed in comparison to the former. While there’s still more room for improvement, this latest entry in their series of Nintendo-inspired hardware has me thinking that they are starting to perfect their formula.8bitdo’s controllers have a stellar build quality and attention to detail that is often lacking in many third-party offerings, but the biggest problem in their past entries lies in the one feature that is most crucial to retro-inspired controllers: the D-pad. Look on any gaming forum, and you will find numerous complaints about how their D-pad is prone to accidental diagonal inputs, which can only be partially remedied with some tape or binder reinforcement rings. My old NES30 Pro also has the unfortunate feature of too rigid an actuator pad where you can feel the feedback beneath every directional press. Thankfully, neither issue is present in the SN30 Pro, and if anything, there is a fine balance to it where it feels responsive without being too snappy or too mushy.The shoulder buttons surprised me as well, as the ones on the NES30 Pro felt as though it wouldn’t take much to break any of them. All four buttons on this model feel fine, and I was surprised at how well 8bitdo was able to incorporate the L2 and R2 triggers. Granted, the L1 and R1 buttons were cut narrow in the processed, but it’s not enough to cause a significant impact on most games that use them.As for the rest of the controller, the face buttons have a good feel to them, and I didn’t encounter any issues with the analog sticks getting stuck, which was a problem that was reported in their older model. Physically, it’s a solid controller that handles about as well as an original first-party SNES controller, which is outstanding.My only gripe is that beneath the hardware lies some imperfections with their software that haven’t been fully resolved as of this review. The controller is designed to be compatible with four platforms: the Nintendo Switch, X-input, Android, and Mac OS; but depending on the mode that you need, not all of the buttons may be available to you. The digital shoulder triggers, for example, don't register in X-input because the drivers expect them to be analog. The star button is also not registered in anything outside of Switch mode, which is unacceptable given that the Power A series of Switch controllers do register this when used as a standard USB controller. Although it's not detrimental for most purposes, seeing entire buttons become disabled with no workarounds is a disappointment.Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with this controller. Despite the software flaws that need to be ironed out, the hardware is a massive improvement over their past entries, and it easily stands out as the best retro-inspired controller on the market. Although I still have my misgivings about their slimmer N30 Pro line, I'm hoping that they can bring this level of quality to their other offerings.

The controller is of high quality and feels great with clicky buttons and an exceptional D-Pad. The shoulder and trigger buttons have a longer throw but that is the case of these type of buttons. Analogue sticks are precise and feel well constructed. I haven’t had the ability to use the rumble function as I’m not sure or know how to set it up in retro arch. It pairs well with my Raspberry Pi. Battery life is good but a low power indicator of some kind would be great.