8BitDo, once known exclusively as a company offering Nintendo nostalgia, has expanded in recent years to sell all kinds of game controllers and accessories. The company’s latest endeavor is a mobile game controller. The 8Bitdo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller incorporates highlights from the popular Ultimate series, including Hall effect. — and offer expandable accessories that attach to your smartphone, like Backbone and Razer Knight.
First, the bad news (for some). The 8Bitdo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller is Android-only, so it won’t be much loved by iPhone owners. And because it’s a Bluetooth accessory rather than a plug-in like the Backbone, it has a 350mAh battery and is heavier than some rivals. (As The Verge points out, it weighs 236g, which is 71% heavier than the BackBone One.) According to 8Bitdo, the battery will last up to 15 hours on a 1.5-hour charge.
But for Android device owners, this is a versatile controller. 8Bitdo says it is compatible with mobile devices between 100mm and 170mm in length. This may also include some small tablets, but there aren’t many tablets that small these days. (Even Amazon’s smaller Fire HD 8 is about 32mm too wide.) However, it should fit almost any Android smartphone.
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The controller has Hall effect triggers and a joystick, so you don’t have to worry about drifting. The back includes the standard four action buttons, a “clicky”, “smooth” and “tactile” D-pad, a profile button, and two paddle buttons. The stick has a “wear-resistant metal joystick ring”.
Works with 8BitDo’s Ultimate software to remap buttons, adjust stick and trigger sensitivity, and create or edit profiles. This software is available for Windows and Android. The iOS version can be installed on your Mac from the App Store.
The 8Bitdo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller isn’t available yet, but you can pre-order it now from Amazon. Priced at $50 (half the price of the Backbone One!), it comes in black and white options and will be available on Black Friday, November 29th.
