For years, the 8BitDo Pro 2 has established itself as one of the best controllers for retrogaming. But its successor has arrived: the 8BitDo Pro 3. Announced several months ago, it is finally available in France and comes as a major evolution, designed to dethrone the previous model.

Flawless presentation and design

Right out of the box, you’ll find a flawless presentation, true to the brand’s standards. The controller comes with a charging base (dock), a USB-C cable, a manual, and some aesthetic accessories that we’ll show you later. The Pro 3 is available in three color schemes, which we could call Game Boy, PlayStation (which can easily be turned into SNES), and GameCube — enough to please any retro fan.

Notable improvements over the Pro 2

So, what does the Pro 3 bring compared to the Pro 2?

• TMR joysticks: say goodbye to “drift,” a frequent issue on modern controllers.
• New triggers Halle Effect: with a switch, they can go from analog to instant “click,” perfect for fighting or action games.
• Two new programmable buttons (L4 and R4), compatible with Ultimate Software 2, allowing you to assign keys or macros.
• New D-Pad: more precise and responsive, ideal for 2D games.

A smart and practical dock

One of the Pro 3’s main assets is its multifunctional dock. Not only does it charge the controller, but it also houses a built-in USB-C wireless dongle (receiver). As a result, you just have to plug the dock into your PC, Raspberry Pi, or Nintendo Switch, and the controller pairs instantly, without any manual setup.

A real comfort of use, especially since you just need to pick up the controller for it to connect automatically to your device, without pressing any button.

Original accessories

The Pro 3 also comes with arcade stick-style balls that can be swapped onto the analog sticks. Rounder than the traditional mushroom caps, they provide a different grip, which could be interesting for certain game genres. While the visual effect is appealing, it may take some players time to adapt and see over time whether the grip proves truly comfortable, or if the accessory ends up being considered more of a gimmick.

Another aesthetic detail: the ability to swap out the action buttons (with a small included tool) to switch from a GameCube look to a Super Nintendo style, depending on your preferences.

Excellent compatibility

As always with 8BitDo, compatibility is guaranteed: PC, Android, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, Raspberry Pi, and of course Recalbox. The controller works instantly, both wired and wireless.

With the Ultimate Software V2, the 8BitDo Pro 3 is fully programmable. You can remap buttons, create macros, invert joystick axes, program the L4/R4 buttons... Profiles can be switched on the fly using the central button, offering perfect customization for each game or emulator.

Verdict: the ultimate retro controller?

The price is slightly higher than the Pro 2, sure, but it includes the dock, the wireless receiver, and several accessories. For any demanding retro gamer, the 8BitDo Pro 3 ticks all the boxes: symmetrical ergonomics, customization, durability, responsiveness, and a polished design.

In our eyes, it stands out as the new benchmark for retrogaming controllers.

Test video:

Images: 8bitdo