Review cover 8BitDo SN30 Pro+ (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review

Product Information:

8BitDo is a company I’ve followed for several years now. With a collection of some of the most stylish controllers at a consistently reasonable price, they’ve tempted me in time after time. SN30 Pro+ in hand, I’m excited to revisit one of my favourite third party controllers in its ultimate form.

attachFull230220

From so much as looking at the SN30 Pro+, you can see something is different. Embracing modern design principles, 8BitDo have stepped into the present day to deliver a controller that is both stylistic and comfortable for the large-handed among us in extended play sessions. That’s right, an 8BitDo controller has grips for you to hold onto! At a surface level, I can’t deny my conflict. It feels like a compromise on the traditional designs they’ve so fondly embraced time after time, making it look like any other third party controller from a distance. On the other hand, however, controllers abandoned the old-world’s flat design for a reason, and using this controller for around a week at the time of writing, I can say I do thoroughly appreciate how it feels to hold.

attachFull230232

Review image Review image Review image Review image Review image

With three colour variants available, you still have your recognisable Nintendo designs, should you want them. While the iconic Super Famicom buttons are surprisingly absent here, in its place you can choose from an American SNES design, one based on the original Game Boy, and for those wanting something a little more plain, a simple black design. It’s a reasonable range to choose from, and the Game Boy design I have definitely looks the part; I just can’t fathom why 8BitDo would favour the American SNES controller over the widely more popular European and Japanese design. It’s an odd choice, but I’m sure some will still favour the concave X and Y buttons that come with the purple beast.

On the features side, the SN30 Pro+ packs everything the SN30 Pro did, with a few nice additions. That means you have all your standard buttons for Switch gaming, including a screenshot and home button, as well as the more uncommon motion control and rumble functionality. Too many third party controllers miss out on these, so it’s great to see 8BitDo continue to deliver on complete functionality. You do of course miss out on Amiibo support, and the rumble remains standard definition, but these are the luxuries you pay twice as much for when you buy Nintendo’s Pro Controller. Perhaps the most strange addition to the controller when compared to its predecessor is the inclusion of analogue triggers; after all, the Switch’s ZL and ZR buttons are digital. Though they have little impact on the controller’s performance on the Switch, these triggers feel divine, and sit on par with that of a PS4 controller’s. With 8BitDo’s great range of compatibility in mind, you’ll find these triggers coming in handy if you decide to use the pad on the PC, be it for your regular bout of PC gaming, or something like GameCube emulation.

Review image Review image Review image Review image Review image

The biggest standout feature comes from the companion app: 8BitDo Ultimate Software. If you can get past the cheesy name, you have a genuinely fantastic tool to support an already great pad. First, it handles updates for you. I’m quite fond of this, even if it is somewhat basic of a feature. The more exciting stuff comes after your controller is up to date though; 8BitDo really went to town. Not only can you remap every button, you can customise analogue stick sensitivity, vibration strength, and even create simple macros. What is a bit of a shame to me is that there’s no kind of option to setup the triggers for the Switch. While you can customise the stick sensitivity for the XInput mode, it would’ve been great to see more options here. For example, if you were able to map one button to a trigger if it’s held down up to 80% of the way, and another if it’s held down more than 80% of the way, you’d essentially have Mario Sunshine's analogue shooting in its 3D All-Stars release. I’ll admit this is a bit of an obscure desire, but I do hope something like this gets implemented down the line. For the bulk of my time with the controller, the triggers, while delightfully smooth to press, felt useless to me. Overall though, the software is brilliantly simple to use, and even lets you save profiles you can load onto the controller as you want them. You basically get all the configuration options available to an official Nintendo controller, and a cherry on top.

Review image Review image

When using the controller, there are two parts that should be scrutinised more than the rest: the analogue sticks and the D-Pad. After all, these are your two main portals to controlling your characters, and with Joy-Con lacking a D-Pad, there are many understandably eager to find their perfect third party controller. In this respect, the SN30 Pro+ might not be for you. The D-Pad is fine, but that’s about as far as I’d take it. I’m perfectly comfortable using it to navigate menus, but as a primary means of control, it just doesn’t feel fantastic. The directional inputs lack a degree of definition. You hold right, and it feels as though you might also be holding up or down. When looking at D-Pads on the Switch, I’ve yet to find a controller to match the feel of Hori’s Pokken Pro Pad. If you’re after a controller for your platformers, definitely check that one out. Having said that though, the analogue sticks are great. The motion controls are great. The buttons feel great. Put simply, the controller, as a whole, is great, and for the vast majority of games, you’ll have a blast. If you’re primarily moving with the analogue stick, there’s amazingly little to complain about; it’s comfortable, it’s responsive, and it has the classic 8BitDo support for multiple platforms.

attachFull230236

I'm always looking forward to seeing what'll be next!

This is a controller that excels in every aspect except the one that people will probably be looking to it for, but to me, this alone shouldn’t be enough to put you off. The SN30 Pro+ is a fantastic controller as long as you know what you’re buying it for. As long as it isn’t the D-Pad, you’ll be having a blast.

Want to check out the SN30 Pro+ for yourself? You can find it by clicking the links below:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07TDTXHJP
Amazon USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T8JKVNT

Verdict

What We Liked ...
  • Faithful and recognisable designs
  • Great build quality
  • Compatible across multiple platforms
  • Incredibly comfortable to use
  • Simple to use companion app for customisation
  • Motion controls and rumble functionality
What We Didn't Like ...
  • D-Pad isn't fantastic as a primary control option
  • No thorough analogue trigger customisation for Switch
  • No Super Famicom design available
8.9
out of 10

Overall

A fantastic controller to both look at and use. While I do lament the fact I can't recommend it for its D-Pad, rest assured its remaining strengths are more than enough to warrant its price tag. You've got a quality product full of customisation options that's built to last, and designed to be used across a great array of platforms. 8BitDo delivers again.
These reviews seriously need a clear price indicator for the product at the time of writing the review. A store link would be nice too. Maybe even an affiliate link?

This shit is $80 in canada. That is almost as outrageously absurd as the $100 price tag of a first party pro controller. Gaming on the switch ain't cheap... Hard, hard pass on this until it becomes under $40.
 
i've always used original pads for all Consoles i had (Xbox360 and Steam Controller for the PC) until i bought a 8bitdo pad.
Right now i'm using a Zero2 (for retrogaming on my Android Phone) and a SN30Pro with Nintendo Switch and Android Games (Dead Cells anyone?).

These pads are perfectly assembled and very well designed. They could connect to many different devices (Switch, PC, Android, Ios...) with no problems at all....but i SUGGEST to connect to Android devices, using X-Inputs and no D-Input, to negate latency.

Really, they are reallt smart pads :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Julie_Pilgrim
I've never tried a Hori Pokken controller, but...why are the ZL/ZR triggers turned into buttons, on it? Ugh.
The D-Pad might be amazing on that thing, but the rest of the design isn't exactly spectacular; I'd take a regular Wii U Pro Controller over that any day. Indeed, I have been, for the last several years.

...Anyone know where I can buy more Wii U Pro Controllers?
 
Oh, and 8Bitdo controllers. I've got the regular 8Bitdo SNES controller here, and it's fantastic, so I don't doubt the SN30 Pro+ is outstanding too.

Soooo much better than "normal" Switch controllers - screw the small, cramped JoyCons. Screw the Pro Controller, with its unaligned analog sticks. 8Bitdo knows where it's at, and it's brilliant for it.
 
These reviews seriously need a clear price indicator for the product at the time of writing the review. A store link would be nice too. Maybe even an affiliate link?

This shit is $80 in canada. That is almost as outrageously absurd as the $100 price tag of a first party pro controller. Gaming on the switch ain't cheap... Hard, hard pass on this until it becomes under $40.
it's what now?
tf? I figured America would grossly overprice it! It's like 40 or so here!
 
you diss a god tier controller and then go all surprised pikachu face when people don't react kindly to it? really?

When I said "junk" people get all defensive.
I didn't mean junk as in a piece of crap. You're really getting offended over a piece of plastic? "Really"?
 
When I said "junk" people get all defensive.
I didn't mean junk as in a piece of crap. You're really getting offended over a piece of plastic? "Really"?
Then what do you mean. Most controllers' shell are made out of plastic and this controller offers more features than most, so I don't know what you are talking about.

To me, your first comment sounds like you didn't bother reading the review, and just post a random comment because you saw a review about a controller.
 
I have one of these, it's incredibly good. The D-PAD is a bit rough around the edges, but still miles better than the regular joycons. It's one of my favourite controllers for the switch, with the Pro controller in a close third place after the Split Pad Pro for handheld.
 
This controller is THE alternative to the Switch pro controller, 20 € cheaper, comfortable (but not as much as the pro) and excellent build quality, it gives you the option to use either two AA batteries or an internal battery, and the only features it lacks are NFC and HD rumble (Well, this one hurts a little for me, i love HD rumble)

It has one of the best D-Pads on the Switch market (Still not at SNES level, but quite close) and the buttons are legit.
 
This controller is THE alternative to the Switch pro controller, 20 € cheaper, comfortable (but not as much as the pro) and excellent build quality, it gives you the option to use either two AA batteries or an internal battery, and the only features it lacks are NFC and HD rumble (Well, this one hurts a little for me, i love HD rumble)

It has one of the best D-Pads on the Switch market (Still not at SNES level, but quite close) and the buttons are legit.
So they remove NFC and HD rumble and only knock 20 € off the price. Seems rather... unfair? For only 20 € more you get those features in a FIRST PARTY controller. I was under the impression this controller had all features of the pro controller, but just cost a bit less because it was third party. Mega hard pass for me then.
 
So they remove NFC and HD rumble and only knock 20 € off the price. Seems rather... unfair? For only 20 € more you get those features in a FIRST PARTY controller. I was under the impression this controller had all features of the pro controller, but just cost a bit less because it was third party. Mega hard pass for me then.
It's not so much them removing it as no third party controller (at least that I'm aware of?) having them. I do get third party controllers aren't for everybody, but this console generation has really had some great stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Julie_Pilgrim
So they remove NFC and HD rumble and only knock 20 € off the price. Seems rather... unfair? For only 20 € more you get those features in a FIRST PARTY controller. I was under the impression this controller had all features of the pro controller, but just cost a bit less because it was third party. Mega hard pass for me then.
Do people even use NFC that often? Last I heard, it was only used for amiibo (or those Animal Crossing card things), and...it's not that important.

My SN30 Pro controller still has rumble, and whilst it's not HD, it's still good enough.
 
It's not so much them removing it as no third party controller (at least that I'm aware of?) having them. I do get third party controllers aren't for everybody, but this console generation has really had some great stuff.
Do people even use NFC that often? Last I heard, it was only used for amiibo (or those Animal Crossing card things), and...it's not that important.

My SN30 Pro controller still has rumble, and whilst it's not HD, it's still good enough.
You two miss the point. The controller costs $20 less, but also lacks features that themselves would have cost $20. In all likelihood, if nintendo were to remove those 2 features themselves, they'd knock the price down by $20 too. My point here is that you aren't getting a better value because the decreased price tag comes with justifiable compromises.
 
More third party junk for the Switch.
I'm not hating, I'm just sayin...

Lol, third party junk. That's a good one.

This is a very well built controller, good for PC games too, can't say the same of the shit quality Xbox One controllers have, with the plastic feeling d-pad and the creaking of the grips. But yeah, not junk. All controllers are plastic to a degree WTF did you expect to make it out of, titanium? x3
 
  • Like
Reactions: Osakasan
the dpad is about as divisive as people's opinions on death stranding
Personally i do think it is a bit over sensitive, but that's not going to be close to enough for me to absolutely DESPISE IT like most of the people over here do, it's still big, its still solid, and it works really well for the types of games i would want to play on my switch/pc.
@the_randomizer also you take that back about xbox one controllers being shit bro those are the bomb
 
  • Like
Reactions: Julie_Pilgrim
the dpad is about as divisive as people's opinions on death stranding
Personally i do think it is a bit over sensitive, but that's not going to be close to enough for me to absolutely DESPISE IT like most of the people over here do, it's still big, its still solid, and it works really well for the types of games i would want to play on my switch/pc.
@the_randomizer also you take that back about xbox one controllers being shit bro those are the bomb

I don't like the d-pad, the controller I have clicks and creaks at the grips. I don't like them. They're not shit, but I don't like them, at all. That's not my problem.
 
So they remove NFC and HD rumble and only knock 20 € off the price. Seems rather... unfair? For only 20 € more you get those features in a FIRST PARTY controller. I was under the impression this controller had all features of the pro controller, but just cost a bit less because it was third party. Mega hard pass for me then.

I dunno, for 20 € seems right, you don't completely lose rumble (It just uses classic rumble), and the lack of NFC can be solved by having the right joycon at hand.

It's not a perfect controller, and you lose the finesse of HD rumble (wich can really make a difference in certain games, like when fishing in Animal Crossing) but for 20 € less (As an average, i got mine for 30 € less than the pro controller in a non sale period) it's the best alternative to the pro controller.

Oh and by the way, i, for once, wholeheartedly agree with @the_randomizer about the Xbox One controller.
 
  • Like
Reactions: the_randomizer
So they remove NFC and HD rumble and only knock 20 € off the price. Seems rather... unfair? For only 20 € more you get those features in a FIRST PARTY controller. I was under the impression this controller had all features of the pro controller, but just cost a bit less because it was third party. Mega hard pass for me then.
1) It's literally not possible for them to have those features. That's just... not a thing a third party controller can do.
2) You forgot about the customization and turbo and the stuff this has that the pro controller doesn't.
 
So they remove NFC and HD rumble and only knock 20 € off the price. Seems rather... unfair? For only 20 € more you get those features in a FIRST PARTY controller. I was under the impression this controller had all features of the pro controller, but just cost a bit less because it was third party. Mega hard pass for me then.
stop being so spoilt, 2 useless features no one wants are removed from the controller and it knocks 20 off the price, what is there to hate
 
You two miss the point. The controller costs $20 less, but also lacks features that themselves would have cost $20. In all likelihood, if nintendo were to remove those 2 features themselves, they'd knock the price down by $20 too. My point here is that you aren't getting a better value because the decreased price tag comes with justifiable compromises.

It depends on where you live. Here in Brazil, the oficial Pro Controller is double the price of the SN30 Pro +, so buying the 8bitdo one is way more justifiable than buying the Pro Controller. Also, the 8Bitdo controller does not have all features the Pro Controller, but it does have some features that the Pro Controller does not have, like having a Xinput mode (good for PC and Android), a native cellphone mount, a software to change a lot of settings in the controller like macros and sensitivity and the hability to use AA batteries in case you prefer.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 64bitmodels
This is a really great controller; easily my favorite of the current generation. One feature nobody has mentioned is that you can pair it to up to 3 devices at the same time and it can connect to those 3 devices without repairing. It's so useful if you have a PC, Switch and AndroidTV device you use regularly. Just switch the input on the TV, press the combo on the controller to switch settings and go. There is no lag on PC or Switch, but I do get some on my NVIDIA Shield. I blame the Shield though since the PS4 controller lags too.

In regards to the dpad, I'm slightly disappointed that they didn't include the outer indent from the SNES and N64 D-pads. It's one of the reasons those dpads feel so great. Still, it's miles better than the Xbone, Joycons, or Pro controllers, and I'd say it's slightly better than the PS4 controller. While I still prefer using the actual SNES or N64 controllers when possible, the 8bitdo is a lot easier to configure for modern games than an N64 or SNES controller with adapters, which makes it my goto for 2D games on Steam.

Another great thing not mentioned in the review is the battery. It features a removable rechargable battery that charges quickly over USB-C, but also works with AAs. That is by far the best way to handle batteries because unlike Sony and the Pro controller's built in batteries, the controller remains wireless when the battery is empty and if the battery permanently dies, its still usable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: laurorual
This is a really great controller; easily my favorite of the current generation. One feature nobody has mentioned is that you can pair it to up to 3 devices at the same time and it can connect to those 3 devices without repairing.

This is not exactly how this feature works. The controller has 4 different modes to choose from: Xinput, Dinput, Switch Mode and Mac Mode (also know as DS4 Mode), and every mode can be paired with a different device, BUT if i want to connect this controller to the switch and my PC using the same mode i still have to re-pair it everytime (and it is useful to connect this controller to the PC using Switch mode because of the gyro support).
Also, using Xinput mode on your NVIDIA Shield might help with the lag!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kraken_X
I have 8bitdo controllers for the nes, snes, and genesis minis. love the fact that the nes mini has a reset button on the controller, so I'm not sure why they didn't include that feature on the others'. I bought a joy retro for the psx classic. it's on par with 8bitdo. I've never had it lag or anything. what I like about that one is that you have an on/off button. I wish 8bitdo controllers had that as I've pushed start to turn them on only to find myself inside of some random game I didn't mean to select, so I always have to push the start button before turning the system on.
 
Good idea but they create wackest dpads ever due to the mech they use and refuse to change even though people say its crap.

Cue loads of neckbeards "But it feels perfect to me". If you don't know then you don't know as the difference is night and day when it comes to its response vs Snes/Nes/MD etc...
 
stop being so spoilt, 2 useless features no one wants are removed from the controller and it knocks 20 off the price, what is there to hate
I may have worded my post ambiguously. Allow me to clarify: I'm talking about the fact that they're "only" knocking $20 off the price for having removed these 2 features. That's what there is to "hate."

I don't really care whether these features are included or not. But not including them should warrant a steeper price drop, no? Maybe $30 off? $40 even? The thing's $80 for crying out loud; what kind of third party controller costs $80?

The $20 off should already be given for being a 3rd party controller. Removing features should drop the price further. As it stands, it's currently a worse value than the pro controller because the pro controller is not only a first party controller, but it also has the 2 features mentioned above. Do note that better value doesn't necessarily mean lower price.
 
I may have worded my post ambiguously. Allow me to clarify: I'm talking about the fact that they're "only" knocking $20 off the price for having removed these 2 features. That's what there is to "hate."

I don't really care whether these features are included or not. But not including them should warrant a steeper price drop, no? Maybe $30 off? $40 even? The thing's $80 for crying out loud; what kind of third party controller costs $80?

The $20 off should already be given for being a 3rd party controller. Removing features should drop the price further. As it stands, it's currently a worse value than the pro controller because the pro controller is not only a first party controller, but it also has the 2 features mentioned above. Do note that better value doesn't necessarily mean lower price.
except it's not 80 dollars, its fucking 50, and thats not even always the case, it can be 40 or 45
HD rumble and NFC are not so much of a big feature that they should knock a whole ass 40 dollars off the price "just because"
I don't know why you're so entitled to a price drop just because "it's a third party controller and it removed nfc and hd rumble" .
And it's not a worse offer because the sn30 pro plus has analog triggers, xinput support, a good configuration tool, and compatibility with multiple devices other than. does that not make up for the stuff it doesn't have?
but nahh, removing NFC and HD rumble means that the controller would be 15 fucking dollars now because it's third party and it removed 2 useless features while adding way more useful stuff.
 
except it's not 80 dollars, its fucking 50, and thats not even always the case, it can be 40 or 45
HD rumble and NFC are not so much of a big feature that they should knock a whole ass 40 dollars off the price "just because"
I don't know why you're so entitled to a price drop just because "it's a third party controller and it removed nfc and hd rumble" .
And it's not a worse offer because the sn30 pro plus has analog triggers, xinput support, a good configuration tool, and compatibility with multiple devices other than. does that not make up for the stuff it doesn't have?
but nahh, removing NFC and HD rumble means that the controller would be 15 fucking dollars now because it's third party and it removed 2 useless features while adding way more useful stuff.

You're just somehow biased agaisnt those two features.

But lacking the capability of reading Amiibo and the finesse of HD Rumble is worth enough to knock the price down 20 €, Xinput is not relevant for Switch exclusive users, for wich, also, analog triggers are a downgrade
 
  • Like
Reactions: SonicRings
You're just somehow biased agaisnt those two features.

But lacking the capability of reading Amiibo and the finesse of HD Rumble is worth enough to knock the price down 20 €, Xinput is not relevant for Switch exclusive users, for wich, also, analog triggers are a downgrade
excuse me
what
1) still control customization
2) it's not meant for switch exclusive users lmao it's also meant for pc users
3) analog triggers are exactly zero percent detrimental
4) you do realize that third party controllers are literally incapable of having the things you're bitching about
5) IT LITERALLY IS MORE THAN TWENTY DOLLARS CHEAPER, SHUT YOUR TRAP, YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED
 
excuse me
what
1) still control customization
2) it's not meant for switch exclusive users lmao it's also meant for pc users
3) analog triggers are exactly zero percent detrimental
4) you do realize that third party controllers are literally incapable of having the things you're bitching about
5) IT LITERALLY IS MORE THAN TWENTY DOLLARS CHEAPER, SHUT YOUR TRAP, YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED

For fucks sake man, bitching? I just not long ago said this one is the 2nd best Switch controller around. YOU shut your trap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SonicRings
except it's not 80 dollars, its fucking 50, and thats not even always the case, it can be 40 or 45
HD rumble and NFC are not so much of a big feature that they should knock a whole ass 40 dollars off the price "just because"
I don't know why you're so entitled to a price drop just because "it's a third party controller and it removed nfc and hd rumble" .
And it's not a worse offer because the sn30 pro plus has analog triggers, xinput support, a good configuration tool, and compatibility with multiple devices other than. does that not make up for the stuff it doesn't have?
but nahh, removing NFC and HD rumble means that the controller would be 15 fucking dollars now because it's third party and it removed 2 useless features while adding way more useful stuff.

Please show me where I can buy this controller for $50 or lower in Canada.
HD rumble and NFC should knock $20 off the price. Being a third party controller should knock another $20 off the price. Together, they should knock $40 off the price. Simple maffs.
Usually third party accessories are generously discounted compared to their first party counterparts because, well, they're third party.
Analog triggers don't mean shit when Switch games are not programmed for analog triggers. Xinput doesn't mean much, you can already use a pro controller on PC, though if you're gaming on PC you're probably better off getting a DS4.
You're under the assumption that the controller costs $50 which I'm guessing is where you're getting "15 fucking dollars" from. I already clearly stated if the controller was under $40 I'd buy it in a previous comment. $40 off $80 is $40. Again, simple maffs. :)
 
excuse me
what
1) still control customization
2) it's not meant for switch exclusive users lmao it's also meant for pc users
3) analog triggers are exactly zero percent detrimental
4) you do realize that third party controllers are literally incapable of having the things you're bitching about
5) IT LITERALLY IS MORE THAN TWENTY DOLLARS CHEAPER, SHUT YOUR TRAP, YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED

And now that i have a little bit of time, i'll elaborate my answer a bit further

1) Yeah, never denied that. A first for 8bitdo. It's a bit clunky but i use it, and it's good
2) Every 8bitdo controller and adapter is meant for a variety of users, but let's be real here, both the marketing and the designs are catered to Switch users, it also speak volumes the fact that, when you press start for the first pairing, the default mode is Switch mode every single time. But i was not speaking about that, what i was saying is that, for users that play only on Switch (And there's more of those than you could actually imagine) Xinput mode is meaningless.
3) Analog triggers are detrimental because not a single Switch game will use them (The only games compatible with analog trigger input, get it through the Gamecube Controller Adapter) AND getting a digital input from an analog trigger requires more travel than with a digital trigger, with the extra detriment of not having tactile feeling at all, so even if your reaction is on point, your input is delayed.
4) Uh... no, they aren't, neither NFC readers nor linear actuators are Nintendo exclusive, the Switch doesn't have a single Nintendo-designed-and-patented parts, they're all off-the shelf parts. Now, i can understand that the parts may be pricy, and that designing the insides to acommodate them and get the feeling they should give (Particularly the actuators) may add an extra cost the developers may not want to swallow. I'm not "bitching", i'm just speaking my mind, i love HD rumble and for me third party controllers not having it is a loss, but not a deal breaker
5) I have already said that it can perfectly be more than 20 € cheaper than the pro controller, but its PVP is exactly that: 20 € cheaper than the pro.

Now shut your trap, learn some self-control and show some respect. This is a video game board, we're speaking about a chunk of plastic, this is nothing to get pissed off about.
 
So I recently got this exact controller, after loving my SF30 Pro GamePad and reading this - however, whenever I connect my SN30 Pro+ to my Switch, I get left analog stick drift. That is to say, Rex (yes, I'm replaying XC2 for the Nth time) always starts running to the left, and if I connect to the controller on a menu, it also moves to the left.
I haven't encountered this with my SF30 Pro, only my new SN30 Pro+.
 
I would've actually considered this controller if the other 8bitdo stuff I used wasn't complete junk. I can't even use the SF30 Pros when I'm charging other controllers or they get some nasty input lag, and they are on the latest firmware. Trouble connecting to the Switch (I have to literally mash A on both to connect after they've already been paired), and "L2" and "R2" as they're called on it are pretty stiff on one controller. They're worse than some $20 controllers I've used. They certainly durable, but they're not very functional. I've got some cheap $30 AliExpress controller that blows them out of the water.
 
I would've actually considered this controller if the other 8bitdo stuff I used wasn't complete junk. I can't even use the SF30 Pros when I'm charging other controllers or they get some nasty input lag, and they are on the latest firmware. Trouble connecting to the Switch (I have to literally mash A on both to connect after they've already been paired), and "L2" and "R2" as they're called on it are pretty stiff on one controller. They're worse than some $20 controllers I've used. They certainly durable, but they're not very functional. I've got some cheap $30 AliExpress controller that blows them out of the water.

The SN30 pro are their last "bad" controller, and i use quotes because the two units i have work almost perfectly (D-pad has diagonal issues because of its faulty mobo contact design)

Both the M30 and the SN30 pro plus are an amazing step-up in terms of design and build quality.
 
The latency on this controller is so piss poor I stopped using it.
The controller latency is good, because it's standardized and same module is in all identical controllers. Your latency completely depends on your bluetooth receiver. On my raspberry pi 3b+ the latency is negligible since I use a USB BT dongle, and disable onboard BT/Wlan while playing. Same latency on MacBook Pro. If you're using Windows with a bunch of services prioritized, along with an insufficient CPU, a crappy motherboard/BT card, then yeah, the latency will not be good.
 
The controller latency is good, because it's standardized and same module is in all identical controllers. Your latency completely depends on your bluetooth receiver. On my raspberry pi 3b+ the latency is negligible since I use a USB BT dongle, and disable onboard BT/Wlan while playing. Same latency on MacBook Pro. If you're using Windows with a bunch of services prioritized, along with an insufficient CPU, a crappy motherboard/BT card, then yeah, the latency will not be good.

This was with an Nintendo Switch and Windows. Judging by several reports, and it even appearing as the third worst controller on the whole latency list when it comes to latency..It's pretty shit when I was testing it. None of my other controllers have this issue, and I do not have low spec parts, which yes, would cause latency issues.

Of course, this goes without account of firmware updates.

Here's the chart:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KlRObr3Be4zLch7Zyqg6qCJzGuhyGmXaOIUrpfncXIM/edit#gid=0
 
  • Like
Reactions: shaunj66
This is based on my experience...

I've bought an used SN30 Pro from a friend (he has upgraded to the SN30 Pro+) a couple of months ago and I'm quite happy with it. Its compatibility is very good and it's a matter of time until you understand the best input combinations/modes for each device. Although it was heavily used before it came to my hands (my friend is an avid gamer and this was his main controller for a while), it's still working perfectly and looks brand new. And I've been using it a lot during the lockdown/furlough period. Maybe I'm lucky, but I didn't find any input lag or drifts in the analog. sticks that everyone has been experiencing and mentioned above. :rolleyes:

Here in the UK, you can find these controllers for less than £40.00 (brand new) on Amazon, eBay or other 3rd party sellers. I'll probably buy the SN30 Pro+ at some point. :)
 
Review cover
Product Information:

Reviews

  1. Inkulinati is a 2D strategy game available for the PlayStation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch and PC

  2. Geekom’s latest Mini PC packs a 7000 series Ryzen 9, a 2TB SSD, and 32GB of DDR5 RAM. It’s time to put it through its paces!

  3. Xiaomi has just launched its latest smartphone line, the Xiaomi 14 series. In this series, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the top-of-the-line model, with a focus on photography and a dedicated Photography...

  4. Obsidian’s Pentiment is part of a new wave of Xbox games coming to other platforms. Should you try to solve the 16th century murder mystery it presents?

  5. The second iteration of Supernote's compact e-ink notebook, we check out the A6X2 Nomad!

Site & Scene News

General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Batman joined the Trans Justice League
    +2
  • Sicklyboy @ Sicklyboy:
    based af
    +2
  • Sonic Angel Knight @ Sonic Angel Knight:
    Forget the base, get on the roof.
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Is that a bat in your buckle or are you just happy to have me
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Wonder "Woman" lol you wonder if they are a woman?
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    The Riddler has questions...
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Played a little of snow day glad I didn't spend $30
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    It's asthetic is okay maybe a good $10 grab
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Lol is it a game about doing cocaine?
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Probably in pvp
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    I tried Balders Gate II on the PS2 a few minutes ago, not bad lol
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    My back catalog of games is like that scene at the end of Indiana Jones where the arc of the covenant is being stored in a giant ass warehouse
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    At least I can will my game catalog to family members
    +1
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    It's your problem now bitches
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Put it in your will that in order to receive any money they have to beat certain games, hard games and super shitty games...
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Say 20 bucks per Ninja Gaiden on the NES lol 60 bucks for all 3
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    People you like "Beat level 1 of Ms Pacman" lol
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Hello kitty ds is required
    +1
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Beat Celebrity Death Match on the PS1 omg tried it earlier today .... Absolutely trash
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    Like -37 out of 10
  • Psionic Roshambo @ Psionic Roshambo:
    One of the worst games I have ever played
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    Make them rank up every cod game out
  • K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2:
    "Now I know why he took his own life"
    K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2: "Now I know why he took his own life"