8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Controller Review

Classic design philosophy meets Swiss Army Knife-level functionality in the 8BitDo Pro 3, the latest iteration of a tried-and-true multiplatform gamepad from 8BitDo.

It may sound slightly heretical, depending on who you ask, but when playing on PC, I tend to use a controller for anything that is not specifically designed around point-and-click inputs. By the same logic, it often feels like a missed opportunity to simply plug in a PlayStation or Xbox controller when there is such a wide range of PC-friendly options available. After several years and an extended period of research, I settled on the Super Nintendo-themed 8BitDo SN30 Pro+, and it has served me reliably ever since.

Having used the company’s controllers before, I was eager to spend time with the 8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad and see what had changed. Right out of the box, there was a noticeable step up in build quality. Despite sharing almost the same design as my old reliable, the new Pro 3 feels denser in the hands. It comes across as reassuring and sturdy rather than bulky or uncomfortable. Other tactile elements of the controller also feel refined, with improvements that are easy to notice during use.

“Despite sharing almost the same design as my old reliable, the new Pro 3 feels denser in the hands.”

One of the biggest additions to the Pro 3 is the included charging dock. While docks have appeared with some other models, this is a new feature for the third-generation Pro line. I have previously relied on 3D-printed stands for my regular controllers, and this built-in solution quickly made me wish every controller shipped with one. The dock is sculpted to fit the controller cleanly, features a rear USB-C port for charging and connectivity, and includes built-in storage for the USB-C dongle and swappable face buttons.

Those buttons come with a dedicated magnetic button-puller tool for players who want to swap between YXAB layouts or an Xbox-style colour scheme without letters. The spare buttons and tool tuck neatly into the dock’s storage compartment until needed and can be swapped out quickly. I stuck with the default lettered buttons, but the ease of customization is welcome, particularly on PC, where multiple button standards coexist. There is also a set of ball-top joystick caps included, for those who want a touch of arcade-inspired flair.

That said, users are not locked into a single platform, as the 8BitDo Pro 3 is a multiplatform standout. It supports Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Windows with full Steam compatibility, Apple devices running current-generation operating systems, and Android 13.0 and above. The real appeal lies in how easily the controller shifts between platforms, depending on the connection method. I had the USB-C dongle connected to a laptop, then switched to Bluetooth using the hot-swap function, paired it with Apple TV, and jumped straight into an Apple Arcade game.

Depending on your setup and play habits, this flexibility positions the 8BitDo Pro 3 as a true catch-all device. I often have little interest in playing on Apple devices when consoles are available for more demanding games, and adding yet another controller to the mix is not always ideal. In this case, however, the Pro 3 can serve multiple systems with minimal effort, helping reduce both friction and physical clutter.

To help facilitate multiplatform use, up to three profiles can be customized for the controller using 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software V2, bringing the wide array of extra buttons into play. In addition to the standard buttons and inputs of modern controllers, the 8BitDo Pro 3 features a rear paddle button on each side (set into the back of the gamepad), an L4/R4 button on the top beside the bumpers, a shortcut to the overlays on the right face, and a turbo button on the left. Even with so many buttons, operation remains intuitive; the L4/R4 seems the most complex, but are only a quick extension of the finger away.

One of my few quibbles with this controller involves the face buttons. While they are responsive, they are also quite clacky. How distracting this may be will depend on your own sensitivity, the people around you, and the type of game you are playing. As a trade-off, the buttons do offer a satisfying tactile response when pressed.

“Depending on your setup and play habits, this flexibility positions the 8BitDo Pro 3 as a true catch-all device.”

Another major selling point for many users will be the thumbsticks, which the 8BitDo Pro 3 introduces its latest technology. The controller uses TMR, short for Tunnelling Magneto-Resistance. Put simply, thumbstick drift typically occurs when internal components wear down over time. More recent controllers have turned to Hall Effect sensors to avoid this issue, and TMR represents a further refinement of that approach. In practical terms, the Pro 3’s thumbsticks offer a clear step up from the standard components found in first-party controllers from Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony.

As Hall Effect thumbsticks become increasingly desirable, 8BitDo has taken the next step by adopting TMR for this iteration of the Pro gamepad. The result is smoother, more responsive input, combined with added long-term reliability by minimizing the risk of drift. As with many aspects of gaming hardware, the increased sensitivity will be more noticeable to some players than others. Even so, for those not chasing absolute precision, the thumbsticks still feel impressively smooth in everyday use.

Not to be left out, the trigger buttons also receive a thoughtful upgrade. On the back of the controller, a physical toggle lets users adjust each trigger’s behaviour. You can switch between standard Hall Effect operation, where the trigger travels a longer distance when pressed, and a shorter, click-style response that feels closer to a bumper button.

Each trigger can be set independently, allowing for different configurations depending on the game or situation. This added flexibility makes it easier to tailor the controller to specific genres or personal comfort preferences, without adding unnecessary complexity.

While I still prefer the official Switch 2 Pro Controller for that particular platform, the 8BitDo Pro 3 is definitely going to be my new go-to for PC, and any iOS devices as well. Retro-informed aesthetics, the perfect heft, responsive inputs, easy multi-platform swapping, and all the customization options you can realistically pack into one gamepad, plus a sleek charging base, at a price considerably lower than the Big Three’s own official controllers? Complete packages like this are rare in gaming, at least without spending an arm and a leg—8BitDo has really lived up to the “Pro” in this gamepad’s name.