8BitDo has revealed the successor to its popular Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller. Officially called the Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad, the upcoming controller retains the form factor of the Pro 2 while implementing some of the enhanced features found in the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth, such as TMR joysticks and trigger locks. It also has a few entirely new features not found on other 8BitDo controllers, including swappable magnetic face buttons and an extra pair of arcade-inspired ball-top stick caps.
The 8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad is available to preorder now at Amazon for $70 ahead of its August 12 release. It comes in three colors: G Classic, Gray, and a shade of purple that pays homage to the Nintendo GameCube. All three models come with matching charging docks and a set ball-top arcade stick toppers that can be swapped in for the traditional rubberized caps. Out of the box, the Pro 3 is compatible with Switch 2, Switch, PC, Android, Apple devices, and Steam Deck.
$70 | Releases August 12
Here’s a rundown of the 8BitDo Pro 3’s specs, components, and customization features.
8BitDo Pro 3 Specs & Features:
- Available in: Purple G Classic, Gray
- Includes matching charging dock
- Connections & Supported Platforms:
- 2.4GHz Wireless: Switch 1/2, PC
- Bluetooth: Switch 1/2, SteamOS, Apple, Android
- Wired: Switch 1/2, PC, Android
- 4 extra remappable buttons:
- 2 back triggers
- 2 microswitch shoulder buttons
- Swappable TMR Joysticks (Tunnel Magnetoresistance)
- Wear-resistant metal stick rings
- Extra pair of ball-top arcade stick caps
- Change trigger type by flipping switches:
- Hall Effect Triggers
- Non-linear Microswitch Triggers
- Tactile D-pad
- Textured grips
- Magnetic ABXY face buttons:
- Swap A/B & X/Y for Nintendo or Xbox layout
- Turbo Button
- Profile Button stores 3 custom control layouts
- Input mode switch: D/S/X
- Dual-motor rumble
- 6-axis Motion Controls
- Battery: 1,000mAh
- Battery life: TBA, but likely 20+ hours using Bluetooth
- Weight: 242.4 grams
- Dimensions: 153.6 x 100.5 x 64.55mm
Customize controls with 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2:
- Remap inputs
- Create custom profiles
- Calibrate dead zones
- Adjust stick/trigger sensitivity
- Adjust rumble intensity
- Adjust motion control sensitivity
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If you prefer PlayStation-style aligned thumbsticks and/or regularly play a lot of games that are better suited for D-pad movement controls, the Pro 3 looks like a strong option. Once we get our hands on the Pro 3, we’ll update this article with our experience. At the moment, the Pro 2 is our top pick for Switch players who prefer this control layout. Similarly, this is how we felt about the original Ultimate Controller before testing the Ultimate 2 series, which offers a markedly improved experience. In short, the Pro 3 should probably be on your radar.
The 8BitDo Pro 3 costs $20 more than the Pro 2, but the $70 price point aligns with the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth, the manufacturer’s flagship controller that supports both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. The Pro 2, meanwhile, only supported Bluetooth wireless and didn’t come with a charging dock. The new version is the first non-Ultimate controller with a charging dock. A 2.4GHz USB-C dongle is stored in the bottom of the dock. The Pro series has always felt like the alternative flagship option for those who favor PlayStation over Xbox control layouts, and the Pro 3’s specs solidify that.
Like the Ultimate 2, the Pro 3 can be viewed as an alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Nintendo’s official controller feels great and even has a pair of back buttons, but there’s no denying that 8BitDo’s pair of premium gamepads are more versatile thanks to its suite of physical modifications and programmable customization options.
The TMR sticks on the Ultimate 2 are awesome, so it’s exciting to see the tech added to the Pro series. 8BitDo’s TMR sticks are noticeably smoother, more accurate, consume less power, and are said to be even more durable than the Hall Effect sticks found on the Pro 2, Ultimate, and other older controllers in the collection. Like Hall Effect, TMR sticks use magnetic sensors to register movements; this naturally reduces wear and prevents stick-drift issues from arising over time.
Along with the TMR sticks, the Pro 3 mirrors the Ultimate 2’s remappable buttons and trigger adjustments. It has two remappable back buttons and two extra shoulder buttons that are activated by microswitches. If you flip the switches on the back, the Hall Effect triggers become non-linear microswitch triggers. The latter shortens the pull distance, effectively turning the triggers into speedy buttons.
There are a couple of differences between the Pro 3 and Ultimate 2 Bluetooth. The Ultimate 2 series has rings around the sticks with adjustable RGB lighting effects. The Pro 3 has an upgraded D-pad with improved tactile feedback. Interestingly, the G Classic edition has a series of raised ridges–three in each direction–whereas the purple and gray models have the familiar directional arrows instead.
The Pro 3 also has a customization option that will be a big deal for some players: swappable face buttons. Inside the box, you’ll find a small tool to remove the magnetic ABXY buttons. You can then reverse A/B and X/Y to fit your preference for Nintendo’s and Microsoft’s button layout. Though the Pro 3 doesn’t offer Xbox console support, you can use it for Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as for games you have installed on Steam Deck, Windows, mobile devices, etc. Xbox’s control layout, with Y on top and A on the bottom, is generally considered the default for any platform not made by Nintendo or PlayStation.
With the Ultimate 2 series, you need to buy the 2.4GHz-only model to get the Xbox layout and the Bluetooth model for Nintendo compatibility. The Ultimate series has always had a separate 2.4GHz model for PC players and a slightly more expensive model that adds Bluetooth and Switch support. There’s nothing wrong with that release model, especially for those who aren’t interested in Nintendo consoles. But it’s cool that 8BitDo created a built-in solution for those who have issues with Nintendo’s control layout on other platforms. You could even remap the buttons after switching their locations to use Xbox’s layout on Switch.
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According to 8BitDo, the ball-top stick caps were “made purely for fun,” but we’re looking forward to checking them out. Regardless of whether they feel practical to use, they look pretty cool on the Pro 3 and are themed around the controller’s color. For instance, the retro gray NES/SNES-inspired model comes with a pair of red ball-top caps. If you opt for the GameCube-themed purple edition, you’ll get yellow ball-tops.
With 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software V2 app, you can adjust stick, trigger, and motion control sensitivities, create dead zones, modify rumble intensity, and remap inputs. Up to three unique control configurations can be saved directly to the controller, and you can cycle through them on the fly by pressing the profile button.
8BitDo is having a big year
The Pro 3 is just the latest major addition to 8BitDo’s impressive accessory lineup in 2025. As mentioned, the Ultimate 2 and Ultimate 2 Bluetooth both launched earlier this year. Before that, 8BitDo kicked off the year by introducing a transparent green mechanical keyboard and mouse that are officially licensed by Xbox. The Retro R8 Mouse was 8BitDo’s first 2.4GHz gaming mouse, and an alternative NES-inspired model followed a few months later.
Earlier this month, 8BitDo launched its first dedicated mobile controller with iPhone compatibility. The $50 Ultimate Mobile Bluetooth Controller is licensed by Xbox and can hold all iPhone editions as well as most Android phones. And this week, 8BitDo launched a pair of all-button fight pads for Switch/PC and Xbox/PC.
8BitDo’s Pro 3 and the All-Button Arcade Controller will work with Nintendo Switch 2 out of the box, but if you buy the Ultimate 2 or one of the other 8BitDo controllers with Switch 2 support, you will likely need to update the controller’s firmware to get it to sync with the console. You can check out the Amazon hub we created for 8BitDo’s Switch 2 controllers. We included multiple of the same model because 8BitDo controllers often have several store pages hosted by different reputable sellers with Amazon fulfillment, and the prices can vary from day to day.
If you want to compare the Pro 3 and Ultimate 2 Bluetooth to Nintendo’s official controller, Amazon finally has the Switch 2 Pro Controller in stock for $84 ($1 below MSRP).
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