Latest news with #8BitDoUltimateBluetoothController
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
The best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more The Nintendo Switch 2 has a simple design: It's a screen and two tiny controllers. But that simple design opens the door to loads of cool accessories, including new controllers, grips, cases, and chargers. Many of the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, like the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, are more affordable alternatives to Nintendo's official products. Others are designed to add features or make the console more convenient to carry around, like the Hori USB Camera or Tomtoc's stylish Sling Crossbody Bag. To help you get the most out of your Switch 2 without breaking the bank, I've rounded up the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories on the market right now. Nintendo Switch 2 accessory FAQs What kind of charger does the Switch 2 use? Like its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch 2 uses a USB-C connection to charge. However, the Switch 2's more powerful hardware requires more power. This is why the original Switch's AC adapter — the charger that came with the console — won't work with the new Switch 2 in TV mode, only in handheld mode. And even then, it'll charge slower. The Switch 2's dock requires at least a 60W brick, and you'll want at least 45W to charge it at full speed in handheld mode. For more info on the differences between Switch consoles, check out our Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Switch 1 comparison. What types of cameras can you use with the Nintendo Switch 2? The Nintendo Switch 2's GameChat feature lets you connect a USB-C camera to video chat with friends. And according to the console's official specs, you can use a variety of USB-C cameras, even if they weren't specifically made for the Switch 2. If you already own a USB-C camera, you'll likely be able to use it. However, not all USB-C webcams are compatible with the system, and Nintendo hasn't released any specific information about what's required. Thankfully, the console includes a "Test USB Camera" feature in the Settings app that lets you check your chosen camera. Do original Nintendo Switch controllers work with the Switch 2? Yes! According to Nintendo, controllers that worked with the original Switch will also work with the Switch 2. Just note that since the new Joy-Con 2 controllers are bigger than the original Joy-Cons, you won't be able to fit them in shells or grips made for the original. This includes the original Grip, Wheel, and Ring Fit Adventure Ring-Con. The original Joy-Cons are also unable to attach directly to the Switch 2, but they can pair wirelessly with the system. Third-party controllers made for the original Switch should also work with the Switch 2, but enabling support may require a firmware upgrade.
The Verge
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
The single best wireless controller I've ever used
Sean Hollister is a senior editor here at The Verge. He runs news, writes reviews, and edits stories, and he specializes in, as he puts it, 'fun gadgets.' He goes on to say, 'It hit me recently that I'm basically a big kid: I want to play. So now I try to spend most of my time toying with nerdy hardware and filming it weekly for you. Please tell me if you see something I absolutely must try!' When we asked him to choose one of his favorite current gadgets, he volunteered to talk about the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller. Where did you first hear about the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller? Well, I heard about it in The Verge 's newsroom, and, frankly, I wanted to make fun of it right away because I thought it was bullshit. How could it be the 'ultimate' controller if it only supports a single Bluetooth device at a time and has no interchangeable batteries, while the 8BitDo Pro 2 can switch between four different devices, supports both AAs and a rechargeable pack, and costs $20 less? I was wrong about the controller, but not about the name: 8BitDo has made so many different 'Ultimate' controllers that the word is meaningless. Importantly, the one I'm talking about is the Bluetooth and 2.4G version with Nintendo Switch compatibility and drift-resistant Hall effect sticks. When did you buy it, and what went into the decision to buy one? Like so many of my favorite gadgets, I bought it when I realized I wanted to keep it. 8BitDo sent us one for review, and it's Verge policy that our staff can't accept anything of value from a company, even if they don't want it back. As soon as we no longer have a valid editorial reason to keep it, it gets returned, donated, or given away (and not to our friends or relatives, either). But I didn't want to part with it, so I paid cash for my own. Speaking of which, my review unit is currently in a review closet awaiting a reader giveaway — I'm hoping to ship it to some lucky Verge subscriber this summer or fall! What do you like about it? It's the single best wireless controller I've ever used. It's the best I've used for a PC, and it doubles as one of the top three for the Nintendo Switch, which, for me, easily makes it the best overall. I know that sounds like a high bar, but most of the competition falls short because most manufacturers seem to think PC gamers will either tolerate Bluetooth latency or wired USB cables instead of building a bulletproof 2.4GHz solution. For over a decade, I'd sworn by Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows because of its unmatched speed, reliability, and wireless range, but the 8BitDo Ultimate finally beat it — and without sacrificing proper rumble like so many wireless PC and Switch pads do. Plus, it adds an above average D-pad and magnetic Hall effect sticks that should last. It's one of the few controllers that can turn both a Nintendo Switch and a Steam Deck on from across the room, letting me laze on the couch while they're docked to my TV — and a decent built-in gyroscope means I get gyro aiming on Steam Deck and Switch, too. (You hit power, then shake the controller to activate the wake-on-Bluetooth command.) The battery life is excellent, too: I clocked over 33 hours of play across several months before needing to drop it back on its bundled charging dock, which also neatly turns the controller on and off when you dock and undock it. Is there anything about it that you dislike or that you think could be improved? I would definitely pay $10 more for a version that could pair to more Bluetooth devices, so I don't have to disconnect from my Steam Deck when I connect to my Switch and vice versa. I suppose I could leave the 2.4GHz dock plugged into my Steam Deck dock, but I prefer to keep it connected to my desktop PC. I'd also like to be able to remap the two back buttons without plugging the controller into a PC and using special software. The new Ultimate 2 and 2C do that, but I don't need any of the other new features like LED lighting, adjustable triggers, or extra buttons. Who would you recommend it to? Do you have a PC and a Switch or Steam Deck? At its typical $50 sale, buy this gamepad. Do you only have a Switch and don't care for how the Switch Pro controller feels? Buy this gamepad. But if you primarily play on home consoles, phones, tablets, etc., then don't buy it. I also have an 8BitDo Pro 2 that I prefer to stuff into a bag for on-the-go use, and Mechanism makes a great grip for it that you can pair with its Phone Mount to magnetically attach it to your phone. Is there anything I should have asked that I didn't? Have I used the Ultimate 2C, which can be had for just $25-$30 with most of the same features and a few enhancements but has half the battery capacity and doesn't come with a dock? No, I have not, as I've been completely satisfied with the Ultimate Bluetooth. At half the price, it might be the better pick, just so long as pastel colors are your thing.
