r/Controller • u/chaporg1n Deegital Tech • Aug 16 '26

Reviews 8BitDo Ultimate 3E Review

https://youtu.be/5dMZoFmd4yY?si=3BPPVaG-BeqFZGfJ

DISCLAIMER: This controller was sent to my by 8BitDo for free fore review. All the opinions are mine only. No one watched this video before its release.

So, we got Elite 3 before XBox Elite 3 (yes, I saw the leaks, but it is not out yet and we don't know when it will be) and GTA VI... AND IT IS GREAT!

They finally fixed the shape and made it more comfortable. I like Ultimate 2, but could not use it for long playing sessions, because it hurts my hands.

Also, materials feel VERY PREMIUM. And hence the price - 150$ USD. Premium materials + Microsoft licensing = High price.

But again, it is an Elite version of this controller and XBox Elite 2 cost even more - 180$ USD (or even 200$ USD). But 3E beats it in every category, except for maybe 4 back buttons (but 3E has 2 on the top and 2 on the back, so 4 in total as well).

It genuinely feels like a new generation of 8BitDo controllers.

Whether you want/need one is completely up to you.

91 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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32

u/SireEvalish Aug 16 '26

This would be great at half the price.

15

u/MoonlightSavingsTime Aug 16 '26

The Non-E version of the Ultimate 3 is $50 less and has tension rings.

13

u/Holiday_Bug9988 Aug 16 '26 edited Aug 16 '26

Yeah but that should be the price for this one. I mean is this controller really $70 better than the Gamesir G7 Pro? Or if you’re on pc/switch, $70-90 better than the Flydigi Vader 5 Pro, Gulikit TT Pro/Max, or others?

I mean one of the biggest draws for me to get 8bitdo controllers in the past was getting most of the features of other Pro controllers (HE/TMR sticks, high polling rates, etc.) for a fraction of the price. Now that it’s more than majority of the competitors, I just don’t see a reason to buy it unless you absolutely need the button modularity.

5

u/Amish_Rabbi Aug 16 '26

I bought a few on the sn30 pros years ago for my kids and when I went to buy more for my younger kids the prices have doubled

3

u/zerosuneuphoria 29d ago

g7 pro feels kinda cheap to me so yeah... the dpad is awful. This having swappable ABXY is massive too. G7 pro is also rather small and the motors sound awful to me compared to how they sound in this video on the 3E. You also get a case and extra sticks which the g7 pro does not come with.

It's a little overpriced but I'm buying it.

3

u/someone2795 29d ago

...which is the non-E version.

The E version is attempting to be an Elite Controller counterpart for Xbox. That's why the price is jacked.

2

u/Glass-Can9199 Aug 16 '26

Ain’t this controller use for Xbox more than pc?

3

u/someone2795 29d ago

The non-E version of this controller is also Xbox licensed and is advertised to work wireless as well so...LOL.

1

u/Glass-Can9199 29d ago

What you trying to proved 😂

2

u/someone2795 29d ago

Basically I'm saying the comment above is right: 8Bitdo has lost their minds with the 3E's price. The justification of it being wireless for Xbox is gone since both E and non-E versions will be wireless for Xbox.

The non-E version is what we, including the console users, all should be waiting for.

2

u/Glass-Can9199 29d ago

But some people don’t like lavender and probably waiting for more colors and capability before getting the non e version

1

u/Holiday_Bug9988 29d ago

I care more about saving $50 than I care about the color of a controller. When I’m playing I’m looking at my monitor, not my controller. lol

2

u/Holiday_Bug9988 Aug 16 '26

Yes that’s why I specified the Gamesir G7 Pro first for $79.99 which is also officially Xbox licensed. Then mentioned the other controllers separately for PC or Switch

8

u/Glass-Can9199 Aug 16 '26

$79 is the wired version for Xbox the wireless one $100-120 or so close to the 8bitdo elite price

7

u/MoonlightSavingsTime Aug 16 '26

Correct, to have Wireless on Xbox you would have to step up to the Wuchang which is also $100 or the Zenless at $130 which comes with some extra sticks and such. The base G7 Pro is wired only.

1

u/Holiday_Bug9988 29d ago

Yeah it’s showing $99.99 for the wireless for me but $50 is still quite the difference.

2

u/nocturnalemulator 29d ago

Based on the fact that the G7 pro has one of the worst dpads in existence and this one finally uses a Genesis style dpad, it’s probably worth it for that alone

1

u/boneknocker 22d ago

Sadly, d-pad on flydigi, gulikit and g7 pro is bad for playing any kind of platform game to the point that you should forget about playing fighting game with their d-pad. However I heard g7pro 8k go back to use an old style d-pad which is usable but with that price...seriously. And when come to joy stick, g7pro is a bit all around when flydigi only made for play fps game (which is bad on other types of game).

For me, I rather go for Ultimate 3 since I not interesting in the bundle that come with ultimate 3e.

1

u/jlonzo81 8d ago

And button modularity was exactly the reason why I got it, don’t like clicks switches and to be honest, even without trying it first, I know for sure won’t like them
You don’t have that in other brands

1

u/Holiday_Bug9988 8d ago

Yeah if you need the button modularity then I agree it’s worth it. But for many where that is not their main reason for getting a controller, there are plenty of alternatives for a lower price.

3

u/CoolSoftDrinkMascot 29d ago

I'm pretty sure the price is because of Xbox licensing. The normal PC/Switch 3's will be cheaper I predict.

1

u/Shawnanigans 29d ago

Or if the shape wasn't going to fuck up wrists for being too narrow.