The most notable of the controller's good features is a dock that comes with it and charges the internal battery.
Additionally, it has two built-in rear buttons on the grips that provide additional inputs in addition to the normal ones. The 8Bitdo Ultimate 2.4g Wireless Controller and the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller are the two different variants of the Ultimate Controller. The latter costs only $50, however it only supports 2.4GHz USB-A connections and has a button layout similar to an Xbox. It is available in white, black, or pink and contains the same charging stand.
The 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller with Charging Dock is reviewed here, not the 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller (a wired controller for Windows) or the 8Bitdo Ultimate Wired Controller for Xbox. This is a crucial point of clarity (a controller wired for Xbox).
First impressions of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller with Charging Dock are muted; it forgoes the classic design of most 8Bitdo controllers in favor of a more contemporary style.
Nothing about the controller's design distinguishes it from rivals, with the exception of a tiny power button bearing the pixel-heart emblem of 8Bitdo. The 8Bitdo Ultimate is shaped like the Xbox Core Wireless Controller, however it seems a little bit bigger and has a more oval form.
Medium-quality materials are used. The controller is a step behind the less priced Xbox Core controller and appears to be tightly bonded together with strong, durable polymers.
Having said that, 8Bitdo is known for having straightforward designs that are satisfying to use, and this controller is no exception. The joysticks are covered in a lovely plastic, the buttons are comfortable, and the stiffness on the triggers is just ideal.
On the back of the controller, the configuration additionally includes two paddle buttons. The paddles won't be supported by the majority of games out of the box, but rebinding buttons is simple with 8Bitdo's Ultimate Software, which is compatible with almost all 8Bitdo controllers.
At this price, a built-in battery guaranteeing 22 hours of playtime and a charging dock are bonuses only found on the Bluetooth version of the controller. Three electrical connectors on the lower lip of the Ultimate charge the controller wirelessly when it is docked.
It's a practical solution that encourages users to regularly refuel their controllers. There is little chance that the joysticks may drift over time as a result of being docked in this way because they use Hall Effect sensors.
However, device compatibility is a problem. Only PC and Switch through wired USB-C or 2.4GHz wireless (with an included USB adaptor) or Bluetooth are officially supported by the 8Bitdo Bluetooth Ultimate. This falls well short of the Android, macOS, and iOS-compatible HyperX Clutch and 8Bitdo Pro 2, respectively. Additionally, The Pro 2 lists Mac and Windows Steam compatibility. To be clear, the 8Bitdo Ultimate is compatible with Steam games on Windows, but my Mac Mini was unable to use it with Steam (or any other program, for that matter).
The 8Bitdo Ultimate app for Android and iOS works with the controller, thus it's confusing why there isn't mobile compatibility. It is limited to rebinding switches and Windows PC buttons, though. There is no support for mobile devices. Confoundingly, Android and Raspberry Pi communication is officially supported by the less costly 8Bitdo Ultimate 2.4g Controller.