8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller Review: A Retro Gamepad for Modern Gamers
If you are looking for a wireless controller that combines the classic design of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) with the modern features of a contemporary gamepad, you might want to check out the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller. This versatile and high-quality controller works with a variety of devices, including the Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Android, Steam Deck, and Raspberry Pi. It offers excellent performance, comfort, and functionality for both retro and modern games. In this article, we will review the product details, features, benefits, and customer feedback of the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller, and compare it with some similar products on the market.
Product Details
The 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller is a wireless gamepad that is modeled after the SNES controller, but has additional control elements such as dual analog sticks, four shoulder buttons, a home button, and a screenshot button. It also supports rumble vibration, motion controls, turbo mode, and customizable button mapping. The controller has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 18 hours on a single charge. It comes with a USB-C cable for charging and wired connection. The controller is available in three color schemes: gray edition (light gray with lavender buttons), G edition (light gray with magenta buttons), and SF edition (light gray with dark gray highlights and four-color buttons). The controller measures 5.7 x 2.5 x 1.2 inches and weighs 4 ounces.
Features and Benefits
The 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller has many features and benefits that make it a great choice for gamers who want a retro-inspired but modern-compatible gamepad. Here are some of them:
– Wide compatibility: The controller can connect to various devices via Bluetooth or USB-C cable. It has multiple input modes that can be switched by holding different face buttons along with the start button when turning it on. For example, holding X and start puts the controller in X-Input mode, which works with Windows PCs; holding Y and start puts it in Switch mode, which works with Nintendo Switch; holding B and start puts it in D-Input mode, which works with Android devices; and holding A and start puts it in Mac mode, which works with Mac computers. The controller also works with Steam Deck and Raspberry Pi devices.
– Classic design: The controller has a retro look and feel that is reminiscent of the SNES controller. It has a dog bone shape that fits comfortably in the hands, a textured D-pad that is responsive and accurate, and A/B/X/Y face buttons that are easy to press or mash. The controller also has LED indicators that show the battery level and connection status.
– Modern functionality: The controller also has modern features that enhance the gaming experience. It has dual analog sticks that are clickable and smooth, four shoulder buttons that are easy to reach and press, a home button that can access the system menu or turn on/off the device, and a screenshot button that can capture or record gameplay. The controller also supports rumble vibration that adds realism and immersion to games, motion controls that enable tilt or gyroscopic actions in games, turbo mode that enables rapid fire for face buttons, and customizable button mapping that allows users to adjust the functions of each button according to their preferences.
– Long battery life: The controller has a built-in lithium-ion battery that can last up to 18 hours on a single charge. It can be charged via the included USB-C cable or any compatible charger. It can also be used as a wired controller by connecting it to the device via the cable.
Customer Feedback
The 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller has received mostly positive feedback from customers who have purchased and used it. On Amazon.com, it has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 3,700 ratings. Here are some of the common praises and complaints from customers:
– Praises: Customers have praised the controller for its excellent performance, compatibility, design, comfort, functionality, battery life, and value for money. Many customers have said that the controller works flawlessly with various devices and games, especially retro and 2D games. They have also complimented the controller for its classic look and feel, its solid build quality, its responsive buttons and sticks, its rumble vibration and motion controls features, its long battery life, and its reasonable price.
– Complaints: Customers have also complained about some issues with the controller, such as its small size, its confusing connection process, its lack of instructions or software updates, its occasional input lag or drift issues, its weak rumble vibration feature, its lack of NFC or amiibo support for Switch games, and its poor customer service.
Similar Products Comparison
The 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller is not the only wireless gamepad that is inspired by retro consoles. There are some similar products on the market that offer comparable features and performance. Here is a table that compares the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller with three other products: the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ Bluetooth Controller, the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, and the Retro-Bit Official Sega Genesis Bluetooth Controller.
| Product | 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller | 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ Bluetooth Controller | PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch | Retro-Bit Official Sega Genesis Bluetooth Controller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $44.99 | $49.99 | $39.99 | $34.99 |
| Compatibility | Switch, PC, Mac, Android, Steam Deck, Raspberry Pi | Switch, PC, Mac, Android, Steam Deck, Raspberry Pi | Switch, PC | Switch, PC, Mac, Android, Steam Deck, Raspberry Pi |
| Design | SNES-inspired dog bone shape with dual analog sticks and four shoulder buttons | SNES-inspired dog bone shape with dual analog sticks and four shoulder buttons; larger and more ergonomic than Sn30 Pro | SNES-inspired dog bone shape with dual analog sticks and four shoulder buttons; has two extra programmable buttons on the back; comes in various colors and designs based on Nintendo characters or games | Sega Genesis-inspired six-button layout with a single analog stick; comes in black or clear blue colors |
| Features | Rumble vibration, motion controls, turbo mode, customizable button mapping | Rumble vibration, motion controls, turbo mode, customizable button mapping; has a dedicated software for adjusting sensitivity, vibration intensity, and button functions; has a removable battery that can be replaced with AA batteries | Rumble vibration, motion controls, two extra programmable buttons on the back; has LED indicators for battery level and connection status; requires two AA batteries (included) to operate; has NFC or amiibo support for Switch games | Turbo mode, customizable button mapping; has LED indicators for battery level and connection status; has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 20 hours |
| Customer Rating (Amazon.com) | 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 3,700 ratings | 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 9,400 ratings | 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 26,000 ratings | 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 1,100 ratings |
Based on the table above, we can see that the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller has some advantages and disadvantages compared to the other products. It has a wider compatibility range than the PowerA controller, but a smaller and less ergonomic design than the Sn30 Pro+ controller. It has rumble vibration and motion controls features that the Retro-Bit controller lacks, but it does not have NFC or amiibo support for Switch games that the PowerA controller has. It has a similar price range as the other products, but it offers more value for money than the PowerA controller that requires batteries to operate.
Conclusion
The 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller is a wireless gamepad that combines the classic design of the SNES controller with the modern features of a contemporary gamepad. It works with a variety of devices and games, especially retro and 2D games. It offers excellent performance, comfort, and functionality for gamers who want a retro-inspired but modern-compatible gamepad. It has received mostly positive feedback from customers who have praised its compatibility, design, features, battery life, and value for money. It also has some drawbacks such as its small size, its confusing connection process, its lack of instructions or software updates, its occasional input lag or drift issues, its weak rumble vibration feature, its lack of NFC or amiibo support for Switch games, and its poor customer service.
If you are interested in buying the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller, you can click [here] to purchase it from Amazon.com. You can also check out some other similar products such as the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro+ Bluetooth Controller, the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, and the Retro-Bit Official Sega Genesis Bluetooth Controller. We hope this article has helped you learn more about the 8Bitdo Sn30 Pro Bluetooth Controller and make an informed decision. Happy gaming!
Link direct:
Click to Buy!
