8BitDo just launched its new Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller - and it's leaving Hall effect thumbsticks in the dust
The thumbsticks of the future

8BitDo has just launched its latest controller and the Ultimate 2 Wireless is packing some seriously slick sticks. Hall sensor thumbsticks have become the norm for gaming controllers in the last few years thanks to their immunity to drift, but a new player is entering the field that takes things a step further. Say hello to TMR (tunneling magneto-resistance) technology. It's an advancement of the Hall sensor electromagnetics you might know from the best PC controllers, and it's primed to be the thumbstick sensor of the future.
8BitDo is the latest peripheral maker to embrace it as such - the Ultimate 2 Wireless is just the third product available so far to use this futuristic thumbstick tech. The gamepad has only just launched at a solid $59.99 / £49.99 MSRP, and so far we're seeing it stocked by Amazon in the US and UK.
8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller | $59.99 at Amazon
The new 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller is available now at Amazon and at the brand's own digital retailer. You can get this controller in Purple, Black, or White, and all come with some fun RGB rings around their facial buttons and thumbsticks.
Buy it if:
✅ You want TMR thumbsticks
✅ You want two back buttons and two extra bumpers
✅ You play games competitively and want a high polling rate
Don't buy it if:
❌ You'd like four back buttons
❌ You're looking to play on PS5 or Xbox
UK: £49.99 at Amazon (releases April 25 in the UK, but it's available for pre-order now)
The new controller joins the PB Tails Crush Defender and the GameSir Tarantula Pro as the only options currently available with TMR thumbsticks. Both of those options are compatible with Switch and PC, while the new Ultimate 2 from 8BitDo is only compatible with PC and Android. The first "Ultimate" from this brand is compatible as a Nintendo Switch controller, so perhaps the impending arrival of the Switch 2 has made the brand hold off on more products for the aging Nintendo system.
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 comes with a magnetic charging stand and wireless 2.4GHz USB dongle. Intriguingly, the brand claims its 1,000Hz polling rate runs across both wireless and wired connections, which is a first for gaming controllers this year and seems to come from the brand's engineered "8Speed" wireless connection.
The PC controller also packs trigger mode switches. These allow you to change the travel distance for a quicker press. You also get two back buttons plus an additional set of bumpers, all of which can be mapped to in-game actions of your choosing.
Of course, the standout feature for a lot of players will be the futureproofed TMR thumbsticks. These offer more sensitivity support than even Hall sensors can. Like Hall's technology, they use small electromagnets to track your thumbstick's position on a grid, but TMR sensors are equivalent to a jump to 4K resolution from 1080p when measuring that position. It can register significantly more points on a grid, allowing for even more accuracy, and potential for sensitivity. It can also report these positions faster than Hall effect sensors, meaning controllers that harness this new technology will be futureproofed for polling rates well over 1,000Hz.
Where to buy the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller
Amazon
Amazon seems to be the best place to grab the new 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller right now. In the US there's stock of all three colorways at the time of writing. In the UK, the controller doesn't launch at Amazon until April 25, but it is available for pre-order, and at a slightly cheaper price than in the US.
On the hunt for a sim setup? Check out the best joysticks, the best racing wheels for PC, and the best PS5 steering wheels.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
One of my earliest memories is playing SuperMario64 and wondering why the controller I held had three grips, but I only had two hands. Ever since I've been in love with video games and their technology. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship at Expert Reviews. Over the last decade, I’ve been managing my own YouTube channel about my love of games too. These days, I'm one of the resident hardware nerds at GamesRadar+, and I take the lead on our coverage of gaming PCs, VR, controllers, gaming chairs, and content creation gear. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension. Location: UK Remote