Gamepad 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller

8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller

Test Status:Verified
Compatible: AndroidiOSLinuxPCNintendo Switch
Interfaces: BluetoothCableDongle
Release date: 28 October 2022
Price range: $59.99$69.99, find on: aliexpress.com, amzn.to

8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller input lag comparison

The latency measurement was performed using a GPDL device.
This device is connected directly to the gamepad pins and allows you to get accurate and true calculations of the real latency.
#ConnectionMode
Min.Latency
AverageLatency (ms)
Max.Latency
Polling rate Jitter
OSBuild ver.
FWTester ver.
8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller - Sticks Latency (GPDL method)
1
CableDinput9.7613.3216.5100 of 125 Hz 1.65
Win 11
10.0.22631
1.06
3.0.3
8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller - Button Latency (GPDL method)
2
DongleXinput5.679.615.1200.47 of 250 Hz 1.93
Win 11
1.06
3
CableDinput5.6510.9116.44100 of 125 Hz 2.87
Win 11
10.0.22631
1.06
3.0.3
4
CableXinput4.649.9515.36100.76 of 125 Hz 2.86
Win 11
1.06
5
BluetoothSwitch5.7313.9335.2449.61 of 125 Hz 5.19
Win 11
1.06

Other tests

#ConnectionMode
Min.Latency
AverageLatency (ms)
Max.Latency
Polling rate Jitter
OSBuild ver.
FWTester ver.
8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller - Polling Rate
6
DongleDinput3.46 *5.22 *12.22 *191.65 of 250 Hz 1.92
Win 11
10.0.22631
1.10
1.1.5
7
DongleDinput3 *5.22 *12.49 *191.67 of 250 Hz 1.93
Win 11
10.0.22631
1.10
1.1.5
8
DongleDinput3.5 *5.03 *8.53 *198.67 of 250 Hz 1.8
Win 11
10.0.22635
1.03
1.1.6
9
DongleXinput3 *4.99 *9.03 *200.47 of 250 Hz 1.78
Win 11
---
10
CableDinput7.81 *9.92 *11.72 *100.77 of 125 Hz 0.45
Win 10
1.09
11
CableXinput8.01 *9.92 *10.98 *100.76 of 125 Hz 0.54
Win 11
1.06
12
CableXinput8.02 *9.94 *11.01 *100.62 of 125 Hz 0.51
Win 11
1.10
13
BluetoothSwitch14.02 *20.16 *44.89 *49.61 of 125 Hz 7.34
Win 11
1.06
*Note: Latency with an asterisk are based on polling rate and do not represent actual input-lag.
More information

Latency

This chart shows how quickly your gamepad responds to button presses as well as joystick deviation. Each point on the graph represents a test result.

  • The horizontal axis (X-axis) measures the time elapsed from the button press or stick deflection to the game's response. This time is called “latency”.
  • The vertical axis (Y-axis) shows how often we got such a result, in percentages.

If you hover over a point on the graph, you'll see how long the latency was and how often it occurred.

The lower the latency, the better. In a perfect world, as soon as you press a button or move the joystick on a gamepad, the action in the game happens instantly. If there is a long delay, you can press the button, but the action will take some time. In fast-paced games where every second counts, a long delay can be a problem.

Use this chart to figure out how fast your gamepad reacts.

Polling rate

The polling rate (also known as the Refresh intervals) in gamepads refers to how often the controller sends input information to the console or computer. It's measured in Hertz (Hz), which translates to the number of times per second the device reports its status to the computer.

For example, a gamepad with a polling rate of 125 Hz sends its status to the computer 125 times per second, or every 8 milliseconds.

The polling rate is essential in gaming for two reasons:

  1. Responsiveness: A higher polling rate means the controller communicates its state to the computer more frequently, resulting in faster and more responsive gameplay. In fast-paced or competitive games, even a slight increase in responsiveness can give players an advantage.

  2. Accuracy: A higher polling rate can also increase the accuracy of the controller. This is particularly important for devices like gaming mice, where precise movements can be critical, but it can also impact gamepads, especially in games that require accurate inputs.

However, it's important to note that a higher polling rate can also put more strain on the computer's CPU, as it needs to process inputs more frequently. Moreover, beyond a certain point, increases in polling rate may not yield noticeable improvements due to limitations in human reaction time and display refresh rates.

Jitter

Jitter is a measure of how much the gamepad's latency varies during testing. It is calculated as the standard deviation of the recorded delay times. A lower jitter value indicates more consistent latency, while a higher jitter suggests unstable performance. Low jitter is important for a smooth, responsive gaming experience.

Stick test of 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller

Inner Dead Zone

The inner dead zone is an important parameter for stick control. It helps avoid drift or accidental movement, but if this zone is larger than the necessary minimum, it can significantly impact aiming accuracy in games. Therefore, it is better when the inner dead zone is minimal or absent.

Gamepad 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has no inner deadzones, which has which has a positive effect on aiming accuracy and micro control.

Outer Dead Zone

The outer dead zone indicates the extent to which there is an area where stick movement is not registered when fully deflected. If it's small, it indicates high stick calibration accuracy. In the case of a large outer dead zone, it significantly limits the useful range of motion and can have a negative impact on control.

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has normal external stick dead zones (0.6mm). Its significant presence does not limit the range of motion and does not have a negative impact on control.

Stick Resolution

The stick resolution of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has a motion resolution of 0.0288. This means that it can register 35 positions from the center point of the stick to its outermost edge. This is similar to the resolution of a monitor, where more pixels provide a clearer image. In the case of gamepad sticks, higher resolution ensures smoother and more precise control. As a rule, 125 positions are more than enough for a comfortable game.

It is important to know that some gamepads do not have a constant resolution and give out 0.0078 or 0.0150 (for example). Therefore, the number of end positions may differ from the real ones.

Asymmetry Index

The Asymmetry Index measures the difference in the left-right and up-down deflection of the joystick. A higher difference indicates worse joystick movement. The largest difference in the X and Y axis deflection is selected as the index. This indicator helps to understand the joystick's performance during small, precise movements that are critical for aiming and typically use 25-60% of the joystick's range of motion.

The asymmetry index of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad is 10.4% for the left stick and 6.2% for the right stick.
Learn more about how the measurements are made.

Circle Error

The "Circle Error" parameter determines the behavior of the stick at its extreme diagonal positions. With the Joystick Tester program, you can check how accurately the gamepad stick draws a circle in its movement. The lower the error value, the better. The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has 7.1% left circle error, and 7.1% right circle error.

Central Accuracy

The stick centering parameter indicates how well the stick returns to the central position after the player releases it. This characteristic is responsible for stick drift: the lower the Central Accuracy value, the better. The average worst position at which the joystick stops is taken as a measurement and is not touched.

In the case of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, the Central Accuracy for the left joystick is 3.8%, and 3% for the right stick.

Disclaimer

All conclusions of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad are based on a single gamepad, which does not rule out the possibility that other units of this model may perform better or worse. However, this variation is usually insignificant. The test data was obtained using Joystick Tester program, and some parameters may differ in other programs.

Tested on firmware: 1.10, by John Punch

What is RAW mode

This is a mode in which the gamepad settings disable the correction of sticks and dead zones. Not all gamepads support this mode.

Inner Dead Zone

The inner dead zone is an important parameter for stick control. It helps avoid drift or accidental movement, but if this zone is larger than the necessary minimum, it can significantly impact aiming accuracy in games. Therefore, it is better when the inner dead zone is minimal or absent.

Gamepad 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has no inner deadzones, which has which has a positive effect on aiming accuracy and micro control.

Outer Dead Zone

The outer dead zone indicates the extent to which there is an area where stick movement is not registered when fully deflected. If it's small, it indicates high stick calibration accuracy. In the case of a large outer dead zone, it significantly limits the useful range of motion and can have a negative impact on control.

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has normal external stick dead zones (0.6mm). Its significant presence does not limit the range of motion and does not have a negative impact on control.

Asymmetry Index

The Asymmetry Index parameter indicates the discrepancy in joystick deflection to the left and right. For example, if you move the joystick 80% to the left and get a deflection value of 0.824, then move it 80% to the right and get a value of 0.765, the difference is 0.059 which will be equal to 5.9% asymmetric index. This means the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller joystick movements are not symmetrical. The larger this difference, the less accurate the joystick is, making movements in games less predictable and harder to control.

Stick Resolution

The stick resolution of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has a motion resolution of 0.0288. This means that it can register 35 positions from the center point of the stick to its outermost edge. This is similar to the resolution of a monitor, where more pixels provide a clearer image. In the case of gamepad sticks, higher resolution ensures smoother and more precise control. As a rule, 125 positions are more than enough for a comfortable game.

It is important to know that some gamepads do not have a constant resolution and give out 0.0078 or 0.0150 (for example). Therefore, the number of end positions may differ from the real ones.

Axis magnet

The Axis Magnet parameter indicates whether the movement of the stick is bound to the central intersection of the X and Y axes. If this parameter is present, aiming or camera movement along the vertical or horizontal axis becomes more rail-like. This can have both positive and negative effects, depending on the game and your preferences. Most players consider this binding undesirable, as high-end popular gamepads typically do not have this feature.

However, the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has no Axis Magnet.

Central Accuracy

The stick centering parameter indicates how well the stick returns to the central position after the player releases it. This characteristic is responsible for stick drift: the lower the Central Accuracy value, the better.

In the case of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, the Central Accuracy is 0.000, which is an good indicator.

Circle Error

The "Circle Error" parameter determines the behavior of the stick at its extreme diagonal positions. With the Joystick Tester program, you can check how accurately the gamepad stick draws a circle in its movement. The lower the error value, the better. The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has 7.2% circle error.

Disclaimer

For the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad stick tests, the stick with the worst performance is used in the calculations. All conclusions are based on a single gamepad, which does not rule out the possibility that other units of this model may perform better or worse. However, this variation is usually insignificant. The test data was obtained using hardwaretester.com, and some parameters may differ in other programs.

Tested on firmware: 1.10, by John Punch

Inner Dead Zone

The inner dead zone is an important parameter for stick control. It helps avoid drift or accidental movement, but if this zone is larger than the necessary minimum, it can significantly impact aiming accuracy in games. Therefore, it is better when the inner dead zone is minimal or absent.

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has a slight inner deadzones that does not significantly affect the controls.

Outer Dead Zone

The outer dead zone indicates the extent to which there is an area where stick movement is not registered when fully deflected. If it's small, it indicates high stick calibration accuracy. In the case of a large outer dead zone, it significantly limits the useful range of motion and can have a negative impact on control.

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has normal external stick dead zones (0.6mm). Its significant presence does not limit the range of motion and does not have a negative impact on control.

Asymmetry Index

The Asymmetry Index parameter indicates the discrepancy in joystick deflection to the left and right. For example, if you move the joystick 80% to the left and get a deflection value of 0.761, then move it 80% to the right and get a value of 0.782, the difference is 0.021 which will be equal to 2.1% asymmetric index. This means the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller joystick movements are not symmetrical. The larger this difference, the less accurate the joystick is, making movements in games less predictable and harder to control.

Stick Resolution

The stick resolution of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has a motion resolution of 0.0288. This means that it can register 35 positions from the center point of the stick to its outermost edge. This is similar to the resolution of a monitor, where more pixels provide a clearer image. In the case of gamepad sticks, higher resolution ensures smoother and more precise control. As a rule, 125 positions are more than enough for a comfortable game.

It is important to know that some gamepads do not have a constant resolution and give out 0.0078 or 0.0150 (for example). Therefore, the number of end positions may differ from the real ones.

Axis magnet

The Axis Magnet parameter indicates whether the movement of the stick is bound to the central intersection of the X and Y axes. If this parameter is present, aiming or camera movement along the vertical or horizontal axis becomes more rail-like. This can have both positive and negative effects, depending on the game and your preferences. Most players consider this binding undesirable, as high-end popular gamepads typically do not have this feature.

However, the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has no Axis Magnet.

Central Accuracy

The stick centering parameter indicates how well the stick returns to the central position after the player releases it. This characteristic is responsible for stick drift: the lower the Central Accuracy value, the better.

In the case of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, the Central Accuracy is 0.000, which is an good indicator. But this is not due to precise calibration, but due to the presence of inner deadzone.

Circle Error

The "Circle Error" parameter determines the behavior of the stick at its extreme diagonal positions. With the Joystick Tester program, you can check how accurately the gamepad stick draws a circle in its movement. The lower the error value, the better. The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has 7.2% circle error.

Disclaimer

For the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad stick tests, the stick with the worst performance is used in the calculations. All conclusions are based on a single gamepad, which does not rule out the possibility that other units of this model may perform better or worse. However, this variation is usually insignificant. The test data was obtained using hardwaretester.com, and some parameters may differ in other programs.

Tested on firmware: 1.10, by John Punch

What is RAW mode

This is a mode in which the gamepad settings disable the correction of sticks and dead zones. Not all gamepads support this mode.

Inner Dead Zone

The inner dead zone is an important parameter for stick control. It helps avoid drift or accidental movement, but if this zone is larger than the necessary minimum, it can significantly impact aiming accuracy in games. Therefore, it is better when the inner dead zone is minimal or absent.

Gamepad 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has no inner deadzones, which has which has a positive effect on aiming accuracy and micro control.

Outer Dead Zone

The outer dead zone indicates the extent to which there is an area where stick movement is not registered when fully deflected. If it's small, it indicates high stick calibration accuracy. In the case of a large outer dead zone, it significantly limits the useful range of motion and can have a negative impact on control.

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has normal external stick dead zones (0.6mm). Its significant presence does not limit the range of motion and does not have a negative impact on control.

Asymmetry Index

The Asymmetry Index parameter indicates the discrepancy in joystick deflection to the left and right. For example, if you move the joystick 80% to the left and get a deflection value of 0.806, then move it 80% to the right and get a value of 0.751, the difference is 0.055 which will be equal to 5.5% asymmetric index. This means the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller joystick movements are not symmetrical. The larger this difference, the less accurate the joystick is, making movements in games less predictable and harder to control.

Stick Resolution

The stick resolution of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has a motion resolution of 0.0288. This means that it can register 35 positions from the center point of the stick to its outermost edge. This is similar to the resolution of a monitor, where more pixels provide a clearer image. In the case of gamepad sticks, higher resolution ensures smoother and more precise control. As a rule, 125 positions are more than enough for a comfortable game.

It is important to know that some gamepads do not have a constant resolution and give out 0.0078 or 0.0150 (for example). Therefore, the number of end positions may differ from the real ones.

Axis magnet

The Axis Magnet parameter indicates whether the movement of the stick is bound to the central intersection of the X and Y axes. If this parameter is present, aiming or camera movement along the vertical or horizontal axis becomes more rail-like. This can have both positive and negative effects, depending on the game and your preferences. Most players consider this binding undesirable, as high-end popular gamepads typically do not have this feature.

However, the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has no Axis Magnet.

Central Accuracy

The stick centering parameter indicates how well the stick returns to the central position after the player releases it. This characteristic is responsible for stick drift: the lower the Central Accuracy value, the better.

In the case of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, the Central Accuracy is 0.000, which is an good indicator.

Circle Error

The "Circle Error" parameter determines the behavior of the stick at its extreme diagonal positions. With the Joystick Tester program, you can check how accurately the gamepad stick draws a circle in its movement. The lower the error value, the better. The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has 7.2% circle error.

Disclaimer

For the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad stick tests, the stick with the worst performance is used in the calculations. All conclusions are based on a single gamepad, which does not rule out the possibility that other units of this model may perform better or worse. However, this variation is usually insignificant. The test data was obtained using hardwaretester.com, and some parameters may differ in other programs.

Tested on firmware: 1.10, by John Punch

Inner Dead Zone

The inner dead zone is an important parameter for stick control. It helps avoid drift or accidental movement, but if this zone is larger than the necessary minimum, it can significantly impact aiming accuracy in games. Therefore, it is better when the inner dead zone is minimal or absent.

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has a slight inner deadzones that does not significantly affect the controls.

Outer Dead Zone

The outer dead zone indicates the extent to which there is an area where stick movement is not registered when fully deflected. If it's small, it indicates high stick calibration accuracy. In the case of a large outer dead zone, it significantly limits the useful range of motion and can have a negative impact on control.

The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has normal external stick dead zones (0.6mm). Its significant presence does not limit the range of motion and does not have a negative impact on control.

Asymmetry Index

The Asymmetry Index parameter indicates the discrepancy in joystick deflection to the left and right. For example, if you move the joystick 80% to the left and get a deflection value of 0.774, then move it 80% to the right and get a value of 0.786, the difference is 0.012 which will be equal to 1.2% asymmetric index. This means the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller joystick movements are not symmetrical. The larger this difference, the less accurate the joystick is, making movements in games less predictable and harder to control.

Stick Resolution

The stick resolution of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has a motion resolution of 0.0288. This means that it can register 35 positions from the center point of the stick to its outermost edge. This is similar to the resolution of a monitor, where more pixels provide a clearer image. In the case of gamepad sticks, higher resolution ensures smoother and more precise control. As a rule, 125 positions are more than enough for a comfortable game.

It is important to know that some gamepads do not have a constant resolution and give out 0.0078 or 0.0150 (for example). Therefore, the number of end positions may differ from the real ones.

Axis magnet

The Axis Magnet parameter indicates whether the movement of the stick is bound to the central intersection of the X and Y axes. If this parameter is present, aiming or camera movement along the vertical or horizontal axis becomes more rail-like. This can have both positive and negative effects, depending on the game and your preferences. Most players consider this binding undesirable, as high-end popular gamepads typically do not have this feature.

However, the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has no Axis Magnet.

Central Accuracy

The stick centering parameter indicates how well the stick returns to the central position after the player releases it. This characteristic is responsible for stick drift: the lower the Central Accuracy value, the better.

In the case of the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, the Central Accuracy is 0.000, which is an good indicator. But this is not due to precise calibration, but due to the presence of inner deadzone.

Circle Error

The "Circle Error" parameter determines the behavior of the stick at its extreme diagonal positions. With the Joystick Tester program, you can check how accurately the gamepad stick draws a circle in its movement. The lower the error value, the better. The 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad has 7.2% circle error.

Disclaimer

For the 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller gamepad stick tests, the stick with the worst performance is used in the calculations. All conclusions are based on a single gamepad, which does not rule out the possibility that other units of this model may perform better or worse. However, this variation is usually insignificant. The test data was obtained using hardwaretester.com, and some parameters may differ in other programs.

Tested on firmware: 1.10, by John Punch

8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller: Pros and Cons

  • Back buttons
  • Dead zone control
  • Gyroscope
  • Hall sticks
  • Macros
  • Multiple platforms
  • NFC
  • Stick resolution
  • Mac compatibility
  • No Xinput by Bluetooth

So far, this is the best universal gamepad that 8bitDo has made, but it's still not perfect.

Comparison of 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller latency with other

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The StickAnalyzer program shows a stick resolution of 50-60+ for this gamepad.
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