8BitDo SN30 Pro+ vs 8BitDo Pro 2 Same Shape, Hall vs No-Hall
Same physical form factor, same battery, same class-leading D-pad. The 8BitDo Pro 2 has Hall-effect sticks, 2 back paddles, and a 4-way mode switch. The SN30 Pro+ has potentiometer sticks, no back buttons, and button-combo mode switching. Pro 2 wins unless you find the SN30 Pro+ heavily discounted.
Buy the 8BitDo Pro 2. Same physical form factor as the SN30 Pro+, same class-leading D-pad, same battery — but the Pro 2 adds Hall-effect sticks (drift-immune by hardware), 2 back paddles, hardware mode switch, profile switching, and iOS/Android companion app support. The SN30 Pro+ is only worth buying if you find it heavily discounted ($34.99 refurb) and specifically don't need the Hall upgrade. For most buyers, the Pro 2 at $49.99 is the correct 8BitDo default.
The contenders
8BitDo SN30 Pro+
An excellent 2019-era retro-inspired controller with the same class-leading D-pad and form factor as the Pro 2 — but potentiometer sticks that skipped the Hall-effect update the rest of the SN30 line received.
- Class-leading D-pad — best 2D platformer input surface in the segment
- Retro-inspired grip design still comfortable in 2026
- Same battery (1000mAh + AA fallback) as Pro 2 — 20+ hours
- Available at $34.99 refurb price on Amazon — best value entry point to 8BitDo
- Full 8BitDo Ultimate Software support on PC
- POTENTIOMETER sticks — did NOT receive Hall-effect update the Pro 2 got
- No back paddle buttons
- Mode switching requires memorized button combos (no hardware switch)
- No profile switch — only one profile at a time
- Ultimate Software originally PC-only, less polished than Pro 2's iOS/Android versions
- Textured back grip absent — smooth plastic feels less premium than Pro 2
8BitDo Pro 2
The correct default 8BitDo pick in 2026. Hall-effect sticks, 2 back paddles, hardware mode switch, profile switching, and iOS/Android app support in the same beloved form factor as the SN30 Pro+.
- Hall-effect sticks — drift-immune by hardware (SN30 Pro+ never got this update)
- Same class-leading D-pad as SN30 Pro+
- 2 Pro-level back paddle buttons — Xbox Elite-inspired positioning
- 4-way physical mode switch — Switch/D-input/X-input/macOS instant
- 3 custom profiles via hardware profile switch button
- 8BitDo Ultimate Software on PC, iOS, and Android — best-in-class app depth
- Textured back grip inherited from PS4 DualShock — better ergonomics
- $15-20 more expensive than SN30 Pro+ refurb price
- Same lack of gyro on PC-native games as SN30 Pro+ (gyro works on Switch)
- Same battery life (not an upgrade, just parity)
- No native Xbox console support (all 8BitDo controllers except Ultimate 3-mode Xbox variant)
Where each one wins
Every category names a clear winner (or a tie when the answer is genuinely platform- or preference-dependent). No cop-outs.
- Category
Stick sensor technology
8BitDo Pro 2The Pro 2 received 8BitDo's Hall-effect update — the SN30 Pro+ did not. This is memory-confirmed and one of the most important SKU-differentiation catches in the 8BitDo lineup. The base SN30 Pro DID get the Hall update; the Pro 2 did; the SN30 Pro+ specifically was skipped. AliExpress community logs and Reddit r/retrogaming threads confirmed this via hardware-level USB/HID device ID checks. If drift immunity matters at all, the Pro 2 is the only right answer between these two. Decisive Pro 2 win.
- Category
D-pad quality
TieBoth use the same class-leading 8BitDo D-pad — universally praised as one of the best D-pads in the segment for 2D platformers, retro emulation, and fighting games on pad. Cheapergamer.co.uk called it 'as different as day and night' compared to Nintendo's Switch Pro Controller D-pad. This is 8BitDo's signature strength on both controllers. Genuine tie.
- Category
Back buttons
8BitDo Pro 2The Pro 2 has 2 Pro-level back paddle buttons positioned Xbox Elite-style near the grips. The SN30 Pro+ has none. For any player who uses back-button macros for FPS or platformer, the Pro 2 adds functionality the SN30 Pro+ simply cannot match. If you don't use back buttons at all, this axis is a wash. Otherwise, decisive Pro 2 win.
- Category
Mode switching and multi-platform workflow
8BitDo Pro 2The Pro 2 has a physical 4-way mode switch on the back — instantly toggle between Switch mode, DirectInput mode, XInput mode, and macOS mode. The SN30 Pro+ requires memorizing specific button combinations to switch modes, and cheapergamer.co.uk's review called this 'tedious' when switching between platforms often. For multi-platform users (Switch + PC + macOS + Steam Deck), the Pro 2's hardware switch is a genuine workflow improvement.
- Category
Companion app and software depth
8BitDo Pro 2Both use 8BitDo Ultimate Software with rich customization options (button remapping, macros, stick sensitivity, vibration control). The Pro 2 supports profile switching between 3 hardware-saved profiles via a dedicated button; the SN30 Pro+ does not. Ultimate Software is now available on PC, iOS, and Android with feature parity — one of the best companion apps in the sub-$100 segment. Pro 2 wins on profile switching and hardware integration.
- Category
Battery life and power
TieBoth use the same 1000mAh rechargeable battery pack with a fallback to 2xAA batteries — an unusual and appreciated design choice that lets you swap in disposables during a marathon session. Battery life is roughly 20 hours per charge on both. Genuine parity.
- Category
Price
8BitDo SN30 Pro+SN30 Pro+ new: $49.99. SN30 Pro+ refurbished on Amazon: $34.99. Pro 2 new: $49.99 (no refurb pricing routinely available). At MSRP the prices are identical and the Pro 2 wins unambiguously on features. At the refurb discount, the SN30 Pro+ becomes the value pick — $15 cheaper for a controller with the same D-pad and form factor. If drift immunity doesn't matter to you and you find the SN30 Pro+ at $34.99, that's the value pick.
Read the individual reviews
Frequently asked questions
No — this is the most common misconception in the 8BitDo lineup. The base 8BitDo SN30 Pro DID receive the Hall-effect update. The 8BitDo Pro 2 DID receive it. The SN30 Pro+ specifically was skipped and continues shipping with potentiometer sticks. AliExpress and Reddit r/retrogaming community logs verified this at the USB/HID device ID level. If drift immunity matters, do NOT buy the SN30 Pro+ expecting Hall sticks — buy the Pro 2 or the smaller SN30 Pro instead.
Yes, essentially identical form factor. Both are the larger, palm-grip-inclusive 8BitDo shape — distinct from the smaller SN30 Pro (which is the SNES-form-factor retro pad without palm grips). If you already own an SN30 Pro+, the Pro 2 will feel familiar in the hand immediately. Cheapergamer.co.uk's direct comparison confirmed the two feel 'almost identical' physically.
Four things beyond the Hall-effect sticks: (1) 2 Pro-level back paddle buttons; (2) 4-way physical mode switch on the back (Switch/D-input/X-input/macOS) — the SN30 Pro+ requires button combos; (3) profile switch button holding 3 custom profiles switchable on the fly; (4) textured back grip inherited from PS4 DualShock ergonomics. Cheapergamer.co.uk's reviewer specifically called out the mode switch as 'the best feature of this newer controller.'
Only at deep discount. At the $34.99 Amazon refurb price it's the value pick — same excellent D-pad and form factor as the Pro 2 for $15 less. At full MSRP ($49.99) the Pro 2 wins unambiguously. If you already own an SN30 Pro+ and don't care about drift immunity yet, no urgent reason to upgrade. When drift eventually develops on the SN30 Pro+ (typically 12-24 months of heavy use), then the Pro 2 becomes the correct replacement.
No, neither works natively on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One. This is a Microsoft licensing restriction that affects all 8BitDo controllers except the Ultimate 3-mode Wired Controller for Xbox (a separate Xbox-licensed SKU). If you need Xbox console support, look at the 8BitDo Ultimate 3-mode variant, GameSir G7 SE (wired), or GameSir G7 Pro (Xbox Wireless certified).
Both have 6-axis gyro sensors that work natively on Switch. On PC, gyro requires the 8BitDo Ultimate Software to be running in the background — same architectural pattern as most third-party controllers. Both controllers' gyro is competent but neither is best-in-class for competitive gyro-aim (the Flydigi Vader 3 Pro's GYROCON+ or BIGBIG WON's gyro tuning outperform 8BitDo's implementation).
Different form factors. The Pro 2 is the retro-inspired, larger, DualShock-like shape with the class-leading D-pad. The 8BitDo Ultimate (and Ultimate 2, Ultimate 2C) is the Xbox-style asymmetric-stick shape with Hall-effect sticks, wireless charging dock, and a more competitive-controller feature set. If you want a retro-friendly controller with the best D-pad, buy Pro 2. If you want a general-purpose Xbox-style pad, buy Ultimate. Both are excellent picks in their respective form factors.
Yes. This is universally noted by 8BitDo reviewers — cheapergamer.co.uk called the difference 'as different as day and night' for 2D platformers. The Switch Pro Controller D-pad is stiff, mushy, and prone to missed diagonal inputs, especially in fighting games and retro emulation. Both the SN30 Pro+ and Pro 2 use 8BitDo's signature D-pad that faithfully mimics classic SNES-era ergonomics. For anyone who plays 2D platformers, fighting games, or retro emulation, this is a significant advantage.