Two of the biggest controller brands are going head-to-head with their latest product launches, and when I say head-to-head, I mean launching in the same 24 hours, and they look almost like long-lost twins. It's almost as though the two brands caught wind of what one another had planned, but the result for us is that two new Xbox Series X controllers have entered the market.
For starters, 8BitDo has launched pre-orders for its new 8BitDo Ultimate 3 controller for Xbox, which officially releases in August in the UK, and in October in the UK. Interestingly, this comes ahead of the 8BitDo Ultimate 3E, which I covered a few months back, as pre-orders for that arrive on May 26. The Lavender Dusk edition is available to reserve at Amazon now, and it does look a bit different from the "3E" we saw at CES.
Then, GameSir is launching the T7 Pro, which looks like a spin-off of the popular G7 Pro that currently sits atop our list of the best TMR controllers, and holds a position on our Xbox and PC controller lists. It's launching in a Sugar Whirl colorway which blends similar purples, turquoise, pinks, and blue tones to 8BitDo.
The similarities in color aren't the only thing that's a bit bizarre in this tale of the tape though - the price of each is right in one another's way. The GameSir T7 Pro will set you back £99.99 / $89.99 if you pre-order now through GameSir's website (Amazon availability will come later). And the 8BitDo Ultimate 3 costs $99.99 / £79.99 at Amazon.
So on color and price, there's not much in it. Furthermore, for Xbox fans, both are officially licensed by Microsoft, so there will be no problem getting wireless play with the console or on PC. Both come with a 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle, but can also connect up via Bluetooth or with a cable. But on wider specs and features, a few things separate these two peripherals, which might help you determine if one is for you or not.
Starting with the 8BitDo Ultimate 3, the most notable feature for many may be what the brand is calling the Force Ring Adjustable TMR joysticks. Like the Flydigi Vader 5S and popular Vader 4 Pro, this pad has twisting rings around its thumbsticks that allow you to tighten or loosen their tension. That's a rare feature in the Xbox market, especially without the use of tools. It has a 1,000Hz polling rate, Hall sensor triggers with 2-way stop switches, and a combination of two back buttons with two additional shoulder buttons.
The marketing hasn't made clear whether or not the Ultimate 3 will use membrane or microswitch buttons, but for the most part, it looks like a very similar shape and layout to the 8BitDo Ultimate 2. I'm a big fan of that controller for its versatility, but its smaller grip length does feel better suited to those with smaller hands, and I sincerely hope 8BitDo has done something about its thumbstick top texture, because its slippiness really lets the product down. Thankfully, a graphic on the brand's website shows that this Ultimate 3 has slightly larger grips, which is a welcome change in my eyes.
The GameSir T7 Pro also has TMR thumbsticks and Hall effect triggers, but it's confirmed to use membrane buttons - an interesting change-up from the GameSir G7 Pro's microswitches. It skips out on additional bumpers, but does include two back buttons. It'll have the same 1,000Hz max polling rate on PC as the Ultimate 3, and GameSir is making strong mention of its four rumble motors, so feedback seems to be a big priority.
If you're undecided on the paint job of both controllers, the T7 Pro has a trick up its sleeve in the form of ambient RGB, which gives it a pretty different feel in low-light rooms.
The most interesting thing for me here is that despite seeming like a downgrade from the brand's flagship G7 Pro controller, the T7 Pro actually costs more (at least in the UK), not less. The G7 Pro, even in its 8K Polling PC form, comes in at the same $89.99 at Amazon, which is an interesting choice, but probably has more to do with the licensing costs for wireless Xbox controllers. Because of that, both the T7 Pro and Ultimate 3 come with a charging stand.
If I were to choose one of these controllers right now, my money would be on the 8BitDo Ultimate 3, mainly because of the additional bumper buttons that allow for a bit more versatility. Having tested a pad with easily adjustable thumbstick tension recently, I can also see a lot of benefits of that feature. That said, GameSir has tended to stick the landing with its controllers a bit more consistently in my experience, and slippy thumbsticks are things I'd be looking out for in the refined Ultimate 3.
If you play on a different platform, it might be worth looking into the best PS5 controllers, the best Switch controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.
