The new 8Bit Do Pro 3 looks like the brand's best symmetrical controller yet, but Switch 2 players will miss out on my favorite feature

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Shake 'n' wake

A beige 8BitDo Pro 3 controller in a player's hands
(Image credit: 8BitDo)

8BitDo is on a roll with its controllers this year, launching the hugely popular Ultimate 2 in the spring and now following it up with a remaster of one of its more retro-facing gamepads. The 8BitDo Pro 3 is now available for pre-order at $69.99, launching on August 12, but for all its face-button-swapping glory there's one feature that Nintendo Switch 2 players might miss.

'Shake to wake' is a popular 8BitDo feature, allowing OG Switch players to launch their consoles with the gamepad alone. It's a functionality that makes some of the best Nintendo Switch controllers even better, but Nintendo changed the way this function works on the Switch 2. Very few controllers can actually wake the handheld from its dock, and the 8BitDo Pro 3 isn't one of them.

8BitDo Pro 3 | $69.99 at Amazon

8BitDo Pro 3 | $69.99 at Amazon
The 8BitDo Pro 3 is now available for pre-order ahead of its August 12 release date. That $69.99 MSRP nets you a multi-platform wireless controller with a docking station packed right in the box. Not only that, but TMR joysticks, Hall effect triggers, and a unique swappable face button system makes this a must-see.

UK: £59.99 at Amazon (PC)

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If you can live without having easy access to your system's on button, then the 8BitDo Pro 3 looks like it's off to a winning start.

Anyone who regularly swaps between a PC controller and a Switch gamepad will know the confusion that A/B can bring. 8BitDo has found the solution - just swap the buttons around as you need. These face buttons can be switched and swapped for different layouts instantly - the functionality doesn't change, but I can already see my brain aching just a little less when moving from one platform to another.

Three 8BitDo controllers in front of a Nintendo Switch 2 console on a wooden desk

(Image credit: 8BitDo)

Elsewhere, 8BitDo has returned to the TMR joysticks that made its Ultimate 2 release so innovative. They're an evolution of the Hall effect sticks that promised to eliminate drift problems altogether, though this time they're more power efficient and accurate.

This is also the first time an 8BitDo Pro controller has come with a charging dock in the box. While the brand has updated the gamepad with a larger 1,000mAh battery, keeping things dockable will ensure you never have to plug in mid-session again. Handily, the controller automatically reconnects to the system when removed from its hub, so no more menu navigations.

The 8BitDo Pro 3 is now available for pre-order, though make sure you're getting the Switch-compatible version if you're looking for true multi-platform connectivity, with a release date set for August 12.

We're also hunting down all the best Xbox Series X controllers and the best PS5 controllers on the market, or take a look at all the best Nintendo Switch accessories we've tested so far.

Tabitha Baker
Tabitha Baker
Managing Editor - Hardware

Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I've written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i'm focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector. 

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