Comparison 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth Controller vs 8BitDo Ultimate C Bluetooth Controller

The range of the wireless connection provided by the gamepad.

Almost all modern wireless models work confidently at a distance of at least 2 – 3 metres. So you need to pay attention to this parameter mainly when the device is planned to be used at a greater distance from the computer. At the same time, when evaluating the range, note that it is indicated for perfect conditions: the absence of interference and obstacles in the signal path, the battery is fully charged, etc. In fact, the communication range may be somewhat less, so when choosing, it is worth taking a certain margin. Nevertheless, according to the claimed range, it is quite possible to evaluate the practical capabilities of different models and compare them with each other.

The total number of buttons provided in the design of the manipulator.

The more buttons — the more additional features you can "tie" to the manipulator, the lower the likelihood that during the game you will have to turn to other controls (for example, a PC keyboard). However, many game consoles (see "Platform Compatibility") provide a certain minimum number of buttons for a compatible gamepad — a smaller number simply would not allow full use of all the functions of the console. For example, the original PlayStation 4 controller has 11 buttons.

Note that the D-Pad (see below) is not included in this calculation: it is considered a specific control, although it is based on buttons.

The number and location of analogue sticks provided in the design of the manipulator.

The analogue lever can be described as a "miniature joystick" — it is a protruding lever that can be deflected in any direction. Its purpose is generally similar to the D-Pad (see above), but the stick does not have fixed positions; this provides more "fine" control, which is very important in modern games. In addition, tilting it is often more convenient than pressing the D-Pad.

Separately, it is worth mentioning sticks on Hall sensors. The design of such levers is more reliable due to the absence of rubbing and contacting parts, and the position of the stick is determined by changes in the fluctuations of the magnetic field, which are monitored by appropriate sensors. Sticks on Hall sensors do not have “dead zones”, are devoid of the drift effect (misalignment), and wear out an order of magnitude slower. However, such solutions are not cheap.

This feature is most widely used in gamepads (see "Device type") — most of these controllers have at least one lever, models without sticks are already considered rare. In addition, such equipment, by definition, is installed in all arcade controllers; and analogue levers are also found in virtual reality weapons and motion controllers — it is very convenient to control the movement of the character through them.

...As for the location, it is indicated mainly for traditional design gamepads with a full set of controls, including 2 sticks. The most common options here are the left lever on top, the right one on the bottom ( like Xbox) or both levers on the bottom (like PlayStation). Much less common are devices where both analogue sticks are installed on top — this is, in particular, a regular gamepad for Wii U, as well as many models for mobile gadgets. And in some manipulators, a customizable (adjustable) arrangement of levers is provided: usually, the right stick in such models is fixed, and the left one can be installed from above or below, changing the format of the gamepad to suit your preferences.

Bumpers or Shifts are buttons located on the top of gaming controllers. They are intended for assigning various actions in games, and are also used for user interaction with menu interfaces and applications on gaming consoles or computers.

Such control elements are characteristic of gamepads (see "Type") and are rarely found in other types of gaming controllers. Shifts are usually pressed with the index fingers while holding the gamepad. Often, bumper buttons can perform different functions depending on the game (for example, switching weapons, running mode, etc.), and they are also used for navigating between sections of the user interface. In any case, bumpers provide additional control options for the player.

Auxiliary controls located on the top of the gamepad at the back of the body. The triggers are pressed by the player's index or middle fingers.

In classic gamepads and joysticks, triggers are used to control various actions in games (for example, accelerating a car in racing games, shooting in shooters, etc.). Some models allow the trigger to be pressed halfway for aiming in the game or fully for firing at enemies. Such buttons may also feature a vibration feedback function. In the vast majority of cases, triggers are based on potentiometers (variable resistors), less frequently on Hall sensors, which track changes in the magnetic field fluctuations and lack frictional parts in their construction (though they are more expensive).

Triggers are arranged somewhat differently in clip-on gamepads for smartphones (see "Type"). Often these controls are equipped with lever-type mechanisms and sensitive contacts to the touchscreen layer, which touch a specific area of the display when the levers are pressed. Depending on the game layout, various control functions (shooting, aiming, crouching, or jumping, etc.) are typically assigned to the triggers.

The battery capacity in a controller impacts its operation duration without recharging and determines how often the device needs to be charged. Although manufacturers usually specify the operating time, the capacity helps assess the battery's lifespan under intensive use or when additional features are activated.

The time of continuous operation of the controller with autonomous power supply (see above) without recharging or replacing batteries. When choosing according to this indicator, note that it is quite approximate, because. in fact, the operating time depends on the intensity of the game, the frequency of feedback, etc., and in models powered by replaceable batteries, it also depends on the quality of these batteries. Therefore, the actual battery life may be less, and sometimes more than the claimed one. Nevertheless, different models of controllers can be quite compared according to the time of operation on a charge given in the characteristics.

The presence of a gyroscope in the design of the controller.

A gyroscope is a device designed to track the rotation of the manipulator along one axis or another. Such a device is most often combined with an accelerometer — this device determines the position in space (in a stationary state), as well as accelerations, shocks and shocks acting on the controller. Such equipment allows you to very accurately track the movement of the manipulator in space.

The gyroscope significantly expands the possibilities of control: it allows you to give commands not only with the help of buttons, levers, etc., but also due to tilts and turns of the controller itself in space. Specific features of the implementation of such control depend on platforms and specific games. Note, however, that motion controllers (see "Device Type") are almost by definition equipped with gyroscopes; therefore, the presence of this function is specifically specified only for other types of gaming accessories, primarily gamepads.