Product Review: 8BitDo’s 11th Anniversary SN30 Pro Gamepad

The new 8BitDo anniversary SN30 Pro gamepads deliver a metallic facelift for fans of the company’s existing product line. The anniversary edition stands out with its shiny gold and silver finishes, giving a hint of elegance to your gaming setup. Made entirely of durable zinc-alloy material, these gamepads are as sturdy as they are stylish, weighing in at a significant 381 grams – that's almost an entire pound weight.

Design and Features

8BitDo has taken the bold step of incorporating metal not only into the gamepad housing but also into the D-pad, action buttons, shoulder triggers, and even joysticks. This has resulted in an overall heavy and gratifying feel which arguably enhances the physical gaming experience.

Just to put that into perspective the heavy-duty Xbox Duke controller weighed 425 grams. This weighty feeling in the hands of the gamer may add a unique dimension to the gaming experience and provide a sense of durability that’s hard to match.

Durability

The metal components of 8BitDo’s anniversary SN30 Pro might have you wondering how long it will last. Considering the robust build of this product, it's safe to say that it could outlive your other gaming hardware, although it still has standard joysticks that may be prone to failure as normal.

Limitations

Though undoubtedly aesthetic and durable, the 11th-anniversary edition controller does have some shortcomings. Retailing at $99.99, the gamepad is missing some key features that gamers might expect for the price. There hasn’t been any mention of including Hall effect joysticks like the $39.99 plastic version of the SN30 Pro. Furthermore, there is no wireless connectivity option, and compatibility is limited to the Nintendo Switch and Windows PCs only.

The colors of the controller do pair well with the new “Hyrule Edition” Switch Lite. However, the limited features and comparably high price points may deter some potential users from purchasing this limited-edition gamepad, as there are alternatives in the market offering much more for much less.

In summary, the 11th anniversary SN30 Pro is a physically impressive, durable, and elegantly designed gamepad. The lack of modern gaming features like a wireless connection and wider compatibility limits its appeal, but for devoted fans of 8BitDo, it makes for a weighty and stylish addition to their gaming arsenal.