8BitDo Ultimate 3C+ Wired Xbox Controller - No Battery, About $40
Just as wired earbuds are getting attention again, wired controllers have their own charm. The news that 8BitDo made an Xbox controller with no battery at all, for about $40, caught my eye.
📊 Quick Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | 8BitDo |
| Price | About $40 |
| Connection | USB-C wired (for Xbox consoles) |
| Key features | No battery, headphone jack, drift-resistant sticks |
| One-line verdict | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ A reasonable controller with no battery worries |
✨ 3-Line Summary
- 👍 Best point: You can use it right away, with no charging or battery swaps
- 👎 Downside: It's wired, so you have to drag a cable across the living room
- 🎯 Recommended for: Xbox players who hate their controller dying mid-game
📸 Product Tour
The cream-colored sticks and buttons blend into a retro color scheme. The USB-C cable is olive green too.
It comes in two colors, olive and gray, and the cable color is matched to the body.
You can see the rear paddle buttons and the grip shape.
The cable plugs directly into the console's USB port.
🔍 Why It Caught My Eye
No battery is a plus
It turns on the moment you plug it into the console, so you're free from charging and battery swaps. You also don't have to worry about battery life shrinking the longer you use it.
The design is cute
The olive and cream color scheme captures 8BitDo's signature retro feel well. The finish that even matches the cable color stands out.
The price of about $40
The wired design seems to be what keeps the price down. Features like the headphone jack and drift-resistant sticks come included, which makes it look even better.
🤔 What Gives Me Pause
The limits of being wired
If the sofa is far from the TV, the cable becomes a burden. The cable length needs to be checked.
Where to buy in Korea
I can't find this model in Korean online shops yet. Whether it's officially distributed, and at what price, needs to be confirmed.
📋 Product Features (Subjective Ratings)
- Design: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Portability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Practicality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Value for money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (based on about $40)
🛒 Pre-Purchase Checklist
✅ Recommended for
- People who play Xbox close to their desk
- People who find battery management a hassle
- People looking for an inexpensive spare controller
❌ Not recommended for
- People who play wirelessly from the living room
- People who only want to buy officially distributed products
🎯 Final Verdict
A wired controller may look like a forgotten option, but the advantage of having no battery worries is clear. I like that it delivers that for about $40 in a design with real personality.
If you don't need wireless, it would make a good secondary controller. If Korean distribution is confirmed, it's worth another look.
Source: Yanko Design product page
