8bitdo Ultimate 2C vs GameSir Nova 2 Lite – Which one to get?

I recently posted individual reviews of both these controllers and the most common question has been which one of these two should you buy?

So here I’ll list out a tabulated comparison between the two. You can check it out and decide for yourself which one is the better purchase for you.

Feature	8BitDo Ultimate 2C	GameSir Nova 2 Lite
Price	– $25, prices vary – No dock support	– $30, prices vary – $15 extra for the dock if you buy that
Weight & Ergonomics	– Light (~215g) – Switch Pro Controller shape (smaller handles, straighter)	– Light (~225g) – Xbox‑style flared grips
Aesthetics	Colours – Peach, Purple, Mint, Green, Black Myth Wukong Special edition	Colours – Grey, White
Sticks	– Gulikit Hall‑effect sticks – Lower tension – Stippled for grip – Excellent performance Personally, I prefer the feel of these sticks over the ones in Nova 2 Lite.	– Gamesir custom Hall‑effect sticks – Higher tension – Stippled for grip – Excellent performance
Triggers	– Hall Effect – No trigger locks – Lower travel – More deadzone.	– Hall Effect – Has trigger locks – More travel – Less deadzone.
D‑pad	– Mecha‑tactile – Cross shape – Loose pivot – not ideal	– Mechanical disc-style – Precise – Best in class.
Face Buttons	Membrane ABXY buttons	Membrane ABXY buttons
Shoulder Bumpers	– Mechanical bumpers – These are better.	– Mechanical bumpers – These are also good.
Haptics	– Asymmetric Dual motor system – Good vibration intensity.	– Asymmetric Dual motor system – Relatively lower vibration intensity.
Extras	– Extra shoulder buttons – No back buttons – No dock – No gyroscope – No case included	– Extra back buttons – dock support (purchasable separately) – No gyro – Incuded plastic hard shell case
Connectivity	– 2.4GHz – Wired -Bluetooth Works on Android, iOS, Linux, MacOS, Windows No latency or disconnection issues.	– 2.4GHz – Wired – Bluetooth Works on Android, iOS, MacOS, Windows No latency or disconnection issues.
Software Support	– Firmware updates only -Fully programmable without using software	– Full support via GameSir Connect (PC) & GameSir app (mobile) – More granular control
Build Quality	– Lighter plastic – Feels like a very well-built toy – Better grip.	– More mature feel – Good grip.
Battery Life	– 480 mAh battery – 18–20 hours in 2.4ghz mode – 30 hours in bluetooth mode	– 600 mAh battery – 10 hours in 2.4ghz mode – 15 hours in bluetooth mode
Full Reviews	8Bitdo Ultimate 2C	GameSir Nova 2 Lite

This isn’t a full review, it’s just a quick comparison between the two controllers. For detailed information about each of these controllers, check out the linked full reviews.

The 8bitdo Ultimate 2C and the GameSir Nova 2 Lite are both excellent controllers and punch way above their price range in terms of features and reliability. But which of these two is the right one for you?

Well you can’t go wrong with either of these controllers honestly. But in my opinion, the feel of the GameSir Nova 2 Lite is more mature, so if you play FPS games or other competitive games like Fortnite with your controller, then the Nova 2 Lite might be the right one for you. The trigger stops and the granular control for the stick curve with the software will benefit you more.

And if you’re less of a competitive games player, then they’re both really nice options to have. RPGs, Story games, etc are a great experience with this controller especially because of its longer battery life and higher vibration intensity.

I personally would pick the Ultimate 2C simply based on the aesthetics, which is subjective.

Fang

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Hello! 🥰 I'm Fang.
I like gaming and related tech. I enjoy learning more, and sharing my experiences through my review videos and blog posts. Have fun! 💖