8Bitdo Micro Bluetooth Gamepad Pocket-sized Mini Controller for Switch, Android, and Raspberry Pi, Supports Keyboard Mode (Blue)

When I travel, I often bring my Steam Deck, and sometimes it's nice to have bring a controller. But obviously space in bags and luggage tends to be at a premium on travel, so hauling around a bulky, hefty console controller isn't ideal. So I picked up the 8BitDo Micro. It works great!And it's called a "Micro" for a reason! It weighs barely anything and it can literally fit in the palm of a single hand, it's that tiny. It's even smaller, width-wise than a Switch JoyCon. If you have bigger hands, that might be something to consider. I'm a smaller person, with smaller hands, so it doesn't bother me so much using this tiny controller. But if it does, 8BitDo has larger-but-still-small controllers. Strongly recommend taking a look at other buyer's pictures to really get a sense of the size. Either way, it's better than having no controller.Pairing was a little confusing, since there are a few different ways to pair, depending on what device you're using (Nintendo Switch vs an Android device, for example) so make sure to read the included manual. But once it's paired, you don't have to worry about that anymore.Battery life is excellent. You can go hours and hours on it, before the need to charge via USB-C cable.Obviously there are no analog sticks. There are also no L3/R3 buttons. If the games you play need those, consider using a different controller like the 8BitDo Lite 2. But otherwise, it has all the rest of the standard buttons, including L1 & L2 and R1 & R2. It does have the Nintendo button layout by default. I prefer the Playstation/Xbox button layouts, so I remapped that on my Steam Deck. Not sure how that works on other devices (phones, tablets, etc).It comes with a little silicone wrist strap and a really short USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable (any cable with USB-C on at least one end should work with it).Again, it's a great little controller for gaming on the go. I might even try pairing it with my phone one of these days and seeing if I can use it with the Steam Link app.

Got this to work with the Kobo using an iPhone (although I'm sure an Android phone will work as well). Steps:1) Download 8bitdo Ultimate Software App onto your phone.2) Put the controller in "k" mode.3) Open the app and press the bluetooth pairing button on the controller. You'll see a picture of your controller on the app screen.4) Using the app, map the controller's buttons as follows: Up, down, left, right on the d-pad should be mapped to the corresponding arrow keys on the keyboard. Minus controller button to the Esc key on the keyboard. Star controller button to the home key on the keyboard. This gives you the ability to scroll forward and backwards in both portrait or landscape mode as well as activate sleep mode and the main menu on the Kobo.5) Enable Developer mode on your Kobo.To do this from the Home Screen search bar type “devmodeon” and click “Go”. Nothing will happen. Then return to Home Screen, click “More”, “Settings”, “Device Information”, scroll down, “Developer options” click “view”, and turn on “Force Wifi ON”.6) Turn on Bluetooth and pair the remote. Turn off Wifi. In Energy Saving and Privacy settings turn automatic sleep to“Never”.Following these steps should allow you to use the remote without the remote turning off, orthe Kobo going to sleep and turning off the Bluetooth connection. These steps also prevent major battery drain on the Kobo.(Credit goes to Cookie for the Kobo pairing instructions!)

I used this controller for its advertised "Multitasking" capabilities as a shortcut device for Procreate on my iPad. Setting up the controller is extremely easy with the 8BitDo app to remap controller buttons to keyboard keystrokes and the only learning curve is developing your muscle memory to your programmed keystrokes.The only complaints I would have is that this controller is great for one handed use, handling it the same way you would hold a Nintendo Switch Joycon for programs like Procreate/ Clip Studio Paint/ Photoshop, but it's way too small for average sized hands to use two handed for things like games. The other problem I had with the controller was that I purchased this controller on November 23, 2023, and it lasted me up til April 10, 2025, which was fine, but not great.My controller died from the soft plastic membrane under the face buttons degrading over time through wear and tear, causing the face buttons to no longer have a springy response and eventually becoming permanently unintentionally pressed when not pressing the button itself. Although I had a great experience using this controller while it lasted, a 1.5~ year lifespan is relatively short for a controller.Using the 8BitDo as a shortcut device that works wirelessly over bluetooth is a cheaper but not lesser alternative to other devices that aim to do the same thing. I really liked the consistency and reliability of it and ordered another one because it's become such a integral part of my workflow.

I absolutely love this controller. The color pops in person even more than in the pictures, the build quality feels solid and satisfying, and the small size is exactly what I was hoping for — truly pocket-ready without feeling cheap or fragile. It’s the perfect little travel companion for quick gaming sessions, emulator setups, or just tossing into a bag without a second thought.8BitDo nailed the balance here: lightweight but durable, stylish but not flashy, and insanely convenient for anyone who wants serious function in a compact package. If you’re even thinking about picking one up, do it — it’s better than you expect in all the ways that matter.