2C here, feels very similar to the Switch Pro controller

I just got an ultimate 2 and it’s nice, but I prefer my DualShock 4 ergonomics. I will however get a steam controller over this because of the touch pads.

I’m used to the Dualshock and DualSense, I got the 8BitDo Ultimate 2. I’m happy with the ergonomics, but I’m not the most picky person on controller ergonomics. I have played with many, but gotten used to most of them. Any issues I have had with controllers where not ergonomic.

I was afraid the extra shoulder buttons would be hard to use, I don’t have the biggest hands, but they worked surprisingly well. It’s the first Pro controller where I actually use the 4 extra buttons actively. (Have had a Nacon before).

The new steam controller looks very interesting indeed. It’s smart to wait.

I have the 2C wired. The relatively straight sides take some getting used to. They do force your forearms and wrist into a weird angle but you get used to it. The controller itself is peerless at this price.

I have a Bluetooth Ultimate (keep in mind that 8BitDo makes a wide range of “Ultimate” controllers with extremely-confusingly-similar names, which don’t have the same hardware and have a wide range of prices, so be very careful when buying to ensure that you’re getting what you want; for example, when I bought mine, the “Bluetooth Ultimate” had Hall effect thumbsticks and the “Ultimate” did not. The “Bluetooth Ultimate” didn’t have a Xbox-style face button layout available, just a Nintendo one; you could remap this in software, of course, but the gamepad itself couldn’t do the mapping. Then there’s an “Ultimate C”, and it sounds like also an “Ultimate 2”).

I’m fine with its ergonomics.

But, then…I’m also fine with the ergonomics of a bunch of other gamepads that I have.

My own take is that pretty much all controller ergonomics are fine. The only gamepad I’ve ever used that I’d call outright bad was the original rectangular NES gamepad from the 1980s. These have a hard, squared-off D-pad that will absolutely kill your thumb with enough use.

Probably dishonorable mention goes to a wired Logitech controller dating to the 1990s, and to a lesser extent, a later Logitech controller; these had a D-pad that rolled to the diagonal too easily.

All modern controllers that I’ve used are noticeably more-comfortable for extended use than gamepads from the '80s and '90s.

I’ve owned a wide range of Playstation, Xbox, third-party, etc controllers, not to mention joysticks and other game control devices, and I’ve always been generally pretty happy with the ergonomics. That doesn’t mean that they don’t differ, but it’s pretty doable to adapt to the differences. Symmetric Playstation-style thumbstick layout, asymmetric Xbox-layout. Some are heavier, but nothing enough to really bug me. Nintendo face button layout vs XBox face button layout can be remapped in software. I’ve been able to adapt to different trigger pull force levels. Clicky face buttons that are popular on some new controllers versus no-tactile-feedback buttons. Controller bodies of slightly different size and shape. A new, different controller might feel weird at first, but in general, I’ve found that the brain is pretty good at bridging the differences.

Some have more buttons, and in recent years I’ve had enough bad luck with stick drift that I’ve moved to Hall effect thumbsticks. Some don’t have rumble motors. Some have RGB lights. One could prefer a gamepad over another for various functionality reasons, but…I think that on ergonomics, vendors have pretty much done a good job.

my wife and I both use the 8bitdo ultimate 2c. its slightly small and better for smaller hands, but its probably the best controller for the price where i live (usa; ~$30)

it can be difficult to hit the L4/R4 inner shoulders, so dont plan on using them unless your hands look like daddy longlegs.

I’m a fan, the ergonomics remind me a lot of a Dualshock 3

I upgraded from my aging DS4 to an Ultimate 2C, and it was night and day. The buttons are sharp (some on the DS4 started to become sticky) and the hall-effect sticks are incredible: I felt that my inputs were much more precise out of the box, and in Steam you can reduce (and even eliminate) dead zones.

I would only upgrade to a Steam Controller for the trackpads, but I don’t think I play enough games that would benefit from them to justify the purchase (maybe if I played more third-person platformers/shooters like Lara Croft and Uncharted)

Edit: forgot to mention the additional buttons. I don’t use them on the 2C because of their awkward placement, whereas Valve placed them next to the grips on both the Steam Deck and Controller. I find the latter placement much easier and natural, it was quite useful when I played Half-Life 2 and Portal 2.

If it had rumble I’d buy it in a heartbeat