Dongles have a well-deserved reputation for being a nuisance. They’re often expensive and annoying, but for gamers, there’s one I like to recommend that’s neither. 8BitDo’s $20 USB Adapter 2 lets you wirelessly connect controllers to the Switch 2 that wouldn’t otherwise be supported, like Sony’s DualSense (with rumble and motion controls), Microsoft’s latest Xbox gamepads, and more. You can plug it into the Switch 2 dock or use a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter and connect it directly to the console.
It’s great to save money because I can simply use the controller I already own instead of buying a new one. And sometimes I forget I’m using a PS5 controller in games like Splatoon 3 because its motion control is as accurate as the controller made for the Switch.
There is another similar dongle available that is slightly cheaper and much smaller. The GuliKit Hyperlink Gen 2 USB-A adapter comes with the company’s TT Pro and TT Max controllers, or you can buy it separately for $16.99 on Amazon. It is compatible with Xbox controllers and PlayStation 4 and 5 controllers. Similarly, you can plug it into Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Steam Deck or other handhelds and Android devices. But GuliKit’s list of supported controllers isn’t as extensive as 8BitDo’s, which goes back to the PS3 and Wii eras and also includes its fleet of wireless controllers.
As nice as it is, some features don’t offer a dongle: remote console wake-up (you have to manually turn on the console first to pair the controller) or wireless audio (the 3.5mm headphone jacks on the DualSense and Xbox controllers are useless when paired with both). Finally, you can only connect one controller to each dongle at a time (you’ll need to buy two to pair a second controller). I don’t think these are deal breakers, but they’re worth knowing before you buy one.
Then there are things that only a dongle from 8BitDo can do. First, you can customize the heck out of several non-8BitDo controller models using the free Ultimate software, including remapping buttons, macros, vibration intensity, trigger range, and stick sensitivity. Currently, GuliKit does not offer any such software, although its PR manager Olivia Chen told me that the company aims to release Android and iOS apps with similar functionality in Q2 2026. The 8BitDo model also allows you to enter button combinations that trigger different connection modes, including Xinput, Dinput, Mac mode, and Switch mode.
As for what GuliKit is worth, the rumble in some games (namely Hollow Knight: Silksonggame I’ve been playing lately) feels more like the HD rumble offered in good Switch controllers like the EasySMX S10. Compared to 8BitDo, this game’s rumble feels like an afterthought. However, other games are a toss-up where the dongle offers a better sense of rumble. Donkey Kong BananaThe intense rattling from even the slightest movements makes the DualSense feel like garbage, regardless of which dongle it’s connected to.
If you ask GuliKit, Hyperlink Gen 2’s biggest feature is its low-latency wireless connection that’s exclusive to PCs. It can increase controller polling speed (or how fast your controller inputs are sent to the gaming device) beyond what consoles can do, and is also supposed to reduce input latency. The improved latency didn’t have as much of an impact as I’d hoped, though I did like the ease of setup and overall improved connectivity—something that both dongles (and countless Bluetooth dongles made for PCs) can offer.
For some, buying a new controller that is guaranteed to work well with your Switch 2 is worth it. If that’s you, let me direct your attention to my buying guide full of good but relatively affordable Switch 2 controllers. But if you’re interested in upgrading the hardware you already have, it makes sense to check out these inexpensive dongles.
Photo by Cameron Faulkner/The Verge