8bitdo is primarily known for their retro-styled game controllers, but this mouse is their latest foray into a broader ecosystem of PC peripherals, complimenting their mechanical keyboards.
At first glance, it doesn’t looks like a modern gaming mouse—especially with its NES-inspired design—but once I started using it, I found it had a bit more going on than the nostalgic look might suggest. You can see it in action in my latest review and pick one up on Amazon (compensated affiliate link).
The R8 mouse supports three different connectivity modes: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz via a USB dongle, and direct USB-C. Each of the two wireless methods has trade-offs in performance. Bluetooth is the most power-efficient but comes with a modest polling rate of 125Hz. The included 2.4GHz brings a polling rate of 4,000Hz, and plugging it in directly via USB delivers the maximum 8,000Hz rate. Battery life ranges accordingly—up to 100 hours on Bluetooth, and closer to 20–25 hours when polling at 4000hz on the 2.4ghz dongle.
The mouse uses the PAW3395 optical sensor, a popular choice for gaming mice, and features clicky, mechanical Kailh Sword GM X Micro Switches. The full face of each primary button is clickable, which makes for consistent actuation regardless of finger position. The ambidextrous design includes two round programmable side buttons on both flanks.
8BitDo also includes a compact charging dock, which doubles as a receiver station if you plug the dongle into it and connect the dock to your PC. The dock has a solid, weighted base with a rubberized bottom that keeps it from sliding around.
Customization is handled through 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software, which runs on both macOS and Windows but not Linux. It lets you reassign button functions, record macros, and set multiple profiles—useful for switching between games or work tasks. The software also controls DPI levels (with up to five settings), polling rate, scroll speed, and liftoff distance. The only small complaint I had was with the DPI indicator light on the mouse—it doesn’t stay on long enough to easily confirm your setting without cycling back through them.
When I first took it out of the box, the mouse felt lighter than I expected, almost too light at 77 grams. But after playing a few rounds of Quake II, I started to appreciate that lack of heft. The mouse glides easily, and the quick actuation of the buttons makes it well-suited to fast-paced gameplay. There’s no perceptible lag when wired in at the highest polling rate, and even at lower settings, it feels plenty responsive for most tasks.
All told, the R8 mouse ends up being a solid addition to 8BitDo’s growing lineup of retro-inspired, performance-minded gear. It’s priced competitively—depending on tariffs—and brings more features to the table than its minimalist look might suggest.
For a few dollars more they have an Xbox licensed version that offers transparent green casing and an Xbox style color theme. Oddly it doesn’t work with the Xbox console. It also pairs nicely with the company’s keyboards for those looking to keep their setup aesthetically consistent.
Disclosure: 8bitdo provided the mouse free of charge to the channel. No other compensation was received, nor did they review or approve this article or my video prior to uploading. All opinions are my own.