[Review] 8BitDo SN30 2.4G Wireless Controller for Super Nintendo (SNES) Original – AliExpress

The 8BitDo SN30 2.4G Wireless Controller for Super Nintendo (SNES) Original was acquired in AliExpress 8Bitdo Official Store to use in my Analogue Super Nt, that I showed here in Skooter Blog.

Motivation

In 2017 I got my first 8bitdo SNES30 GamePad and also a Retro Receiver SNES. The SNES30 it's Bluetooth, and works with Retro Receiver SNES on the Super Nintendo original (and also in the Analogue Super Nt) or directly on PCs, Mac, Android, Nintendo Switch, etc.

At the time it was an innovative solution, the first time I could play Super Nintendo wirelessly extending along the way. But SNES30 had its defects, in particular a D-Pad more susceptible to misleading diagonals, and inherent Bluetooth issues such as the delay in synchronizing after the console is turned off and on again.

In 2019 i bought the 8BitDo M30, wireless controller for Mega Drive. Using a proprietary protocol in the range 2,4 GHz, instead of Bluetooth, sync issues have been resolved. So I started to wait for a 2.4G version of Super Nintendo controllers too.

It took a while, but finally 8BitDo came up with 8BitDo SN30 2.4G Wireless, a wireless controller for the Super Nintendo using a proprietary protocol in the range of 2,4 GHz. So I decided to make the acquisition right at the launch.

The 8BitDo SN30 2.4G is a cheaper solution than the Bluetooth versions, for already including the receiver for the Super Nintendo. On the other hand, it cannot be used on computers and other devices without the aid of a Super Nintendo controllers adapter for USB.

Unboxing and Tests

The 8BitDo SN30 2.4G Wireless arrived in a cardboard box. Inside it was another little box: the original packaging of 8BitDo. The extra protection allowed the original packaging to be perfect. Inside the package I found the controller, or receiver, USB cable and instruction manual.

Regarding SNES30, the SN30 changed the design a little to differentiate itself from the original Super Nintendo controller. It is probably a strategy to prevent the arrival of the processinho by Nintendo. A priori I preferred the design identical to that of the SNES due to the nostalgia factor.

But I confess that I even liked the changes in the SN30: removing that lowered circle around the D-Pad was a good idea, that is a dirt accumulator, annoying to clean. In the same way they also removed the circle of different color around the buttons. Left the START and SELECT buttons horizontally (in the original are tilted) and put a downgrade there. This demotion, for another, must also accumulate dirt, but as START and SELECT are less used, maybe it's a minor problem.

Overall the SN30 it was cute, and maintained the same positioning of the D-Pad and all the buttons (except for the small change in START and SELECT). There are versions with buttons in blue / purple and concave / convex as in Super Nintendo and green, blue, yellow and red, all convex, como no Super Famicom. I opted for the SNES version to match my consoles and my Analogue Super Nt, which is also the version with American colors.

I thought it was missing in SN30 extra buttons to bring up the menu on Analogue Super Nt and to trigger a turbo mode, as they exist in 8BitDo M30. Would be welcome additions. But they would depend on Analogue support, that doesn't even fix some bugs on your consoles, the more adding new features.

taking the SN30 I immediately noticed the improvement in the D-Pad. This was confirmed in the games, it became much more difficult to accidentally enter a diagonal.

As for the proprietary protocol in 2.4G, I also noticed the improvements that I had already noticed in the M30: synchronization is immediate. I don't have equipment to measure latency, but testes do Porkchop Express showed that latency around 11ms, the same as the Bluetooth versions, and well below the 5ms observed in the M30 2.4G.

High latency disappointed MiSTer would you like to use the SN30 2.4G. It didn't make much difference to me, because I prefer to use DualShock 4 on the MiSTer for Super Nintendo games. Why 8BitDo hit the ball with latency? Hard to know. A firmware update might solve the problem, but I don't count on it much.

Anyway for me the SN30 2.4G is still a valid upgrade with respect to SNES30, because of the better D-Pad and not having the Bluetooth synchronization problems.

I just don't know yet what my fate will be SNES30. Maybe I should test it via Bluetooth on MiSTer, to have a more faithful alternative to the original Super Nintendo controller, but the worse D-Pad I don't like. Anyway, i can also use SN30 on the MiSTer with the aid of Super Nintendo controllers adapter for USB.

Check out the photos and video of the unboxing and tests 8BitDo SN30 2.4G Wireless Controller for Super Nintendo (SNES) Original:

Tracing

These are the package tracking information with the 8BitDo SN30 2.4G Wireless Controller for Super Nintendo (SNES) Original , obtained from the AliExpress system:

2020.08.14 16:08 (GMT-7): Delivery successful
2020.08.11 15:55 (GMT-7): Cleared customs
2020.08.10 11:15 (GMT-7): Accepted by Last Mile Carrier
2020.07.23 23:41 (GMT-7): Departed country of origin
2020.07.18 15:41 (GMT-7): Shipment accepted by airline
2020.07.17 15:13 (GMT-7): Shipment left country of origin warehouse
2020.07.17 14:36 (GMT-7): Shipment at country of origin warehouse
2020.07.17 14:36 (GMT-7): Shipment at country of origin distribution center

And these are the information obtained on the site of the station:

14/08/2020
16:07
[REMOVED] / SP Object delivered to the recipient
14/08/2020
10:41
[REMOVED] / SP object out for delivery to the recipient
13/08/2020
11:19
INDAIATUBA / SP
Objeto encaminhado
de Unidade de Tratamento em INDAIATUBA / SP for distribution Unit in [REMOVED] / SP
11/08/2020
16:16
CURITIBA / PR
Objeto encaminhado
de Unidade de Distribuição em CURITIBA / PR for Treatment Unit in INDAIATUBA / SP
11/08/2020
16:14
CURITIBA / PR finalized Customs supervision
10/08/2020
11:27
CURITIBA / PR	Objeto recebido pelos Correios do Brasil

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20/07/2020
17:28
SWEDEN /
Objeto encaminhado
de País em SUECIA / countries in International treatment unit / BR

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20/07/2020
17:26
SWEDEN / 	Objeto recebido na unidade de exportação no país de origem

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20/07/2020
16:57
SWEDEN / 	Objeto postado

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Table-Summary

Por fim, This is the table-summary of purchase:

Final Considerations

I'm satisfied 8BitDo SN30 2.4G Wireless Controller for Super Nintendo (SNES) Original. Ele corrige os problemas do D-Pad e de sincronização do Bluetooth do SNES30, e hoje é provavelmente a melhor opção de controlador sem fio para o Super Nintendo original.

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