Best Buy has a terrific deal on its exclusive 8BitDo Retro Wireless Keyboard bundle that drops the price to only $70 (was $100). Inspired by the Nintendo Entertainment System, the N Edition of 8BitDo’s wireless keyboard comes with a detachable Super Button module and an arcade stick. Best Buy also has deals on 8BitDo controllers, including the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller for $51 (was $60). If you’d rather have an Xbox-inspired retro keyboard, 8BitDo is releasing an officially licensed transparent green keyboard and mouse on January 16.
$70 (was $100)
The detachable joystick, dubbed the Super Stick, is typically exclusive to the Commodore 64-inspired model, but 8BitDo released an exclusive Best Buy bundle with an NES-themed joystick attachment. Strangely, this bundle retails for $100 normally, the same MSRP as the N Edition without the joystick. This could suggest that this value bundle will only be available for a limited time. Even at $100, you are getting a “deal,” as the Commodore 64 model retails for $110.
The C64 Edition is actually on sale at Amazon for $80 right now. This is the lowest price we’ve seen, but unless you have more fondness for the C64, Best Buy’s N Edition bundle is clearly the better offer at $70. Meanwhile, the N Edition without the joystick is $90 at Amazon.
All 8BitDo keyboards include detachable Super Buttons–the large red A and B buttons shown above. The Super Buttons are activated via microswitches, so they have a pleasant mouse-like feel to them. 8BitDo keyboards support wireless connections via 2.4GHz and Bluetooth as well as wired via USB-C.
8BitDo has always made accessories that offer better performance and build qualities than you’d expect for the price. It’s no different here, as these keyboards feel awesome–not just “great for $100,” genuinely great. 8BitDo keyboards have hot-swappable PCBs, so you can replace key switches easily. The C64 has Double-Shot ABS keycaps with an SA profile, which means they are sculpted into a rounder, more contoured form factor. The other three models have Dye-sub PBT keycaps and Kailh Box White Switches (V2) with dye-sub PBT keycaps.
With 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software V2 for PC, you can remap keys as well as the Super Buttons. Though these keyboards were originally designed as tenkeyless (no numpad), 8BitDo now sells matching mechanical numpads that can also be used as calculators. You should know that 8BitDo released full-size N Edition and Fami Edition keyboards on December 12 for $120 each.
8BitDo’s Retro Mechanical Keyboards are advertised as compatible with Windows and Android, but we’ve had no problem connecting wirelessly to iOS, Mac, Steam Deck, and other devices that support Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless keyboards. While Ultimate Software for controllers is available on macOS and iOS, Ultimate Software V2 for 8BitDo keyboards isn’t available on Apple devices at this time. The Ultimate Sof
