GuliKit’s tiny dongle lets you connect a PS5 controller to your Switch 2

Dongles have a well-deserved reputation for being a nuisance. They’re often expensive and annoying to deal with, but for gamers, there’s one I like to recommend that’s neither. 8BitDo’s $20 USB 2 adapter lets you wirelessly attach controllers to the Switch 2 that wouldn’t otherwise be supported, like the Sony DualSense (with rumble and motion controls), Microsoft’s latest Xbox gamepads, and more. You can plug it into the Switch 2’s dock or use a USB-A to USB-C adapter to connect it directly to the console.

It’s great to save money, since I can just use a controller I already own instead of buying a new one. And I sometimes forget that I use a PS5 controller in games like Splatoon 3 because its motion controls are as precise as a controller designed for the Switch.

There is another similar dongle, a little cheaper and much smaller. The GuliKit Hyperlink Gen 2 USB-A adapter is included with the company’s TT Pro and TT Max controllers, or you can buy it on its own for $16.99 on Amazon. It is compatible with Xbox controllers and PlayStation 4 and 5 controllers. Likewise, you can plug it into a Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Steam Deck or other laptops and Android devices. But GuliKit’s list of supported controllers isn’t as comprehensive as 8BitDo’s, which dates back to the PS3 and Wii era and also includes its fleet of wireless controllers.

As nice as that is, there are some features that no dongle offers: remote console wake-up (you must first turn on the console manually to pair the controller) or wireless audio (the 3.5mm headphone jacks on the DualSense and Xbox controllers are useless when paired with either). Finally, you can only connect one controller at a time to each dongle (you’ll need to purchase two to be able to pair a second controller). I don’t think any of them are a deal breaker, but it’s worth knowing about them before buying one.

Then there are things that only 8BitDo’s dongle can do. For one, you can customize several non-8BitDo controller models with its free Ultimate software, including button remapping, macros, vibration intensity, trigger range, and stick sensitivity. Currently, GuliKit doesn’t offer any such software, although its PR manager, Olivia Chen, told me that the company intends to release Android and iOS apps with similar functionality in the second quarter of 2026. Additionally, the 8BitDo model lets you enter button combinations that trigger different connection modes, including Xinput, Dinput, Mac mode, and Switch mode.

As for the benefits of GuliKit, the rumble in some games (i.e. Hollow Knight: Song of Silkthe game I played most recently) is more like the HD rumble offered in good Switch controllers, like the EasySMX S10. 8BitDo, by comparison, makes this game’s rumble feel like an afterthought. However, other games involve choosing which dongle provides a nicer rumble effect. Donkey Kong BananzaThe intense rumble from even the slightest movement sounds like trash on the DualSense, regardless of which dongle it’s connected to.

If you ask GuliKit, the Hyperlink Gen 2’s biggest feature is its exclusive low-latency wireless connection to the PC. It can increase controller polling rate (or how quickly inputs from your controller are sent to the gaming device) beyond what consoles are capable of, and it’s also supposed to reduce input latency. The improved latency didn’t have as big an impact as I had hoped, although I appreciated the easy setup and improved connection overall – something both dongles (and countless Bluetooth dongles designed for PC) can offer.

For some, purchasing a new controller that is guaranteed to work with your Switch 2 is worth the extra cost. If that’s you, let me direct your attention to my buying guide filled with quality, yet relatively affordable, Switch 2 controllers. But if you want to reuse hardware you already own, it makes perfect sense to try these low-cost dongles.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner/The Verge