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The single best wireless controller I’ve ever used

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The single best wireless controller I’ve ever used

Sean Hollister is a senior editor here at The Verge. He runs news, writes reviews, and edits stories, and he specializes in, as he puts it, “fun gadgets.” He goes on to say, “It hit me recently that I’m basically a big kid: I want to play. So now I try to spend most of my time toying with nerdy hardware and filming it weekly for you. Please tell me if you see something I absolutely must try!”

When we asked him to choose one of his favorite current gadgets, he volunteered to talk about the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller.

Where did you first hear about the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller?

Well, I heard about it in The Verge’s newsroom, and, frankly, I wanted to make fun of it right away because I thought it was bullshit. How could it be the “ultimate” controller if it only supports a single Bluetooth device at a time and has no interchangeable batteries, while the 8BitDo Pro 2 can switch between four different devices, supports both AAs and a rechargeable pack, and costs $20 less?

I was wrong about the controller, but not about the name: 8BitDo has made so many different “Ultimate” controllers that the word is meaningless. Importantly, the one I’m talking about is the Bluetooth and 2.4G version with Nintendo Switch compatibility and drift-resistant Hall effect sticks.

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When did you buy it, and what went into the decision to buy one?

Like so many of my favorite gadgets, I bought it when I realized I wanted to keep it. 8BitDo sent us one for review, and it’s Verge policy that our staff can’t accept anything of value from a company, even if they don’t want it back. As soon as we no longer have a valid editorial reason to keep it, it gets returned, donated, or given away (and not to our friends or relatives, either).

But I didn’t want to part with it, so I paid cash for my own.

Speaking of which, my review unit is currently in a review closet awaiting a reader giveaway — I’m hoping to ship it to some lucky Verge subscriber this summer or fall!

The bundled charging dock neatly turns the controller on and off when you dock and undock it.
Image: 8BitDo
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What do you like about it?

It’s the single best wireless controller I’ve ever used. It’s the best I’ve used for a PC, and it doubles as one of the top three for the Nintendo Switch, which, for me, easily makes it the best overall. I know that sounds like a high bar, but most of the competition falls short because most manufacturers seem to think PC gamers will either tolerate Bluetooth latency or wired USB cables instead of building a bulletproof 2.4GHz solution.

For over a decade, I’d sworn by Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows because of its unmatched speed, reliability, and wireless range, but the 8BitDo Ultimate finally beat it — and without sacrificing proper rumble like so many wireless PC and Switch pads do. Plus, it adds an above average D-pad and magnetic Hall effect sticks that should last.

It’s one of the few controllers that can turn both a Nintendo Switch and a Steam Deck on from across the room, letting me laze on the couch while they’re docked to my TV — and a decent built-in gyroscope means I get gyro aiming on Steam Deck and Switch, too. (You hit power, then shake the controller to activate the wake-on-Bluetooth command.)

The battery life is excellent, too: I clocked over 33 hours of play across several months before needing to drop it back on its bundled charging dock, which also neatly turns the controller on and off when you dock and undock it.

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Is there anything about it that you dislike or that you think could be improved?

I would definitely pay $10 more for a version that could pair to more Bluetooth devices, so I don’t have to disconnect from my Steam Deck when I connect to my Switch and vice versa. I suppose I could leave the 2.4GHz dock plugged into my Steam Deck dock, but I prefer to keep it connected to my desktop PC.

I’d also like to be able to remap the two back buttons without plugging the controller into a PC and using special software. The new Ultimate 2 and 2C do that, but I don’t need any of the other new features like LED lighting, adjustable triggers, or extra buttons.

Who would you recommend it to?

Do you have a PC and a Switch or Steam Deck? At its typical $50 sale, buy this gamepad. Do you only have a Switch and don’t care for how the Switch Pro controller feels? Buy this gamepad. But if you primarily play on home consoles, phones, tablets, etc., then don’t buy it.

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I also have an 8BitDo Pro 2 that I prefer to stuff into a bag for on-the-go use, and Mechanism makes a great grip for it that you can pair with its Phone Mount to magnetically attach it to your phone.

Is there anything I should have asked that I didn’t?

Have I used the Ultimate 2C, which can be had for just $25-$30 with most of the same features and a few enhancements but has half the battery capacity and doesn’t come with a dock? No, I have not, as I’ve been completely satisfied with the Ultimate Bluetooth. At half the price, it might be the better pick, just so long as pastel colors are your thing.

Top-down shot of 8BitDo Ultimate Controller on an orange and yellow background. The controller has an asymmetric joystick design, like an Xbox or Switch Pro controller, and it’s black, with white legends on the A B X Y buttons.Top-down shot of 8BitDo Ultimate Controller on an orange and yellow background. The controller has an asymmetric joystick design, like an Xbox or Switch Pro controller, and it’s black, with white legends on the A B X Y buttons.

$50

The 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller comes with its own charging dock, features remappable controls, and is compatible with the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows PCs thanks to its Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity. Unlike the 2.4GHz-only version, it features drift-free Hall effect sticks.

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The 201 Black Friday deals you can still get

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The 201 Black Friday deals you can still get

Black Friday is technically a thing of the past, but many of the best deals we told you about yesterday — including deep discounts on the AirPods Pro 3, the Pixel Watch 4, and the latest Kindle Paperwhite — are still kicking for now. In some cases, gadgets are out of stock at certain stores, or certain configurations are tougher to find at this point. You don’t have to worry, though, as we’ve confirmed that every deal below is both in stock and selling at a great price.

Below are the results of our weeks spent sifting through deals and continually adding new, noteworthy deals as we come across them. We’re coming to you live once again today, so if you’re shopping, we think it’s worth returning here every few hours to see our latest finds. While we’ve primarily focused on tech — we are The Verge, after all — we’ve also included discounts on tools, Legos, and board games.

If you’re looking for deals on digital gifts, we’ve also highlighted great deals on streaming services, including HBO Max, Paramount Plus, and a bundle comprising Disney Plus and Hulu. Headspace and MasterClass have also discounted their annual subscriptions, if you’re open to trying meditation or want to pick up a few new skills.

Smartwatch and fitness tracker deals

Tablet and e-reader deals

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Soundbar and speaker deals

Update, November 29th: Removed expired deals and added several new picks, including those for the Boox Palma 2, Happy Salmon, and JisuLife’s folding USB fan.

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Chinese hackers turned AI tools into an automated attack machine

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Chinese hackers turned AI tools into an automated attack machine

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Cybersecurity has been reshaped by the rapid rise of advanced artificial intelligence tools, and recent incidents show just how quickly the threat landscape is shifting.

Over the past year, we’ve seen a surge in attacks powered by AI models that can write code, scan networks and automate complex tasks. This capability has helped defenders, but it has also enabled attackers to move faster than before.

The latest example is a major cyberespionage campaign conducted by a Chinese state-linked group that used Anthropic’s Claude to carry out large parts of an attack with very little human involvement.

HACKER EXPLOITS AI CHATBOT IN CYBERCRIME SPREE

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How Chinese hackers turned Claude into an automated attack machine

In mid-September 2025, Anthropic investigators spotted unusual behavior that eventually revealed a coordinated and well-resourced campaign. The threat actor, assessed with high confidence as a Chinese state-sponsored group, had used Claude Code to target roughly 30 organizations worldwide. The list included major tech firms, financial institutions, chemical manufacturers and government bodies. A small number of those attempts resulted in successful breaches.

Claude handled most of the operation autonomously, triggering thousands of requests and generating detailed documentation of the attack for future use. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How the attackers bypassed Claude’s safeguards

This was not a typical intrusion. The attackers built a framework that let Claude act as an autonomous operator. Instead of asking the model to help, they tasked it with executing most of the attack. Claude inspected systems, mapped out internal infrastructure and flagged databases worth targeting. The speed was unlike anything a human team could replicate.

To get around Claude’s safety rules, the attackers broke their plan into tiny, innocent-looking steps. They also told the model it was part of a legitimate cybersecurity team performing defensive testing. Anthropic later noted that the attackers didn’t simply hand tasks to Claude; they engineered the operation to make the model believe it was performing authorized pentesting work, splitting the attack into harmless-looking pieces and using multiple jailbreak techniques to push past its safeguards. Once inside, Claude researched vulnerabilities, wrote custom exploits, harvested credentials and expanded access. It worked through these steps with little supervision and reported back only when it needed human approval for major decisions.

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The model also handled the data extraction. It collected sensitive information, sorted it by value and identified high-privilege accounts. It even created backdoors for future use. In the final stage, Claude generated detailed documentation of what it had done. This included stolen credentials, systems analyzed and notes that could guide future operations.

Across the entire campaign, investigators estimate that Claude performed around 80-90% of the work. Human operators stepped in only a handful of times. At its peak, the AI triggered thousands of requests, often multiple per second, a pace still far beyond what any human team could achieve. Although it occasionally hallucinated credentials or misread public data as secret, those errors underscored that fully autonomous cyberattacks still face limitations, even when an AI model handles the majority of the work.

Why this AI-powered Claude attack is a turning point for cybersecurity

This campaign shows how much the barrier to high-end cyberattacks has dropped. A group with far fewer resources could now attempt something similar by leaning on an autonomous AI agent to do the heavy lifting. Tasks that once required years of expertise can now be automated by a model that understands context, writes code and uses external tools without direct oversight.

Earlier incidents documented AI misuse, but humans were still steering every step. This case is different. The attackers needed very little involvement once the system was in motion. And while the investigation focused on usage within Claude, researchers believe similar activity is happening across other advanced models, which might include Google Gemini, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Musk’s Grok.

This raises a difficult question. If these systems can be misused so easily, why continue building them? According to researchers, the same capabilities that make AI dangerous are also what make it essential for defense. During this incident, Anthropic’s own team used Claude to analyze the flood of logs, signals and data its investigation uncovered. That level of support will matter even more as threats grow.

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We reached out to Anthropic for comment but did not hear back before our deadline.

Hackers used Claude to map networks, scan systems and identify high-value databases in a fraction of the time human attackers would need. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

FORMER GOOGLE CEO WARNS AI SYSTEMS CAN BE HACKED TO BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WEAPONS

You may not be the direct target of a state-sponsored campaign, but many of the same techniques trickle down to everyday scams, credential theft and account takeovers. Here are seven detailed steps you can take to stay safer.

1) Use strong antivirus software and keep it updated

Strong antivirus software does more than scan for known malware. It looks for suspicious patterns, blocked connections and abnormal system behavior. This is important because AI-driven attacks can generate new code quickly, which means traditional signature-based detection is no longer enough.

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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

2) Rely on a password manager

A good password manager helps you create long, random passwords for every service you use. This matters because AI can generate and test password variations at high speed. Using the same password across accounts can turn a single leak into a full compromise.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our No. 1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials. 

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com

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3) Consider using a personal data removal service

A large part of modern cyberattacks begins with publicly available information. Attackers often gather email addresses, phone numbers, old passwords and personal details from data broker sites. AI tools make this even easier, since they can scrape and analyze huge datasets in seconds. A personal data removal service helps clear your information from these broker sites so you are harder to profile or target.

FAKE CHATGPT APPS ARE HIJACKING YOUR PHONE WITHOUT YOU KNOWING

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

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4) Turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible

Strong passwords alone are not enough when attackers can steal credentials through malware, phishing pages or automated scripts. Two-factor authentication adds a serious roadblock. Use app-based codes or hardware keys instead of SMS. While no method is perfect, this extra layer often stops unauthorized logins even when attackers have your password.

5) Keep your devices and apps fully updated

Attackers rely heavily on known vulnerabilities that people forget or ignore. System updates patch these flaws and close off entry points that attackers use to break in. Enable automatic updates on your phone, laptop, router and the apps you use most. If an update looks optional, treat it as important anyway, because many companies downplay security fixes in their release notes.

6) Install apps only from trusted sources

Malicious apps are one of the easiest ways attackers get inside your device. Stick to official app stores and avoid APK sites, shady download portals and random links shared on messaging apps. Even on official stores, check reviews, download counts and the developer name before installing anything. Grant the minimum permissions required and avoid apps that ask for full access for no clear reason.

7) Ignore suspicious texts, emails and pop-ups

AI tools have made phishing more convincing. Attackers can generate clean messages, imitate writing styles and craft perfect fake websites that match the real ones. Slow down when a message feels urgent or unexpected. Never click links from unknown senders, and verify requests from known contacts through a separate channel. If a pop-up claims your device is infected or your bank account is locked, close it and check directly through the official website.

By breaking tasks into small, harmless-looking steps, the threat actors tricked Claude into writing exploits, harvesting credentials and expanding access.  (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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Kurt’s key takeaway

The attack carried out through Claude signals a major shift in how cyber threats will evolve. Autonomous AI agents can already perform complex tasks at speeds no human team can match, and this gap will only widen as models improve. Security teams now need to treat AI as a core part of their defensive toolkit, not a future add-on. Better threat detection, stronger safeguards and more sharing across the industry are going to be crucial. Because if attackers are already using AI at this scale, the window to prepare is shrinking fast.

Should governments push for stricter regulations on advanced AI tools? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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All the places I used my Trump Mobile wireless service this week

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All the places I used my Trump Mobile wireless service this week

As I sat down at the bookstore cafe with a cortado and an oat bar, I panicked just a little bit when I turned on my phone’s hotspot. What if my hotspot network gave me away? Would it say ALLISON’S TRUMP PHONE? Would someone smart sitting next to me, sipping matcha, catch sight of it? What would they think of me?

That’s not what happened, of course. The default network name was “Allison’s S25,” reflecting the Samsung Galaxy phone I was using, not the network. But the experience sums up a weird feeling I can only describe as “icky” as I texted, talked, and scrolled through my day using my Trump Wireless plan.

Honestly, I was surprised the service even identified itself as Trump and not Liberty Mobile, the MVNO that the Trump Organization’s MVNO service rides on. But there they were, those five letters staring back at me under my SIM settings once I installed the card. They were at the top of the status bar every time I swiped down to check a notification, too.

I didn’t really go out of my way to do a bunch of things while testing Trump Mobile that seem antithetical to the whole Trump ethos — that’s just kinda how it worked out. I used the service to check on a hold at my public library. I used it on public transportation. I used it while shopping at a local grocery oo-op. I used it to find my way to an indie bookstore. It worked just fine. It still felt icky doing this all with that Trump network indicator in the corner of the screen.

I have a number of complaints about the values that the Trump Organization and the Trump name represent. But the wireless service? Fine, I guess. My Galaxy S25 proudly displays a 5G badge most of the time. Trump Mobile runs on T-Mobile, and T-Mobile coverage is quite good here in Seattle, where it happens to be headquartered. In fact, I got better download speeds on the S25 using Trump Mobile than I did using my own Verizon plan on an S25 Plus. I pay way more for my Verizon service than the $51.99 that the Trump service costs. Side note: the plan’s official price is $47.45, which is a cute nod to Trump’s presidencies, albeit out of order presumably to charge a couple extra bucks. But when you add tax, you end up at $51.99.

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There are little red flags here and there suggesting that maybe Trump Mobile doesn’t have it all together

As it is wont to, the Trump Organization has slapped its name on a product that was already well established — in this case, T-Mobile wireless service. To be fair, that’s basically how an MVNO works, so it’s not surprising that the network part of the product works quite well. Everything else, though, has been a little hit-and-miss. There was the case of my missing SIM card, which was not great. But the problem was resolved by some kind customer service folks, and once I had the card in hand, I was able to get service started on my own, by putting the card in my phone, logging into my account, and typing in some numbers in the right place.

But there are little red flags here and there suggesting that maybe Trump Mobile doesn’t have it all together. The hours given for the customer service line listed on the SIM kit I got differ from what’s on the website, which is different from the actual hours given when you call. The instructions on the SIM packaging tell you to go to TrumpMobile.com/activate, but that page throws a 404 error. The instructional video that tells you how to install a SIM card looks suspiciously AI-generated (and I swear to god that voice-over sounds like Dieter). It all feels slapped together and inconsistent. Icky, indeed.

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