Rii 2.4GHz Mini Wireless Keyboard with… vs 8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller Hall Effect… — Head-to-Head (2026)

Our verdict

For a 2026 Raspberry Pi or living-room PC build, the Rii i8+ is the one to buy first because it is the only one of the two that can type a Wi-Fi password, while the 8Bitdo Pro 2 is the better device the moment you launch RetroPie or Steam — they are complementary, not competing, and the honest answer is that a complete couch setup means buying both.

Buy the Rii 2.4GHz Mini Wireless Keyboard if you need to actually administer a machine from the couch — first-boot Pi setup, Kodi/Plex text search, SSH into a headless node, or driving an Android TV box — and you want one inexpensive dongle that works on PC, Mac, PS3/PS4, Xbox and Raspberry Pi with no drivers. Buy the 8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller if the box is already configured and its job is playing games: RetroPie, Steam, Switch/Switch 2 and Android emulation, where Hall-effect sticks, a 6-axis motion sensor, 3 on-the-fly profiles and 20-hour battery life are worth the premium.

SpecPicks editorial verdict, written June 5, 2026. Prices move, so check the current price on each listing before you buy.