u/LunchLarge5423

I've been using Xbox Elite (1 & 2) controllers on PC for years (all purchased by me) but have just purchased a Steam Controller and DualSense Edge, both of which arrived this past week. So, I've been playing around with all three pads in various games and I figured I'd share my initial thoughts, primarily focusing on the Steam Controller, since it's the new hotness.

First, a big caveat: how comfortable any given pad feels in the hands is subjective. There's no objectively "most comfortable" pad that everyone agrees on. So, when it comes to comfort, what's best for me may not be best for you. You've got to put your own hands on pads to know what you prefer.

About my hands: Large but not massive. I'm a 6'4" male with height-appropriate hands.

Ok, with all that out of the way, here's what I've been noticing over the past few days as I've been swapping around...

• The Steam Controller is the most comfortable of the three pads. Everything is where my fingers seem to want them to be, including the four rear buttons, which I don't use. But if I did, they'd be in the exact right spots for my fingers. It's almost like I was the hand model for this controller.
• Trigger pull on the Steam Controller is lighter than I'm used to with the Elite 2. Feels more like the DualSense Edge when the adaptive triggers aren't engaged. At the same time, the overall trigger throw on the SC is also shorter than on the other pads, and I actually like that combo a lot.
• The Steam Controller is lighter than the Elite 2 and Edge, which at first makes it feel slightly "less premium", but in reality it's really solidly built and sounds noticeably less hollow than the Elite 2 when mashing buttons and triggers and slamming the thumbsticks around.
• SC rumble effects feel good and the trackpad haptics are quite impressive. Nothing at all to complain about there. Also love being able to get around in Steam while leaning back in my office chair, thanks to the trackpads. BUT the lack of dedicated motors in the SC's triggers, which the Elite 2 has, is VERY noticeable in the handful of games I play that leverage them, such as Forza Horizon 6. The trigger rumble feels SO GOOD in that game when you're braking and accelerating. Same goes for any DualSense-optimized game that activates its adaptive triggers, like Resident Evil Requiem, where the haptic enhancements make a night-and-day difference.
• My right thumb's "palm meat" occasionally hits the edge of the right SC trackpad during tense moments, which in Forza Horizon 6, immediately spins the camera around. So, that's not great. But because everything on this pad is adjustable, I just set that trackpad to be disabled in Forza Horizon 6 (or whichever game I want) and it's problem solved. And then the trackpad works normally again as soon as I stop playing that game.
• Overall, the shape and feel of the Steam Controller is my favorite of the three pads, and it seems to be becoming my new daily driver. That said, I will still go back to the Elite 2 in games like Forza Horizon 6 that make excellent use of its dedicated trigger motors, and my DualSense Edge in games like Resident Evil Requiem that go nuts with its haptics and adaptive triggers. Ultimately, I'm really enjoying the Steam Controller; it's just a bit of a bummer Valve didn't include trigger motors of any kind. I think that's my only real complaint so far.

Hopefully this was helpful/interesting for some of you. Happy to answer any questions!