r/Controller

Budget: €70 max

Country: Italy

Platform: PC (Steam) + Nintendo Switch (occasionally)

Desired Features:

Asymmetrical sticks

Minimal/clean design

Back buttons

Hall Effect/TMR sticks (preferred)

Nice to Have:

2.4GHz wireless connection

Convex right thumbstick

Nintendo Switch compatibility

Games I'll be playing:

Mostly Rematch, FPS games, and single-player titles. I don't play fighting games.

Past controller experience:

I've mainly used the Nacon Revolution Pro 2 and the standard Xbox Wireless Controller.

I liked the Xbox layout, but I've always preferred using a taller right thumbstick for aiming. I also feel that the stock Xbox sticks have too much tension and feel a bit "heavy" compared to what I'm used to.

Controllers I've considered:

8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless

EasySMX X20

These are currently my favorite options, but I'm open to other recommendations if there's something that better fits my needs.

Additional Notes:

I'm looking for the best overall controller under €70 that offers good build quality, reliable wireless performance, and low latency on PC. Switch support is a nice bonus but not mandatory.

Amazon would be my preferred place to buy from, but I'm open to any retailer that ships to Italy.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Hey everyone,

Budget: Around $60 USD, but I can stretch it a little if something is genuinely worth the extra cost.

Country: Egypt, but I can order from Amazon Saudi or AliExpress since I have a friend coming from Saudi Arabia.

Platform: PC

Desired features:
Wireless
Low latency
TMR/Hall Effect sticks
Good build quality
Long lifespan
Good overall value

Games:
Rocket League
The Crew Motorfest
Racing games
Story/single-player games
(I play competitive FPS games with mouse & keyboard, so I won’t be using the controller for shooters.)

Controllers I’m considering:
GameSir G7 Pro
8BitDo Ultimate 2
8BitDo Ultimate 2C
The G7 Pro is currently above my budget, so I’d really have to stretch for it. My questions: I’m mainly looking for something that offers excellent long-term value, not just an impulse purchase.

Is the G7 Pro actually worth stretching my budget for, or is there something around the $50–60 range that offers similar value?

If you had around $60 to spend on Amazon Saudi or AliExpress, what controller (or even another tech/gaming product) would you buy?

I’m also not necessarily looking for the obvious or mainstream recommendations. If there are any hidden gems, underrated products, or brands that deserve more attention, I’d love to hear about them.

DISCLAIMER: F1 was sent for review by Machenike. All the thought and opinions are mine only. No one told me what to say or what not to say.

Budget: $35 - $50

Country: USA

Platform: PC (Steam and Xbox)

Desired Features:

1. Immersive Rumble

2. Durability (Good Quality, less/no creaking or QC issues)

3. HE/TMR sticks, and Analog triggers

4. Confortable enough for 2-3 hours of gameplay.

5. 3.5mm audio out (least priority, I have HD560s connected to dac)

Games I'll be playing: Metro Exodus, DOOM TDA, GTA 6, FH6, COD MW4. I've recently gotten into (and only playing) Forza Horizon 6, and I'm really enjoying it - I will be exploring more of the racing genre. I don't play 2D and fighter games much.

Past controller experience: I've used the DS4 and the DualSense. I went through two DualSense controllers, and both developed stick drift within a year. My biggest issue with PlayStation controllers on PC is the inconsistent support - rumble is often missing or significantly weaker, so I usually have to rely on DS4Windows. I understand most recommendations will be Xbox-layout controllers, and I'm perfectly willing to adapt to that layout as long as the controller offers the features I'm looking for. I am not picky with the layout.

Thanks fellow gamers and enthusiasts!

Edit: Improved clarity in 'desired features'

I tried for a whole day now to find solutions to this problem, but nothing helped so far.

The controller as its own software called Space Station and in it I can set the controller up and also allow mapping for third party software like Steam. After allowing this I can just close the software, but Steam recognizes it as two controllers. I also dont have Xbox extended feature support installed. There is one Xinput one with the correct buttons showing up. The second one with the actual name of the controller is as standard xbox controller.

I can still use the controller, but it causes some issues with a few games and it is also kinda annoying to have it show up as two controllers everytime.

I tried to disable it in Device Manager, but this causes the issue of it not working in other applications.

I am using Windows 10 and the latest firmware for both the controller and the Space Station software.

Hi Guys,

I try to buy my first real controller (mostly a keyboard/mouse guy ^^) for my PC. I play mostly platformer or beat'em'ups (no shooters) with controller, so:
- a precise D-Pad would be my number 1 priority.
- I'm chronically sick and I fatigue rather fast, so it would be best if it's not too fatigueing (so a rather soft D-Pad? But you guys probably know better what helps there ^^)
- a decent latency would be nice, but is not number one priority, I don't think I feel the difference between top latency and good latency (I would mainly play with the dongle)
- Layout I prefer the playstation or nintendo layout (easy to reach D-Pad, X or Triangle as the upper button) I don't like the XBOX Layout much, but I could live with it if it's the best choice for my other criterias

I'm from Germany. I tried the BIGBIG WON Rainbow 2 Pro Controller and was overall haopy with it, but the D-Pad pressed up all the time when pressing left or right which was absolutely unplayable, so I sent it back. Maybe just a fluke, but with the layout not being right as well I thought I ask here for something even more fitting for my needs.

I tried to do some research myself, but I'm totally overwhelmed with how many different controllers and different reviews there are. And especially the "fatigue criteria" is not that easy to find. Do you guys have an recommendations for me? :)

Edit: Bonus point would be if it is usable with my Switch as well, but my main focus is definitely on PC usage.

Title:

I use a GameSir G7 Pro, and right now I have a Skull & Co FPS Master grip on it. The only problem is it’s the PlayStation version, so it doesn’t fit the Xbox thumbstick properly. Whenever I play FPS games, especially COD campaigns, the grip slowly starts slipping off.
I’ve been a mouse and keyboard player my whole life, so switching to controller has been rough. I’ve tried a bunch of thumb grips, and the FPS Master is the only one that has worked for me.

I think it’s because I have pretty short fingers. Back when I took piano lessons, there were certain chords everyone else could reach comfortably, but I always had trouble because my fingers weren’t long enough.

The biggest thing for me is the height.

I don’t want a tall thumb grip. I specifically want something that’s around +4.5 mm, because that’s what the FPS Master adds. That height feels perfect. It gives me enough control for slow, precise movements without making the stick feel too tall.

I’ve tried KontrolFreeks before, and even after using them for about a month, my aim got much worse. Without any thumb grip, my aim feels too twitchy and I struggle with micro adjustments. Around +4.5 mm seems to be the sweet spot for me.

I’ve even been practicing Resident Evil without aim assist, and my aim has improved a lot with this setup.
The only issue is the PlayStation grip doesn’t stay on the G7 Pro because it isn’t made for Xbox sticks.

Does anyone know of an Xbox thumb grip that’s as close as possible to +4.5 mm in height? The exact height matters more to me than the brand.

Hello!

I've been really enjoing few aspects of vader pro 3. It has great dpad and amazing buttons. Some others not so much (I felt like angle puts my shoulders a bit to tight and dual shake 5 was more comfortable).

Regardless, I'm looking for something more compact with great D-pad. Something to throw in backpack when traveling and have some compact fun. I've tried recently 8bit do micro - I cant imagine playing with it more than few seconds. My hands feel tired instaly. Also I tried it on a game I've recently been enjoying - Berwick Saga (PS2 srpg with hexgrid) - it constaly missed input!

I also tried SN30 pro - it was a bit better but still given wrong input from time to time. Also I felt like build quality was a bit too plasticky for my liking.

My overall conclussion from testing those 2 controllers - I didnt realized how good I had it with Vader Pro :D I love D-pad on it it is head and shoulders above 8bit do and dual shock 5!

However Id still like to have something good for travel. Or on other hand something that has different handle angle.

1. ~100 USD or 375 PLN
2. Poland
3. I play on PC
4. Good D-pad. I can live without analogs
5. Mostly turn based games, some 2d platformers
6. Dual Shock 5, Vader pro 3, 8bit do micro, 8bit do sn30 pro

Hi there,

I got lucky enough to land a steam controller shortly after release and having the keyboard mapping available to the 4 underside buttons has been life changing.

...Fortunately or unfortunately, my partner has also fallen in love with it for the same reason (we both prefer to not deal with the stick click buttons at all). I don't have the heart to steal back my sc2 when we are gaming together, and their sc2 reservation wont be around till 2027.

To add to the complexity, I primarily play games on linux, so having to boot up the old windows machine to do key remapping etc is pretty annoying on some other devices (I have one of those MMO button pad things I have to do this for). Valve being linux first with the deck/sc2 was a big QoL for me.

I have looked at several of the gamesir offerings, the g7 pro and tarantula mainly and am considering them but im not a huge fan of the non-symmetrical stick layout of the g7, and not sure about the ergonomics and build quality of the tarantula. I also keep seeing the Vader 5 mentioned. Was also considering the victrix bfg pad(additional benefit being I can swap in 6 button claw grip for fighting games, though im mostly a leverless player).
I don't know how reliable the Victrix lineup is as i've heard conflicting reports but have never had first hand experience with their products. I have been semi burned by razer at least twice, though I do still use their mmo mouse atm. Razer controller is a hard veto due to the way the drivers etc work and their terrible linux support.

I sorta just feel overwhelmed with whats available and nothing quite seems to fit my needs as well as the SC2. I am probably defaulted to the G7 pro regular 1000hz one(can also just grab it from best buy instead of waiting on the mail), but the xbox style stick layout is a big turn off. I also see the gamesir stuff so often I worry its like viral reddit marketing corpo canvasing, but if they are just that good I'm down (especially if linux is a first class citizen with their drivers that is infinite good will).

I live in the US, central Texas area.

platform: PC/steam (on linux) with a "would be nice" PS5 support.

My price range is: hopefully like ~110 usd or so, but I would go to like 250+ (victrix range) for something that is just really really good and hits every box, I have a programmer job and I just want something really nice with as few compromises as possible even if im getting gouged on price a bit.

Must haves:

1. TMR sticks (my ps5 controller died so fast im done with them forever)
2. Underside Buttons (preferably 4) that I can use steam input to map to keyboard keys. In particular granblue relink makes you hold the stick click to open the map, but G key opens it instantly. Anything that I can't do this with is instantly out.
3. Gyro support in steam: I didn't think I would care about gyro until I tried it and now I don't want to live without it
4. reasonable durability, (my regular PS5 controller has been a pretty bad experience, a year or two in, the battery degraded quickly and the stick drift set in fast) also have had pretty bad experiences with several razer products in past.
5. decent dpad (doesnt have to be great just not garbage) see: fighting games
6. High quality wireless connection to computer either via bluetooth or w.e dongle/puck or what have you

Almost must have, but will give it up if everything else is perfect:
- symmetric layout ala SC2/PS5

Would be really nice:

1. key customization in linux/not tied to some proprietary windows software (I realize this probably does not and probably will never exist)
2. decent latency and wireless performance(1000 hz would be nice but SC2 is like 250hz iirc and it doesnt bother me)
3. I keep seeing the mechanical switch vs membrane buttons, and given how picky I am on leverless switches, this sounds amazing in a controller to try.
4. My partner has pretty small hands and anything larger than ps4 they have trouble using for longer periods, this is even true of SC2, though the touchpads make it look bigger than it actually is in practice imo. Was hoping maybe they would even like a smaller fit better than SC2. A friend used "PowerA Nano Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S" which was surprisingly small so was interesting in possibly finding something this size.
5. purely aesthetic but: just a flat color instead of covered in gamery stuff, the g7 pro 8k are not to my taste at all with the gold and esports branding all over them.
6. PS5 support (lowest priority, and would only be if I ended up using it at my arcade locals or at friends houses)

Additional context/games we play:

- Don't really care much about FPS/competitive shooter level features (1000hz sounds great but even that is prolly overboard), if I wanted to play fps id be on mouse and keyboard (though the gyro has been realllly really really cool to mess with)
- Mostly will be playing coop action games together on the couch, hooked up to the TV computer.
- strong fighting game support would be cool, but I suspect picking a controller for this would be different than for action games(ie the victrix bfg 6 button for claw grip) and a large emphasis on d-pad quality. But if the features aligned, all the better.

Games this is for:
granblue relink(I need the bottom buttons back so bad)
Claire 33 (that parry timing!)
NIOH 1/2/3
the Tales games series (tales of arise, versperia etc etc)
a bit of elden ring now and again (though souls like games are usually a bit slower than my preference)
code vein
beasts of reincarnation
wu kong
devil may cry
monster hunter
pragmata
FF7 remake
Crisis Core remake (my partner has loved crisis core since the PSP days)
Team ICO stuff
Metal Gear Solid series of all ages: all of the Kojima ones.

Thank you all for any help or guidance with all this, I appreciate your time and expertise! I think I am likely asking for something that doesn't exist but I figured I would ask here before giving up.

I want to confirm if others are experiencing the same thing:

• I setup 10 macros for different skills. It works flawless.
• I now wanted to ad a 11th macro but I cannot open the macro menu in Space Station.
• I first thought it is the C and Z buttons that cannot be assigned a macro.
• But once I removed the 10th macro I was able to assign a macro to any unbound button

Can anyone else replicate this? I just want to make sure it is a controller limitation and not my setup misbehaving.

Hello everyone, I’m looking for a new controller.
Coming from Argentina, market availability and pricing can be tricky, so I would really appreciate having multiple options to compare.

Platform: PC only.
Budget: Around $50 to $60 USD. However, if spending a bit more gets me a truly durable controller that will last, I am open to additional recommendations since I don't know if my budget is enough.
Location / Availability: Argentina. I prefer local retailers and MercadoLibre, but I can also use AliExpress, Amazon, or eBay if shipping isn't prohibitively expensive.
Durability: Top priority. I hate it when a button sinks or gets stuck. I need something built to last, unless it’s a model with easily replaceable parts.
Connection: Wired to avoid battery hassle and extra costs. A wireless controller is fine only if it functions perfectly as a wired device even if the internal battery completely dies in the future. (also, please let me know if the controller doesn't come with the neccesary wire)
Layout: PlayStation style, not a dealbreaker.
Games: Pretty much everything except racing/simulation/shooting games.
I don't care about extra back buttons, turbo, or rumble/vibration, and prefer to skip them to save money.

I've been looking into budget options like the GameSir Tegenaria Lite or the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wired.

Thank you so much in advance for any suggestions you can provide!

Hello everyone! I’m trying to decide between the Gamesir Cyclone 2 ($40 USD) and the Razer Wolverine V3 8K Wired ($55 USD).
Budget: up to $60
Country: Mexico (I can buy from Amazon Mexico, Mercado Libre)
Platform: PC
Desired features: Low latency, TMR sticks, good build quality, and the best possible performance for competitive FPS. I don’t mind a wired controller if it’s actually better.
Games: Mainly Apex Legends and other FPS games.
Other controllers I’m comparing: Just these two. I already checked the buying guide and searched existing posts, but I’m still unsure because of the price difference.
I mainly play Apex/FPS on PC, and I don’t mind using a wired controller if it’s actually better. Both have TMR sticks, so I’m not sure how big the difference would be in real gameplay.
Is the polling rate on the Wolverine actually noticeable, like around 2000-4000 Hz, or is the Cyclone 2 already good enough?
Thanks in advance 🙏🙏 (can’t get the G7 Pro)

I bought the Vader 5 Pro from Amazon with my own money and have no affiliation with Flydigi or any other controller company.

TLDR; the Vader 5 Pro is almost perfect, but the actuation of the thumbsticks sucks, leading to accidental presses and making consistent high-level gameplay impossible.

I love the Flydigi Vader controllers - the looks, the button layout, the software (when it works as intended), but after owning the Vader 3, 4, and now 5, I might finally be ready to stop spending my money with them and move on.

I received the Vader 5 Pro v2 (yay) and got everything set up. Software works great, love the new shoulder buttons, and just like previous iterations, the size of the controller just feels good. Also, the addition of paddles on the back is a welcome change with perfect placement (IMO) and the tension adjustment knobs actually finally working as intended.

But for whatever reason, it’s always 2 steps forward and 1 step back with these Vader controllers. I haven’t seen a ton of posts about this, so maybe it’s a one-off, but the amount of force it takes to depress the right thumbstick is next to nothing. It’s the equivalent of the old butterfly keyboard Apple tried on their Macs for a while (IYKYK).

I play FPS games almost exclusively in ranked lobbies, am consistently in the top 1-2 tiers across multiple games (Halo, CoD, Apex), and have all of my buttons mapped the same on every game, with R3 being melee. The number of gunfights (and matches) I’ve lost because of the constant melee interruption while firing is astonishing. Why is it that GameSir, Microsoft, Razer, and SCUF can all have perfect joystick depression force without a single accidental press over hundreds thousands of games, but I literally cannot make it through a single game using the Vader 5 Pro without at least one, but usually multiple accidental depressions?

Before coming to Flydigi, my go-to controller was the Wolverine series by Razer. The 4 back buttons and 2 additional shoulder buttons are a must for me, but I grew tired of Razor’s constant stick drift issues and the absurd cost of their controllers. And before I’m told to just remap R3, I don’t think I (or anyone else) should have to change their play style because a company can’t make a better controller. I’ve looked for any kind of fix I could find for the issue, but have come up empty handed. After owning the last 3 iterations of the Vader and the hope that the next one will be “the” one, I think I’m finally ready to move on to another brand. I just wish there was another one with wireless capabilities and 4 back buttons + 2 additional shoulder buttons that didn’t cost $300.

I know wired and after that 2.4/5GHZ are the fastest when it comes to input lag and Bluetooth is usually the worst.

But when one likes to rely on Bluetooth is it worth to upgrade to the new BT protocol (like the new version of beloved asus bt500 the asus bt600)

I am currently using an integrated intel 5.2 bluetooth device and have no problems but if there is a way to reduce input lag I would love to do so but I can´t find any information on the intenet everything is benchmarking with the dualsense (which is a special case and I use a Pico 2W diy dongle anyways but I want fastest solution for my other mostly BT based controllers)

Does one have first hand experience if upgrading to a newer bt dongle will lower latency on regular bt controllers or is all the talk of "faster" more marketing

Also I own a Pico 2W which I flashed with dsdongle for the DS5 but is there a firmware to turn it into a (faster) wireless dongle for other controllers like xbox and 8bitdo 64?... faster perhaps than my Intel bluetooth?

thanks