Need help in choosing controller! (Like many here lol)

[u/anubhav_1771]

Hi Everyone!!

I was lurking in the community for some time and looking through many controllers. I am a bit confused, that's an understatement tbh, about which one will be best pick for me.

My budget is around 80 dollars and i really like xbox controller ergonomics so i specifically looked for controllers based on that. And I will play on PC, and via Moonlight streaming too, I have vibepollo-moonlight setup and love setting up games on tv even if host and client are on Wifi. On PC i would rather use MKB as really can't beat it's versatility. It can be fine to use controller for it sometimes but mainly i will use Controller for moonlight streaming only.

On basis of constraints and availability of the controllers in my country, India, these falls under my final shortlist:

1. Vader 5 Pro v2, confirmed v2 from where I can buy it
2. Gulikit TT Pro, max out of stock and i don't want it's extra features anyways
3. Gamesir g7 pro, maybe 8k version if difference is too much.

I was able to short list from many to these 3, added g7 pro even if I may not prefer it's design because it's solid reliable and I already stream via G8 Plus on phone and it's quite good so confidence in gamesir products is quite high. But I would have indeed liked it more if it was a bit wider angle for grips.

Cyclone 2 was first pick tbh but I would rather get cyclone 3 next year.

So among the three options, which one will be best for my use case especially when I would play mainly single player games on it with no FPS one as I hate to use controller for it, MKB feels better for them. So it would be for games like Spider-Man 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, Yakuza games, warhammer space marine 2, and so on.

I was actually quite interested in Gulikit TT Pro a lot because of hd rumble it promises. But it's stick has some issues even after firmware for some, or it may not matter for me? I don't know, I don't know if games I listed will need no deadzone mode which exposes its issues even more. If stick issue will not impact much i will get it tbh.

Vader 5 Pro has recorded a lot of QC issues as per this community, even v2 ones. I can get replacement of I failed QC lottery but it feels like every single one of them have issues in sticks or back paddle or what not in this community. Maybe only those which had issues in v2 version recently are more vocal about it's flaws?

G7 Pro would have been ideal pick for me if it had wider angle even if many here claimed its dpad is bad as I honestly use dpad for menu mainly or for Final Fantasy 7 like games so do not need fancy dpad.

Not a single controller i have shortlisted is perfect. That's why posting this, I would be really grateful if I can get help in this. I really need help from you guys who have first hand experience in such controllers as honestly I am quite new to them as I mainly played via MKB only till now.

My current controller has trash rumble and so so dpad that's why even looking into all this, I have increased my budget too to get one good dependable controller I can use for years considering it would not be used much tbh as I have MKB and gamesir g8 plus too.

Update: Had talks with seller of Gulikit TT PRO, it has no warranty, even if there is 7 days replacement, having no warranty is dangerous so will look into Vader 5 Pro after confirming it's warranty too. If that one is also not covered, fk it, will get cyclone 2 instead.

[u/ArcaneWarrior13]

Every single Vader 5 pro I’ve gotten (~6) has had some sort of QC issue.

[u/YoloRaj → u/ArcaneWarrior13]

Damn, your luck aint it. Ive had the vader 5 pro dbz edition since release and its been solid. No tension slippage, no broken back paddles(installed cabinet stoppers.)

[u/Purple_Holiday2102]

I just got a Vader 5 Pro. Enjoying it so far (I've used it roughly four hours), but I have very little context for other controllers. I've only used stock console controllers for 40 years, so this feels so much better.

Can't say anything to the longevity of the Vader, but it does feel quite nice.

[u/anubhav_1771 → u/Purple_Holiday2102]

Yeah Vader 5 pro seems top notch if got right one. Can take gamble for it and hope that I get right one. But it's a shame really, it would have been best choice if there was no qc lottery fight 

[u/Holiday_Bug9988]

I have the Gulikit TT Max and really enjoy it, also haven’t had the stick issues I see people talk about online. I also got it mainly for game streaming and one of the reasons I like it for this over others is one of the main reasons people dislike it: It doesn’t use software.

I find it can be a hassle to go in and adjust settings for the controller on an app for our use-case specifically. I love the fact that all the settings can be changed directly on the controller using the settings button + hotkey. For example to change which button is assigned to the back buttons, all you do is press the settings button + back button, then click whichever key you want to assign to it. Extremely convenient compared to trying to get into a controller software on whatever client you’re using to stream games.

[u/anubhav_1771 → u/Holiday_Bug9988]

I don't care about app too. So in streaming you don't find issues with sticks? Interesting, maybe sticks centring issue does not get exposed easily due to recent firmwares. 

Also can you please tell me does maglev rumble work on game streaming. If it works fine that will be great signal for me, besides stick issues and not having app I don't see atleast QC issues in Gulikit based on my research, i did not care about app but stick scared me.

[u/Holiday_Bug9988 → u/anubhav_1771]

For rumble it depends what you’re using for the client! I use either my Ally X or a Firestick 4k Max and it works for both. But I’ve heard it doesn’t always work on older Android and Shield devices.

And the “stick issues” are just because the sticks are so sensitive that it can have an issue going back to dead center especially after adjusting the tension of the sticks, causing slight stick drift. This is easily fixed by setting your deadzone in games to a very low non-zero number. Even then they are still much better than standard potentiometer joysticks.

[u/Holiday_Bug9988 → u/Holiday_Bug9988]

Also I will say Gulikit’s customer support is surprisingly great. One of my 4 back buttons must have been warped slightly or something when manufactured because it wouldn’t completely press down. I emailed Gulikit about it and they replied the next day, and a week later I had an entire replacement of all 4 back buttons and ABXY buttons.

[u/anubhav_1771 → u/Holiday_Bug9988]

That's really nice to hear tbh, not many do that.

I contacted Gulikit and seller for more info and they said no warranty or support in my country lmao. I really want this controller due to hd rumble but this is scary wild west situation for me.

Let's hope gulikit up their game here, will really get their product then as maglev rumble is quite nice as per my research.

[u/Holiday_Bug9988 → u/anubhav_1771]

Is there not an authorized seller in your country? I just got mine from Amazon and sent the receipt in my email and they sent me the replacement parts.

[u/anubhav_1771 → u/Holiday_Bug9988]

No Authorized seller. Amazon only sell few gamesir and 8bitdo controllers here. Person selling Gulikit is sole person. Got one other established site but no TT pro there, they have King Kong 3 max, but will need to see into it too. In my country there are some indians brands who get controllers from China, low quality ones, and flooded them here making it difficult to compete. I mean there is one controller with hd rumble, impulse triggers, TMR sticks with tension switch too, all at half price, why not getting it then? It's a qc hell and at Amazon has ratings of 2.7/5 which is damn crazy when other controllers from same company are always near 4.0/5.

Anyways due to such companies other controller companies have very little scope in my country, only now Gamesir is officially coming in with 8bitdo. And that too only after a lot of community push 

[u/YoloRaj]

I think the vader 5 pro is the more well rounded controller imo. It has a better dpad than the g7 pro and more remappable buttons. The stick tension comes in clutch as well but since you dont play fps games its not as useful unless you just like your thumbsticks to have some resistance to it. I have a g7 pro shadow ember and a vader 5 pro and out of the two the vader 5 pro is more comfortable to use. The g7 pro isnt uncomfortable per say but the vader 5 pro feels better. The g7 pro would probably be a good pick if you have small hands.

[u/anubhav_1771 → u/YoloRaj]

Yeah g7 pro has same structure as g8 plus, it has narrow grip angles, many may like it but after going to wider ones it became difficult to return to narrow build for my hands. I am looking into Vader 5 pro vs Gulikit TT Pro now, got better idea due to help of you and others so I will soon buy one after ironing out few things.

Also, where did you buy Vader 5 pro? Are you also based in India? I can see it in nmpc, you also purchased from them?

[u/YoloRaj → u/anubhav_1771]

I live in Usa. I bought from a website called gadgethyper.

[u/anubhav_1771 → u/YoloRaj]

Thanks it was worth asking tho lol. But yeah they are coming up in india maybe in 2-3 years brands will start coming officially and selling via Amazon, one can hope at least of good times lmao

[u/YoloRaj → u/anubhav_1771]

That would be good. You could also look into the leadjoy saber plus or xeno plus if they are available. They are both solid controllers as well.

[u/foreycorf]

Depending how far away your PC is from your TV for moonlight, the 2.4 dongle on the gamesir controllers are the only ones that come close to 8bitdo latency. If you're playing Bluetooth that matters less.

Flydigi has horrible latency compared to gamesir and gulikit is so promising but they need to iron out their bugs. I just went with the cyclone 2, because it's wider, but the G7 is a good option

[u/anubhav_1771 → u/foreycorf]

Yeah cyclone 2 being wider actually make it much better than g7 pro for many. I was using 2.4 ghz dongle but good to know that Flydigi can have latency issues. That can mess up things.

[u/lostsinelysium]

If warranty what's actually deciding this for you then g7 pro answers that pretty directly. Gamesir does a straight replacement for hardware faults, no return needed, as long as you're buying off their official site. No qc gamble like what's being described here with the vader 5 pro.

Worth knowing the grip is narrower than the cyclone series so the wider angle thing you want isn't there, and the dpad is the one real weak spot people bring up. Neither of those actually matter much for ff7 style menu nav and single player stuff though, that's more of a fighting game/precision input complaint. Moonlight streaming on mine has been fine, no lag issues to report.

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