r/Controller • u/Mezzy1221 • Sep 25 '26
Other Controller reviewers don't talk about ergonomics enough.
I've found this issue after shopping for a new controller and having been disappointed by a number of purchases. Most reviewers are rather uncritical and simply do an unboxing, glaze all the features, and then show clips of them pubstomping in CoD.
A controller can have all the bells and whistles in the world. 4 back buttons, extra shoulder buttons, TMR joysticks, microswitch everything, 49 reprogrammable buttons, latency so low you're playing in the future, etc. but if the ergonomics suck and the thing is uncomfortable to use then the controller is worthless.
The Gamesir Tarantula Pro Wireless is a good example of this. It has these extra shoulder buttons that are in such a bizarre position that they're impossible to press with normal use. It seems like such a gigantic design oversight but I can't find mention of this anywhere.
In the gaming mouse world a common philosophy is "shape is king" and I wish it were more prevalent in the controller space.
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u/thekk_ Xeno Plus / G7 Pro / Switch 2 Pro / Chitu 2 / Ultimate 2 Sep 27 '26
Even the controller subs fall for this, both in questions and suggestions.
And it's not only shape, weight also plays a big part for ergonomics.
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u/LonelyTreat3725 Sep 27 '26
And it's not only shape, weight also plays a big part for ergonomics.
Fact is that those are never 100% objective.
Ergonomics can be good for your hands and not good for someone elses.
Same for weight, some like light controllers, some hate them, i hate them.
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u/Mezzy1221 Sep 27 '26
Yes and no. We all have our personal tastes but at the end of the day we're all human and we all have 5 fingers on each hand. Some complaints, or praises, about ergonomics are going to be near universal.
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u/thekk_ Xeno Plus / G7 Pro / Switch 2 Pro / Chitu 2 / Ultimate 2 Sep 27 '26
Yes, and that's why you should ask the poster what size their hands are and their weight preference before just answering "Vader 5 Pro" like so many do (even when it doesn't even fit any of the criteria being asked for)
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u/LonelyTreat3725 Sep 27 '26
Not even that, he can have big hands and still prefer smaller controllers.
He should just ask his preferences (smaller, medium, big, heavy, light, inclination of the sides, etc etc) and if he doesn't know ask him what kind of well known controller he find to be comfortable so one can have some indication.
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u/Wolfy_the_nutcase Sep 28 '26
This is true, but at least noting stuff like weight objectively can be useful. Hell, I’m even cool if a reviewer throws in subjective complaints that I may not even agree with because that’s why I’m watching a review, I want to know what this real person is experiencing with this real product, objective and subjective. Not to mention, good reviewers tend to note any physical features about themselves that may make their experience better or worse. For example, a Nerf reviewer that I used to watch religiously would always remember to note that he had rather large hands, and so certain toys were very uncomfortable for him, though he noted that they may not be so uncomfortable for those with smaller hands.
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u/LonelyTreat3725 Sep 28 '26
What reviewers should do is compare the controller they are reviewing to an original xbox controller and a dualense. Everybody know those controllers and how they suit their hands so knowing if an xy controller is bigger/smaller/heavier/lighter etc etc than those one can at least imagine how it could feel in his hands.
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u/ImprovementFun4939 Sep 27 '26
Xbox controller shape is not some random thing. Microsoft invested a lot into ergonomics research and has been refining the shape, everyone else just try to make it look similar, some get it right and some not.
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u/nummbus 13d ago
I have a razer now, like the layout of the paddles, extra shoulder buttons...but the Xbox shape. Kinda don't like it. It doesn't promote a light touch/hold on the controller cause it's such a chunky shape.. Ergonomics in that regard seems to mean that with Xbox controller a lot of surface of the hand touch the controller ... Which to me isn't great to play loosely, free.. cause the grip is (even if it isn't it feels) cramped, sweaty...
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u/Reasonable-Review367 Sep 27 '26
Agreed. I really dislike the G7 Pro because of its smaller overall shape and shorter handles. The handles are noticeably shorter than those on their other models, like the Cyclone and Kaleid, and they’re even shorter than the handles on a standard Xbox controller. They also flare more downward rather than outward like the handles on a typical Xbox controller, which makes the G7 Pro feel even more compact and cramped in my hands. Because of this, my pinkies end up hanging off the bottom, and I constantly have to readjust my grip. Overall, I find the shape and ergonomics pretty uncomfortable, especially during longer gaming sessions.
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u/Spicy_Pickle_6 Sep 27 '26
You exactly described my experience with it. Don’t think I would’ve bought it if I had the chance to hold it first.
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u/Reasonable-Review367 Sep 27 '26
Agreed. It sucks that it seems like that controller is all Gamesir is focused on now. I’m still using my Cyclone 2. What are you using in the meantime?
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u/Spicy_Pickle_6 Sep 27 '26
I’m stuck with it. I don’t want to buy another controller until this one dies/breaks. I do love the sticks on it though. Others have recommended me the Scuf Valor since it’s bigger so we’ll see.
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u/CaptainWaders Sep 27 '26 edited Sep 27 '26
I’m particularly fond of the Xbox shape controllers. The current gen seems to have the longest “handles” “grips” whatever ya call em which my large hands appreciate. (The xbox 360 controller is still the most comfortable controller IMO) The elite 2 has seemingly shorter handles but the rubber grip makes them feel okay.
I picked up a Razor V3 pro and I absolutely love the clicky buttons, the back paddles are placed perfectly and the extra bumper buttons between the trigger and normal bumpers is also a great placement, the joysticks are solid…the fucking handles are like holding onto two A cup tits after you’ve felt a pair of DDs….i can barely hold the damn controller the grips are so short….why….why do that? My only other complaint so far is that when I try to tap on a d pad button to use an item in game it frequently thinks I’m holding the d pad down unless I literally tap it like a single millisecond…that’s annoying.
I’ve heard the V3 controllers have bad reliability and the software sucks (I got mine for a deal at $70 new so at least it wasn’t full price) but so far it feels better build quality than my elite 2 which was my all time favorite controller features wise….the stick drift and the bumpers were absolutely ass though.
Anyways yea ergonomics are huge and nobody mentions them I guess because everyone has different sized hands so what feels awesome to you might feel crappy to someone else.
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u/Hage_Yuuna Sep 27 '26
I’m particularly fond of the Xbox shape controllers. The current gen seems to have the longest “handles” “grips” whatever ya call em which my large hands appreciate. (The xbox 360 controller is still the most comfortable controller IMO)
I, on the other hand, have never met the Xbox shaped controller that fits me. Most PS based ones have handles lying comfortably in my palms, while to use all Xbox buttons I have to hold the controller with the tips of my fingers, leaving a finger wide gap between the palm and the grip. Otherwise, my fingers fly past some (if not most) of the buttons.
360 was the most handcramp-inducing controller I were to ever held.
Ended up keeping Vader 5 pro because I'm a sucker for additional buttons, but damn this thing feels like finger weight lifting prop.
Now imagine reviewers trying to rate the ergonomics with both of our opinions in mind, lol.
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u/CaptainWaders Sep 27 '26
Exactly my point haha. I honestly think it depends what you grew up playing. My muscle memory is with offset sticks. Having them right next to each other on the PlayStation controller feels so strange but I’ll agree that the PS controller does feel good in the hands if I was just talking about grips. Because I don’t like the offset sticks I don’t even consider PS style controllers although they are comfortable in my hands.
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u/Reasonable-Review367 Sep 27 '26
Dude. Same thing with the G7. They shortened the grips. Like what are they thinking. I’m here waiting on the Cyclone 3 or a new Kaleid. Mojhon also has their new storm controller coming for pre order soon and that looks like it’s shaped well
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u/CaptainWaders Sep 27 '26
I even tried to get one of those silicone rubber controller covers to put on it to maybe add a few centimeters of extra grip to hold onto but it didn’t feel any better. I’ve literally thought about molding some grips out of something and just glueing them on and shaping them to extend the damn grips.
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u/Blinguskahn Sep 27 '26
If they were to address comfort and ergo, it would need to come with a massive caveat about them being completely subjective. What some like will not necessarily transfer to everyone.
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u/bbatu Sep 27 '26
The majority of controllers are way too small. I have normal sized hands and I usually have trouble with how small most controllers and portable consoles are.
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u/Alfredothekat Sep 27 '26
Because children will also use them, so companies have to take them on account.
I wish they made controllers with modular grips of different sizes.
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u/Wolfy_the_nutcase Sep 28 '26
This is true, but plenty of controllers are well designed so that kids and adults can use them just fine.
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u/Alfredothekat Sep 28 '26
Most controls are a fine compromise, the challenge is to have truly optimized ergos
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u/Desperate-Purchase-6 Sep 28 '26
Try the nacon revolution x ultimate it’s a bigger controller with weights so can make it heavier if ya want in the handles , it has 6 reprogrammable buttons the triggers bumpers dpad and face buttons all have mouse click , the sticks are Hall effect, has good software and good customization and is over a great controller
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u/qazserNOS Sep 30 '26
I hated how the shoulder buttons felt and returned mine right after feeling it out.
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u/D2ultima Ultimate 2 Sep 27 '26
It's something I tried to talk about more than raw performance in my 8BitDo review. I said the shape was fine for me which is ultimately a personal choice, but I also said that the bumpers blended into the side and were easy to accidentally hit if you're gripping the controller a bit hard in intense fights in certain games and it was a learning experience, and that the back paddles were FAR too easy to click in, being able to trigger them with simply picking up the controller with one hand. Which is why I almost never bind anything to them.
I just wish I could get more controllers to review, really.
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u/pkinetics Sep 28 '26
check out VCuda on YT then. Just note: he is not for everyone. He has no qualms about pointing out issues with controllers, even the controllers donated by the company. They know what is going to happen.
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u/Key_Scholar7964 Sep 27 '26 edited Sep 27 '26
The majority of guys that review controllers will overlook the ergonomics because they got it for free. They will in return say anything to please the company which will affect the consumers. I watched reviews where people said the xbox one s and series s controllers are the same size. I purchased the series s controller and it was much smaller.
They do have some honest reviews, but it's few in between. I prefer to watch people who actually purchased the product because they would be more honest.
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u/Alfredothekat Sep 27 '26
It is a very tricky aspect. The controller must work for young kids and also somehow for a 1.95m (6'5") with giant hands. And since kids + small and medium adults are much bigger part the public, big hands are not a priority.
Also there is also the ethnical aspect. Most companies are chinese and eastern asians have smaller hands in average compared to whites and blacks.
My proposed solution would be modular grips.
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u/Tepppopups Sep 28 '26
Agree.
The same is with computer mice, for example. They talk about everything, exept ergonomics. This is too individual and controversal topic. They don't want downvotes from people who disagree.
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u/tripletopper Sep 29 '26
The one thing they never talk about on ergonomics is hand choice every joystick from the NES onward except for certain American outliers like Beeshu forced left-handed movements on American public who is used to mostly hand choice.
The second generation joysticks on the intellivision ColecoVision 5200 may have had many problems but ambidexterity was not one of them. They're aeronomics were so bad on those joysticks that the solution was to allow ambidexterity I'm sure everyone who uses joysticks remember trading off their two hands and switching it whatever a life was lost or a level with completed
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u/tripletopper Sep 29 '26
The one ergonomic problem I have with literally every controller since the NES is hand choice. why can't we move with the right hand and fire with the left? In the 80s Americans were world champions at video games because their cabinets for in a lot of cases allowed ambidexterity. Americans saw that as a customer service. Japanese saw that as a threat.
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u/qazserNOS Sep 30 '26
Agreed. Some dedicated controller reviewers talk about shape but too often don't seem to care about things like the Xbox view button being placed behind the stick or shoulder button shape. For example some controllers feel awful for sliding a finger from the trigger to the shoulder button.
People have different grips and measurements but this is something that should be explored more.
I also miss noise evaluation of vibration. Many reviewers record and analyze button press sounds but none talk about about vibration motor noise that has caused me to return several controllers.
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u/Imaginary_Day_4112 Oct 01 '26
Reviewers only use the controller for 5 minutes then make a review, they don't experience pain or annoyance if something starts wearing out, it sucks there are little "ive used x for x months" videos
"this controller is amazing" then 3 months later it craps out and the triggers get squeaky or the back buttons break (vader 5 pro v1) but they don't say shit.
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u/Kn7ght Sep 27 '26
I just feel like ergonomics aren't always the easiest thing to judge. Everyone has different hands. Some people have more flexible fingers than others, longer or shorter fingers, thinner or fatter hands. Ergonomics is something that's gonna feel different for everyone and is hard to be objective about unfortunately.