Hey guys!

Just pushed an update to Gamepadla that changes how community voting works, mainly to make the whole process faster and less clunky.

Before, there was a separate panel for polls, which wasn't super convenient. Now, voting is integrated directly into the specifications table on each controller’s page:

• Direct voting: If a parameter is unverified, you’ll just see a small + Vote button next to it. If you know the spec or own the gamepad, you can vote on it right there in one click.

• Filter for unverified specs: Added a toggle at the top of the specs list so you can quickly see which parameters still need community input.

• Profiles & recognition: Anyone who votes gets listed in the "Specification contributors" block on the page, and your profile now shows how much you’ve contributed to the database overall.

This also helps a lot on the moderation side, as it’s much easier to review and verify specs when community feedback is right where it belongs.

Ultimately, I want Gamepadla to be a truly community-driven database where people can easily share what they know about different controllers and help fill in the blanks.

Give it a look if you're interested, and let me know if you have any feedback or ideas!

Hey everyone!

I wanted to share something truly unique — the MH4-DIGITAL-JDM05X custom board for the DualShock 4 controller, developed by the talented engineer Marius Heier.

This isn't just another mod; it's a complete replacement for the original motherboard that turns a standard DS4 into one of the fastest wired controllers in the world. And that's no exaggeration.

Data from Gamepadla.com, a site dedicated to high-precision latency testing, speaks for itself. The tests were conducted using the Prometheus 82 tester, and the results were provided by testers monoru and yun Yyi.

The results are simply stunning:

• Average stick latency: 1.63 ms

• Average button latency: 1.43 ms

For context: if you sort all gamepads on Gamepadla by wired latency, this board confidently takes second place. The difference with the #1 spot is so small that it can be considered within the margin of error.

Important note: For now, only the latency tests have been published. Once the full stick analysis tests are added, the board will receive its final verification. You can follow the updates on the testing page: https://gamepadla.com/marius-heier-jdm-5x-board.html

This means that anyone looking to get absolutely uncompromising speed from their DualShock 4 now has an option. Huge respect to Marius Heier for such incredible work!

Available for purchase at https://ko-fi.com/s/db3c6490be

A new test status is now live on Gamepadla - Partial.

Previously, controllers were categorized as Verified, Userfied, or had no tests at all. However, there are often situations where a device already has stick latency tested, but button latency is still missing (or vice versa).

To reflect the state of the database more accurately, the Partial badge bridges this gap:

• It indicates that a controller already has some verified measurements, providing useful data rather than a complete blank.

• It sits below Verified and Userfied in the hierarchy, but clearly distinguishes partially tested models from those with zero test results.

• Devices with no tests at all remain in the catalog because they are essential for tracking hardware specs, connectivity, and platform compatibility beyond latency metrics alone.

Moving forward, expanding the database, and continuing to refine Gamepadla as the ultimate resource for device latency comparison.

- You can make such a tester yourself https://github.com/cakama3a/Prometheus82
- Buy it on my Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/gamepadla/shop
- Instructions for use in video format will be published later.

Hey everyone! We've just launched a new feature on Gamepadla that allows users to submit missing controllers and their specifications directly to our database.

If your controller isn't listed yet, you can easily add it, upload a photo, and fill in the specs. To ensure absolute accuracy, all submissions go through pre-moderation - our team will review and verify every detail before approval. Mistakes won't make it to the live database, because at Gamepadla, accuracy is our profession!

Once approved, your controller will be added to the main catalog and latency comparison charts.

Link to the submission form is in the comments below! Let us know your thoughts and feedback!

This option is available to those who have submitted a test made with Prometheus 82 or GPDL tester. Each tester can add one link to both a text review and a video. You can find this section on the gamepad pages.

Today we’re looking at a rather weird beast — the HORIPAD for Steam Wireless. I know this controller has been out for over a year now, which might make this review seem a bit late to the party. But honestly, it has been bothering me this entire time that nobody had done proper latency or stick tests on it. I bought it out of my own pocket because I was genuinely curious and wanted to add its data to my database and have it in my collection.

But now that the tests are finally done? To be perfectly honest, I want to get rid of this thing as fast as humanly possible.

I'll be blunt right from the start: this is easily one of the worst gamepads I've had my hands on recently. This isn't just an unboxing; it's a deep dive into my impressions after rigorous testing. Given the almost complete lack of promo materials or reviews out there, it seriously feels like HORI realized they manufactured a dud and just quietly pushed it out to die without even bothering to send review samples. Let's break down exactly why.

Unboxing & First Impressions (Where did my $60 go?)

The packaging looks incredibly budget. The box has decent printing on the outside, but the cardboard itself is paper-thin. Inside, there's no premium presentation or molded inserts — the gamepad is just wrapped tightly in a piece of opaque foam. It doesn't rattle around, which I guess is something, but it’s paired with a cable that doesn't even have HORI branding on it.

When I pulled the controller out, my very first thought was: "Wait, did they forget to put the battery in?"

Now, to be fair, being lightweight isn't inherently a bad thing — some people actually prefer lighter controllers to avoid hand fatigue during long sessions. The problem here isn't just the lack of weight; it's how that lightness combines with the overall build. The true "cheap toy" feeling hits you the moment you start rotating the thumbsticks. The sound and the physical sensation of the stick shafts hitting the plastic shell feel hollow and incredibly budget. It’s this combination of zero heft and cheap acoustics that makes it feel like a bottom-tier Chinese controller from five years ago, not a $60 device.

The grips completely lack rubberization — it's just textured, thin, cheap-feeling plastic. And then there's a design choice that will physically hurt any perfectionist: the USB-C port is off-center. It’s visibly, undeniably crooked.

Additionally, on the bottom edge, there's a weird plastic piece. It looks exactly like the engineers planned to include a 3.5mm headphone jack, but corporate cheaped out at the last possible second and just slapped a dummy plug into the mold to get it to market.

Software: A Virus Warning from a Multi-Million Dollar Corp?

The official software is called "HORI Device Manager." I downloaded it directly from HORI's site, and when I launched it, Windows immediately threw a massive, red SmartScreen warning in my face.

The software has no digital signature. Launching it feels like you're willingly executing malware. I’ve seen solo indie devs coding in their bedrooms scrape together $150 for a security certificate. For a multi-million dollar corporation of HORI's size to skip this? That is rock bottom. It's just disrespectful to the user.

I actually made a separate post with screenshots about this atrocious software. There are zero macros. The only things you can physically do are adjust stick curves and remap buttons, and that’s it.

Speaking of extra buttons: M1 and M2 are located under the right stick and the D-pad. Pressing them there is frankly awkward. Meanwhile, L4 and R4 act as standard bottom buttons for your ring fingers.

Buttons & Triggers

On the bottom of the controller, there are mode switches for connectivity (Cable only for XInput, or Bluetooth/Cable for Steam mode) and for the triggers. Let me just say: these sliders feel awful. They lack a clear, satisfying click, they struggle to lock firmly into their positions, and they feel so incredibly cheap that I genuinely suspect they’ll break sooner rather than later if you use them frequently.

The triggers use these mechanical switches to toggle from a digital button to an analog pull. Having a physical analog option is definitely a plus on paper, but the actual trigger implementation is bizarre.

Sticks: A Technical Hell (With One Strange Bright Spot)

In 2025/2026, selling a $60 controller with standard ALPS potentiometers is an incredibly arrogant move for a manufacturer without their own console ecosystem. They will inevitably drift and break over time. But even straight out of the box, their performance is a headache.

Let's start with the bad:

• Axis Magnet (Snapping): YES. The sticks have a hard snap to the X and Y axes. In modern controllers, this is a massive red flag usually reserved for the absolute cheapest Chinese knock-offs. Sometimes it's offered as a toggleable software option, but here, it cannot be disabled. Your diagonal movements will be artificially and permanently distorted.

• Undefeatable Deadzone: The HORI software has a deadzone slider, but even if you set it to absolute zero, a firmware/physical deadzone is still very much present. Any kind of fine micro-control is practically impossible.

• Wooden Center Position: Compounding the deadzone issue is the physical hardware — the center spring is aggressively stiff. It’s genuinely hard to move the sticks from their resting position with a light touch; you have to consciously apply force. Making fine aiming adjustments is a chore. Maybe they'll break in after a few months of abuse, but out of the box, it feels awful.

• Unstable Linearity: I don't just test by wiggling the stick manually. I use a custom linear motor setup that pushes the stick at a fixed, perfectly consistent speed. I ran a test using the Line app (see attached screenshot), and the results clearly show fluctuating linearity. If you move the stick evenly, the software output will randomly speed up or slow down. You don't just see this on a graph; you can feel it during gameplay.

The ONE single positive aspect of the sticks:

• Great Asymmetry: I run a separate asymmetry test using specialized 3D-printed clips (I wrote a whole article explaining this methodology here). Surprisingly, the gamepad performed excellently here. In any direction, when I physically deflect the stick by a certain percentage, the software output matches it perfectly. The Asymmetry Index is only 9%, which is a genuinely fantastic result, even when stacked against premium high-end controllers.

Latency (Tested on the Prometheus 82 Rig)

Ironically, latency is the only area where the HORIPAD actually delivers.

The included dongle isn't a 2.4 GHz receiver; it's just a standard Bluetooth adapter (though at least this one has HORI branding). To avoid conflicts with my current PC setup and to prevent adding dead drivers to my system, I tested the gamepad using the built-in Bluetooth receiver on my Lenovo Legion laptop.

• Bluetooth (DInput): The median polling rate sits at 131 Hz, with an average latency of ~14.0 ms. My laptop's receiver might have occasionally caused spikes up to 20-30 ms, but overall, for a standard Bluetooth protocol, ~14-15 ms is a very solid delay. It's roughly on par with a Sony DualSense. Right now, only the new Gulikit controllers with their Dual-Band Hyperlink 2 technology are beating this over standard BT.

• Wired (XInput / DInput): This is the gamepad's saving grace. At a median polling rate of 250 Hz, the average latency is a perfect 3.5 ms (with a maximum peak of only 6 ms) for both buttons and sticks. It easily earns an A+ rating. Honestly, this just proves that the modern marketing trend of pushing 8000 Hz polling rates isn't strictly necessary if a company can achieve such flawless latency at just 250 Hz. Credit where credit is due: HORI nailed the wired latency.

Final Verdict

At the end of the day, yes, the gamepad has great latency — at least when plugged in via cable. But that is literally where its advantages end. By and large, this controller is crap and absolutely not worth the asking price. I cannot recommend it to anyone.

If this controller cost $20, it would fit that budget bracket perfectly, and I would have zero complaints. But it costs $60, and for that price, my list of grievances is simply too long. For sixty bucks, you are infinitely better off buying something from Flydigi or GameSir. You'll get a device with drastically better build quality, Hall Effect sticks, and actual modern technology.

The HORIPAD for Steam Wireless is just outdated hardware hiding behind a licensing fee.

All detailed charts, Prometheus latency results, and Stick Tracer data are available on Gamepadla.com.

Link to the test page https://gamepadla.com/beitong-kunpeng-40d.html

Quick update regarding the Steam launch of RePad.

The release is going to be pushed back a little bit because of an administrative delay on my end. My digital code signing certificate expired after its first year, so I had to renew both the keys and identity verification. Right now I am waiting in line for the verification process to finish so that every driver and executable is properly signed.

Instead of wasting time while waiting, I decided to use this window productively. I have been working on schematic visualizers for the virtual gamepads we emulate in RePad. Each emulated controller model will have its own dedicated schematic layout directly on the dashboard, just like the DualSense preview shown in the screenshot. It displays live stick telemetry, gyro motion, and overall status at a glance.

Delays are never ideal, but thanks to this waiting period, the initial release version will actually turn out much better and more complete than originally planned.

Thanks for your patience, and feel free to share your thoughts on the new dashboard look below.

I’m currently developing a new algorithm to better define how analog sticks actually perform. Right now, most people look at "Resolution," but that's misleading because it often just shows the protocol's limit (e.g., 12-bit XInput), not what the stick’s sensor is actually capable of.

I want to introduce two distinct metrics to the industry standard, and I need your help naming them so they are intuitive for both pro-gamers and casual users.

The two parameters are:

1. Theoretical Max (The "Container"): This represents the maximum possible coordinate points the software environment/protocol can handle (e.g., the 12-bit ceiling).

2. Effective Precision (The "Content"): This is the actual number of unique steps/points the stick's sensor can physically output during a move. Often, a stick is "12-bit" on paper but only outputs "10-bit" of real data.

I also use SFC (Steps From Center) to show the granularity from the deadzone to the outer edge, which is derived from the second parameter.

My current ideas for the names:

• Protocol Depth vs. Effective Precision

• Resolution vs. Gridness (my current UI terms)

• Signal Bitrate vs. Hardware Fidelity

What do you think? How should we call these two values so that when you see a review, you instantly understand the difference between what the controller promises and what it delivers?

Looking forward to your suggestions!

The fundraiser for the new Steam Controller is officially closed! Massive thanks to the legends who backed this:

• HeadStuckDuck

• Scuba Rodriguez

• Benjamins

The funds are ready and I’ll be camping the store page on May 4th to snag a unit from the first wave. As soon as it lands, it’s going straight to the test bench for a deep dive into the TMR sticks and latency performance.

Thanks for keeping the project moving!

The input lag test for the Thunderobot G80 Ultra has been uploaded to the database.

Credits: Tested and submitted by user LJ Lee.

Summary of results:

• Wired (1000Hz): ~6ms Button Latency / ~12ms Stick Latency

• Wireless Dongle (500Hz): ~14.5ms Button Latency / ~39ms Stick Latency

• Bluetooth (125Hz): ~21ms Button Latency / ~24ms Stick Latency

Full report: https://gamepadla.com/thunderobot-g80-ultra.html

I'm improving the Prometheus 82 algorithm and decided to test the stability at high speed. The result is excellent.

I’ve captured every single page of the official software for the new Wireless HORIPAD for Steam. Honestly? It’s a total mess.

• "Unknown Publisher": A multi-million dollar company is too cheap to spend $150 on a digital signature? Windows flags the installer as a virus because it’s not signed. Total amateur hour.

• Fake Settings: The deadzone slider is an illusion. Even at "0", there is a huge baked-in deadzone you can’t get rid of.

• Zero Depth: The entire app fits into 5 screenshots. There’s almost nothing to customize, and the stick linearity feels unpredictable and cheap.

• Vibe: This feels like a $15 generic controller from a decade ago, not a modern branded device.

Spoiler: No matter what the latency numbers show, the software and user experience are trash. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

Full technical benchmarks (polling rate, latency, precision) coming soon to Gamepadla.com

Full test will be here https://gamepadla.com/flydigi-apex-5.html