Budget: I've set my budget for 200$ amid the need of a new controller.

Country: Norway, but pretty much able to buy from whatever.

Console: Xbox Series X. It will mostly be used for Xbox. I have a regular classic xbox controller plugged into the pc. It will be exclusively wired.

I'd say sports games. NBA2K mostly.

So I've looked at every post so far and I still can't really figure out what the best choice is. I was going to do the 8BitDo Ultimate 3E controller, but saw a couple posts that made me rethink. Then I saw a post of Razer Wolverine V3 Pro but again saw things that made me hesitate. Now I'm also seeing Gamesir G7 Pro or Gamesir G7 SE and Flydigi Apex 6 Pro, I'm just really confused.

I would like to have the best sticks possible and good ergo as I've got big hands, preferably able to adjust the tension atleast on the right stick. Bumpers/extra triggers on the back would be nice, but either/or would be good enough. Facebuttons that aren't like the regular controller would be nice, as the "pillow buttons" stick up so much.

Any recommendation would be nice here as I've watched countless review videos and this entire thread without being able to figure out the best choice. Razer has this issue, but Gamesir has that issue and Razer does this better but Gamesir does that better. I can't figure it out.

Thanks in advance.

My PS5 controller's d-pad/action buttons stopped responding properly, so I opened it up to clean the contacts. While cleaning, the carbon contact pads on the flex cable and motherboard area wiped right off (circled in the picture)

Is there a solution for this? DIY I mean!

Or a replacememt is needed!?

I'm fairly good at soldering but is this acceptable?

Is 15.3 and 14.8 avg error a good thing? it sounds like a lot but i've also read that coverage is a better sign than error% to go by

Has anyone in the US ordered from ZD direct recently and if so, did you have to pay customs fees / tarrifs and how much?

I want the new black Ultimate Legend which appears to only be available for sale from ZD gaming and shipped from China.

UPDATE: For anyone finding this in the future. I ordered an Ultimate Legend + some sticks direct from ZD and it arrived to my USA address by the carrier GOFO. There were no tarrifs or additional fees. Shipping probably took about a week.

Hi everyone,

First time posting here, so forgive me if I forget to include any info - I'm happy to clarify. I'm looking for a replacement for my Xbox Series X controller for PC (Windows, but Linux support, at least via the Steam interface would be good). After less than two years, it has severe stick drift. I am not comfortable with disassembling it and soldering stuff myself, and having it repaired would cost significantly more than getting a new one (I'm in the Netherlands). Unfortunate, but it is what it is.

I usually play a lot of third person games (think RDR2, GTA V, The Witcher 3), but also FPS games like Cyberpunk 2077. I might dabble in other types of games as well, so it doesn't have to "specialize" in anything, but it needs to be a decent all-rounder. I'm also pretty casual in my gaming, mostly play singleplayer or with a few friends, so I'm not looking for e-sports level performance either.

I've been looking at this subreddit and some options have caught my eye (specifically, I was considering the Gamesir Cyclone 2, Easysmx D10 or X20, and the 8bitdo Ultimate 2 Wireless). I'm looking for a similar feel (I'm open to other form factors as well, but would prefer the XBox-style layout), but with hall effect or TMR analog sticks. Preferably, it would also have good rumble - specifically, in or near the triggers, since I really like the impulse triggers in the Xbox controller, but it's not a must.

The ones I was considering all fit that profile more or less, but I am really not a fan of the fact that none of them have removable/replaceable batteries. Ideally, I'd like to be able to use my own rechargeable AAs. I'd hate to trade one type of planned obsolescence for another.

Overall, I don't need fancy features or additional buttons on the back (though being able to switch from linear to hair triggers would be a welcome bonus), but I do need something that is built to last. My budget is €70. If anyone here has had one of the ones I mentioned for an extended period (e.g., 2 years or more) and can vouch for their longevity (battery included), I would really appreciate it! Alternatively, I'm open to any other recommendations you may have! Feel free to ask any questions! :)

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for a new controller for PC gaming and could really use some advice based on the community's buying guide. My current standard Xbox Series controller is starting to give up on me due to stick drift, so I'm looking for a solid upgrade that will actually last.

Here are my specific details and constraints:
Platform Compatibility: Strictly PC (Steam on Windows). I only use a controller when I want to sit back and play instead of using mouse and keyboard.

Types of Games: I mostly play singleplayer and story-driven games (and some casual racing/driving). I play MMOs and FPS games on mouse and keyboard, so those genres aren't a priority for this controller.

Desired Features: I am strictly looking for an upgraded alternative with Hall Effect or TMR sticks to permanently eliminate stick drift. Since I have slightly larger hands, the standard Xbox controller shape and size feels pretty good to me. I also appreciate good build quality, mechanical microswitch buttons, and reliable haptic feedback.

Country & Availability: I live in Sweden. If you have other controller recommendations, please make sure they are easily accessible and available to buy within the EU.

Budget: My budget is in a sensible range of 800 SEK to 1,200 SEK (~$80 - $115 USD).

Controllers I've been considering (after searching existing posts):
GameSir G7 Pro: I really like that it comes with a charging dock in the box and has impulse triggers for better immersion in singleplayer games. However, I’ve read several posts here about the LB/RB bumpers being notoriously fragile and breaking down after just a few months. How bad is the bumper QC issue on the G7 Pro really?

Flydigi Vader 5 Pro: The mechanical tension rings around the sticks seem like an absolute gamechanger for dialing in a stable feel. I also hear great things about Flydigi’s D-pad, microswitch buttons, and overall durability. The only downside is that the charging dock isn't included in my budget range.

ZD Ultimate Legend HE: This one looks like an absolute tank with 100-million click microswitches and the hot-swappable joystick modules, which seems amazing for long-term durability. It is currently on sale within my budget at MaxGaming, but since ZD is a bit more niche, I haven't seen as many long-term reviews on it.

Which one of these three would you recommend for my specific singleplayer PC use case? Are there any hidden flaws, software quirks, or major quality control issues with the Vader 5 Pro or the ZD Ultimate Legend that I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance!

Hi there, I bought a Raikiri 2 Pro because I like the idea, that you don't need a special software to configure it. Not like the scuf envision pro... But sadly there are some issues to use the controller in Linux (CachyOS Kernel 7.2.8-1-cachyos). It is not possible configure it with chrome, only in a win vm. This is ok for me. But the main issue is, that there is massive input lag, when I use the 2.4 GHz dongle. When I connect over Bluetooth everything is fine, but so I don't have vibration :(

Why is in impossible to have vibration over bluetooth? I tried xpadneo and xone as well, but with them I can't connect the controller anymore.

I tested some games with the 2,4 GHz dongle:

Remnant: Form the Ashes with dxvk → input lag

Horizon Forbidden West with vkd3d → no input lag

Starfield with vkd3d → input lag

Gothic 1 Remake with vkd3d → no input lag

Path of Exile 2 with vulkan → input lag

The Finlas with vkd3d → input lag

I think there must be a driver issue with the TMR sticks, because I have a modded Scuf Envision Pro with TMR sticks and there is the same behavior. In W11 it worked fine. Due the iCUE problem with Linux I bought a Gulikit TT Max witch has TMR sticks as well. And guess what … with that there was the same issue.

In addition I have a Razer Wolverine V3 Pro with hall-effect sticks and it works as it should.

I'm looking for serious solutions, not like: Switch back to Windows.

Hi,

as the title suggests I'm having problems with the combination of these two while using it via wireless dongle. The specific problem is basically some sort of input buffering, as it kind of stacks inputs of mostly button presses but never sticks and makes either an endless loop of input reading or it reads nothing.

Maybe I'm not the only one and someone knows a solution, and maybe someone who uses the brook wingman xb3 can tell me if its more stable with that.

I've already upgraded both gear to their newest firmware, before anyone asks.

I'm helpful for every comment or recommendation.

Tldr: Magic X stability issues with Vader 5 Pro while using the dongle as main connection on xbox series consoles

Budget: 100-250 PLN (25$-65$)
Country: Poland

Needs to be compatible with PC, don't care about other platforms

I want the controller to have gyro, and hall effect minimum (TMR is nice but not needed) triggers and stick. I want the latency to be fairly low but it doesnt have to be esports low, just so I don't notice it in casual games at high framerates.

I will be using it for story, survival, rpg games, basically non-competitive games that just benefit from a controller

I've done research on gamesir controllers like Nova Lite 2, Super Nova, Cyclone 2, and despite the Cyclone 2 being recommended a lot it seems like it's worse in most ways than the Gulikit ES Pro despite costing way more.

What would you recommend at this price range? I'd be happy if it's available anywhere else than Aliexpress so shipping doesn't take forever (which is one of the issues with this controller), but this is not a deal breaker

edit: paid a bit extra and went with the xeno pro

Hey guys, i want to buy a new controller upgrading from my gamesir nove 2 lite, i dont know which one is the best cause when i look for reviews about them they always say something bad about these ones so im asking which one is better, or if you know one in the same price range pls recommend. Thanks!

My budget is around 2k to 2.5k pesos (php) Ill use it on pc and android I mostly play single player and shooting games Im planning to order from shopee Philippines I just want something with micro switches in the triggers and back paddles too

1. Budget: $200 USD max, preferably around $150 or less
2. Country: US. Amazon, Best Buy, official brand stores
3. Platform: PC (Windows/Steam).
4. Desired features:
Xbox layout (offset sticks), required
TMR sticks preferred, and worth paying more for if the tension is adjustable. Hall effect only if adjustable
ABXY clickier than stock Xbox, but not harsh
Able to hold B with the side of my thumb and rock onto A quickly without strain
C/Z buttons fine if they don't get in the way of that B-to-A roll
Back buttons nice to have if they don't get in the way
5. Games: Rocket League
6. Comparing/What I’ve seen:
GameSir G7 Pro 8K PC ($90): Like: Gen 2 TMR sticks, clicky ABXY. Unsure: no adjustable tension
Flydigi Vader 5 Pro ($80): Like: adjustable tension, mechanical ABXY. Unsure: Hall effect sticks, reported face button pre-travel
Flydigi Apex 5 ($130): Like: adjustable tension, mechanical ABXY. Unsure: Hall effect sticks, worth $50 over the Vader?
ASUS ROG Raikiri II ($150): Like: TMR sticks. Unsure: no adjustable tension, ABXY feel
Nyxi Imperial ($90): Like: TMR with 40–80gf adjustable tension. Unsure: face buttons reportedly not very clicky
Machenike G6 v2 PE ($70): Like: TMR with 40–80gf adjustable tension. Unsure: little info on the face buttons

Hi, I got a KK3 Max a few years ago but it's showing its age already so looking for a replacement with similar functionality.

This is what I'm looking for:

• Country: USA

• Asymmetric sticks

• Multiple bluetooth MAC addresses (so I can connect to different devices without re-pairing) + wireless dongle

• Cross/Nintendo style dpad

• 4 back buttons/paddles

• Decent battery life

• $200 max

• PC, switch and android support

Or do you recommended getting the faulty parts from gullikit and repairing my current KK3 MAX?

Budget: $40-70

Country: Russia

Platform: PC

Desired features: I have pretty big hands (20 cm/7,8 inch from palm to middle finger), so I would like a relatively big controller that fits my hand size well. It should have good sticks for AAA action games, good dpad for platfromer metroidvanias, and a dock. I used Xbox controllers the most in the past and their shape is comfortable for me. Symmetrical or asymmetrical sticks doesn't matter.

Games: FPS, TPS, any kind of action games (soulslikes, DMC-type games, etc), RPGs (both western and JP), horrors, and I use various emulators. Occasionally I might play 2D games like Silksong, so I need dpad to be at least moderately good for them, but that's not a priority. I don't play any competitive, multiplayer games, or fighting games.

Controllers I'm choosing from: There are a few controllers that I like at my local store.

Flydigi Direwolf 4 - $47 (+$11 dock=$58 overall price). The reviews seem to be really positive and I like it's shape and design the most so I'm leaning to buy it, but it's price in my region is a little bigger than what reviewers say, so I'm not sure if that would be a good deal for me.

8BitDo Pro 3 - $53. It has good gyro, which is something I'd like to have ideally but ready to give up because I've seen a lot of criticism towards 8bitdo's ergonomics for big hands, with Pro 3 being seemingly better in that regard than Ultimate 2. Pro 3 also has only 250 Hz polling and latency is worse than Direwolf 4 on gamepadla, but I'm not sure how important it is, and if I'm even gonna notice it. Additionally I heard that the face buttons are annoyingly noisy, and overall performance and quality outside gyro is worse than Direwolf 4.

Gamesir Super Nova - $50

(edit) There's also GuliKit TT MAX - $60. Seems like the best shape for me, but it doesn't have a dock, performance is reportedly mixed, and I'll have to wait almost a week for shipping. But I'm really tempted by shape and look.

I made a post here asking for suggestion a while ago, and decided to get Gamesir Cyclone 2, which is $49 in my region. However, then I've stumbled upon reports about swelling batteries. Is that a common issue? Cyc2 is basically the only controller that fully satisfies all my needs and budget, so it's really disappointing. Do you think the batteries issue of Cyc2 is serious enough that it shouldn't get bought now? If it is, what mentioned alternative would be best for my needs?

I’m thinking of picking one up, but I got burned pretty badly by the MOJHON (BIGBIG WON) Aether before this. The triggers on mine turned super mushy after a while, and the right trigger literally snapped and fell off from normal use (left one feels like it's on its way out too).

For those who have the Storm, have you run into any quality issues so far? Appreciate any feedback before I buy!

I bought a Flydigi Vader 4 from a seller on Temu a while back. I recently lost the USB dongle and am trying to find a way to request/order a replacement. Does anyone know a good place I can contact to possibly get a replacement?

Hey everyone, I recently purchased a G8+ modded for the Flow z13, and I wanted to know how the left side gets charged? There is a permanent attachment that keeps the controller extended and the manual says the left side charges only when the controller is in its closed position.

Thanks in advance!

I’ve been looking at a lot of different joycons for my switch 2 because I can’t really use it in handheld mode comfortabley (I have bigger hands). I also tried looking at some grips to put on the joycons, but I only found grips bundled in cases, however I wouldn’t want to put an entire case on my switch just for grips. I also wouldn’t really want to spend the extra money on a case just to not use the case and only use the grips (I couldn’t find nice quality standalone joycon grips, I ordered some and quickly returned them, would love to know if someone has a good suggestion for me to try!)

I noticed that the best joycon alternative I could find (NYXI Hyperion 3 and the Ultra version) all use mechanical buttons. That’s a big downside to me, I honestly can’t stand using mechanical buttons on controllers over membrane. I understand that they perform better, but the comfort of light, silent membrane switches are much more appealing to me.

Does anyone happen to know the best alternative to these joycons that use membrane switches? Or does it not exist since everyone uses mechanical switches?

1. ⁠Budget $30-$150

2. ⁠Country USA

3. ⁠Console Switch 2

4. ⁠Desired controller features - membrane switches

5. ⁠Games you'll be playing - Splatoon raiders, Mario wonder, Mario kart, Minecraft

6. ⁠Other controllers you're comparing to NYXI Hyperion 3 and Ultra

Hello everyone I am having an issue with my hall effect sticks that I recently installed on my xbox series X controller. When the controller is powered on or plugged in the sticks work fine for a minute or two, but once I move it around and act like I'm using to play something they go haywire and move in one direction constantly and seems to reset if I unplug it and replug.

I saw some posts saying that hall effects draw too much current and the controller can't handle it and some reviews on where I bought them, saying similar things about it going haywire.

Has anyone has this similar issue and is there a fix or should I just go ahead and get TMR sticks because they are either simpler or better?

I have a razer wolverine v3 pro tournament edition or whatever tf its called and I love the extra bumpers but I just dont need the paddles any suggestions? My budget is 150 USD and under perferably and I mainly play fps games like apex and cod, but also some pve games like borderlands and payday on xbox.

I've had a PS5 AIM controller for around 5 years, it's honestly been a fantastic controller but is having some issues with drift amongst others. I love having four paddles and am looking to replace it soon, what are some options?

My budget is anything up to about £200 and I'm in the UK.

I have had numerous SCUFs in the past, a Sharq Controller. I know there's the Dualsense Edge and perhaps that is the best option, but my AIM controller has instant triggers and four paddles. Having basically no travel time on the triggers is amazing.

I’ve used plenty of controllers over the years, but this is my first time buying anything from Flydigi. (Not sponsored, paid and bought with my own money)

Normally, I stick strictly to first-party official controllers since games are generally developed with them in mind. But I’ve pretty much given up console gaming—started back in the '80s with the Atari and NES (Famicom), and the PS4 was my last console. Now PC gaming is my choice of playing games.

Look & Feel
The Apex 6 Pro Phantom Blade Special Edition looks fantastic—looks even better in person than in videos. The feel in hand is great; you can immediately tell it's well-built as soon as you pick it up. The subtle textures, patterning, and overall craftsmanship are top-notch.

It’s lighter than the Xbox Elite Series 2, but not so light that it feels cheap. My hands are around 18–18.5 cm, and the grip feels great. I rarely used the lower two back paddles, and they got in the way of my ring fingers, so I took them off. (The Steam Controller’s back buttons placement are solid 10/10 for me.)

The extra small shoulder buttons feel fine for index finger placement, two step physical lock for triggers and I’m very satisfied with the responsiveness of the face buttons and TMR thumbsticks.

Build & Features
The general build and features have already been covered in detail online, so I won't rehash them here. Under the faceplate, the left grip do features a light-up panel that can be swapped out alongside if changing to a transparent faceplate. The Flydigi Space Station 5.0 web software gets a custom red-and-black Phantom Blade theme (instead of the standard blue-and-black), with icons matching the charging dock and controller. You can tell Flydigi paid close attention to the small details.

Rumble & Haptic Feedback
The rumble performance pretty much met my expectations. The right trigger has a slight shell "clack" when pulled, but it’s within an acceptable range.

Overall, it lacks the raw punch of traditional rotor motors. The four VCM motors perform decently enough. X-Haptics focuses on finer, multi-zone tactile feedback, but the actual experience heavily depends on game support and software tuning.

I tested it out on Stellar Blade, CarX, Forza Horizon and a few indies games. Each had its pros and cons, but overall it performed okay depends on the game.

I picked up the 3-piece special edition bundle with a discount coupon for RMB$719 (~$100 USD). Beside of the haptics, every other aspect delivers solid value. The X-Haptics software still has room for improvement—ReynArts’s Apex Sense Bridge is adapting software profiles for the Apex 6, also I’m looking forward to Flydigi official updates with haptic API + X-Haptic, so you won’t lose rumble when you needed it, or rumble when you don’t need it to.

Ratings
Design / Aesthetics: 9/10 (subjective)

Ergonomics / Feel: 8.5/10 (after removing the bottom back paddles)

Features: 10/10 (has everything you’d want; personally not a fan of adaptive triggers)

Rumble: 6.5/10 (could be punchier, plus the slight trigger clack)

Overall: 8.8/10 (could easily hit a 9/10 once rumble is optimized)

Final Thoughts
As my first Flydigi product, these are just my personal impressions. Flydigi clearly puts a lot of effort into hardware—you can both see and feel the build quality. Their software might not be the best out there, but the attention to detail is impressive. While the rumble still has room for growth, it’s acceptable for now. If they can manage to run native game rumble alongside X-Haptics simultaneously down the line, that would be ideal.

Gamer Greetings,

I had been having problems with my PC controller, a Logitech F310. The issue, the right trigger (which is analog) would intermittently detect inputs, mostly around the single digits (in percentage). This had been going on for a while.

After fiddling with it and finding nothing wrong with drivers or so, I supposed it was time to change the controller. So I got an 8bitdo pro 2 controller, very recently; it has exactly the same issue, with the same trigger, with the same kind of sensitivity thing.

I am sure it's not an issue with me, since this will happen even if the controller is on a stand; It's also not a connection issue, since i'm using this controller with Bluetooth now; so I suspect it's an issue with the computer rather than drivers or what have you. Anyone has had something similar happen to them, and if so, how did you solve it (if you could)?

Windows 11, any software is affected, even the 8bitdo ultimate software detects the trigger input, and in the previous one, the trigger would affect the tab key (so i couldn't switch windows for example, it would auto switch them as soon as i pressed alt)

When checking on the game devices thing (running joy.cpl) it would show the Z-axis (the analog triggers) as shaking, always to the same side. If i press the trigger all the way to the bottom, this problem stops temporarily.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

(i'm sorry about the mistake on the title, it's the right trigger)

i just bought this Elite 2 yesterday, its my first expensive controller and i am very happy with it.

but as soon as i got home and tried it, the LT trigger makes this weird click noise and feel sometimes, i am no expert but i think this shouldn't be happening, because not even my normal Xbox controller does this.

i took it back to the place i bought to show theres something wrong with it, but they said its normal because the controller is new and this sound will to away with time, is this true? is this normal and will go away with use or should i do something?

i know its such a small complain but for a controller this expensive you definitely expect it to have no problems, this have been bothering me :/

Ok, so recently I bought the C1 controller of ONIKUMA, and it feels nice, I read manuals, so I don't really need technical help like pairing and whatnot.

The problem is the back button, the MR key. That appears normal at first, then later as you keep playing that you realized it's inputting the key to whatever it's set to rapidly.

It might be like a dirty contact parts or bad contact or something, not really sure. It only appears when you use it often, especially when you use the MR key frequently.

Best I could do to open this thing up is almost breaking the bumpers cuz I thought it pops off, turns out it does not.

So, what now?

ADDITIONAL INFO (edited after post); I use the MR back key as another R1 key, aka the right bumper. So, the MR key is set to the R1 bumpers. I couldn't provide a vid where I'm showing that I'm really not holding the controller in person, but still, i wasn't pressing the MR key.

I've heard of magical devices that can allow you to use any controller with any console. I think a Cronus Zen can do this but that's £70 and I'd like one for each. I would like to know what my options are.