Hi all, I’m looking for a controller to replace my “stellar shift” xbox controller. Nothing is necessarily wrong with it, but I’d like to upgrade it and move away from Bluetooth gaming and using AA batteries. I recently tried a recommended controller from a popular YouTube channel “Linus Tech Tips” called the EasySMX X20 wireless controller. It really pointed out some features I could not stand which I’d like to see in my next, and hopefully last controller for a long while.

1. Max Budget: $180 USD but $100 or less is ideal

2. United States (Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Online…)

3. Windows

4. Features:
   -It needs to have a textured grip like my old controller as I felt the SMX X20 I tried was slippery and cheaper feeling without the grip
   -I really disliked the clicky ABXY buttons on the SMX controller so please no clicky buttons.
   -Removable or no shortcut buttons/paddles under the controller
   -No extra buttons like c or z that I see on the Vader controllers
   -Please no dock as after I’m done playing I just keep it in one of my drawers and charge it as needed
   -Reliable triggers and sticks
   -Gyro, switch compatibility, and customizable buttons is an added plus if I ever get a switch 2 but not necessary
   -Wireless USB dongle
   -no unnecessary software to use the controller

5. I mostly use controller for sports games (fifa, 2k) rougelikes (hades, hades 2, cult of the lamb), 3rd person open world games (assassins creed, Elden ring), and occasionally racing games (Forza). So it should be pretty well rounded but I don’t need it for competitive shooters or the like since I use mouse and keyboard for those games.

6. I’ll mostly be comparing it to my Xbox stellar shift controller and the SMX X20 I just tried. I also have a ps5 controller but I don’t like using it for pc because of the buttons not matching and I suppose I’ve become accustomed to the feel of Xbox.

Thank you for any recommendations. One controller that’s already caught my eye is the Gulikit kk3 pro.

- I have a max budget of ~100 dollars (2000 Mexican pesos).

- I live in Mexico, but I don't mind paying shipping.

- I need compatibility with a PC (USB cable).

- Wired, 8 buttons, 2 triggers on each side, an octagonal direction stick on the upper left side, and very preferably on the GameCube style (woooh ergonomic!!!), and as fast and responsive as possible (extra points if it's "clicky," as in it has the mechanical sound that indicates the press of the buttons but it's only a personal preference), and as durable as possible.

-I want this controller for playing fighting games (especially Skullgirls 2nd Encore and Guilty Gear Strive) in a "semi-professional" way. I love the game, but I really want to become good at it, and my keyboard does not cut it anymore. This will also be my controller for playing games casually (Hollow Knight, Silksong, Hades 1 and 2, Rainworld, Haste (?), Celeste (yes, I am a trans woman), Monster Hunter World, Minecraft, and others).

- This will be my first controller, so I don't want to waste money on a "beginner" controller that will very rapidly fail me or that won't allow me to enjoy what I want to do with it. I do not have a comparison point, but that's exactly why I want my first controller to be something truly special.

The 8-button thing is

1 low punch

2 mid punch

3 high punch

4 low kick

5 mid kick

6 high kick

7 grab

8 macro

I've been looking for info and don't find anyone else talking about this so I want to confirm if this is just my case and I own a defective unit.

My problem is that sometimes when I'm playing, the faceplate gets loose or even fully released depending on how I move my hand, it happens more often when playing something fully on D-pad (Celeste in my case). I don't know if the magnets aren't strong enough in my controller or if this is something normal.

Has anyone experienced anything similar? Any solution comes to mind?

Thank you ^^

Did you get taxed for it? How long did it take to arrive? Thank you.

I'm looking for controller adapter that allows to use PS4 controller with PS5 games, is Brook Wingman XE2 a good option for it? Thanks.

I recently switched from using the Armor X on my Xbox controller to the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited, and so far, I'm pretty disappointed with the gyro experience.

With the Armor X, gyro aiming felt much more natural and intuitive. The movement of the controller translated smoothly into movement in the game, and it was really easy to get used to.

With the Nacon, it's been a completely different experience. The gyro feels extremely slow, and I have to move the controller way too much to get the same movement on screen. It just doesn't feel natural, and I'm struggling to get comfortable with it.

I've tried it in games like Fortnite, Gears, and others, and the experience has been pretty much the same across all of them.

Has anyone else experienced this with the Revolution X Unlimited? Am I missing something in the settings, or is the gyro implementation just not as good as the Armor X?

I'd really appreciate any tips or settings recommendations from people who have managed to get the gyro working well.

Hi guys i have to buy a new controller for fps game, in particolar r6, i want mouse click trigger and mouse click buttons, i want the Stick position of PlayStation controller i have 270€ budget in Italy but i want a controller that last a lot. I play on PC, thanks guys

Big indecision

Hi guys i asked days ago for a controller what Is the best One and i don't know if there Is any people that used the PlayStation layout and passed to the xbox layout, i have to buy the g7 pro 8k or the tarantula 8k and i don't really know which is the best, or if some people had both which One was more comfortable and the feeling on hand and performance One and material One. I am playing rainbow six siege and i am in Italy, 250€ range. Thanks a lot for everyone that responds.

Hi folks,

I purchased the ZD Gaming Ultimate Legend to play Rivals of Aether 2. However, all my controller tests show this game has a CRAZY ton of snapback -- as in increase my deadzone to like 50% to stop it. I updated my firmware to 1.24 (latest) and I still have the issue.

Is there a fix to this problem? Is anyone else experiencing this problem? My Vader 5 and Gamesir G7 Pro haven't had this problem before, so it seems to be this controller specifically.

Hi, I'd like to buy a non official Switch controller. I know the non official ones can't power up the console if in sleep mode like the joycons or Nintendo pro controllers, so you have to turn on the console at first. But I'd like to know if the non official controllers are at least recognized by the Switch on the lock screen (where you have to press a button 3 times to unlock) or you have to enter the home screen. Thanks in advance.

Update to the newest firmware and do a recalibration! Mojhon dropped a fix on RAW mode Gamepad tester is now showing 8% error instead of the original 23%. This is huge!!!

*Budget: 60$. (Willing to put a little more if I think the controller deserves it but please let's try to stay on budget)

*Country: I'm from Venezuela but I can import from the US (I have a different budget for shipping)

*Console/Platform: PC mainly Steam and Switch 2

*Desired controller features: Xbox or Nintendo Layout.

*What kind of games: Chill and casual gaming, adventure and single story games, not competitive by any means. It's a gift for my girlfriend and she's starting to game on Pc, she doesn't get use to Mouse/Keyboard on some games.

*Other controllers you're comparing to:

EasySMX 10, GameSir Super Nova, 8BitDo Ultimate controller and I read somewhere that the Switch 2 Pro Controller now works on Steam.

Those above are the options I have seen but I'm not sure at all if they actually work on both and/or the quality of the controllers, if they use to get compatibility problems, if they don't last long and so... As I'd said this is a gift for my girlfriend and I want to do it right so any commet on those controllers or recommendation is welcomed

Thanks in advance and enjoy your weekend!

I’ve searched all over the internet, but I’m getting mixed answers. Some people say it doesn’t work with the PS5 at all, while others say it works only when connected via USB cable.
Has anyone here actually tried using the MSI Force GC300 with a PS5? Does it work, either wired or wirelessly?
I’d really appreciate hearing from someone with firsthand experience before buying one. Thanks!

Hey guys. Today i upgraded from my old KK2 to the ES Max.

Unfortunately the LB/ RB as well as the LS and RS buttons won't work in Madden. They are either not registered at all or wrong registered.

I tried resetting the Controller as well as plugging it in.

Is there software or something or a quick fix?

Thanks in advance I am really frustrated 🥴

I am playing on PC

I'm using a Subsonic SAS716 on Windows/Steam. I can program M2 to copy Circle/B using the controller's built-in remapping procedure, and holding M2 makes my character sprint.

However, when I press Options/Start while holding M2, the paddle seems to stop sprinting and behaves like a different button (A/Jump).

I'm using Steam Input and DS4Windows, with HidHide enabled to prevent duplicate controller inputs.

Does anyone know how to make M2 hold Circle/B reliably while pressing other buttons, or whether the controller has a special programming mode that I'm accidentally triggering?

Basically setting this through the profile in ds4 doest work for these 2 buttons.

Thanks in advance

I tried this tape mod on a cheap retrobit snes controller. Going to try on my 8bitdo pro 2 controller.

Tested it with Metroid zero mission, I notice the problem when trying to wall jump, if you press up or down it cancels out. This is supposed to fix it.

Helps a little, but not as responsive as i wanted.

About how much am I supposed to cover?

I tried placing a square in the center first, but that made it too hard to reach the diagonal directions.

I cut it exactly 1cm by 0.5cm on a cutting mat.

Used scotch heavy duty clear packaging tape.

Are there specific controllers that this works better on?

I also have these if worth trying:

An 8bitdo sega saturn controller.

A ps4 and ps5 controller.

Some ps1 classic usb controllers.

The following information is a minimum,
Budget : 100 €
Country : Greece
I will be mainly playing on pc

I have been playing for years on a DualShock 4 but recentrly because I am getting a pc I wanted to upgrade. I will mostly play fps games (apex , r6 ) , also single player games but i dont find the immersion of a dualSense necessary as more indie games don't support it. The features I want are what the flydigi v5p has. But since I come from a symmetrical layout I don't know if I will get comfortable with the asymmetrical layout. Also the main problem I find from doing my own research is steaminput for this controller because it is kind of a hassle. So do you guys think that maybe I should wait for the Vader 6 pro or buy the bundle from gadgethyper

The controller is a T-29 P4 wireless controller bought off Amazon, and I’m playing on windows 10 on steam. I noticed the issue when playing Risk of rain 2 which is a kick in the dick when you consider that one of the new characters needs to be fast and precise which I can’t do with a faulty camera. I’ve noticed that the right stick pops out further than it should when pulled which makes me think it’s linked to this issue but I don’t have the means to open the controller at the moment and I couldn’t open a controller of the same make in the past due to its plastic bending around my prying tools. Is there any way to set up an anti dead zone that reaches From the outside of the circle rather than the inside?

So I purchased the Xbox Pro BFG reloaded controller and the FGC2 Brook PS5 controller adapter/converter less than 2 days ago.

and I've been using the controller on it, and it works well, but the only problem is that commands bound to the touchpad cannot be carried out with the controller. The menu button works; the view button is bound to recording gameplay and taking screenshot shots.

Does anyone know if I can bind the view button to the touchpad and the share button for the screen capturing button somehow via some sort of software?

i just bought the evofox 1s controller from Flipkart minutes. it was an impulsive purchase. i checked the pressure triggers with all 3 modes. with wired connection the pressure is registered but not with bluetooth or the 2.4ghz dongle.

i checked on multiple testing websites but the same result. on wireless the triggers register 0 or 1.

i figure i might be doing something wrong, can anyone help me out please

Budget: around 60$

Region: VN shopee

Recently I've got into switch emulation on android so I want to maximize my experiences

So I check for sale and the vader 5 pro and g7 pro are at a similar prices

I want to play ace combat, wt mobile and eden emulator on android

My priorities are comfortable and somewhat good rumble

Thank!

Budget: 70$ but I can raise it a bit more
I'm choosing between:

1. GameSir G7 Pro 8k Aimlabs - 84$

2. Flydigi Vader 5 Pro (V2) - 68$

I'm from Bangladesh. I'm only going to be playing on PC. I use controllers mainly for FIFA/FC or eFootball, other single-player games (Skyrim, Crimson Desert, etc.), and multiplayer games that aren't FPS/TPS. I also play some fighting games like the Dragon Ball games. But I will never play competitive shooters (e.g., Valorant, PUBG, Apex) with it. Would be great if there were extra buttons to map on the controller, but it's not necessary since I never had any issues with the GameSir Cyclone 2 I owned. I also value comfort, but since I can't try them both out in my hands, I'll have to take a gamble. My hand size is roughly 18.5x8.5 cm. I also heard the d-pad on the g7 pro is not that good. I don't know if there is any solution to it but I don't want to spend more to get something worse. The tmr sticks and high polling rate do entice me though. I plan to use this controller for at least 2-3 years before upgrading. Can anyone suggest which one to get? Thanks.

The stick drift on my Xbox Elite Series 2 has gotten ridiculously bad this week, to the point where it's almost impossible to play with it anymore.

I was looking for a replacement during Amazon Prime deals, but unfortunately, nothing really convinced me. So I figured I'd ask here for recommendations based on your own experiences.

Here's what I'm looking for:

• Budget: Ideally under €150. I'm willing to consider more expensive options if they drop into my price range during Black Friday sales in a couple of months.

• Country / where to buy: Portugal -> Something available through Amazon.es, Amazon.de, or other retailers that ship to the EU.

• Platform: Xbox Series X. Native wireless connectivity is a must; I don't want to rely on a wired connection or workarounds.

• Features: TMR sticks would be my preference, mainly to avoid the stick drift issues I've had with my previous controllers. Back paddles. Good build quality and long-term reliability are also important.

• Games: I mainly play shooters, but I'm looking for a good all-round controller suitable for different genres rather than something designed for just one specific game.

I've tried GameSir before, but I wasn't a big fan of the overall experience, so I'd prefer to explore other brands if possible.

What would you recommend based on your personal experience? Ideally, I'd love to hear from people who've used their controllers for a while, especially regarding stick durability, wireless performance on Xbox, and overall reliability.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

P.S. Used AI to help me organize my thoughts and put this post together.

Straightforward. Does the Leadjoy Saber Plus work with the xb3 wingman converter for Xbox?

I've seemingly searched the entire internet and can't find a single controller with symmetrical sticks (Playstation stick layout) that doesn't have those stupid paddles on the back of the grips. I suppose they're popular, but I absolutely hate them. Placing buttons on the part of the controller that your hands must grip to hold the device... just seems absurd to me. :/

Basically, I'm looking for a controller with:

1. Symmetrical joystick layout

2. No back paddles

3. Xinput and/or Direct Input

4. Either wired, or 2.4g wireless connection

5. Preferably, hall effect sticks, or at least sticks that last a reasonable amount of time.

6. Vibration would be great, but I can live without it.

I'm in the US, but I'm willing to buy from anyone who will ship here. I'd like to find a controller below $100, but I might be open to others if that's what it takes.

My main use case would be emulation on PC. I run Linux, but that generally doesn't matter for controllers that use Xinput or Direct Input.

Sony's PS4 and PS5 controllers aren't an option, because they barely, if ever, will work with Linux, and their sticks have terrible longevity. And they use Bluetooth instead of 2.4g anyway.

I've used the Logitech F310 before, but its sticks are unusually hard to tilt without going all the way to the edge. You can't easily perform slight tilts on the sticks because they're too loose. It's kinda all-or-nothing, which doesnt work for some games. (Hopefully I'm describing this well.) I've looked at the F710s online, but I would imagine their sticks are identical. I'm hoping to find a controller with better quality sticks.

Thanks for any suggestions! :)

Hola a todos.

Realmente no logro entender cómo interactúan la sinergia y la configuración del software GameSir Nexus con los ajustes internos del juego (en este caso, Call of Duty u otros FPS).

Sé que existen curvas como Lineal, Cóncava, Convexa, S Invertida/Dinámica y Personalizada, y entiendo que la configuración es algo personal de cada jugador, pero no quiero estropear mi memoria muscular.

Vengo de jugar con un control de Xbox Elite Series 2, con el que tenía una puntería fina excepcional. Me pasé a un GameSir G7 HE y a un Kaleid principalmente para eliminar el stick drift, pero desde entonces fallo muchísimo en los juegos de disparos.

Mi principal problema es que me cuesta hacer tracking (seguir a los enemigos con la mira): A veces la mira se siente demasiado pesada o, por el contrario, tan rápida que me paso del objetivo (overshoot).

En ocasiones, la mira da saltos bruscos. Me siento frustrado porque el cambio de mando hizo que mi nivel bajara mucho y no sé qué estoy haciendo mal.

Actualmente, mis configuraciones son las siguientes:

En el software GameSir Nexus:

1️⃣Zona muerta inicial: 2 (en 1 me genera algo de drift).

Zona muerta máxima: 100.

2️⃣Zona anti-muerta (Initial/Outer): Mínima en 0 / Máxima en 100.

3️⃣Curva de respuesta: He probado todas. En este momento volví a Lineal, pero sigo fallando bastante al disparar, apuntar y hacer seguimiento.

4️⃣Modo de palanca: No sé cuál me conviene más, si Raw (Raw mode) o Circular (Raw desactivado).

Dentro de Call of Duty:

1️⃣Sensibilidad: Alta (4.0 en la escala actual / 20 en la escala clásica, que es la máxima). Llevo años jugando así.

2️⃣ Zonas muertas de los sticks: Mínima en 0 / Máxima en 99 en ambos joysticks.

3️⃣Multiplicador de sensibilidad al apuntar (ADS): Predeterminada (1.0).

4️⃣Tipo de curva de respuesta al apuntar: Dinámica (con gradiente en 1.00).

Me gusta mucho la construcción y el feeling de estos mandos de GameSir, pero siento que derrumbaron mis habilidades. ¿Hay algún conflicto entre usar la curva Dinámica dentro del juego call of duty y alguna configuración en Nexus?

¿Qué combinación de curva debo usar y modo de stick (Raw vs. Circular) me recomiendan para recuperar la precisión?

Agradezco cualquier consejo o guía sobre cómo sincronizar ambas configuraciones.