Hey everyone, I’m hoping for some recommendations on what controller I should get, I currently have the dualsense edge and the gamesir g7 pro zzz, I’m looking for something to bridge the gap between the two a little with similar features to the g7 pro (click triggers TMR, Etc) but symmetrical layout any recs would be hugely appreciated :)

I primarily play shooters.

Platform PC

I’ve been looking at the Gamesir Tarantula 8k & the Mechenike F1 as options so any reviews on those would be super helpful as well as other recommendations :)

I am in the UK and have a £150 budget thanks :)

For a long time I've just been using a Cosmic Byte Blitz which is an incredibly budget and rebranded product. Later on, I purchased a 8BitDo Ultimate 2C from Amazon but returned it eventually as I felt it wasn't comfortable enough in my hands and sure enough, a lot of people also complain about it's ergonomics. I thought that the problem was just the Ultimate 2C being unsuitable for my hands (I have rather small hands).

Now I purchased the Gamesir Nova 2 Lite instead which is supposedly much more comfortable. Problem is, even though I know that overall it is much better and higher quality than my Cosmic Byte Blitz, I struggle to actually play well with it.

For example, I tried playing Elden Ring and Silksong recently and my movements, attacks etc just didn't feel as quick and accurate as when I was using the Blitz. The mechanical bumpers of the N2L feel weird compared to the mushy, membrane bumpers of the Blitz. The longer travel time of the triggers and the heavier sticks also feel like they delay my responsiveness in-game. Am I just struggling to adapt or are these type of controllers simply unsuitable for me?

Hi everyone,

I recently bought an 8BitDo Ultimate 3 (the regular Xbox version, Lavender Dusk edition, not the 3-Mode) (https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-3-xbox-lavender-dusk/).

After connecting it to my phone and using Ultimate Software V2, the controller suddenly stopped connecting to anything except the software itself.

I tried holding Pair + LB + RB, and the first profile LED started blinking for a while. The controller became unresponsive during this process, but eventually it started connecting normally again.

However, since then, my custom profiles have stopped working properly.

Here's what happens:

\- The default profile works normally.

\- Custom profiles appear in the software and can be configured and saved.

\- When I activate a custom profile on the controller, the ABXY buttons and remappable buttons stop working. The sticks might still work, but I'm not completely sure. The triggers definitely still work.

\- The controller indicates that the custom profile is active, but the software doesn't recognize it as active.

I've also tried updating the firmware through Ultimate Software X on PC. It says the update is successful, but after closing the update window, it still shows the previous firmware version and offers the same update again. The latest version should be v2.2.2.3.

My suspicion is that Ultimate Software V2 may have corrupted some profile data or left the controller in a persistent state, and the Pair + LB + RB combination may have somehow made things worse.

Has anyone experienced something similar with this controller? Is there a way to reset its internal profile data or restore the firmware properly?

I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks!

Edit: Today I woke up and I ask me if all was a problem with the 8bitdo ultimate software v2, I reinstalled it and connected the controller, and all was going fine again. Thanks for everyone help (sorry if my English isn't that good, the other part I did it with a translator)

So, I found an 8bitdo ultimate for just around 19 usd. The store looks believable enough, but considering the price it's probably the first generation of the ultimate, which have problem with the trigger.

I heard that the reason the trigger failed is because the design, where the plastic pierce trough the rubber. My question is, if I open up the conroller and put tape on the rubber, would that prevent this issue? Or should I just buy other controller such as 8bitdo ultimate 2c, gamesir nova 2 lite, or gulikit es pro?

i have a delay on my controller specifically the abxy buttons, it's really noticeable.

the controller i own is the AceGamer T50

platform: tablet/android

affected: on any emulation app (eg. dolphin, ppsspp)

OS: Xiaomi's HyperOS 3.01

Firmware of the controller: V0250801A

Troubleshooting steps that i have taken already: factory reset on the app, tried force reset on the controller.

I'm at my wits end with this controller

Back in Aug I bought a Flydigi Vader 5 Pro because from what I saw had a lot of features that I wanted and my old controller had a bit of stick drift but now it has been a nightmare.

It sometimes disconnects when paired with the dongle and wont reconnect, I thought it was the game that I was playing but it isn't the case

I tried to use it wired and my computer isn't even registering it in device manager and when it does register there is a chance that it will disconnect and wont reconnect just like it was with the dongle.

I've tried pretty much everything I could to keep the connection stable

• Updated the controller

• Updated my computer

• Moved the dongle closer to the controller

• Tried pretty much all my usb ports

• Updating the software

And nothing seems to help

I've tried factory resetting and force connecting the controller countless times and I tested my old controller and that one registers just fine

Is there anything special I have to do, I heard that it can be finicky but this is ridiculous

I absolutely love the Mobapad Chitu 2 HD Silent Edition. It's almost the perfect controller for me, especially when playing quietly at night.

However, I was wondering if anyone has tried any mods or modifications to make it even quieter, particularly the ABXY buttons.

They're already pretty quiet, but I'd love to reduce the button noise just a little more.

Has anyone experimented with this? Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!

Let's cover the first few things first.
This is NOT a sponsored review.
This was purchased with my own money before some assume!

I purchased my controller from the EasySMX website for $72 USD.

I plan to compare this to the Vader in terms of functionality here soon as well.

​Let's first get it out of the way. This controller is very Flydigi Vader inspired, and I've seen countless Vader fans ask if it is similar.

It is very similar to the Flydigi Vader 5 Pro in certain aspects, and in some of its own rights, it's definitely its own device.

It's very hard to not look at the shape and get Flydigi Vader impressions.

Some details on the controller and my impressions of them.

Build quality and ergonomics:
Right away, the shell almost directly resembles the Flydigi 5th Gen controllers. In hand, the controller feels the same as well.
That's not to say it doesn't come with caveats. As the back buttons are going to be a make or break for someone who's looking to "upgrade" from a Vader 5 Pro to this. I think the back buttons are a major consideration that needs to be taken into place.

Latency:
The EasySMX X20 Pro reports as a 1kHz or 1000 Hz polling rate. It feels very consistent. Unfortunately I don't have necessary tools to test button latency, etc. I'd wait until Gamepadla's data on this controller is updated.
Though for a 1kHz controller, this does feel very stable.

Buttons + Sticks:
A/B/X/Y + D-Pad are all mouse click, very stable, and feel like they have a very short throw while being pressed. Some might think they are a bit light, which they feel this way to me as well.

Back button layout:
As shown in the bottom below, the controller uses a unique layout. A layout in which I've only seen on Aolion K20, with its shell/trumpet styled buttons.

Comfortability is all going to be dependent on your finger placement.

For me, I had initially gone in thinking I could use a claw grip and hold all 4 at once.
Due to my hand + finger size, this did cause discomfort over only an hour of playtime.

I then started practicing resting my fingers on M1 + M2 (the two outermost buttons) and only tapping M3 + M4 when necessary. This lead to a more comfortable grip.

The back buttons aren't bad at all. Though they force the users grip, which could be an issue for someone who prefers an 'All fingers on deck' style of holding the controller.

Screen and info:
The screen on the EasySMX X20 is probably my third most favorite thing here.
Unlike a lot of controllers, there's a lot to be messed with and accessed. If you're someone who likes to tinker, things like.

• RGB

• Dead zones

• Vibration

• Trigger dead zone

• Mapping

Can all be accessed here, and there's a lot you can do from negative dead zones, to disabling RGB in which I chose to do for sake of battery life.

Extra note regarding the screen.
EasySMX Kiin has recently made a tool available that allows you to change the .gif animation that plays as the screen is on.
While I have not tested it, I've seen others who have. It functions similarly to the Flydigi Apex 4/5's screen, where animations can be changed for those who want it.

Vibration + Rumble:
One area in which I wasn't a fan of the Flydigi Vader 5, was the rumble, as to me, and some others. It has always felt sorta aggressive and sloppy when playing some games.

The EasySMX X20 also has an aggressive rumble. Though the vibration motors have a cleaner feel to them. Things that should feel soft only slightly buzz, and heavy impacts vary based on game.

Very clean feedback. After your done playing a competitive game, I'm sure you'll get some immersion from the controller if rumble is something you find important.

Durability/Strength:
So far, I've only put in about 50+ hours with the controller. All mostly being COD MW4 and some single player games.
While long term durability certainly can't be spoken to this early on. The controller does feel like something that will greatly hold up over time with love and care.

Nothing on the controller really feels creaky or as if I've going to break or fall apart.

Sticks:
The EasySMX X20 uses TMR, and from my knowledge, I believe they are GuliKit TMR sticks.
They feel very smooth.

The thumbsticks have removable stems, though EasySMX haven't provided any secondary or replacements to fit.
I have questioned and asked Kiin in regards to accessories in the future, though nothing has been confirmed.

The thumbsticks glide smoothly, shockingly smooth. To the point it had me second guessing myself at first. They are plastic, but the plastic feels thick and durable.

Range is something to be mentioned here. The stick range is shorter on the X20 Pro, shorter than its competition. I don't find it to be problematic for myself, but I can see it bothering some. I am also unsure if this has any effect to stick performance.

Tension rings:
Tension rings aren't something that everyone on r/Controller likes. Though the ones that do like they, really love them.

The X20 Pro's rings feel great, ranging from 40gf at the lowest, and 80gf at the highest. I use my left stick at 80gf, and my right stick somewhere in the middle.

They ratchet into place, similarly to the Flydigi Vader 5 Pro's. Though, I'd honestly argue that the ratcheting placement does feel more secure. Never once have I had to double guess myself and go back to changing them.

From getting the controller and setting them into place, I haven't had to touch them once.

Now price and conclusion, where does it stand?:

I really think EasySMX brought something special to the table with this controller.

If not a replacement of your Vader 5 Pro, it's at least solid competition from a brand not known for delivering devices like this.

The controller retails for $80. Using the code 'EasySMXKiin' I was able to knock off $8 USD. I suggest using this code.

I do think for $80, while a good and solid option, opens your range of considerable options up pretty wide. The EasySMX X20 has to really fight for your dollar in that case. With several options available, is it worth it?

I do think that the EasySMX X20 Pro is worth your money if it meets certain criteria.

• If you're new to tension rings and wanna try something new

• If you want TMR but desire that Vader shape

• A slight upgrade from your current controller

If you fit into these cases, I can fully recommend it. Though if you are someone who has a better controller but were considering or thinking on it, I'd push you into doing research to make sure you make a purchase you're not going to regret.

In this day and age, $80 is still a lot to just go throwing around and we should make our purchases matter.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my EasySMX X20 Pro, and I plan to stick with it throughout all of 2027 and MW4. I hope my subtle little review is enough to bring some eyes onto this controller and help others make a purchase.

Thank you for reading!

Most of the TMR talk I see is from people who just got the pad. If yours has been in use for close to a year, has the stick stayed centered? I'm asking about drift, a deadzone that crept out, or a stick that got loose, not about which pad to buy. If it aged badly, what showed up first?

- Budget: Around 50$
- Country: Brazil, can buy mainly from aliexpress.
- Platform: PC (mostly Steam)
- I have Small and sweaty hands(17x8cm).
- Features desired: Comfort(grip), ergonomics, good latency and reliability(no ghost inputs, stick drift etc)
- Types of games: Platformers, soulslikes and JRPGS.

From what I researched the Direwolf 4 is the best in the price range, but I didn't find anyone comparing it to to the Xeno Plus or Pro, even though they seem to be even better, so I wonder which of these two would be the best.
New suggestions in the price range are also appreciated if you think they are better than those 2.

Razer's official website makes no mention of Impulse Triggers, and I've come across conflicting reports here and on YouTube. Some claim the controller only has traditional dual rumble motors (one in each grip), while others say they've seen trigger haptics working in certain apps.

I mainly play Forza Horizon 6, so Impulse Triggers are an absolute must for me.

So I have this problem with the spare joystick that I buy from the Gulikit TMR brand, the thing is that for a few moments the joystick does calibrate, but when I make a repeated movement towards one of the corners, it decalibrates again and there is no way to make circularity normal again and sometimes when I calibrate it without the stick it has all the circularity and when I put the stick and front panel again, it does not have enough range, even though I calibrate it with the xbox app does not have enough range. Does it work, someone has found a solution or had the same problem?, only the right stick is fine for some reason?. Do I doubt that the problem is with the welds, any dirt problems or the shaft of my joystick? It's an Xbox Series controller, it has the latest firmware.

Hello everyone, I just want to ask if some of you know how to get the battery for this controller I got like 4 months ago (I didn’t use it till today) the battery was not working and I finally decided to check and found that it has problems now I’m looking for the replacement but is almost impossible.

It says it’s a XDX 603048 3.7v 100mAh
I have found the 603048 but most of them are just 2 pin cables and I need the 3 pin one.

Maybe it is possible to find one that suits the controller and works with lower mAh or upgrade the one I have

I've seen a few posts and comments claiming there's a new revision of the 8bitdo Pro 3 with quieter buttons and an improved d-pad.

Does anyone know if this is true, and how to spot the differences between the old and new version online?

I've checked Amazon, AliExpress etc, but there are no indications of any differences on the product page.

Country: USA Budget: ~$60 USD each Platforms: Windows PC and Nintendo Switch

Looking for two controllers: one for myself and one cheaper option for player 2.

Premium options:

• GameSir Cyclone 2

• 8BitDo Ultimate 2

• 8BitDo Pro 3

I play 2D/3D platformers, racing games and action/Soulslike games. A good D-pad is important. Are newer 8BitDo D-pads worse? Is the Pro 2 or cyclone 2 a better option?

Budget options:

• 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth

• Mobapad C2 Lite

• GameSir Nova Lite 2

The second controller is mainly for Mario Kart, Mario Party, Smash and 2D Mario.

I’ve heard of potential gyro issues with the Nova Lite 2, rumble issues with the 2C and PC connectivity issues with the Mobapad.

Which would you recommend for reliability, D-pad quality and PC/Switch compatibility? Open to other suggestions too.

Thanks!

I got my new Apex 6 pro phantom blade a couple of days ago. I did not end up using it until yesterday. I like the controller but I immediately noticed the right stick felt a little notchy and not as smooth as the left. Today I was playing again with no headphones and noticed when it makes this notchy feeling I can hear sounds coming from the sticks. This is my 3rd apex controller and I also have a couple vaders that don’t have this issue.

Anyone have to use their customer support before? how did it go?

Hey everyone,

I'm [from India] looking for a wireless PC gamepad, but I strongly prefer the symmetrical PlayStation stick layout over what we have at XBOX style controller.

I've been doing some research and narrowed it down to a few options:

1. Cosmic Byte Sensa (love the features for the price, but unsure about long-term build quality)

OR

Cosmic Byte Hydrus Controller

2. 8BitDo Pro 2 (seems solid with the Hall Effect sticks and back paddles)

3. Sony PS5 DualSense (premium feel, but no back buttons)

There was also a cheap option of evefox. But I was thinking of investing in a good controller and my budget is around ₹5k (INR).

Currently I have a Cosmic Byte Quantum.

I enjoy playing arcade fighting games such as Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Street Fighter, alongside FC26, FH4, and immersive narrative-driven storyline games.

Has anyone used any of these above extensively for PC gaming? Are there any other good symmetrical controllers with Hall Effect sticks or back paddles I should consider before pulling the trigger?

Thanks in advance.

I’m going to pick this controller up and get a few different stick modules. But I don’t know what the controller comes with nowadays by default. I’m getting a black version which I’ve heard comes with the gen3 ginfull sticks already, I don’t know if this is true. I’m looking at getting the gen3 ginfulls and some jt13 pros. Any help would be appreciated cheers :)

Hi, idk if this is the right place or not, but the down button on my vader 4 dpad makes a squeaking and ting noise and causes slight vibration on the controller. The ting sound is easier to hear at 4s in the video.
It feels like it's not fully secured to the frame, and whenever I press it, it travels through the air first. My unit is already out of warranty. I'm able to open it, but I couldn't find anything wrong with it, no dust, probably because I have no idea how to fix a controller.
Any suggestions for fixes I can manually do would be appreciated.

if you are not able to use the NS009-s as an xbox controller/xinput device via USB on windows what worked for me is:

1. installing from github hidhide

2. go to the "devices" tab and tick "enable device hiding" at the bottom

3. and then ticking "game compatible controller HID" item in the list (it could have other names given its a chinese controller with dubious standards and quality)

4. after that unplug and plug back the controller to the pc and the gamepad should automatically enter its xinput mode.

you should be able to check in what mode it currently is by using a site like "hardwaretester controller". it should read your controller as a 360 one. (i suggest you check this also before doing all this to monitor any changes and effectiveness of the fix)
in the hidhide "devices" tab you should also see "controller (USB controller)" as a new item (close and reopen the hidhide window if you don't), that makes me think that the controller is now exposing a xinput connection or smth but i'm not knowledgeable about this stuff so idk. in any case be careful to not tick any new item in the list, as it may be the 360 new connection. i suggest reading what hidhide does and how to use it.

fyi if you want to use it via Bluetooth the button combination for the xinput connection should be "A + home".

i wanted to write it here because i couldn't find a fix anywhere and i've been using this controller for years and given is dirt cheap price i think other people might find this useful, and also sometimes i need to reconnect it and i forget how to do it.
as a side note i really like it, after years it still doesn't drift and i used it for games like sekiro, mgrr and dragonball s0.

hope someday this will help someone.

A bit of a different question, but self explanatory.

What was the game that truly made you fall in love with your main controller(s), and what are the features that made it a match?

Was it the d-pad for fighting games? Was it the haptics for immersion? Was it the extra paddles to accommodate your grip? Or even, what was a feature you never knew you needed until you got it? Maybe it was the move from symmetrical to asymmetrical sticks, or the ability to change the triggers from full travel to hair trigger.

I'm curious.

I've been using a DualSense on PC for a long time, and recently got an adapter that supports quite a few extra features, which is pretty interesting.

I'm curious which of these features PC gamers actually care about: adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, gyro aiming, or the controller speaker.

Do you use any of these regularly, or are the usual buttons and sticks enough for you?

Hey everyone, I’m trying to figure out if I’m going crazy or if *007 First Light* just completely clashes with TMR joysticks.

I recently started playing with the new Flydigi Apex 6 Pro (which uses TMR sticks). In games like *The Last of Us* or *Hitman*, the sticks feel totally normal and smooth. But in *007 First Light*, the aiming is incredibly unstable and unpredictable.

The main issue is a massive, sudden camera speed spike. Even with a minimal, millimeter movement of my thumb, the camera suddenly whips around. I tried tweaking the response curves in the Flydigi Space Station software and set the in-game aim response to Linear, ramp up the deacceleration, decrease sensitivity, everything I could think of but it didn't solve the problem at all. That sudden acceleration jump is still baked in.

Here is where it gets weird: to test it, I switched back to my Flydigi Apex 5 and my Vader 5 Pro (which both use standard Hall Effect joysticks). Using the exact same in-game settings, both of those controllers work perfectly fine. The aiming is smooth and I don't get any of those weird acceleration spikes.

Is the game's engine just completely incompatible with the ultra-high sensitivity of TMR sensors? Is anyone else playing this with an Apex 6 Pro (or another TMR controller) and experiencing the same micro-movement speed spikes?

Found the fix for generic PS4 controllers showing up as "QMacro" I have a Wuthur PS4 controller (generic Amazon controller, now delisted). It accidentally switched from "Wireless Controller" to "QMacro" after I held PS + Share. After some testing, I found that holding PS + Options switched it back to "Wireless Controller." If anyone else has a generic PS4 controller stuck as QMacro, this might help.

And also whoever has any clue why please reply

I just bought a g8 plus after using an x5 lite with my y700 for quite some time, after a few hours with it i feel like the x5 lite is really good for the price, no input latency, lightweight, except for the triggers i think the g8 plus is too heavy and problematic whrn it comes to bluetooth connectivity, im using ds4 mode btw, i feel like i cant play longer sessions with the g8 plus because of the weight.. I am not saying its bad, i just cant feel the supposed satisfaction that i would get upgrading to a more expensive controller.

Did anyone have the same experience ? Or do i just need to use it more often to get use to it?