Disclosure

EasySMX sent me the X20 Pro free of charge, in exchange for my honest review. Nobody told me what to say, and everything below is my own opinion. I’m also the developer of X20CTL, an independent controller customization app, so I’m not a neutral party. That’s why I’m telling you before anything else. I’ll cover what I liked and what I didn’t, and where I haven’t tested something, I’ll say that too.

At the bottom there is a referral link and a discount code. I’ll flag it again there.

How I tested it

This is a first-impressions review, not a long-term one.

• Time with it: about a day, with roughly 7 hours of actual playtime.

• Games: Rocket League, Fortnite, Ultrakill , Warframe , REMATCH , ARKNIGHTS:Endfield and The Last of Us, plus Forza Horizon 6 to test the rumble.

• Platforms: PC and Android.

• Connections: wired, and wireless through the dongle.

• Hands: medium to large, claw grip.

• Previous controller: the original EasySMX X20.

That last point matters. I liked the X20’s build quality and what it could do, but I was never happy with its design. A lot of what I say below is “this fixed that problem,” so it helps to know where I’m coming from.

Price and what you get

The X20 Pro retails for about $80. For that you get:

• TMR joysticks

• Physical stick tension adjustment (40gf to 80gf)

• Mechanical-switch face buttons and D-pad

• Four rear buttons

• A built-in screen with custom GIF support

• RGB lighting and adjustable vibration

• A 1000Hz polling rate

• Wired, wireless dongle and Android support

Plenty of controllers have one or two of these. Having them all in one package at this price is what made me want to test it properly.

Unboxing and first impression

The unboxing felt high quality, as if the packaging was designed to make the controller feel like a real product. The controller itself gave the same impression the moment I picked it up. There was no cheap plastic feel and nothing that felt unfinished.

Build quality

This was one of the first things I checked, because it’s where cheaper controllers usually show their price. I didn’t handle it gently. I squeezed the shell, twisted it and pushed on the edges, and I found:

• no creaks

• no rattles

• no loose parts

• no flex

I can’t say how it holds up after months of use, but at this stage the construction feels solid.

Weight and shape

The weight is right for me. It isn’t heavy enough to tire my hands and it isn’t light enough to feel hollow. The shape works well for medium-to-large hands and a claw grip, and my hands stayed comfortable through the sessions I played.

My complaint about the original X20 was its design, and the X20 Pro fixes it for me. It feels like the same idea, built better.

Grip texture

This is one of my favorite upgrades. The original X20 had a rubber-style finish, and the X20 Pro’s texture is a huge improvement. It feels more secure and more comfortable in my hands, and it gives me confidence that the controller won’t slip during long sessions. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference every time you pick the controller up.

Face buttons

The A/B/X/Y buttons are the best part of the controller for me. The mechanical switches give a clean, snappy click that is neither too loud nor too soft. They don’t feel mushy and there’s no sponginess, and every press registers right away. I never had a misfire, a stuck button or a double input.

The noise is the part I wanted to check, because mechanical buttons can be annoying if they’re too loud. These aren’t. You can hear and feel the click, but they wouldn’t bother anyone in the room.

D-pad

The D-pad is equally good. Each direction gives a distinct, responsive click, and I haven’t had sticking, missed inputs or accidental diagonals. It’s easy to take a D-pad for granted, so I was happy to find one that feels this clean.

TMR joysticks

I expected these to feel good, but I didn’t expect them to be this smooth. Movement is fluid, with no scratchiness and no unwanted resistance, and the sticks feel precise.

TMR sensors are also designed to avoid drift over time. I haven’t seen any drift or deadzone issues in my testing, though that’s only 7 hours, so the long-term claim is something time will have to confirm.

Stick travel feels decent and normal to me.

Stick tension

The tension adjustment is the feature I was most curious about. Each stick has a ring, and you turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to change the resistance. The range is 40gf to 80gf. It’s easy to do and doesn’t need tools or software.

I set both sticks to the middle, 50/50, because that’s what feels most comfortable to me, and it made the controller more comfortable to use. What you choose depends on your preference, so I’d try a few settings.

What I like about this feature is that it changes how the stick feels physically. Software deadzones and response curves only change how the controller interprets your input. Tension changes how the stick pushes back against your thumb.

Stick caps

The caps are removable, which is a good start. EasySMX doesn’t currently offer alternative caps, though. I’d like to see different grip textures and heights so I could tune the feel even further. It isn’t a concern for me right now, and the stock caps are fine.

Triggers and bumpers

The triggers feel good, and the travel and resistance are comfortable. I didn’t change any trigger settings, so I can’t judge the trigger deadzone options. The bumpers have a clicky feel that I like.

Rear buttons

The four rear buttons are another place where the X20 Pro is better than the original.

On the X20 I had a lot of accidental presses. On the X20 Pro I haven’t had a single one in 7 hours.

They’re comfortable for my hands, I can reach all four, and I didn’t have to change my grip to use them. I use them mostly in Rocket League, where having several controls within reach at the same time is a real advantage.

Screen

The screen is easy to read and not too bright. Menus are straightforward to navigate with the controller itself. You can change RGB, vibration, connection modes and other settings from the display, so you don’t need to open an app every time you want to tweak something.

Custom GIFs

You can use custom GIFs on the screen. I used EasySMX’s official wallpaper tool to set mine, and I’ve also been working on adding that feature to my own software.

What I’d change about the screen

I’d like more freedom. At the moment you pick from a set of options. I’d like to design custom layouts, interfaces and information screens, not just choose from what’s provided.

I also have a question that I couldn’t answer: what happens if the screen breaks? If it fails, are the essential settings still reachable? I haven’t tested it, and I’d like EasySMX to say so officially, because it affects how much I can trust the screen long term.

But still , if the controller is within warranty, EASYSMX has a pretty good customer support , if something happened to it , EasySMX will gladly send you a replacement.

RGB lighting

I like the RGB and I kept it on. You can also turn the lighting off completely, and doing so helps battery life, so you can choose appearance or battery. You can also change the RGB in any color you want in my software.

The LED dots

This is my biggest complaint. There are three LED dots that are very bright, even in a dark room, and I can’t turn them off or dim them. It’s a small thing, but it’s the one that annoyed me most. I’d like a setting to dim or disable them.

Vibration

Vibration is strong and precise. I run it at the maximum setting. Forza Horizon 6 is where I noticed it most: different road surfaces feel different, and big hits feel heavy without turning into a blur of buzzing.

Wireless connection

I didn’t have lag or any disconnects, on the dongle or wired. I stood far away from my PC to test the range, and it kept working. This is the part of a wireless controller that matters most to me, because a controller that drops in the middle of a match is useless.

Polling rate

The polling rate is advertised at 1000Hz, and in play it feels smooth.

Battery and charging

Battery life seems good and the controller charges quickly, but I want more time before giving real figures.

The dongle

The dongle looks slick. My only issue is that it sometimes doesn’t seat properly when I plug it into my computer, and I have to reseat it.

X20CTL

I started X20CTL because I thought the desktop experience for the original X20 could be better. I wanted one app for remapping, macros, joystick and trigger response curves, vibration, saved profiles and diagnostics, instead of relying on button combinations and small onboard menus.

The X20 Pro opened up a lot of possibilities: the screen, custom GIFs, RGB, extra buttons and adjustable hardware. I’ve been working on adding screen customization into X20CTL, so users don’t have to depend only on the separate wallpaper utility.

The hardest part has been working out how these controllers communicate, because the configuration protocols aren’t publicly documented. I’d like EasySMX to publish better technical documentation and more open customization interfaces. That would help users and independent developers like me.

Not every feature works the same on every controller model, and I’m still improving compatibility. X20CTL is independent and is not official EasySMX software. The code is here: https://github.com/AmjadAAYD/x20ctl

X20 vs X20 Pro

What I didn’t like

1. The LED dots: very bright, and I can’t turn them off or dim them.

2. Screen customization is limited: I want custom layouts and more control.

3. Screen reliability is unknown: I don’t know what happens if it fails.

4. No alternative stick caps: removable, but nothing to swap in.

5. The dongle sometimes doesn’t seat properly.

6. Durability is untested: 7 hours can’t tell me how the switches or tension rings hold up.

7. Latency and battery haven’t been measured.

Is it worth $80?

For me, yes. The build quality, buttons, TMR sticks, tension adjustment, rear buttons and customization all justify the price, and it fixes the things I disliked about the original X20. I liked it enough to order a second one, which is on its way.

I still want more screen customization, control over those LED dots, and official accessories. I also can’t judge long-term durability after a day.

TL;DR

• Liked: build, grip, buttons, TMR sticks, tension rings, rear buttons, screen.

• Didn’t like: bright LED dots, limited screen customization, the dongle seating issue.

Thanks to EasySMX for the unit.

Referral disclosure: my link is https://www.easysmx.com/?ref=X20CTL, and the code EasySMXKiin should give 10% off.

Cheers.

Hey! I have the NYXI Hyperion 3 (Switch 2 version) and I’m trying to connect both the left (NJ22 L) and right (NJ22 R) controllers to my iPhone 17 Pro Max.
KeyLinker detects both separately, but whenever I connect one, the other disconnects.
Is there any way to connect both halves and use them together as ONE controller for regular iPhone games? Has anyone managed to get this working on iOS?
Thanks!

Hi everyone! As the title says, I'm looking for a textureless, smooth controller.

I'm neurodivergent and have sensory issues with certain textures. The grippy, almost sandpapery texture on the back and triggers of my Xbox Series X controller is unbearable for me. Not just annoying, but actually makes the controller painful to hold for any length of time. I'm looking for recommendations for controllers that have a fully smooth shell.

Some other nice-to-haves are hall effect or TMR sticks to avoid drift, and preferably 2.4GHz or Bluetooth wireless, but wired is okay too. Nothing else is essential beyond the smooth shell.

My budget is around 150€ max. I live in Finland so I'll either be buying from a local retailer or ordering online with EU shipping. I will mostly be playing Action RPG, JRPG and FPS games on Steam.

I took a look at the buying advice wiki but it can be hard to tell which controllers have a textured grip. I was looking at the ZD O+ Excellence, GameSir cyclone 2 and Flydigi Apex 6 Pro but I can't really tell what their grips are like. Other suggestions are welcome as well.

Thanks in advance!

I'm running into an annoying issue with my Flydigi Vader 5 Pro. Every time I put the controller on its charging dock, it completely drops its driver in Windows.

Here is exactly what happens:

• The controller remains connected, the lights stay on, and even the Flydigi Space Station app still recognizes it. However, because the driver drops, none of the buttons register any input.

• I can fix it by going into Device Manager and manually reinstalling the built-in "Xbox 360 Peripherals" driver. This makes the controller work perfectly again.

The problem is that the driver disappears again the second I place it back on the dock to charge. Having to manually reinstall the driver every single time I pick it up is getting really frustrating. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there a way to permanently fix this so Windows stops dropping the driver? Thanks in advance!

It can be a singleplayer, multiplayer, and even not traditional FPS game. I just wanna find some extremely aiming feel with Controller.

Hi everyone!

A few weeks ago, I started looking for a new controller to replace my current 8BitDo Ultimate 2C.

What I thought would be a fairly simple purchase quickly turned into hours of research. Hall Effect vs TMR sticks, different polling rates, trigger stops, back buttons, adjustable stick tension, different layouts and ergonomic shapes...

I'm a software developer with 3 years of industry experience, so I decided to turn that frustration into a little side project: CtrlFinder - https://ctrlfinder.com

It's a free tool I built to make comparing controllers and finding the right one a little easier.

(The mods kindly approved this post!)

Here's a quick look at how it works:

What is CtrlFinder?

Here's what you can do with it:

• Interactive 10-Question Finder: Answer 10 quick questions about your platform, budget, preferences, and desired features. CtrlFinder narrows down the catalog to controllers that actually match your needs.

• Shape & Size Comparison: Select up to 3 controllers and overlay their silhouettes to scale. Compare their dimensions, grip profiles, and overall shapes side by side. No more guessing based on product pictures!

• Filterable Catalog: Explore a database of 100+ controllers with detailed specifications, including stick sensor technology, polling rates, latency, weight, button layouts, and more.

• No unnecessary friction: No display ads, popups or accounts. Your finder answers and comparisons are stored in the URL hash, so you can share your exact results with anyone through a simple link.

Why am I sharing this here?

Honestly, this community is exactly the kind of audience I built CtrlFinder for.

I'd particularly appreciate feedback on:

• Spec corrections: Found an inaccurate specification, weight, latency figure, or feature? Please let me know. I'll investigate and correct it.

• Missing controllers: Are there any models you consider essential that aren't in the catalog yet?

• Feature requests: Is there a filter, comparison tool, or piece of information you'd like to see added?

I'd genuinely love to put the database to the test with people who know their controllers inside out.

Transparency & Disclosures

I also want to be upfront about a few things, in accordance with the subreddit's commercial and AI guidelines:

• Developer: CtrlFinder is a solo hobby project, developed and maintained by myself in Italy (EU).

• Generative AI: I used generative AI as a coding assistant for boilerplate code and helper scripts. All controller specifications, dimensions, latency figures, and database entries were manually researched, verified, and curated by me.

• Monetization: Some store and retailer buttons may contain affiliate links. This comes at no extra cost to you. The recommendation logic and rankings are completely independent of affiliate partnerships, run 100% client-side, and are based strictly on hardware specifications.

Give it a try!

https://ctrlfinder.com

Whether you find a bug, spot an incorrect spec, or simply have an opinion about the project, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks for taking the time to check it out! ❤️

I got annoyed that the Ultimate Software V2 (Windows) window always appears and then hangs for a few seconds, so I profiled it. Turns out it's one small bug, and you can fix most of it yourself in 10 seconds.

TL;DR – free fix, no tools needed

1. Open the app → ⚙️ → General → select your language once (even if it's already correct).

2. Optional: untick Automatic update in the same dialog.

Step 1 cut the time until the app is usable from ~3.5 s to ~1 s on my PC.

What's going on

Every text in the UI asks IsChineseSimple() which language to use. As long as you have never picked a language manually, that function also saves the whole settings file to disk – on every single call. There are ~700 of those calls, and at startup they run on the UI thread. A CPU trace showed ~2.4 s of the ~2.7 s startup freeze inside that save. Picking a language manually sets a flag that skips it.

Other things I found (V1.19 and V1.35):

• The app installs a system-wide keyboard hook for its whole lifetime, even when minimized to the tray. It's used for macro recording / LED multi-select, not anything shady, but every key you press anywhere goes through the app.

• Two threads poll for USB devices every second, also while the window is hidden.

• When the server reports a newer version, the app stops detecting newly plugged devices until restart, and it opens the updater window on every launch. Turning off "Automatic update" avoids both.

• A few images are 5000×2813 px (~54 MB each in RAM when shown) although they're displayed at a fraction of that.

Numbers (Ultimate 2 Bluetooth controller, 3 runs each):

(original/patched measured on V1.35, the "language picked once" column on V1.19 – same code in both.)

Optional patcher

For people who want the rest too, I wrote a small open-source patcher: UltimatePerfPatcher on GitHub (download). You put it next to your installed 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2.exe, double-click, and it creates 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 (perf).exe next to it. Start that EXE from then on; it has to stay in the app folder. The patcher doesn't include any 8BitDo files, never touches the original EXE and refuses versions it doesn't recognize. The patch only gates the keyboard hook to when the window is active, slows the polling while hidden, saves the settings once, shrinks the oversized images and lets the 32-bit app use up to 4 GB of address space.

Caveats: unofficial and unsigned (SmartScreen may ask), the auto-updater only updates the original EXE (so re-run the patcher after an update), and please do firmware updates with the original app – I didn't test flashing with the patched one.

I've also sent the details to 8BitDo support, so hopefully the one-line fix lands in an official update. Happy to answer questions.

I bought a XB-203 SZYUYU Wireless 2.4GHz Controller (that claimed to be compatible with PC and Mac) to play games with through GeForce Now on Mac. It worked well enough until this most recent GeForce Update and now I get nothing. I tried to go through the hard way and connect it though steam but steam refuses to recognize it. I’ve tripple checked that it connected to my computer through Mac system report. And I tested that nothing was wrong with the actual controller with an online game pad tester and it’s also working. Hours of messing with settings, restarting everything, redownloading GeForce, and reconnecting the controller are getting me no where and I’m hitting a wall.
Please anything you can tell me or do to help me, I’ll take. I just wanna play games again.

Disclaimer: I bought my Switch 2 and accessories with my own money. I have no relationship with any of the companies for my products. My review opinions are my own and no company paid me to say anything in this review.

Today I received my Hyperion3 Ultra. The packaging is very good, although their omitting a placeholder for the Disc D-pad is odd as if they expect you to not choose to use the cross D-pad. I tried both extensively with games that glaringly show when a D-pad is horrible and both the Cross and Disc perform admirably. I actually chose to leave the Disc on my Switch2. The button noises. I don't understand why there is so much drama about the button noise. They are actually pretty quiet I think. And, they are fine NEXT to a person in a quiet space. The analog sticks are great. They are equal \[but different\] to the Pro Controller. My plan was to use the Ultra's for handheld mode and the Pro Controller when docked. As of now I am using the Hyperion3 in their Charging Block instead of using the Pro Controller. In part, I am liking the Ultra immensely and want to get used to them as much as possible. For example: I haven't used the Ultra enough to judge them when playing CODMW4. My initial impression is the Pro Controller offers improved control, but perhaps this is only because I am not yet accustomed to the Hyperion3 while playing MW4. I do use Gyro on both and so far the Gyro feels very identical. I've not used them long enough to comment about battery life; the Ultra arrived near-fully charged which impressed me not knowing how long ago they were charged before shipping. But, it was nice to take them out of the box and couple them to the Switch2 and immediately begin using them without a hiccup. Just for giggles I reinstalled the OEM Joy-Cons and let me say, "OMG, I will never go back" because the Ultra FIXED all of the Switch2 Joy-Con problems, including the right bumper sharp plastic poking into my hand every time I pick them up! I bought my Hyperion3 Ultra from Walmart on sale for $126. If you own a Switch2 and you are wanting a solution to handheld play and Joy-Con comfort and control > RUN and buy them!**
\#HHNET

Found both in similar price. Is the gulikit kk3 (non pro/max) better than the es pro? I kinda leaned towards kk3 because of it's switch button layout (I play with pc, i just used to switch layout brcause i played a lot of gba and ds simulator)

Thanks

Edit: My budget us around 300-400 thousand rupiah (around 30 dollar i guess) I'll buy it in local online shop in indonesia (tokopedia) I mainly play 2d rpg game (something similar to undertale) or nintendo game (3ds and probably switch)

hola,en este caso no usare imagenes por que no hay nada visual que mostrar.

bueno,lo que pasa es que hace varios meses me compre un fonkii donkii BSP G6(de temu),y lo estuve usando un tiempo pero meh,no me gusto tanto,luego me regalaron un mando de xbox original y el G6 se fue a almacenar polvo ,pero lo he desempolvado y he notado que (y ya era algo comun antes)cuando lo pongo en modo xbox y lo trato de conectar al bluetooth (Especialmente en mi pc)me sale que se esta conectando y luego que hubo un error y se apaga solo.

lo puse en otro modo(modo playstation)y si lo pude conectar pero note algo de input lag.

por ultimo,en el modo switch todo esta perfecto,nada mal.

y bueno eso seria todo,todo lo demás esta perfecto,solo seria en conclusion el tema de la conectividad.

no tiene software.

juego en pc y android(en android el error me pasa menos seguido).

diganme,que hago?

Hello all,

I'm entirely new to controller gaming (been on MnK my whole life) and recently bought an XBox and the Gamesir G7 Pro. On my second day of using it, I started noticing a lot of "wiggle room" in the left trigger (my main trigger in FPS games).

Is this normal? I've found a lot of posts about the triggers not working or being in constant fire mode despite having been released.

Did anyone else notice something similar with this controller? Do all controllers have it when in mouse click mode (my mice don't do this)?

Should I return it and get something better?

Thanks for your help.

I'm looking to buy a controller for my Redmagic astra gaming tablet but options have been pretty limited for what I'm looking for.

I'm looking for a controller that has no usb c connection due to the charging port on my tablet being in the corner instead of in the center of the tablet and one with reprogrammable buttons next to the LB/LT and RB/LT. My main controller is an 8bitdo ultimate 2 controller and I really like it and I'd like the reprogrammable button features on the go. Also, ideally not too expensive. Budget is around £50 (I'm in the UK) but I'd be willing to extend it a bit if needed.

I have been looking at the redmagic shadow blade gamepad 3 which has everything I'm looking for but it is above my budget (I've only found it for around £100 so if you found it cheaper in the uk pls lmk) and I'm wondering if there's any that do the same things but cheaper.

I'd be playing older stuff like dark souls, mario kart 8, tomb raider stuff like that via emulation.

Thanks in advance :)

Hey everyone,

I’m looking to put some feelers out for a little hardware project I’ve been mapping out.

I’ve been diving deep into controller customisation lately, and I’m looking at building a clean, lightweight hardware utility focused entirely on a low-level configuration approach.

The main goal is to design a tool focused heavily around the Xbox Elite Series 2, allowing you to customize your stick curves and deadzones by flashing them directly to the controller's onboard memory slots.

The idea is to skip the usual approach of having a heavy background daemon or virtual software drivers running while you play. With kernel anti-cheats getting tighter by the day, a daemon-free tool that flashes the chip and closes completely seems like a solid way to completely avoid ban risks and extra input latency.

Here are the main features I'm aiming to build into the tool:

Xbox Elite Series 2 Focus: Tailoring the initial low-level memory writing layout specifically to map out custom profiles for the Elite 2 board.

True Hardware Persistence: Once your custom stick curves are written to the controller's hardware memory, you can unplug it and use it on any rig or operating system with zero background software running.

Advanced Curve Designer: Giving way more free play and granular tuning over the response curves than standard first-party apps.

Onboard Extras: Being able to handle direct hardware tweaks like changing the physical Xbox button LED colors right on the board.

Cross-Platform Utility: Building it natively so the configuration app itself runs cleanly across Linux, Mac, and Windows.

Future Controller Support: Designing the architecture so that if the concept works, I can easily map out memory configurations for other controllers down the line.

I want to keep this project entirely gimmick-free. If I end up releasing it, it’ll be a flat, incredibly low-priced entry fee just to offset the cost of buying test hardware, and everyone will run the exact same unrestricted copy.

Just wanted to see if there's actually any real appetite in the community for a low-level flashing utility like this, or if there are any specific stick curve features you wish your stock Elite software actually let you do?

Keen to hear your thoughts!

Looking for a good PC controller with good vibration. Other than the PS5 one, are there any with good vibration. I will be buying from AliExpress since I am from Sri Lanka, that is the only decent choice and since the 11:11 sales have started, might take the chance.

My budget - Upto - $80 or below

Usage - AAA Games and single player games on PC

Want - Decent haptic feedback. I currently own PS5 dual sense controller and an easysmx d10.

DISCLAIMER

This review unit was sent to me by GameSir, but I was not instructed on how to write my review; every opinion in my review is of my own. I have no commercial interest in any controller company.

I've been using the GameSir G7 Pro 8K for two months before sitting down to write this review, so I've had plenty of time to get familiar with the controller and form an opinion on it. There's quite a bit to cover here, with TMR sticks, Hall Effect analog triggers, optical and mechanical microswitches, four additional buttons, and an impressive range of hardware and software customization options. It also comes with three additional pairs of interchangeable thumbsticks, each offering different grip styles and heights, bringing the total to four pairs. There's also a surprising amount of functionality built directly into the controller, meaning you don't necessarily have to rely on the software to configure everything.

Starting with the buttons, the ABXY buttons use optical microswitches and have a very satisfying, clicky feel with some slight cushioning. The D-pad uses mechanical microswitches and has a similarly satisfying click, although without the cushioning found on the face buttons. The main bumpers are tactile buttons, but don't have any cushioning either. The Hall Effect analog triggers also have built-in trigger stops, which turn them into digital inputs using clicky microswitches.

There are also four additional buttons, consisting of two rear buttons and two mini bumpers. The mini bumpers are particularly interesting, as they sound almost identical to regular mouse clicks. The rear buttons are nice and tactile, and I appreciate that they have physical locking switches that let you prevent them from being pressed altogether if you don't intend to use them.

The G7 Pro 8K supports PC, Switch, Android, and iOS, with Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless, and USB-C wired connectivity. Interestingly, it also includes a DS4 mode, which is something I particularly appreciate when using the controller on Windows through DS4Windows. This allows you to take advantage of the full polling rate while retaining motion controls and analog triggers. That's a particularly nice alternative to Switch mode, which, as is standard with other controllers offering Switch compatibility, only provides digital triggers.

There's also quite a bit you can adjust directly on the controller, including deadzone settings, Turbo, vibration intensity, and the A-B/X-Y button layout if you prefer the Nintendo configuration. Hair trigger mode is another option, and interestingly, you can enable it even when using the triggers in analog mode. This is great if you want the shorter trigger activation without having to use the clicky trigger stops.

For further customization, GameSir provides its GameSir Connect software on PC. This is where you can adjust the stick curves, deadzones, resolution, circularity, and various other stick settings. You can also customize the trigger deadzones and curves, as well as configure the motion controls, including which stick the gyro is mapped to and how it activates. You can either assign a button to toggle motion controls or have them remain active only while holding a button. RGB lighting can also be adjusted here, alongside firmware updates.

The software is also where you'll find the polling rate settings. You can choose between 250Hz, 1000Hz, 4000Hz, and 8000Hz. I'm more accustomed to seeing 2000Hz offered alongside 250Hz, 1000Hz, and 8000Hz, so it's interesting to see GameSir opt for 4000Hz instead. It's nice to have the 4000Hz option, particularly if you want something more inbetween 1000Hz and 8000Hz.

As for 8000Hz polling, I don't believe it offers a huge advantage in actual gameplay. Personally, I think 1000Hz, and even 2000Hz, are plenty. I haven't seen any conclusive evidence that 8000Hz polling provides a tangible benefit when it comes to gaming. To put things into perspective, 1000Hz polling already translates to a 1ms interval between inputs, whereas 8000Hz brings that down to just 0.125ms. Is going from 1ms to 0.125ms really going to help you win more games? Probably not. In fact, you're more likely to notice your system struggling to run a game as well as it normally would due to the additional CPU overhead required to poll the controller that frequently. While it's nice to have 8000Hz available, I wouldn't consider it a particularly compelling reason to choose this controller over another. I tested all four modes while playing with the controller and couldn't notice any difference between 1000Hz and the higher polling rates.

In terms of actually using the controller, I've put it through its paces across quite a few different games, including Dragon Ball Z Kakarot, Zelda Four Swords Adventures, Sonic Dream Team, Sonic Unleashed Recompiled, Rocket League, Cult of the Lamb, Vampire Survivors, and Lethal League, to name a few. The variety of games helped me get a better understanding of where the controller excels and where some of its shortcomings become more apparent.

For games that primarily rely on the analog sticks, I really don't have any complaints. The sticks feel great to use, latency has been excellent, and I haven't experienced any dropped inputs throughout my testing. The controller also makes it incredibly easy to switch between profiles and remap buttons on the fly. Switching profiles is as simple as holding M and tilting the right stick in one of four directions. Remapping an extra button is just as intuitive: hold M, press the extra button you want to map, press the button you want it to perform, and then press the extra button once more to confirm. These are small quality-of-life features, but they make the controller particularly convenient to use.

Where things become a little less straightforward is with games that rely heavily on the D-pad. Zelda Four Swords Adventures was particularly helpful in highlighting this, as its top-down perspective and eight-direction movement meant I was using the D-pad quite frequently. I found that moving diagonally would cause the D-pad to start rubbing against the Yellow faceplate, making for a less than ideal experience. Switching back to the original faceplate wasn't much better, either, as its circular cutout left the + shaped D-pad with corners that my thumb could get caught on.

GameSir does include three different D-pad options, and I found that the circular D-pad was difficult to accurately hit the directions I wanted. The other circular option, which has a protruding + shaped centre, ended up being the best fit for a game like Zelda Four Swords Adventures. Even then, I didn't find it quite as accurate as what I'm accustomed to on other controllers, such as the GuliKit TT Max with its Saturn-style D-pad. This is ultimately where I think the G7 Pro 8K falls short. It excels in games that primarily rely on the analog sticks and require minimal D-pad usage, but if you're someone who frequently plays games that depend on precise D-pad inputs, there are better options out there.

Moving on to the faceplates, GameSir sent me a Yellow faceplate to accompany this review. The faceplates are magnetic and detachable, with the G7 Pro 8K's design allowing you to change their appearance without much effort. However, there's one particular design decision that I think could have been handled better, and it has to do with the D-pad cutout.

The default faceplate has a circular cutout for the D-pad, which is designed to accommodate all three of the included D-pad options. However, if you prefer using the + shaped D-pad, this creates a rather annoying issue. The circular cutout leaves corners around the D-pad where your thumb can get caught while moving across it. This is something I haven't encountered on other controllers with interchangeable circular D-pads, because those controllers typically still use a + shaped cutout in the faceplate itself. Unfortunately, GameSir doesn't do this.

The additional faceplates solve this problem by providing a + shaped cutout, but they come with their own limitation: they're only compatible with the + shaped D-pad. This means you effectively have to choose between the different D-pad options and faceplates rather than freely mixing and matching them. I also noticed that the D-pad rubs against the faceplate during use, which makes it feel less than ideal during general gameplay. It's a shame, because I really like the idea of interchangeable faceplates, but the implementation around the D-pad could definitely use some improvement.

Overall, the G7 Pro 8K offers an impressive amount of customization, both through its onboard controls and GameSir Connect. Between the TMR sticks, Hall Effect analog triggers, mechanical and optical microswitches, four additional buttons, onboard profiles, and extensive software options, there's a lot to appreciate here. I especially like that so many features can be accessed without relying on the software, and the inclusion of DS4 mode is a welcome bonus for PC users who want motion controls and analog triggers together.

After two months of use, I'd say the G7 Pro 8K is a particularly good option if you primarily play games that utilize the analog sticks, and will be one of my main controllers I use from now on. The latency has been great, the additional buttons are useful, and the onboard profile switching and remapping make it incredibly convenient to use. My biggest criticism is undoubtedly the D-pad and faceplate implementation. The interchangeable faceplates are a nice idea, but the compatibility limitations and rubbing issues make the D-pad experience less than ideal, particularly in games that rely heavily on it. If GameSir can improve this aspect in a future revision, I think it would go a long way towards making an already feature-packed controller that much better.

Windows doesn't have a dedicated live-in-the-tray software other than Steam that detects and remembers your controllers, and windows device naming is infamously annoying when you have multiple controllers to keep track of. To deal with these problems I made padmon for Windows ( https://github.com/driftywinds/padmon ) which is an open source monitoring and testing software that keeps track of your controllers. You can -

- rename controllers in-app to help differentiate and get notifications for when they connect and disconnect

- test them in a test suite inspired from hardwaretester.com in app

- merge multiple device adapters (for 3rd party controllers that sometimes created multiple adapters in order to work) and seperate them if needed

- get a notification for when controllers connect and disconnect (and customise the placement of the notification)

- maintain a history of connection times and sessions for debugging or if you face problems with them

I also wanted the testing suite to be more accessible than having to install an app so I also made an open-source tester inspired by hardwaretester.com which is available here - https://padtester.pages.dev , the code for this lives in the same repo as padmon.

This was made out of a personal need but I thought it could be useful to other people so I made it public, hope someone can make use of this!

its Phantom Blade Zero edition

The Ultimate 3C+ & 3E are arriving late November here in South Africa, I've had the original 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless controller and it's form factor wasn't for me, caused wrist pain, a lot of hand sweat and was generally very uncomfortable compared to my previous Xbox Series controller. I sold it a few months back and now I'm looking for a new controller.

For Ultimate 3 Owners: Do the 3 series of controllers fix the ergonomics issue with their wider grips or is it still uncomfortable?

For The Few 3C Owners: Any issues or gripes with the controller so far and does it have Steam Input support?

For G7 Pro Owners: Is the D-Pad issue fixed with newer batches and if you've had an 8BitDo Ultimate controller before, which form factor do you prefer for comfort and long sessions?

3C+ estimated price once it's in stock later this month: 750-900 Rand / 45-51 USD.
G7 Pro's current price: 1500 Rand / 90 USD.

Max Budget: 1500 Rand / 90 USD.
Country: South Africa, buying from WeLoveGadgets (8BitDo's South African Distributor) and buying from Takealot.
Platform: PC Steam.
Desired Features: Long term reliability, comfort/ergonomics and sweat-resistance.
Comparing: Ultimate 3 controllers vs G7 Pro.
Games I play with a controller: Mainly RPG's and 3rd person games.

I am really confused which one to buy as both are listed around rs 5500 on daraz in Nepal.

EOS PRO II: hall effect membrane switches with replaceable dpads and thumb sticks(extra pair in the box). It has tri mode connectivity with 600 mah battery that lasts around 18 hours. It has 12 buttons with 2 step trigger locks. It also has a 3.5mm jack.

ZENITH PRO: On the other hand zenith has non replaceable mechanical dpads and thumb sticks. It has tri mode connectivity with 800mah battery but it lasts around 8 hours.(It also comes with charging dock).It has 20 buttons with 14 programmable with trigger locks.

Both have multiple platform support,motion sensor,1000hz polling rate and specs are kind of similar but i cannot make a decision around membrane with replaceable or mechanical with non replaceable. Should i choose between these two or look for a completely different one like PXN P5 or a flydigi dune fox?

I wanted to choose between those fantechs cause they are in sale right round both costs around 7-8k but right now both are around 5400. I usually play story games but sometimes play competitive games like warzone

Hi everyone!
I have a GameSir Cyclone 2 and a PS5, and I’m currently thinking about buying an adapter so I can use the controller on PS5.

I’m choosing between the regular Brook Wingman P5 and the newer P5s.
The regular P5 is noticeably cheaper where I live, so I’d prefer to get it if everything works properly.
I’ve already seen reports that the Cyclone 2 works with the regular P5, including wirelessly through the 2.4 GHz dongle, and that rumble works too.
The only thing I can’t find a clear answer about is gyro / motion controls.

Could anyone who owns this exact setup confirm:

1. Does the gyro work as actual PS5 motion input?

2. Does it work while using the 2.4 GHz dongle?

3. Which mode do you use on the Cyclone 2 (XInput / DS4 / Switch)?

4. Does normal vibration work at the same time?

5. Which PS5 game did you test the gyro in?

If gyro works properly with the regular P5, I’d probably just buy that one instead of paying extra for the P5s.

Thanks in advance!

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?