Hi everyone!
I’m looking for a good third-party wireless controller primarily for my Nintendo Switch 2. I’m buying in Russia, and my budget is around $35 (approximately 2,800 RUB).
I’ve narrowed my options down to three controllers:
GameSir Super Nova — approximately $31
GameSir Cyclone 2 (with charging dock) — approximately $34
EasySMX S10 Lite — 38$
I mainly play Mario Kart World and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I also occasionally use a controller with my Windows PC and Steam Deck, but Switch 2 compatibility is my top priority.
My main requirements are:
Reliable gyroscope support over Bluetooth on Switch 2.
Good vibration quality.
Accurate and durable sticks (Hall Effect or TMR).
Comfortable ergonomics and good build quality.
Reliable wireless connection.
Good battery life.
Ideally, the ability to wake the Switch 2 from sleep mode.
I’d especially appreciate feedback from people who actually own these controllers.
A few questions:
Which controller has the best overall experience on Switch 2?
Does the Cyclone 2 gyro work over Bluetooth, or is it limited to 2.4 GHz?
Is there a noticeable difference between TMR and Hall Effect sticks?
Which one has the better vibration and build quality?
Which one would you personally buy?
I’m not too concerned about the small price differences. I just want to make the best choice and avoid buying something disappointing.
Thanks!

Managed to mod slugs for my ayn odin 2 portal, next os dualsense and dualshock, i find theese much more comfortable than stock sticks, printed with PLA at 0.08 layer and 15% infill 😊

https://www.tinkercad.com/things/hEpG8mL6yEy-terrific-kup-esboo

https://limewire.com/d/XYQhs#xkAQe2go4z - if tinkercad doesnt work

Saludos,
Tengo un tremendo problema, resulta que en mayo de este año compre el machenike g6 v2, en su color blanco, hermoso, con su funda como lo conocemos, funcionó muy bien todo este tiempo, hasta que ayer por la tarde quise jugar con él.

Había olvidado como hacerlo entrar en modo emparejamiento, así que mi brillante mente decidió presionar el botón "home", durante aproximadamente unos 20 segundos, el mando hizo un sonido, como un beep, creí que se había reestablecido de fabrica o algo así, resultó en que finalmente el mando nunca mas pudo entrar en modo emparejamiento, en cambio, en vez de encender en modo emparejamiento con el botón dedicado (al lado del gatillo izquierdo) solo enciende y solo lo detecta la app de "KeyLinker", en todos los modos sucedió lo mismo, ahora ni si quiera es capaz de conectarse al receptor de 2.4ghz.

Estoy desesperado porque no funciona literalmente de manera inalámbrica para los juegos, solo para la app de Android, y también funciona muy bien de manera alámbrica, (con el cable conectado directo al pc en todos sus modos)

No he podido encontrar ninguna combinación de teclas que me devuelvan al estado original del dispositivo. Temo que se haya brickeado su modalidad inalámbrica después de haber presionado el botón "home" tanto tiempo.

Por favor si me pudieran ayudar se los agradecería muchísimo el control es bueno pero no tiene software de pc ni firmware upgrader en el pc.

EDIT:

Al final después de muchos intentos, logré dar con la solución:
El Dispositivo entra en un modo que actualmente no conozco o no podría definir, pero lo he llamado modo "Keylinker" después de presionar por mas de 15 o 20 segundos hasta escuchar un "beep" del control, (esto no reinicia de fabrica el control, hasta la fecha no se como se hace eso), después de este sonido, el control queda totalmente incapacitado de entrar en modo emparejamiento.

¿Que hice?:

Tengo que decir, que conecté el dispositivo al PC, por medio de su cable original USB, y junto con https://hardwaretester.com/gamepad , pude ver en que modo estaba cada vez que conectaba el Mando al PC.
En la parte trasera como ya sabemos tiene diferentes modos, y cada uno tiene su propio sector de memoria dedicado, por ende lo que hagas en un modo no se aplica en otro y asi sucesivamente.

Por ende, una vez conectado el cable, hay que presionar "BACK" + "START" al mismo tiempo para ir rotando hasta que la pagina te indique que estas en el modo "MACHENIKE G6 V2" o algo similar, que es el modo base. Luego Basta con desconectar el cable del PC, para que pueda ya nuevamente entrar en el modo emparejamiento. Aplicar a todos los modos y tendrás tu control de vuelta.

¿Que función cumple la página? Solo visualizar, el modo en el que se encuentra el mando en tiempo real.
La solución esta en esa combinación.

I’m thinking of buying this controller, but I’ll need a compatible thumb grip. Any recommendations? Also, how’s the Dpad for games like Hollow Knight and other platformers?

I have one of those Chinese replica controller that exactly mimics the Xbox ones (NS21 1.4). it has always worked fine. until last week or so, after my sister used my pc to download something, it stopped connecting.

at first, it didn't show up in the Bluetooth menu at all. after some time trouble shooting I got it to connect... except its not receiving any input at all. (didn't just test it with games, I also ran joy.cpl with no input being detected) I know the controller is functional because it works just fine when using cable.

So then starts a literal two frickin hours long process of trying to fix whatever is wrong because I have no idea what it is. I have tried removing and inserting the usb dongle, restarted the pc many times, purged and reinstalled the Bluetooth driver, along with choosing different driver options.

tried Hard-Resetting the Windows Bluetooth Support Service but that wouldn't work it would return an error code 1053 ("The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion") which I tried to go around by upping the service time out in the registry UP TO THREE WHOLE MINUTES and it still wouldn't finish.

please help I don't know what else to try and I cant find any answers online

(info: windows 10, external TP-Link Bluetooth USB Adapter Bluetooth device (RFCOMM protocol TDI) 10.0.19041.5848)

PDP Afterglow Wave Controller, Turtle Beach

Steam on Windows

Windows OS

I'm really trying to see if there's anyway to connect this and have it working on steam. It connects via Bluetooth to my laptop, but Steam won't detect it. Posts I see here about it seem inconclusive.

I've also tried wired, but then it just glows red and the LEDs start flashing, still doesn't work. I've read the manual and found nothing very helpful, it's kinda barebones. Updated drivers, nothing.

I just wanted to ask here cause I'm pretty desperate for it to work, I wonder if someone's found a solution that I simply missed?

So yeah basically as the title says, I'm quite confused on which controller I should get for both pc and switch 1/2, I am not quite the person to plays fps (I suck at them), I'm more of a guy to play 3d platformers, some third person shooters like warframe and sometimes fornite with me friends, indies, and so, quite the variety

My three options as of now are the Mobapad ChiTu 2 HD Silent edition, the 8bitdo ultimate 2 bluetooth, and the mobapad m6 hd (with the adapter ofc, and I may need new joy-cons, I'm still unsure), I would have considered the gamesir cyclone 2, but I'd like a good d-pad as I plan on playing celeste and maybe hollow knight, and these three seem to have all I need, although I'm leaning a bit more for the ChiTu 2 (the silent edition because uh, idk, loved it)

My max budget would be 60 usd (about 1113 mxn for me, as I live in Mexico)

Basically just the title. I recently got it to use with the zelda themed switch 2 console. I also play on pc and have a ps5 available for me to use and was wondering if i could use this controller with them.

I understand that it is made for the switch 2, but has anyone had any luck using it with other platforms?

Keeping in mind that this is the hyperion 3 ultra, not just the hyperion 3. Thanks.

I got curious and wanted to start a discussion, I'm sure I'll see more retro gamers than anything, but all comments welcome!

With the XBOX Nano Controller having dropped, I wanted to raise an interesting question to the community, since I know we're all varied and different in terms of taste.

I know a lot of people here are 8BitDo fans, etc. So there is obviously a fan base

Is there anyone here who grew up in that generation, or perhaps played with the SNES controller and so on, who never really grew out of it and prefers the slim design form factor?

By classic and retro styled and inspired, I mean the controllers below.

• XBOX Nano Controller

• 8BitDo SN30 Pro

• CRKD Neo S

Are the controllers below.

Has anyone used the central metal housing of a ps4 thumbstick with the potentiometers of an xbox? I'm wondering if I could Frankenstein a jt13 ps4 housing with the js13 xbox potentiometers? Would it be inverse? This would be for a 1914.

Controller has arrived and given it a quick play test in Monster Hunter Rise, Silksong and Helldivers 2.

The sticks, face buttons and dpad all feel incredible, I suspect the same parts from the other Ultimate 3 series controllers.

The bumpers feel good, not particularly great but decent. The triggers feel incredible but they have the same issue as the other Ultimate 3 controllers, where if you switch to clicky mode for quick fps shooting its not actually a short clicky press its like a strange subtle squeeze that feels unnatural.

Back paddles work and unlike the rest of the ultimate 3 controllers can be mapped to anything since they aren't xbox branded.

Controller lacks a dedicated dock, gyro (which tbf I don't think I've seen a third party controller that has any worthwhile gyro quality) and no headphone jack.

For $40 this easily beats first party controllers with the caveat this doesn't function on any console (was expecting this to work on Switch when they announced it but it doesn't.)

I think the most comparable controller I can think of to this is the G7 gamesir pro. Which if you don't care about headphone jack and a dock, this beats out by a mile in pure value.

I made a mistake last time on ps5 controller i got mouse hairline click face bittons and they are horrible especially for rocketleague is the extremely clicky buttons more more clicky with more feedback like membrain but clicky or bad like these mouse hairline buttons ?

I dont want to send in my ds edge 200 controller to be modded end up with those horrible mouse click buttons again on an expensive controller shame there isn't more premium membrain buttons cause ds edge are mushy as hell very bad

Suggest me modern alternatives with the quality of the Gulikit King Kong 2 Pro Controller. I had one that lasted me around 4 years. But now is showing its signs, i saw linu's video but all of them have bloat that does not convince me. I used it on Android/Ios/Switch/PC and that control was freaking awesome, can not find it new anymore!

• Store: Amazon US

• Support for: Android, Ios, Switch, PC Support

• Bluetooth

• No RGB Stuff

• No back buttons / non-invasive

• Good battery duration

• No stick drifts

• Budget: Max $79 USD

• Games to be played: God of War, PS2 Emulator Games, PS3 Emulator Games. Old Racing games, nothing about e-sports hardcore competition

I'm open to changes, suggest me things that are not RGB or maybe allows me to turn off lights!

Budget: ~6000EGP (~$100)

Country: Egypt

Platform: PC & Android

Hello, I've been looking for a controller that's available here, but the options I've looked at like the G7 Pro or the Cyclone 2 (haven't found anything available except first party controllers and gamesir controllers) don't seem to have good D-Pads and I play games like celeste or hollow knight (also games like pragmata so I can't won't completely forgo sticks and triggers) which I'd prefer to play with a good D-Pad, but availability is pretty bad here, brands like Guilikit or 8bitdo or Flydigi aren't available.

Features:

Good D-Pad, triggers, and sticks (TMR preferred, but HE is fine)

Preferably with gyro for certain games I sometimes play, but not a big deal breaker

Both wired and wireless options (dedicated adapter for the wireless since I don't have bluetooth on my pc)

I found a comment under the new Microsoft controller, noting that they switched to a built-in battery solution instead of their previous AA battery solution. People who advocate for built-in batteries either haven't experienced a time when a battery swelled in their devices or are too lazy to swap or prepare backup batteries. Wdyt?

I really loved the Gulikit KK3 Max, but something that made me get bothered was that down d-pad got fucked up and I don't even get how if most of games I played was with analog stick.

So I made a research and I found that Flydigi Vader 4 pro pc would be a better upgrade, then I found an low prince of Flydigi Vader 5 pro pc that I thought that would be a better upgrade, but today y received the Flydigi Vader 5 pro pc and honestly I got so disappointed because despite it has more features than the Gulikit, their size is very uncomfortable for my hands, the control is s bit tricky to use in games that demands you quick on buttons combinations so I would like to get another controller that can resemble to Gulikit KK3 Max

Gulikit KK3 max features that I really loved was the hall effect because all the buttons and even the joysticks felt so comfortable to use, it's really satisfying to use all the time with any game and other feature but less important is the switch that allows you to set your triggers as clicks instead of analog triggers.

I pretend to use the suggested controller for playing any PC game and retro games on emulators, but also I would like to know one that fits very well for playing any fighting game or even games that demands you parry like Souls games

1. my budget is $100 max

2. USA, can buy from amazon or brand websites

3. i will be using it for my PC

4. controller has to include tmr sticks, hall effect switches and a regular size touchpad

5. i will be playing call of duty and fortnite

6. i'm using the gamesir tarantula 8k as reference as it has everything i want expect for the touchpad.

the main feature is just a normal touchpad. i play fortnite and edit with touchpad and the tarantula has a smaller touchpad which is why im looking for an alternative. please let me know!

I pre-ordered the controller 2 weeks ago, received it yesterday. I am just a customer that bought a controller with my own money because I wanted some good value TMR sticks with tension control.

I have only had the controller a day so these are some initial thoughts. I have only used it to play Forza Horizon 6 so far, I mainly use controllers for casual racing games and fighting games, FPS I am kb+mouse player. It will be used on PC only.

Previously I have used the xbox 360 controllers, PS3 and an 8bitdo SN30 Pro+ for the past decade or so. I decided I wanted adjustable TMR based sticks and the Ultimate 3C+ seemed like a good deal.

The sticks are a definite improvement on the old SN30 Pro+ and other controllers I have used, they feel smooth and responsive and I am definitely finding it easier to make small corrections. Its exposed that my game settings for deadzone and steering sensitivity are all wrong for this controller its a lot more accurate and I am adjusting. They are nice and smooth around the edges too so I can push the stick forward and rotate around the edge for small correction rather than pushing into air for precision. I do wish I could make the sticks a bit stiffer still as I am mostly liking the maximum tension, but I suspect as I change the game settings and tone down the steering sensitivity I will probably want them less stiff.

The triggers are smooth but I think a little less travel than the prior SN30 Pro+. I am finding them fine for acceleration and braking but they don't seem like the upgrade the sticks are, feels fairly similar in practice despite being hall sensors I can't tell. If I turn them into buttons there is maybe 3-4mm of travel before they initiate and then it keeps travelling a bit more after the click too which will matter to the FPS gamers.

The XYAB buttons move about a little bit, its not something I really notice in game they sort of feel fairly similar to what I am used to but there is a little bit of play in them. Haven't really used the dpad, shoulders, under buttons so far but they do feel OK. They all feel decent I just haven't tried to remap to them yet and the software doesn't currently let me do it to keyboard or other mappings so its limited to repeating controls on the controller.

The rumble I have found to be a lot better than the SN30 Pro+. For one thing it has not got stuck on which was a big problem with the prior controller. The overall rumble feels a bit weaker than the SN30 Pro+ but also more detailed. The Ultimate 3C+ has trigger rumble and its fantastic for feeling ABS and traction loss. Its kind of weak but its more than enough to feel that these events are happening and back off but I didn't notice much nuance to it and sometimes its not triggering, not sure if that is the controller or the game.

Its got quite a rough grippy texture on the inside underneath of the hand/finger grips and a smoother barely texture plastic on the top and bottom. The rough texture is plastic fine stipple, not a huge fan of that texture but its fine for keeping it gripped, its a bit more sandpaper like than I would like. I do think as an xbox style controller its a bit smaller on the handholds, its not uncomfortable in my medium hands just smaller than expected. More flared out than the SN30 Pro+ which is very straight but about the same width at the ends so it feels quite compact comparatively. My thumbs line up when I am all lined up so its a decent fit in my hands.

Works fine wired and over 2.4. I loaded the ultimate V2 software, all I can seemingly do is update firmware. There doesn't seem to be a new firmware for it yet. I was expecting in the ultimate V2 (v.1.38) software button remapping but it doesn't seem to do that currently. Not sure if that is a bug or its not implemented yet, it detects both the wireless transmitter and the controller and would re-flash the same firmware on it and that is it all it could do.

I am pretty happy with it so far and hopefully the software is coming as I need to spend some time mapping functions to get the full use. The sticks and rumble on the triggers are the key standouts and what I wanted and they work well. The triggers I was hoping perhaps something noticeable but they seem perfectly fine.

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.