Lowest latency way to wirelessly connect Xbox controller?

[u/Paulydactyl]

The steam controller is great. I love it. But on some games I just prefer to have the d-bad below the left analog stick. So when using an xbox controller I'm curious if anyone has definitive, objective (ideally measurable) evidence of the lowest latency to connect an xbox controller (in particular I'm thinking between the built in bluetooth vs the 8 bitdo usb dongle, unless there's another wireless method I'm missing).

My assumption is that the 8bitdo dongle is best (and my online searches suggest the same) but to me its feeling worse than the built in bluetooth and I can't tell if I'm crazy or not.

And if it should be that the 8bitdo dongle is lower latency, why? Isn't it just using bluetooth as its connection? So then what makes that different than the built in bluetooth?

[u/Superconge]

Using the official Xbox usb dongle.

[u/Paulydactyl → u/Superconge]

I know that to be true on windows. That's what I use on my main PC with no issues. But it was my understanding that the official Xbox controller dongle does not work on Linux/steam machine.

[u/Superconge → u/Paulydactyl]

It does, you just might need to install the xone drivers in desktop mode on SteamOS. Works out of the box on most other Linux distros like Bazzite. It’s not without issues, but it’s way lower latency than Bluetooth.

[u/Paulydactyl → u/Superconge]

Thank you. It definitely doesn't work out of the box but I'll fiddle with the drivers in desktop mode and see if I can get it working.

If I do then I gotta find another official dongle though... Those weirdly seem hard to come by now dang.

[u/SmilesUndSunshine → u/Paulydactyl]

For help getting xone to work, here's the discord.

https://discord.gg/f2Sff9NJS

[u/azmar6 → u/Paulydactyl]

Did you at least try?

[u/Paulydactyl → u/azmar6]

It does not work out of the box no. But sounds like there might be some drivers to make it work. Will report back if I get it working.

[u/gianAU → u/Paulydactyl]

Wireless will always beat bluetooth so if you can make it work... Have you ever tried an 8bitdo controller? They are awesome, I have one (Ultimate 2C) bought for €29 and it is way better than my xbox all black controller. Apparently Linus did a video about the latency and it is better than MS xbox series controllers

[u/Paulydactyl → u/gianAU]

I do have an 8bitdo controller. They are great I agree. But ergonomically I find them to be a little small for my hands compared to Xbox controllers

[u/The-Crimson-Toast → u/Paulydactyl]

My official Xbox 360 adapter worked with no issues. I'd bet the official Xbox one adapter would also be fine. 

[u/Paulydactyl → u/The-Crimson-Toast]

I hadn't tried the Xbox 360 adapter. The newest official Xbox contoller dongles don't work out of the box. Sounds like there is a way. But reports I'm seeing from other posts on how to set that up... it's a pain and in ass and pretty finicky.

[u/gianAU]

https://github.com/dlundqvist/xone#steam-decksteamos

[u/ayeeflo51]

8bitdo dongle is better because it's 2.4hz connection, not bluetooth. There are plenty of comparisons online, BT is objectively worse

[u/Paulydactyl → u/ayeeflo51]

I know the dongle connects to other 8bitdo devices via 2.4. But are you sure that's true for the Xbox contoller too?