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[Digital-Aftertaste]

So ever since 2013 i've mainly used mouse and keyboard however there are certain games that truly have been designed around controllers, such as Yakuza, Death Stranding, Dark Souls, etc. For the most part i've been using a cheap third party 360 controller that is serviceable, however the internals are so cheap that it almost gives me a nails to a chalk board feeling whenever I press the triggers or the face buttons.

I've been perusing the idea of controllers such as the elite 2 or the dualsense edge but i'm not certain if it really would be worth the price of admission when something like the gulikit KK3 max is sold for less than 100$ and seems to have all the features the other... "name brand" controllers have.

Would like to hear form the lucky few... or unlucky, that have tried out all three.

 

[drotahorror]

8bitdo and a dualsense is all I need.

For a keyboard I will drop over $100 if it suits my needs.

 

[TrueLegend]

You can get hall effect high polling rate controller for less than 70. 8bitdo is great.

 

[Shake Your Rump]

Why would you need rear paddles and such for games like Death Stranding? Just buy a modern Xbox controller and enjoy the games.

 

[LectureMaster]

8Bitdo Ultimate 2.4G Wireless Controller

This one is a solid option and on sale it's like 45 bucks. Hall effect sensor, charging station that can be used as 2.4 GHz dongle, back buttons.

 

[ArtHands]

Reputable brands like 8bitdo , Gamesir or Gulikit are already pretty great. The Elite 2 or DualSense Edge are mostly for console fanboys

 

[poppabk]

8Bitdo Ultimate 2.4G Wireless Controller

This one is a solid option and on sale it's like 45 bucks. Hall effect sensor, charging station that can be used as 2.4 GHz dongle, back buttons.

Yeah I wouldn't be buying anything without hall effect sticks.

 

[Topher]

I wrote a mini-review of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller. Still using it and loving it. Expensive at $200, but for me it is worth it.

Damn near PERFECT controller for Xbox and PC - Razer Wolverine V3 Pro wireless controller

I've been using this controller for a few days and it has easily surpassed every other controller I've ever used. It ain't perfect, but it is pretty close. Well.....I say it ain't cheap, but at $200 it is in the same ballpark as other "pro" controllers like the Xbox Elite Series 2 and...

www.neogaf.com

 

[ArtHands]

Even Hall Effect is currently getting replaced by TMR in recent days.

 

[diffusionx]

I would stay far away from the Dualsense Edge and Elite 2. The Elite build quality is horrible and has tons of issues. The Dual Sense Edge is overpriced and the replacement sticks, the big selling point of the stupid thing, are OOS everywhere. Seems to be a totally abandoned rip off product from Sony.

I don't like 8bitpoo and SCUF or whatever is tryhard. Just get a regular Dualsense.

 

[StereoVsn]

I have a regular Dual Sense, XSX controller, Elite 2 and a nice 8bitDo one.

I probably use Elite 2 and Dual Sense the most. That said I got both on pretty good deals and would definitely not pay retail for Elite 2.

I think like others said, 8bitdo is the way to go for the price/performance ratio.

 

[Merkades]

All I have is an Elite series 2 and a dual sense. I easily prefer my dual sense. And since I only consider the Elite series 2 as a decent controller, I probably won't be buying another higher end controller.

 

[Fbh]

8Bitdo Ultimate 2.4G Wireless Controller

This one is a solid option and on sale it's like 45 bucks. Hall effect sensor, charging station that can be used as 2.4 GHz dongle, back buttons.

This one is solid and offers great value for the money. The fact you can get it for so cheap makes these super expensive controllers all the more ridiculous to me. $200 and you don't even get Hall effect sticks lol.

The only issue with this one is they went with the crappy Nintendo pro controller style dpad. I don't get why no one copies the the Sony dpad design

 

[IAmRei]

8bit do is kind of cheap in my place, about $40-50, and they are rocking solid.

 

[mansoor1980]

got this yesterday , hopefully will last longer than my nacon revolution pro

 

[Kabelly]

I just can't justify paying $200 for a controller for some back paddles that should have been this gen's new standard feature.

Dualsense will serve you well. I have only used controller on my PC build.
I will always mention the gyro abilitiy because it helps with games that require aim and you don't have to suffer with stick aiming just because you're playing on a controller.

 

[clarky]

This one is solid and offers great value for the money. The fact you can get it for so cheap makes these super expensive controllers all the more ridiculous to me. $200 and you don't even get Hall effect sticks lol.

The only issue with this one is they went with the crappy Nintendo pro controller style dpad. I don't get why no one copies the the Sony dpad design

Id be all over that controller but I need 4 back buttons/paddles.

 

[violence]

You can get a Series controller on sale for $45.

Otherwise I like the Gamesir kaleid flux (back paddles, hall sticks, cool lights) $46

The 8Bitdo Ultimate I ended up returning. I didn’t care for the feel. I read that they use some kind of cheap version of Hall sticks too.

 

[clarky]

I just can't justify paying $200 for a controller for some back paddles that should have been this gen's new standard feature.

Dualsense will serve you well. I have only used controller on my PC build.
I will always mention the gyro abilitiy because it helps with games that require aim and you don't have to suffer with stick aiming just because you're playing on a controller.

The battery on the dual sense is shocking. I travel alot and it felt like it was constantly needing charging.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

This is an absolute steal for what you are getting: Vader Pro 4
Clicky buttons, adjustable triggers, hall effect, back buttons (also clicky).


But this is currently goat

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro

 

[clarky]

This is an absolute steal for what you are getting: Vader Pro 4
Clicky buttons, adjustable triggers, hall effect, back buttons (also clicky).


But this is currently goat

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro

Think the Razer is my next purchase

 

[Fess]

I have an ancient wired Xbox 360 controller for my main desktop PC. Still great.

And a wireless Starfield Xbox Series controller for the living room PC. Also great.

 

[kevboard]

This one is solid and offers great value for the money. The fact you can get it for so cheap makes these super expensive controllers all the more ridiculous to me. $200 and you don't even get Hall effect sticks lol.

The only issue with this one is they went with the crappy Nintendo pro controller style dpad. I don't get why no one copies the the Sony dpad design

the new 8bitdo controllers, like the new Ultimate 2C, the Ultimate 3, and some of their other revisions, have among the best dpads out there. only Razer has a better one imo.

these new dpads aren't normal rubber dome anymore. they have a tactile click to them, but not as harsh as the Xbox SX dpad, more like a smooth click. I'm not entirely sure what kind of mechanism they are using...
the only thing they say about them on their website and product descriptions is "refined dpad" or "improved dpad"


Sony dpads are mediocre at best... especially pre PS4 they were straight up torture devices. and somehow the Dualsense was a downgrade from the Dualshock 4 dpad.

 

[namenotfound]

8BitDo Ultimate 2C is my favorite controller so far though I've only ever used the console basic controllers. So recently Switch Pro controllers, XSX controllers, Dualsense. Feels good. Has the 2 extra buttons that I map to the stick clicks. All I need. When I bought it, it wasn't in stock on Amazon so went AliExpress. I'd guess the GameSir gamepad is good too. I use their G8 Galileo with my phone and it feels great

 

[zeomax]

Anbernic released their first controller and it is basically the 8BitDo Ultimate controller but for only 18$!!

 

[Digital-Aftertaste]

I wrote a mini-review of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller. Still using it and loving it. Expensive at $200, but for me it is worth it.

Damn near PERFECT controller for Xbox and PC - Razer Wolverine V3 Pro wireless controller

I've been using this controller for a few days and it has easily surpassed every other controller I've ever used. It ain't perfect, but it is pretty close. Well.....I say it ain't cheap, but at $200 it is in the same ballpark as other "pro" controllers like the Xbox Elite Series 2 and...

www.neogaf.com

maaaaan! y u gotta make me suffer? I got a naga pro & huntsman, and absolutely adore them

 

[8BiTw0LF]

 

[Digital-Aftertaste]

with regards to the 8bitdo and others like it, what I question is the ergonomics of those controllers. I tend to keep my elbows flared rather than straight. idk how comfortable it would be on the wrists

the razer one seems to sit in the middle when it comes to the handles but at 200... thats just disheartening.

 

[Digital-Aftertaste]

seems like a good contender, ngl. Good features, not over 100$ and built in buttons rather than paddles on the back.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

seems like a good contender, ngl. Good features, not over 100$ and built in buttons rather than paddles on the back.

Best bang for buck

 

[draliko]

flydigi and bigbigwon are good enough without spending too much

 

[vaibhavpisal]

I had 8bitdo Ultimate for xbox. Pretty bad analog sticks. Accuracy was from X360 era. D pad was best though.

Apart from that I have Power A Fusion Pro 2. Slightly more expensive than 8bitdo but sticks are really good. From responsiveness to accuracy to tension, everything feels great. I would recommend this (newer version is released) and is much under 100 bucks. I like it better than xbox series controller by a small margin.

 

[Kabelly]

The battery on the dual sense is shocking. I travel alot and it felt like it was constantly needing charging.

Yea the battery is trash and I don't get why Sony cannot just put bigger batteries in their controllers. I'm just so used to their controllers.. Also I don't travel with it so I at least have a charging cable nearby.

 

[jubei]

I was gifted an Xbox Elite controller, and it's been disappointing. The stick flicks back and reverses my inputs 90% of the time, the Bluetooth pairing is annoying and inconsistent, it has a number of weird bugs with certain games (for example, it always shows up as two controllers in Rivals of Aether, and I've seen this with multiple if this controller), you need a Microsoft account to configure/troubleshoot it, and the cord that came with the damn thing can't be used to connect to my PC, only charge it.

It IS comfortable but honestly I think I prefer my Switch Pro Controller. The Bluetooth works really fast, there's barely any input lag, and it just works, weirdly enough.

 

[hemo memo]

Xbox Series controller is all you need really.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

I just bought an 8-bit Do Ultimate 2c. It's a fantastic controller for 35 bucks. It has better sticks and triggers than an Xbox series controller and, I feel, better rumble. I like an Xbox controller for PC, but they just don't last.

 

[tusharngf]

get 8 bit ultimate or vader4 pro one from banggood and you are good to go. Dont buy elite controllers they are a waste of money.

 

[od-chan]

The xbox layout is wrong, so these pads aren't an option to begin with. DualSense is preatty fucking great on PC, both ergonomically and functionally. Much better than DualShock 4 (miles better than xbox pads).

With a little bit of setting up you can get haptic feedback/adaptive triggers to work with DualSense on every game, or emulator. It's not perfect of course, but once again, it's pretty fucking great. This is what a controller should be like in 2024, not just more buttons.

 

[Ulysses 31]

Flydigi Apex 4

Wukong version

 

[M1987]

No just get a 8bitdo Ultimate 2C, it's a upgraded version of the Ultimate without a charging dock

 

[Vroadstar]

8Bitdo Ultimate 2.4G Wireless Controller

This one is a solid option and on sale it's like 45 bucks. Hall effect sensor, charging station that can be used as 2.4 GHz dongle, back buttons.

Using the same controller for months now and really love it. I was surprised to find out it even has back buttons. I went in blind buying this when my Xbox controller started having drift, so yeah +1 for this controller

 

[Cakeboxer]

Tried several expensive controllers, but a 40 Euro Series controller is more than enough for my needs. But i guess it depends on how many games you play with a controller. I play like 9/10 with M+K.

 

[Edgelord79]

8bitdo ultimate is easily the best controller I’ve ever owned out of all platforms. I’d use it for everything if I could.

 

[hinch7]

8Bitdo Ultimate 2.4G Wireless Controller

This one is a solid option and on sale it's like 45 bucks. Hall effect sensor, charging station that can be used as 2.4 GHz dongle, back buttons.

Yep this is a solid choice. Don't have to worry about charging it thanks to the dock. And the remappable buttons and switchable profiles makes this my default controller.

Having sprint and dodge binds for the back paddles is a game changer.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

I bought two Dualsense so that I never run out of juice. Yes I game too much.

 

[BennyBlanco]

8bitdo ultimate wireless is the GOAT in my eyes. Hall effect sticks. Charging stand. Great d pad. Great price.

 

[Holammer]

I don't do consoles anymore, but I still remain on Team Dualshock so I play with a Dualsense now.
Once you experience the haptics in Returnal or Ratchet & Clank: Ripped a Fart or even Golf Story with a Switch emulator, it's hard to play without it. Only problem is you need to have it wired.

 

[StereoVsn]

with regards to the 8bitdo and others like it, what I question is the ergonomics of those controllers. I tend to keep my elbows flared rather than straight. idk how comfortable it would be on the wrists

the razer one seems to sit in the middle when it comes to the handles but at 200... thats just disheartening.

For any Razer accessory products the trick is to catch them in a good BF sale. Usually either from Razer Direct, BestBuy or Amazon you can grab them at like 30-50% off, especially if you are willing to buy a returned product from BestBuy or Amazon Warehouse.

This doesn’t work all the time, but I have bought a ton of higher end mice and keyboards over the years.

 

[Klosshufvud]

Recommending controllers is the trickiest thing to do. A lot of people giving their advice on what is in the end just mere preference. This is especially true for dpads. Dpads are generally hopeless to discuss because your enjoyment of a dpad depends entirely on what game you're using it for. The Xbox clicky dpad is preferrable for FPS games and so in when you want to navigate menus and change weapons. Softer dpads are way better for say fighting games. So this means the whole discussion is more revolving what type of games I enjoy. Another issue is the symmetrical/asymmetrical layout issue. Personally I can only use symmetrical. I own asymmetrical controllers but my brain is just hard wired to symmetrical after decades of Playstation gaming. And unfortunately, in terms of symmetrical controllers, you don't have many options. It's mostly just Sony's own controllers, with flaws of their own (price, prone to drift). On the plus side you get excellent face buttons and dpad.

However it seems you're ok with asymmetrical given how you've used a 360 controller for the longest. If you're not going to use the dpad for competitive online games, say fighting games, that leaves you a lot of good options. I find the normal Series controller a bit underwhelming in a number of areas. Face buttons don't feel good. Triggers feel cheap. Even the sticks feel off and the dpad is just regular clicky dpad. So you're not going wrong picking any of the Chinese brands given you can return the device if you don't find the buttons comfortable. Whatever you pick though will have some time getting used to coming from 360 controller. And I absolutely don't recommend Dualsense Edge or Xbox Elite controllers. They're just too expensive considering your choices on PC.

 

[Exentryk]

Not a fan of the price point but I need the paddles. Currently have two Elite series 2s and love them. Combine the extra buttons with software that can remap buttons (say Rewasd for example) and you can do so much on PC with just a controller - set up buttons for screenshots, video recording, fullscreen toggles, quit app, mouse movement etc.

But if you don't find these things as important, then probably not worth it. You could also do these things without paddles, but it's nice to have more buttons to set these things up. And the Elite controllers feel really nice in hand, and have long battery lives.