I’m often close enough to my PC while playing games that wireless seems a little unneeded, but more than that, I just want fewer batteries to manage.
Adjusted title to mention preference for no batteries.
I use DS4 pads plugged in, but I’d love a newer model that didn’t have a battery, but had the same layout. So many of the cheaper gamepads come with terrible dpads.
I prefer wired controllers but only if they use usb-c. I’ve had too many micro USB ports wear out on me on the controller side. I think the ps5 controller works well, though my preferred is GameSir. GameSir is a Chinese company but the build quality is excellent, and they use Hall effect sticks. Shipping takes a bit but for the price I don’t think you can go wrong.
Micro USB sucks.
That said, USB C ports do wear out if you bump them a lot, which is a lot more likely in a controller than something like a phone. My laptop USB-C charging port is wearing out because my kids are rough with it while charging. I’d much rather have a cheaper barrel jack than I can solder at home than something complex like USB-C for something that could very likely need a repair in a few years.
I use BT controllers: DualShock 4 and Steam Controller. They work well enough, and I’m a lot less likely to bust the port if it’s only used for charging. I’ll probably upgrade to the DS5 though, since the micro USB charge port is pretty busted now.
Oh yeah, kids add a whole extra layer of fun. I’m not one to solder my own gear, especially circuitry that small, so I prefer the longevity of USB - c, comparatively anyway. Great points!
Same, but I like the option to fix it at some point.
USB-C is really complex electrically due to it being able to flip, which means you have two rows you have to solder instead of the typical one (so basically you have to have a heat gun and know how to use it). But it’s way better than micro USB, so chances are you won’t need to fix it.
That makes a lot of sense. Thanks for your insight!
I’m surprised I haven’t seen this mentioned yet. It’s a database of tested controllers and their latency.
PDP Xbox controller. They’re relatively cheap and have a range of options from pretty basic to “elite”
The one I use is a stepup from the basic, with RGB. It has extra buttons on the bottom where your middle fingers rest that can be mapped to other buttons. I have them remapped to be extra bumpers as it’s more comfortable/easier for me to play games that rely on a lot of bumper use.
I recently got a used PS3 controller because I literally couldn’t play some emulated games without the motion controls. It works as well as you’d expect a PlayStation controller to work.
I got a wired wired XBox360 controller at GameStop 10 years ago for a really good price and it works wonders! I’m on Windows 8.1 and for most games it doesn’t require any sort of configuration either, I just plug it in and it works right away
I have a 360 controller and Microsoft offers a USB wireless dongle that lets me hook up any standard 360 controller. It pretty much works like it of the box with any game.
An 8bitdo Ultimate 2 or Gamesir Cyclone 2 are the best options, they have built in rechargeable batteries and they’re the best in every other regard. they also work wired, just like nearly every other wireless controller nowadays.
If you’re on linux, DualSense controllers are awesome. I got mine for ~ $20 from a /r/buildapcsales post.
They’re great on windows too, and the extra features like the triggers are really nice for the games they work in
I’ve had troubles on my windows machine with the controller not registering in-game. I have to use a third party program DSX to make it work.
For steam games? Steaminput’s translation layer seems to work pretty well
There are some games that it doesn’t seem to play nice with that I end up using DSX for myself, also it’s nice for non Steam games.
I wouldn’t. I can’t imagine wanting to go back to a wired controller, especially when they have built in rechargeable batteries now.
Steam Controller
All hail the mighty steam controller
I prefer wired. The problem I have with most is that they are battery. Thus, the wired part is always a USB connection that inevitably wears out with use and disconnects randomly.
It’s not an innovative controller with programmable buttons or anything, but the razor controllers have a keyed recess that all but makes it impossible to disconnect or wear the port. It’s really the only selling point, but one that has kept me from looking for anything else.
why do you prefer wired? just wondering
This is just my opinion, and there are always legitimate use cases for wired or wireless. Losing connection at the worst time is the main reason. I play online, so it’s a complete and absolute, non-negotiable dealbraker to me. Every other benefit wireless gives and every other negative wired gives is trumped by this singular requirement.
I won’t go into every situation, but almost every minor issue in wireless results in disconnects. This ends up with me using wired anyways, which leads to the problem in my previous post: worn out USB ports. Wired by comparison has far less disconnects.
On a side note: I also wanted to add (but didn’t feel it was worth editing at the time), razor is stupid expensive for just that one little feature. I’ve had this controller for years, and back then it was the only one I could find like it. To me, it has been worth - but if I was to buy another I’d definitely look for something similar that is cheaper with possibly more features. It wasn’t meant to be a razor promoting post.
valid. even if i haven’t exp the same disconnect issues, i get it. hope you find one that works for your set up.
PowerA Xbox controllers are wired, cheap and actually very nice to use.
The cheap part of PowerA controllers is a little of why I asked, as I’ve not had an opportunity to ask anyone that’s used them.
Switch Hori controller, $20, great quality especially for the price
I have had a Power A Fusion for around 5 years now and I love it. Replaced the sticks after a couple years cause the rubber wore out, but no drift issues or anything. Though it depends how hard you are on controllers. I have some friends that basically destroyed theirs in a year or two.
Any XBOX style controller that uses TMR sensors for the sticks, so you don’t ever have to worry about atick drift.
I use a ps4 dual shock. While it’s great, i dont like how many games refuse to show PS buttons on screen even though they recognize that’s the controller im using.
I’ll get an xbox controller next time i need one just because of that annoyance
