The most productive PC controllers are very viable if you’re not comfortable with your mouse and keyboard. Whether you need a professional controller with enough back buttons to make the most productive keyboardists cry, or you just need something comfortable and reliable to play more comfortably, the most productive PC controllers are a wonderful tool to have in your gaming PC arsenal. . We’ve created a list of our favorites below so you can find the one that’s right for you and your needs.
The market position of the controller is in one position at the moment. With a new and expanding PSfive controller scene, there are now some new additions to our list, such as Nacon Revolution five Pro, DualSense Edge, and Victrix Pro BFG. However, these pads can be expensive, so it’s wonderful to see GameSir make its first appearance on our list below with its new T4 Kaleid controller for PC and Nintendo Switch. Of course, Xbox controllers keep coming. The popular Elite Series 2 and Series X controllers are still fan favorites, but there are many wonderful features in the industry today.
Today’s PC controllers incorporate a number of traditionalization features, adding the aforementioned additional palettes and even the ability to change entire factors through modular designs. With your purchase, regularly get conclusive software that will allow you to control the must-have parts of your gamepad, and some allow you to set traditional dead zones for analog sticks. The market is full of wireless and stressed-out options, and with the existing popularity of setting up a console and PC for gaming, chances are you’ll be able to find anything that works for both.
Best Overall PC Driver
With excellent customization options and a competitive price point, the Victrix Pro BFG is the gamepad to beat right now – it’s also our top PS5 pick overall as well.
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Best Budget PC Controller
If you’re working with a smaller budget, the T4 Kaleid offers fantastic value in its Hall effect thumbsticks, extra back buttons and responsive performance.
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The best PC controller for most
It’s a classic, but it’s stood the test of time. The Xbox Wireless Controller offers a flexible feature set while also offering an improved overall feel.
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Best PC Controller for Longevity
Hall Sensor sticks that are immune to stick drift make this the best gamepad if you want something long-lasting. It’s great for Esports and multiplayer too.
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Best PC Controller for PS5 Fans
The previous Victrix Pro is also our most productive PS5 option, but if you’re looking for something more aesthetically pleasing, the DualSense Edge also includes a wonderful feature set and a boot case.
The best premium PC controller
The Elite Series 2 has reigned supreme in the premium PC controller space for a while now, but it still impresses today with its customization options and flexibility.
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Best Keyboard Alternative
If you need to combine the functions of a keyboard with the thumb movement of a controller, Azeron Cyborg is the ultimate thing to play.
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Best PC Controller for Driving Games
Just one look at this modular wheel mount on the eSwap XR Pro is enough to know that this is a serious driving controller.
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Our opinion:
Are you tired of hearing that other people who use a controller can’t keep up with the brute force of a mouse and keyboard? Because with the Victrix Pro BFG in your hands, it may no longer be so transparent and undeniable. This controller is designed with elite functionality in mind, and thanks to its amazing modular design, you can tailor it to your precise personal tastes thanks to the suite of accessories that come in the case. Among them are a larger analog stick for precise aiming, D-pad options, stick holders, and a war module that gives you six face buttons. Like the Thrustmaster E-Swap X Pro, the modules can also be flipped so the sticks are symmetrical.
As well as being comically simple – the controller is quite smooth in the hands and surely has no noise or haptic feedback – it’s a controller that’s designed to get the most productive functionality out of you, no matter what game you’re playing. It has 4 back buttons that are as comfortable as they are useful, as well as a nifty “Tournament Lock” mode that prevents you from pressing the system buttons during competition, which could lead to disqualification. During testing, there wasn’t a single game where we could launch it without having to have a good time.
Although it’s officially licensed by PlayStation, it also works for PC. In terms of value for money, it’s surely one of the most productive controllers to be had on the shelves in recent years, especially when you consider that it’s less expensive than its competition in the PS5 controller space.
Our expert review:
A perfect controller design is rarely unusual these days, especially among the most productive Nintendo Switch controllers. The GameSir T4 Kaleid is GameSir’s newest cross-platform controller and is available for use on PC, Android TV, and Nintendo. Switch raises a vital question: what would be the value of a professional controller these days?Because despite the number of features on offer here, it might be one of the cheapest controllers worth buying right now.
Somewhat most notably, the offset or asymmetrical sticks are Hall Sensor ones, meaning you won’t encounter stick drift with this controller, despite it being much cheaper than a lot of the alternatives. On the textured grips of the T4 Kaleid, you’ll find two back buttons. These are excellently placed where my middle fingers wrap around the controller and take absolutely no displacement of my hands to use.
If you’re a PC gamer and looking for a semi-decent controller to use in third-person games, buying it can be a challenge. You need a less expensive brand, but you need quality and something that will last. The T4 Kaleid is that controller, and it’s incredibly affordably priced on the market today.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that the most recent revision of the Xbox gamepad is so high on our list when it comes to functionality and comfort. Add to that the fact that it runs natively on the PC (just plug it in or connect it via Bluetooth) and you’re good to go. in a position to pass without further problems.
The new additions this time around, while distinctly minor, are the USB-C charging inclusions, much faster than Micro-USB (if you have at least one rechargeable pack), as well as the “hybrid” D-pad that supports sound. There’s also a percentage button, as found on the DualShock four, which does the exact same thing; create and share images and video clips to upload to social media; anything that offers limited features for PC use.
There’s an explanation for why a lot of things haven’t been replaced in 8 years, when the Xbox One controller was introduced, and that is that it was already almost perfect. If you need to back off even further, it’s only been iterative since the Xbox 360 gamepad appeared in 2005 – everything works incredibly well and remains the controller of choice for PC, balancing functionality and value.
Read more: Our impressions of the Xbox Series X controller
Our opinion:
The Nacon Revolution 5 Pro is the spiritual successor to the Nacon Revolution Unlimited, which was one of the best officially licensed pro controllers for PS4. Equipped with Hall sensor sticks, it is the first controller on this list that is immune to stick issues. In its design, the Nacon Revolution five Pro is very similar to the Nacon Revolution Unlimited. It has the same wide shoulders and long handles, its front buttons are large and the circular button extends over the right side in the same way.
The list of features on the Revolution 5 Pro (RfiveP) is as extensive as can be found in those days: wireless and stress connectivity, an impressive 10-hour battery life, other important PC software for fine tuning, and even extended audio and multipoint setups. Wireless connection. connectivity.
In addition to the asymmetrical Hall sensor joysticks, the R5P also includes four rear buttons, other controller tops and doors, weights you can attach to the grips, and four profiles to match the platform. The chassis sports a matte rubber surface that feels great and fresh. in the hands. Nacon deserves extra praise for putting durability at the center of this gamepad’s design.
When it comes to competitive gaming, the Nacon Revolution five Pro is the closest thing to the Victrix Pro BFG. Its longer length and heavier weight may even make it more appealing to many gamers. Unfortunately, looser neck tension and less ergonomic back buttons make us fail.
Either way, it’s one of the most productive controllers we’ve tested in 2023 and feels just as comfortable in a first-person shooter as it is in a platformer or third-person. Being immune to the stick would make it more productive PC controller for longevity, but the build quality here gives us so much confidence that this controller will last you a long time in the future.
In addition, there are some flaws, specifically if you’re stressed with a headset plugged directly into the controller, as Nacon’s noise-cancelling software means that the sound from the microphone will be accompanied by squeaky white noise.
Our opinion:
The DualSense Edge is Sony’s first professional in-house controller, and if you don’t know, it works with PCs too. The rounded corners on the back of the handles, as well as increased weight, make it feel much larger in the hands. than the original DualSense. Clever software integration into PS5 means you can fine-tune PS5’s custom features, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, and they serve as buttons under the joysticks to simplify replacing customizable profiles in an instant.
The two back buttons are incredibly comfortable and work incredibly well no matter how you map them. Unfortunately, there are only two, which means that for one price, you can get third-party drivers with fewer features and software integration, but much more. characteristics.
More importantly, the DualSense Edge has a shorter battery life than the original DualSense and doesn’t solve the frequent disorders of stick drift. While entire key modules can be replaced, it would be less difficult to recommend if genuine solutions were incorporated. .
Either way, the DualSense Edge is still a wonderful controller that will be available for PC and PS5. If you play a lot of third-person action-adventure games, or more particularly first-party PlayStation games on PC, this controller is the one for you.
Our expert review:
Here’s where things start to get serious – with a price tag to match no less. I’ll preface this by saying that this gamepad is, at heart, a mega-charged edition of the standard Xbox Series X controller.
The box includes replacement controller heads, an old-fashioned crossover design D-pad, and equipment to tailor the feel of the controller to your liking, with physical changes to almost every single component of the controller. Also of note is the extended battery life. 40 hours, similar to that of the Switch Pro controller, 8 hours longer than the Xbox Series X controller’s lifespan between charges. We found Microsoft’s battery life to be largely true in our own tests.
The Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it feels like a revolution.
We were very happy to find new textured handles that covered the legs of the Series 2 edition of the Elite controller, offering an understated tactile feel that didn’t seem prone to wear or scratches during our adventures with those buttons. We also found that it’s easy to change. Pull out one of your chosen analog sticks or D-pad buttons.
However, we’ve noticed the maximum significant progress in software innovations under the hood. We still had to reassign absolutely every role, but there’s a lot more at play here. You can assign system-level roles, such as taking a screenshot or Opening Achievements in the console game.
The Elite 2 justifies its asking price with its premium features, but at the end of the day, those features and price may not meet everyone’s needs or budget. If you are looking for a high-end controller and have money to spend, this can definitely be considered the most productive controller for you.
Read more: Xbox Elite 2 Controller Review
Our opinion:
The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core takes the high quality of the full-fat Elite Series 2 and brings it down to a more affordable price point, making it one of the best PC controllers out there. If you want a premium controller with great software benefits and features, this is a great value gamepad. This is essentially the same great package as you get with the Elite Series 2 – the main difference between the two is the accessories you get bundled along with them.
The original Elite Controller Series 2 will set you back $179.99 / £159.99 and comes with all the customizable goodies you could ever need for it. The Elite Series 2 Core only costs $129.99 / £114.99 and comes with the exact same body and features, but none of the accessories. These are available to purchase separately and can be used with the Core, but they will bring the total investment back up to $179.99.
While I’m disappointed that no accessories are offered here and would have appreciated some form of extra rear paddles or toggle caps, I can’t seriously fault the Elite Series 2 Core. It’s like going to a place to eat Michelin-starred candles and be served something as basic as bread and butter. It’s neat, simple, and one would expect a more confusing dish for the value you pay. But it’s probably the most productive bread and butter you’ll ever eat.
Our opinion:
For many PC gamers, the need for a decent professional controller comes from the fact that they’ve never been comfortable with the WASD inputs of a classic gaming keyboard. If you also find it difficult to put your hands back in the “original” position. When it comes to a keyboard, the Azeron Cyborg is designed for you.
It’s a completely traditional gaming keyboard that’s endlessly comfortable and surely wonderful to use. Since its shape is very different from that of a gamepad and combines elements of a keyboard, it requires a lot of relearning and configuration. You place your hand on this ergonomic robot, grasp with one hand and use a mouse with the other, as you normally would. The controller will give you a familiar movement of the controller, however, the other 30 inputs that are at your fingertips are up to you. Create traditional entry cards based on what works for you and your brain, edit them on the go with other amazing software, and soon enjoy gambling like never before.
The best part is, it’s so adjustable to your hand shape and what’s comfortable for you. All of the finger towers have multiple joints that you can bring closer or further away. You can change their angles, the heights they sit at, and their distance from one another. This is a customizable controller at its absolute best, and you even get to choose different colors as well. If you want to keep up with the functionality of a keyboard but you want the best parts of a gamepad, don’t miss the Azeron Cyborg.
Our opinion:
The Thrustmaster eSwap XR might look familiar, and that’s because it’s an update to the X Pro that can be found further up this list. While we might not recommend it wholeheartedly over this newer version because of price disparity, this is an easy controller to recommend if you play a lot of driving and racing games, if you don’t want to fork out the cash for a proper racing wheel setup.
This modular controller from Thrustmaster has all the benefits of the X Pro, but comes with an additional mini racing wheel that allows you to get up close and personal with the map of games like Forza Horizon five while controlling your vehicle as you would an RC car. in the day. It’s up to you whether you use it with your index finger and thumb, or as you would with a general controller. Either way, it’s a new way of playing that provides a lot of fun, and that’s never a bad thing.
Elsewhere, it’s a very comfortable controller to use in driving games. In particular, if you have larger hands and like the feel of a larger controller with longer handles, this one is for you. Being able to switch modules mid-game is fantastic. And the controller is only disappointed by the fact that it’s still only hardwired. Finally, its back buttons are small and not the easiest to use. The most sensible thing is that it’s an excellent upgrade for one of the most productive PC controllers on the market. The market.
Using your Xbox gamepad as a PC controller is so much easier – it’s all Microsoft, after all. Again, you can simply plug in a popular cable and you’re good to go. However, a wireless connection can be achieved by holding down the Xbox Home button and then the pairing button in your PC’s Bluetooth settings. You’ll see the Xbox Wireless Controller listed as an option.
Using your Xbox controller as a PC controller is particularly less difficult than a PlayStation gamepad; after all, that’s all Microsoft. Again, you can just plug in a popular cable and go. However, a wireless connection can be achieved by holding down the Xbox Home button and then the pairing button in your PC’s Bluetooth settings. You will see the Xbox Wireless Controller appear as an option.
In general, it’s up to you whether you need to use a PC controller or a keyboard and mouse and whatever is comfortable for you. Some other people prefer the controller when migrating to a PC because of its familiarity. However, there are benefits to the keyboard and mouse, adding greater aiming accuracy, which can provide a competitive advantage. There are also hybrids of the two, such as Zeron keyboards.
Regardless; our advice would be to play with whatever you individually feel comfortable using. And perhaps most importantly, don’t judge or mock others for what they choose. You never know why someone might need to use a controller over a mouse and keyboard – it could be for accessibility reasons. Either way, the toxicity around the controller vs mouse+keyboard debate isn’t a healthy thing we should be keeping around in 2023.
In our opinion, the most productive PC controller is the Thrustmaster eSwap X Pro because it offers adequate accessibility features that go hand-in-hand with build quality. If you’re looking for a more affordable PC controller option, the Turtle Beach Recon controller is probably the most productive way to do it: for $60, it has features that gamepads twice as expensive don’t have. However, we believe that the most productive and suitable PC controller for the maximum number of people will be the Xbox Wireless Controller. It is plug and play and can be used both stressed and wireless.
The DualSense is one of the toughest controller features on the market thanks to its adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. However, it doesn’t have programmable back buttons or much of the software that separates men from boys in the market from the more productive PC. Drivers. That said, as PlayStation now starts releasing more games of its own for PC, the PS5 controller is probably one of the most productive tactics to enjoy them. Although we recommend the DualSense Edge if your budget allows.
In short, each and every controller we got our hands on is used in a number of other video games for maximum compatibility with the genres. This means that we’re going to check the responsiveness of the joysticks, face buttons, bumpers, triggers, and any other additional features discovered on the device. If a controller is stressed or running on rechargeable batteries, its lifespan is also checked. The same can be said for any specialized software, such as drivers, that may also be included with the controller.
To learn more about how we verify drivers on GamesRadar, check out our full article, and for more representative information on our holistic technique for lacheck equipment, check out our Hardware Policy.
Looking for more ways to enhance your gaming setup? Definitely check out your control alternatives with the the best gaming keyboards and best gaming mouse candidates. And maybe it’s time to upgrade to one of the best gaming desks or best gaming chairs. If your PC is getting on a bit, take a look at our guides on the best gaming laptops and best gaming PC.
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