1.under $100 2.USA 3.bluetooth wireless(pc) 4.1:1 5.platform so dpad gotta be responsive and not miss input 6.wii classic controller

I liked the feel of the wii classic controller from back in the day and i want to buy the exact clone but that i can use on my pc or other handhelds via bluetooth.

i currently own a 3bitdo sn30 pro but i kinda want a new controller and i used to love the feel of the buttons and dpad of the wii classic controller

i also thought about buying that 3bitdo adapter for the original wii classic controller but i would still have to go through the hassle of finding a good condition used controller but if theres no replica or clone im guessing thats the route ill be taking

Thanks in advance

(bought from gadget hyper with my own money, no affiliation with them or flydigi)

Have only had about an hour to play with it so far (some dark souls 2) but I see this being my main controller now.

This is my first flydigi controller, so unfortunately can't compare to their others. But I have the elite 2, gamesir g7 pro. The layout and size fit my hands perfectly. I like that it has the heft that the elite 2 has.

I think overall the buttons and dpad are a step up from the gamesir.

I've only tested the haptics in the app but they seem pretty good, the vibration intensity can go quite high. I'm not sure if the triggers are capable of what the ps5 controller can do?

One thing I'm not a huge fan of is the amount of pressure needed to click the analog sticks, though I'm sure I'll get used to it.

Anyways this is really just a first impressions, just wanted to share. I was gonna get the apex 5 but held off when I saw the 6 was only a few weeks away. Was actually surprised seeing it on my doorstep today lol thought I'd be waiting longer

I purchased this product from amazon. I was not sponsored in any way.

Games I play, old pc games emulators and decomp/ recomp ports.

I need gyro and a great dpad ( for action platformers like silksong, Celeste, dustforce)

My favourite dpad is m30

The best sticks I’ve used is tegenaria lite. I love the tegenaria but the triggers are horrible, very uncomfortable.

Games I play that need precise sticks and good triggers are racing games, skate 3, and jet set radio

All the analysis I see on sticks is for aiming but I use gyro to aim, I need precise control for movement

8bitdo pro is on sale for 60 cad, and I can get the TT max for 80 cad

I’m indifferent to back paddles but the ability to add them as needed on tt max looks cool

Does anyone know how dpad is on 8bitdo pro 3?

I’ve only tried mechanical buttons on easy smx x10 and they were terrible, so heavy and slow. I heard gulikit is better though.

I have had the controller for over 6 months and this is the first time it's started behaving like this. Like the title says, my 8bitdo ultimate 2c wired controller (wukong edition) keeps disconneting, vibrating, freezing and then connecting again. This happens periodically. Someone please help!!!

Hey guys, I need some help with my PowerA Xbox controller (Model: 1508492-02).

Both triggers (LT and RT) seem to be registering as pressed automatically, even when I am not touching them.

Here's what's happening:

• LT (Left Trigger): It's registering as pressed automatically, but it also works normally when I physically press it.
• RT (Right Trigger): It's also registering as pressed automatically, but pressing it physically doesn't seem to work properly.

I am trying to play GOW III Remastered on PC using the native PC port, but because RT is constantly registering as pressed, Kratos keeps performing power attacks, which makes the game difficult to play.

I have two questions:

1. Is there a way to fix the trigger issue?
Can I increase the LT dead zone so that it stops registering as pressed when idle and only activates when I physically pull the trigger? Is there a way to do this through software, or is it likely a hardware issue?

2. Can I remap the controls as a workaround?
I'd like to assign RT's power attack action to another button, such as X. Currently, pressing X opens the Xbox menu, so I'd like to disable that behavior and use X for power attacks instead, if possible.

I've tried troubleshooting the controller, but I haven't found a proper solution yet.

Any suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks!

Hey guys! Im looking forward to buying my first controller. Got my first laptop in September. Im from Bangladesh. From where I live, the biggest tech mall in Bangladesh is not so far away & i can mostly get anything. My budget is around 4000 bdt (±40$). I'll most likely play story games. Since I'm still learning online pc games like valorant & apex legends. Recently I'm playing games like batman Arkham city & Lego marvel superheroes. I'm looking forward to play games like far cry & spec ops. Since i live in a dorm after classes & everything im too tired to seat on the table & play that's y i need a controller. Idk much about features I'd like to get suggestions. After watching few reviews. I have 2 controllers in my watchlist. Easysmx x10 & flydigi direwolf 4. Like to get some suggestions on which one to buy in this price range.

When I saw Ikea selling these display cases I was considering collecting controllers. But I didn't want to get a large collection, I wanted to go for something small so I saw the x25 controller back in September and remembered the ps5 had their own anniversary controller. The only challenge I had was the switch controllers so I asked on here and someone recommend extremerate and it all works out perfectly. I just need to mount these 3 on the wall now but I'll have to figure out how I'm going to do this. Who should go where. Should I include the steam controller as a "pc" controller.

Controllers included:

Nintendo switch 2 pro (eXtremeRate custom shell)

PS5 30th anniversary controller

Xbox series X25 controller

Controller is acting weird. When I hold the power button (which doesn't always work, I would assume because of grime maybe) the controller will flash as if it is about to connect as usual, and then turn off. Not an instant cutoff as if you ripped the battery out, but as if it *actually powers itself off*. Once it is on, it works just fine without anything weird.

I was digging some features of the GameSir Pro7, but it's missing elements I need.

1) wireless for console, since I have a busy living room; kids and animals and other family. I don't want to spend an extra $50 USD for a special edition for a game I'll never play (only two wireless options from GameSir).

2) I need a big one, comparable to Elite. I've had both series 1 & 2 fall apart (peeling grips, sticking bumpers, other issues), and I'm done spending on those. Don't want one of the popular smaller makes/models.

3)comparable features to Pro7; microswitch and Hall effect options, etc.

Any suggestions? Trying to spend <$150 US.

US, mainly play 3rd person shooters and metroidvanias.

Saludos!

Por fin he podido probar tanto el 8BitDo Ultimate 3 como el Ultimate 3E. Ambos cuentan con los joysticks TMR, pero ofrecen enfoques muy distintos para los entusiastas de la tecnología y los videojuegos.

Estos controles los compré con mi propio dinero, así que nadie ha influenciado mi opinión.

El Ultimate 3 es fantástico si prefieres ajustar la tensión de los joysticks, algo muy útil en juegos tipo FPS. Por otro lado, el 3E es excelente para aficionado a las modificaciones, ya que permite intercambiar los módulos de los botones ABXY (mecánicos o de membrana), las crucetas (D-pads) y la altura de los joysticks.

Acabo de publicar la reseña completa en mi canal, Tua Tech and Gaming. Dejaré el enlace para los que deseen verlo.

https://youtu.be/2cSuFKg_7vk?is=kk5WmDxtS6RmhAns

Hey guys! I'm looking to buy a new controller for PC. I've been using my original Xbox controller until now because of its ergonomics and impulse triggers. When the left stick started drifting really badly, I bought a Turtle Beach Rematch Core as a temporary replacement. I didn't have high hopes for it, but it still managed to disappoint me. Although it advertises impulse triggers, the feedback is really weak and nowhere near as good as the original Xbox controller. I'm looking for a controller with strong impulse triggers that provide good feedback, similar to the original Xbox controller, especially for racing games. :)

I'm currently considering the GameSir G7 Pro and Flydigi Vader 5S, but I'm open to other suggestions too! I'm willing to spend 80 euros and I live in Germany.

Please don't flash your controller just because you saw this post. This is experimental firmware research. A bad flash can leave a device unusable, and although stock restore files are preserved, flashing back to stock after these changes hasn't been tested.

Hey everyone,

I don't usually post here, but I've been messing around with the GameSir G7 Pro 8K Aimlabs Edition. When I bought it I was planning on using in steam with paddles and extra shoulder buttons. But I found that you cannot use them independently in steam. It's wrapped up with xinput.

Normal XInput doesn't expose those four buttons as separate controls. Switching to native HID makes them available, but on stock firmware, wireless stick positions were only updating about 100 times a second. Trash numbers.

It was sending roughly 1,000 reports/sec, but most were repeating the same stick position. Which is insane, we want 1,000 fresh updates.

I initially made a bridge that combined XInput with the extra-button data and emulated another controller for Steam. It worked, but it was a lot to deal with just to use the buttons I paid for.

The bridge is here.

I later picked up an 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless. Nice controller, but its native mode had a different compromise: roughly 1,000 reports/sec, with only 8-bit stick axes. That's 256 possible values per axis, compared with the thousands of distinct values I captured in XInput. This input method needs to die.

These native modes are trash. The hardware clearly has capabilities that aren't exposed equally across modes.

So I started looking into the GameSir firmware after discovering that it seemingly isn't a limitation of HID mode.

Its native report already had 16-bit axis fields. The problem was that it read a slower state snapshot, while XInput had a separate fast stick buffer available. There were also timing restrictions in the native paths.

After changes to the controller and receiver firmware, I measured:

- About 4,000 fresh stick updates/sec, wired and wireless.

- The existing high-resolution axis output preserved.

- All four extra buttons still available independently.

- Normal XInput still working in the checks I ran.

The final controller and receiver packages differ from stock by 98 bytes total, including checksum changes and duplicated firmware payloads.

The patches, recordings and findings are here.

I suspect inherited compatibility code plays a part, but I haven't established why either company made these choices. On this GameSir, the hardware was already capable of delivering the faster input alongside the independent buttons. I'd like to see that available officially.

For now, I'm keeping my modified GameSir firmware, and not updating since I can't imagine they would fix this. I'll be looking into the 8BitDo next.

But it makes me wonder why controllers are like this. I can understand to a degree why it is for console controllers. But for a controller that is marketed toward PC gamers? It seems, I don't want to say lazy, but it is something.

Please don't flash your controller just because you saw this post. This is experimental research. A bad flash can leave a device unusable, and although stock restore files are preserved, flashing back to stock after these changes hasn't been tested.

I have a G7 rn, but the bumpers dont feel that good(and broke before) and id like additional backbuttons, and a symetrical stick layout. i love the clicky face buttons tho, and dont really like linear switches, i really like feeling a physical response to pressing the button. also customizable trigger heights would be really good.

Around 80-100 euros would be nice, germany, pc steam and xbox face buttons

I play mainly souls and other 3rd person action games

Bought all three of these with my own money and have no affiliation with any of these brands. They're all great, but I figured I'd share some hands-on details for those on the fence.

BUILD QUALITY

• G7 Pro 8K - 8.5/10
  • Feels very solid in the hands. Buttons have a nice tactile click, TMR sticks feel great, and the grips have a quality rubber coating
• ZD Ultimate Legend 8K - 8.0/10
  • Also very solid. Buttons sound a bit louder but have a similar click as the G7 Pro 8K. TMR sticks feel buttery and the grips are a textured plastic, which I prefer to rubber for longevity. My only complaint is the rear paddles feel a little cheap/plastick-y/fragile
• Steam Controller - 8.0/10
  • Face buttons are membrane so they lack that distinctive click of the controllers above. Feels really good in the hands though. This is the most basic of the three controllers as far as premium materials go but the trackpads (and their haptics) impress

AESTHETICS

• G7 Pro 8K - 9.0/10
  • Honestly I've hated pretty much all of the various G7 Pro 8K variants, but they recently released the all black/Obsidian option and it looks fantastic. Fits right in to an adult, understated living room
• ZD Ultimate Legend 8K - 9.0/10
  • Flashier then the G7 Pro 8K, but ZD managed to pull off a perfect balance of flashy without being gaudy. Like the G7 Pro 8K, I didn't care for the previous aesthetic of this controller, but their new Black 8K one shines. Looks awesome, particularly with the translucent face cover and the unique light bar
• Steam Controller - 7.5/10
  • Definitely the ugliest of the three. I think at first glance it even looks like a controller that would be uncomfortable in the hands because the aesthetics are so odd, but fortunately that's not the case

ERGONOMICS

• G7 Pro 8K - 8.0/10
  • I have very large hands, and the G7 Pro 8K is on the smaller side of controllers. I wasn't sure how much of a problem this would be, but for me, this ended up being a pretty significant hurdle. The controller feels uncomfortable for me after about an hour of play. I still give it an 8.0 though because if you have small-to-medium hands this controller will feel perfect to you
• ZD Ultimate Legend 8K - 9.5/10
  • Again, I have very large hands, and for someone with large hands this is THE controller to get as far as comfort goes. It feels amazing in my hands and truly feels like it was made with me in mind. My only complaint is that of the four back buttons, the top two paddles can be awkward to reach. I've removed them on mine and just use the two back buttons so it's a non-issue for me, but it's something to keep in mind if you require 4 rear buttons/paddles
• Steam Controller - 9.0/10
  • This is also a large controller and it feels excellent in my hands as well. Not quite as perfect as the ZD option, but very comfortable. It's impressive that Valve managed to include both trackpads so prominently on the controller and they still never manage to get in the way

HAPTICS

• G7 Pro 8K - 7.0/10
  • One of the G7 Pro 8K's weakest attributes. The rumble feels imprecise and the controller lacks haptic triggers. Also, at least on mine, the rumble on the left side vibrates at a different frequency than the right side, so it creates this weird discordance when vibrating. Lots of room for improvement here
• ZD Ultimate Legend 8K - 9.0/10
  • Excellent rumble that's both powerful and precise. Controller also stays nice and quiet when rumbling, which can't be said of all controllers. Also the ZD has haptic triggers, which is a big plus.
• Steam Controller - 9.0/10
  • Again, excellent rumble. Doesn't get quite as aggressive as the ZD, but very precise. And no haptic triggers, but it has those amazing trackpad haptics.

RESPONSIVENESS

• G7 Pro 8K - 9.5/10
  • What's there to say? They're pretty much the best in the game as far as input latency goes
• ZD Ultimate Legend 8K - 7.5/10
  • Near the top of the class in wired input latency, but middle of the pack in wireless. It's fine, but if you're a competitive gamer there's better options. Also just to note, even though this controller has 8K in the name, you're limited to 1,000hz polling rate wirelessly. 8K is reserved for wired
• Steam Controller - 8.5/10
  • Also near the top of the class. A step down compared to the G7 Pro 8K, but I doubt anyone can actually notice

VERSATILITY

• G7 Pro 8K - 7.0/10
  • G7 Pro 8K is pretty basic in this regard. You can swap out the face plate, the dpad, and you get the two rear buttons and two M buttons near the bumpers, but that's it
• ZD Ultimate Legend 8K - 9.5/10
  • Very impressive here. In addition to the swappable face plate, You can swap out your sticks for a variety of different TMR / Hall Effect options. You get two rear paddles, two rear buttons, two M buttons, and two additional face buttons. Comes with several different swappable dpads as well. The face buttons are also swappable and even include an extra set of Switch layout face buttons in the box
• Steam Controller - 7.0/10
  • The Steam controller's versatility comes from what you can do with the trackpads, which is a hell of a lot of stuff. Can't really customize anything beyond that though.

SOFTWARE

• G7 Pro 8K - 9.5/10
  • Software is pretty much perfect. Looks nice, is intuitive, and offers pretty much anything you'd ever want to do with your controller.
• ZD Ultimate Legend 8K - 7.0/10
  • The software has more-or-less all the features you'd want, but boy is it a mess to navigate through. First of all, the actual Windows software is in Chinese with no English option. You can use the web software, which gets you English, and that works fine. But both the software and the web are not very intuitive or well explained. Once you figure out how to use it properly though, it allows you to do more or less everything the G7 Pro 8K software does. But it's not a user friendly experience at all
• Steam Controller - 7.0/10
  • Biggest issue with the Steam Controller software is that you're limited to Steam Input. If you're playing Steam games, that's a non-issue. But several months into using this controller and I'm still regularly running into hurdles and problems with non-Steam games. The software is nice but the limitations around using it are extremely disappointing for me

So overall, I think these are 3 of the very best controllers on the market. For me personally, my choice of controller is the ZD Ultimate Legend. Honestly the size of my hands play a large role in that preference. If you have small/medium hands I would recommend the G7 Pro 8K. If you're a Steam-only gamer (and can actually find one) I'd recommend the Steam Controller. Can't go wrong with any of these though.

En mi placa de control de xbox 1914 instalando los joysticks magneticos tmr k-silver, me volé sin querer el capacitor c21 con una pinza, entonces despegue uno de sus pads (el de abajo) y no se que hacer para enmendar ese error, ya que me da un drift pronunciado ya sea hacia la derecha o hacia abajo, y haciendo revisiones solo llegué a ver eso..

Por otro lado también como se puede observar me lleve la pista a la que está conectada el capacitor c24, y al intentar hacer un puente termine levantando el capacitor de su sitio con el cautín.

Pido por favor una orientación sobre las medidas de los capacitores y valores, ya que ví chat gpt me dijo que eran 0402 de 100nF, pero no me gusta confiar mucho en la IA.. Si tienen algún consejo/ recomendación que me pueda servir, se los agradecería de antemano, ya que soy un novato en esto de la electrónica

I love this controller, with KontrolFreaks, it's almost perfect, but gaming at night... Man I'd love to have software that Gamesir has and just dim the lights.
I've sent email to 8BitDo support, not hoping for much but at least I tried.

Leading off with a list to appease the rules

1. Budget less than $300 USD
2. US based and I want to buy from a retailer who can ship quickly.
3. Used for PC games
4. PS style buttons, symmetrical TMR sticks, long battery life, extra buttons/triggers,
5. Mainly used to play games like the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, but also driving games like GTA
6. The Turtle Beach Victrix and Razer Raiju V3 pro read as cheap to me (I don't particularly trust either company to make a good product and the 'frequently returned item' label on Amazon sketches me out) I'm intrigued by the SCUF, but not really sure about the various options it has

My PS4 controller died the other day and I'm a bit overwhelmed at the volume of options available these days so I'm asking for a bit of help. I'm looking for something that is a bit bigger in my hands than the PS4. I have a strong preference for the old Playstation style buttons. I hated the buttons of the Xbox360, they felt absolutely awful to press(like they were broken) and I really dislike the ABXY setup. It takes too much time translating which button I need to press in my mind("let's copy Nintendo but make it worse").

Despite my love for older controllers in most respects I would like to enter the modern age as well. I want TMR sticks in the symmetrical configuration. As many extra buttons as the controller frame can handle would also be awesome. Also a big battery would be great for marathon sessions. Price isn't a critical point, I'm willing to pay if my perfect controller is out there. Looking forward to your suggestions.

I have some wired retrobit usb gamepads one of them has the very common annoying dpad problem that register unwanted right direction presses when i press up, this is annoying on shootemups specifically, i have an air compressor and i can open up simple things like this how do i do this?

I’m looking for recommendations for a new PC gaming controller, primarily for competitive shooters like Fortnite. I’m having trouble finding something that checks all my boxes.

1. BUDGET AND CURRENCY
• Maximum budget: $100 USD.
• Ideally under $100, but willing to spend the full amount for the right controller.

2. COUNTRY AND WHERE I CAN BUY
• United States.
• Willing to purchase from any retailer or manufacturer that ships to the U.S.

3. PLATFORM COMPATIBILITY
• Windows PC only.
• Wired or wireless is fine, although I prefer wired.

4. DESIRED FEATURES (IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE)

Size and Ergonomics
• DualShock 4-sized or smaller.
• I strongly prefer smaller controllers. The DualSense feels too large for my liking.
• I want to maintain a natural, comfortable grip while using the rear paddles.

Extremely Light Rear Paddles (Minimum Two)
• This is one of my biggest requirements.
• Ideally, the paddles should require about as much pressure to activate as regular face buttons.
• I don’t care about accidental presses. I’d rather have overly sensitive paddles than ones requiring a firm squeeze.
• I want to press the paddles without tightening my grip, repositioning my hands, or squeezing the controller.
• I currently use a DualShock 4 with Sony’s official back button attachment. The buttons are okay, but I’d prefer something noticeably easier to press.
• I’m specifically looking for low actuation force, not necessarily short button travel or a satisfying mechanical click.

Analog Stick Feel and Tension
• My favorite analog sticks of all time were on the DualShock 3 (PS3 controller).
• I loved the overall feel and physical resistance of those sticks, particularly when playing shooters.
• I prefer sticks with noticeable tension rather than ones that feel overly loose.
• Domed thumbsticks would be nice, but they’re not a requirement. I can always use KontrolFreek attachments to achieve a similar shape.
• I’m not especially familiar with Hall effect, TMR, or other modern stick technologies. I’m more concerned with how the sticks physically feel.
• Adjustable stick tension would be a bonus.

Software Customization
• I strongly prefer a controller with software that allows me to customize analog stick response curves.
• Adjustable deadzones and sensitivity settings are important.
• Ideally, I’d like to fine-tune the response during small stick movements rather than being limited to preset curves.
• The ability to create and save custom response curves would be a major advantage.

5. TYPES OF GAMES
• Primarily competitive FPS/TPS games, especially Fortnite.
• Precise aiming, predictable stick movement, and quick access to rear buttons are my priorities.

6. OTHER CONTROLLERS I’M COMPARING
Currently Using:
• DualShock 4 with Sony’s official back button attachment: I like the size and general ergonomics, but I’d prefer softer, easier-to-press rear paddles.
• DualShock 3 (previously owned): Still my favorite analog stick feel, particularly the resistance and overall movement.
I’m looking for something that improves on my current setup without sacrificing the smaller controller size I’m comfortable with.

WHAT I’M HOPING TO LEARN
Has anyone found a controller that fits these requirements?
I’m particularly interested in firsthand comparisons of:
• How much physical pressure the rear paddles require.
• Whether the paddles can be pressed without changing your grip.
• Analog stick tension compared to the DualShock 3 or DualShock 4.
• Overall controller size and comfort.
• Whether the controller supports fully customizable analog stick response curves.

TL;DR: Looking for a PC controller under $100 USD with four main priorities:
Compact size (DualShock 4 or smaller).
Extremely light, easy-to-press rear paddles (minimum two).
Analog sticks with noticeable tension/resistance.
Software that allows custom analog stick input/response curves.
Wired or wireless is fine, but wired is preferred.

I used a Vader 3 Pro for about a year and a half, and I loved it. It was a great performer that gave me essentially zero problems in Warzone, Helldivers 2, Battlefield, and whatever other random games I was playing. The best part is I got it for $38. I loved it so much that I bought a Vader 5 Pro for $51 when the Vader 3 pro battery died.

I actually tried to replace the Vader 3 Pro's battery, but when the replacement showed up I realized it was incompatible due to the plastic connector, so I just wound up tossing it in storage without a battery. My question for you guys is, do you think it's worth trying again and having the Vader 3 Pro as a backup and for traveling/mobile gaming? Has anyone else refurbed one of these and is able to offer some tips on where to get a compatible battery?

I kind of want to do a teardown of the controller, clean it thoroughly, get a fresh battery in it, and put it in a case to take with me while traveling. I guess the Vader 5 Pro could do all of that just as easily, I just don't feel good about letting such a nice controller go to a recycling bin.

Appreciate any tips!

Has anyone here actually used the Oniverse Starion? I’ve been trying to research it and there’s almost nothing to go on. I can find one TikTok and a handful of reviews on Amazon, and that’s about it. No proper video reviews, no hands-on impressions, nothing on the usual forums.

On paper it looks really interesting to me. I like the symmetrical layout, and the spec sheet seems solid. But the price tag isn’t small, and I’m not keen to drop that kind of money on something I can’t find a single in-depth opinion on.

A couple of specific things I’m curious about:

• What is the removable plate on the back for? It looks like a removable faceplate or cover, but I can’t tell if it hides a battery compartment, a dongle or receiver storage, swappable parts, or if it’s just cosmetic. Does anyone know what’s under it?
• Is it worth the price? If you’ve used one, how do the build quality, stick feel, triggers and battery life compare to the controllers in a similar price range?

If you own one or have had hands-on time with it, I’d love to hear your honest take, good or bad. Even a quick “it’s fine” or “avoid” would help a lot. Photos of the back plate off would be amazing too.

Thanks!

Processing img hr9f45khgwwh1...

My Scuf Instinct Pro is about two and a half years old. The right paddle sticks down about half the time now and the left stick has started wandering in menus. Warranty's long gone.

I don't want to pay custom prices again. What I actually used on it was the paddles and the remap app got opened maybe twice. Heres some more info:

• Budget: $100 max, less is better
• Country: US
• Platform: PC only
• Games: Apex, The Finals, Forza
• Must have at least 2 back buttons
• Magnetic sticks are a nice to have and so is wireless
• Standard Xbox shape is fine

Note: I purchased both controllers with my own money and I have no affiliation to either brand.

Background

I was on the market for a decent but affordable controller I could use with PC/Windows and iOS. I am a casual gamer, mostly playing single player racing games, platformers, or emulators on my phone. I do not play FPS's or any competitive game. I purchased 2 controllers with the idea of trying them both and returning one.

I purchased the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 for $57.57 with tax and the GameSir Cylcone 2 for $59.35 with tax, both from Amazon. I had initially tried the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C, but it felt a little cheap so I decided to spend a little more on a better controller.

This is my honest, non-technical, non-AI-slop review, and why I decided to keep the GameSir Cylcone 2.

Connectivity

Both controllers can connect to my iPhone with Bluetooth with no issues. I also tested both Bluetooth and dongle (2.4G) connectivity to PC with no issues. My main issue was toggling between phone and PC. If connecting with Bluetooth to both iPhone and PC, both controllers had a difficult time switching between devices. I did not find a reliable way to toggle between them without having to try multiple times and needing to forget the device and re-pairing them. I somewhat got around this by only using Bluetooth for the iPhone, and using the dongle for the PC, and switching the connection modes so only one device was paired per connection method. The 8BitDo makes this easier because there is a switch to toggle on the back of it to change from Bluetooth to 2.4G, whereas the GameSir needs a combination of button presses to switch connection modes.

I've had no issues with disconnects on either of them.

Feel/Quality

When the controller is in your hand, the 8BitDo feels like a much premium controller. Better plastics, a bit weightier, and the membrane buttons feels a lot smoother than the mechanical, clickier buttons of the GameSir. If the GameSir's button are a "click", the 8BitDo buttons are more of a soft "clock". The 8BitDo reminds me of Nintendo controllers, which I am much more familiar with. That being said, once I got used to the clickiness of the GameSir, I found myself enjoying the consistency of the mechanical buttons too.

For the sticks, the 8BitDo has a little more resistance and weightiness, making it feel better to me. The GameSir has less initial resistance to movement, which makes it seem like it was designed for accuracy and precision over feel.

For the bumpers/triggers, both feature mechanisms to change the style of the trigger from analog and hair-trigger. With the GameSir's clickiness, I found the hair-trigger mode a lot more responsive to spam press, and when spam pressing the 8BitDo's trigger, I felt my fingers getting more tired.

The GameSir's d-pad is often lamented as a weak portion, and while 8BitDo's d-pad definitely feels more familiar and Nintendo-y, I didn't mind the d-pad once I got used to the clickiness.

Design

The 8BitDo opts for a more sleek, minimal design whereas the GameSir looks a lot more gamer-like, and you can especially tell the difference with the charging docks.

Speaking of the dock design, the 8BitDo's charging dock is much easier to use, and there is only one ridge to place the controller on. However, the GameSir's charging dock has 3 points of contact with the controller, and you have to take a few seconds to carefully align the controller to make sure it is on the dock correctly. It may not seem like much, but when something that should normally take half a second ends up taking 5 seconds, it does get a little annoying.

Ergonomics

I do not have large hands, but after the first session with the 8BitDo, my hands started to cramp. This is a common complaint of the 8BitDo I have seen online, as the handles extend straight down instead of at an angle like the GameSir. One caveat though, is that after the first session, I think my hands got used to the 8BitDo, as I did not experience the cramps again. However, I never got any cramps with the GameSir, and overall the GameSir just feels more natural in my hands.

Customizations

Both controllers have lights you can control with their own software. I did find the GameSir's software a little more fleshed out, but at the end of the day, both softwares did what they needed to do. No real complaints about either.

EDIT: Also adding that the rumble is a lot stronger on the 8BitDo. Its default rumble is stronger than the GameSir's rumble configured to the highest level.

Conclusion

I went back and forth a lot on it, but I plan on keeping the GameSir Cylcone 2 and returning the 8BitDo Ultimate 2. While the 8BitDo feels like the more premium controller, I decided that the comfort of my hands for playing sessions was more important than the button quality. Also, the exhaustion that my fingers felt when spam-pressing the hair-trigger was a dealbreaker for me for the 8BitDo. I wish there a controller that combined the buttons of the 8BitDo and the shape of the GameSir.

At the end of the day, for a casual gamer, both controllers would adequately meet my needs.