Controllers

The PS5 Dualsense controller is also an option as the haptics are fantastic and is a generally high-quality controller.

HE sticks = hall-effect joysticks (more reliable than traditional potentiometer sticks) TMR sticks = “Tunneling Magnetoresistance”, or electromagnetic joysticks (lower power and more precise than HE sticks) adjustable stick tension = you are able to change how much tension there are in the joysticks

HE triggers = hall-effect triggers w/ trigger lock = HE triggers, you can switch between analog triggers and hair triggers (for competitive FPS)

microswitch face buttons are clicky and are mechanical, whereas membrane face buttons are quiet and soft

clicky d-pads…click…and “squishy” d-pads do not

PC

• under $30
  • 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless ($29, HE sticks, membrane face buttons, squishy d-pad, HE triggers)
  • EasySMX X05 ($29, HE sticks, membrane face buttons, squishy d-pad, HE triggers)
• under $60
  • 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless ($59, TMR sticks, microswitch face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers)
  • EasySMX X20 ($59, HE sticks, microswitch face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers)
  • Flydigi Direwolf 3 ($49, HE sticks, membrane face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers)
  • GameSir Cyclone 2 ($55, TMR sticks, microswitch face buttons, HE triggers w/ trigger lock)
  • GameSir Super Nova ($49, HE sticks, membrane face buttons, HE triggers w/ trigger lock)
• under $100
  • Flydigi Vader 4 Pro ($79, HE sticks, microswitch face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers w/ trigger lock, adjustable stick tension)
  • Gulikit KK3 Max ($79, HE sticks, microswitch face buttons, squishy d-pad, HE triggers w/ trigger lock)
• under $200: Flydigi Apex 4 ($159, HE sticks, microswitch face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers w/ trigger locks, adjustable stick tension)

Switch

• first-party
  • standard: Joy-Con ($79 per pair) / Joy-Con 2 ($89 per pair)
  • full-size: Pro Controller ($69) / Pro Controller 2 ($79)
• third-party
  • under $30
    • 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth ($29, HE sticks, membrane face buttons, squishy d-pad, HE triggers)
    • EasySMX X05 ($29, HE sticks, membrane face buttons, squishy d-pad, HE triggers)
  • under $60
    • 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth ($69, TMR sticks, microswitch face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers)
    • EasySMX X20 ($59, HE sticks, microswitch face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers)
    • Flydigi Direwolf 3 ($49, HE sticks, membrane face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers)
    • GameSir Cyclone 2 ($55, TMR sticks, microswitch face buttons, HE triggers w/ trigger lock)
    • GameSir Super Nova ($49, HE sticks, membrane face buttons, HE triggers w/ trigger lock)
  • under $100
    • Flydigi Vader 4 Pro ($79, HE sticks, microswitch face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers w/ trigger lock, adjustable stick tension)
    • Gulikit KK3 Max ($79, HE sticks, microswitch face buttons, squishy d-pad, HE triggers w/ trigger lock)
  • under $200: Flydigi Apex 4 ($159, HE sticks, microswitch face buttons, clicky d-pad, HE triggers w/ trigger locks, adjustable stick tension)

Note the Pro Controller by Nintendo has HD rumble, but does not use either HE sticks or TMR sticks like the cheaper third-party controllers. Some third-party controllers also offer more features such as 2.4Ghz connection (for Windows/Linux) and back paddles.

• grips: 3D printed