Summary
Not long ago, your only good option for a controller came from Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo, as third-party models were just plain bad. However, they’ve improved so much recently that I’d now pick them over the first-party ones.
First-Party Controllers Are Stagnant and Have Always Been Overpriced
When you review the past decade of first-party PlayStation and Xbox controllers, there hasn’t been significant improvement over the years. I’m speaking from experience—I’ve used every first-party controller for both consoles. While there are some improvements in each generation, they’re not as significant as expected. To illustrate this, can you tell if the controller in the following image is for the Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S?
If you guessed Xbox One, you’d be right, as the only telltale signs are the lack of a share button and cross-gate D-pad instead of the more modern 8-way design. If you’re not intimately familiar with Xbox controllers, you probably can’t distinguish the two. Even when holding each controller in your hands, it’s difficult to tell the difference; the Xbox Series X|S controller feels slightly more refined, but that’s about it. Despite this lack of innovation, you’re still expected to pay around $50 for a bare-bonesXbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller.
Admittedly, PlayStation controllers have seen more significant feature and build-quality upgrades with each generation, such as adaptive triggers and better haptic feedback. However, thePlayStation DualSensealso costs more at around $75 and still falls short of many other features that third-party controllers offer.
The only notable improvements in first-party controllers come with the premium versions: theXbox Elite Series 2,PlayStation DualSense Edge, andNintendo Switch Procontrollers. These controllers offer various advanced features that aren’t present in the base model, such as replaceable analog sticks, adjustable triggers and thumbsticks, controller profiles with remapped buttons, and just generally better build quality and button feel.
However, thesecontrollers also come at a significant markup, effectively pricing out players who don’t want to spend so much. I’ve tried the DualSense Edge, and while it’s undoubtedly better than the regular DualSense, I just can’t justify that $200 MSRP—it’s higher than the combined cost of my current custom mechanical keyboard and wireless mouse! Seriously, for just another $50, you could build an entire$250 office PC.
Third-Party Controllers Are Pushing Boundaries at a Reasonable Price
The world of third-party controllers has never been more exciting. There are numerous models from manufacturers likeGameSir,8BitDo,PDP,Razer,SCUF, andCANDY CON(GameStop) that beat the first-party controllers on price, features, or both.
For example, I got theGameSir Cyclone 2for a little over $40, which is only a few bucks more than what I paid for a used Xbox One controller. Despite costing less than a third of the price of an Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, it has most of its premium features and then some.
GameSir Cyclone 2 Wireless Controller
The GameSir Cyclone 2 is a wireless controller for PC, Switch, and mobile that’s equipped with TMR electromagnetic sticks, mechanical face buttons, and two rear paddles. The controller provides many high-end features at a reasonable price.
The controller has a complete array of clicky mechanical buttons in place of rubber domes (even on the D-pad, which admittedly feels a bit odd at first), TMR joysticks and Hall Effect triggers, hair-trigger mode and trigger stops, tworear paddles, and even a gyroscope that allows me to aim by tilting the controller instead of using the right thumbstick. This is on top of all the features that the basic Xbox Wireless controller has.
It even has a few other extras, like a separately purchasable charging dock, RGB lighting, and a 2.4 GHz dongle that supports a 1,000Hz polling rate and is included with the controller. Compare that to the2.4GHz Xbox adapterthat you have to buy separately and only supports a polling rate of 125Hz because that’s the maximum that the controller can do.
The TMR electromagnetic joysticks, in particular, are worth talking about in more detail, as they’re one of the standout features. TMR joysticks are even better thanHall Effect joysticksthat you can now find even in the cheapest third-party controllers, like theGameSir Nova Litethat my friend owns and loves. Instead of traditional potentiometers in joysticks that wear out over time, these electromagnetic joysticks use magnets that rarely developstick drift, last significantly longer, and feel smoother.
Here are a few other third-party controllers that I’d consider getting instead of an Xbox Wireless controller or PlayStation DualSense:
What About Durability?
Those of us who have owned Xbox and PlayStation controllers know that they can last quite a few years, despite hundreds of hours of use, drops, and dirt accumulation. However, all good things come to an end. Potentiometer-based joysticks in first-party controllers eventually start to drift, triggers and buttons stop working, and plastic and rubber materials degrade—they sometimes eventurn yellow and peel over timein the case of the DualSense Edge.
So, can third-party controllers last as long as the three to five years of regular use we’ve come to expect from first-party controllers?
While I haven’t used my GameSir Cyclone 2 long enough to comment on its durability, my initial impressions are positive. Unlike my Xbox One’s squeaky triggers and creaky plastic, this controller feels very solid in my hands. It feels exceptionally well-built, and I believe that the textured plastic shell and the rubberized sticks won’t show signs of wear anytime soon.
We already know that electromagnetic joysticks and triggers can outlast the old-school stuff, but I’m curious about the mechanical switches that my controller uses. They’re the same kind ofmicroswitch you’re able to find in mice, meaning they can endure millions of clicks but can also develop double-clicking issues over time. I doubt that they’re any worse than the rubber dome mechanism used in first-party controllers, though.
If You’re on Console, Your Options Are Limited
Third-party controllers work really well with PCs, phones, and handhelds now. In the past, you had to use third-party tools to get controllers to work correctly on a PC, which is why manyPC gamers prefer Xbox controllers. Fortunately, thanks to more extensive driver support, software improvements, and better firmware, it’s no longer an issue. Most third-party controllers now work out of the box, even without their software running in the background.
However, your options on Xbox, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch are more limited. Consoles restrict compatibility with third-party controllers, so you should only get third-party controllers that are licensed to work with your console, like theGameSir G7 Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|SandNACON Revolution 5 Pro PlayStation Controller.
NACON Revolution 5 Pro Officially Licensed PlayStation Wireless Gaming Controller
The NACON Revolution 5 Pro is one of the best premium controllers available for the PlayStation 4/5 and PC. It’s an officially licensed controller with Hall Effect sticks, trigger stops, and programmable mechanical back paddles.
Is This the End of the First-Party Controller Monopoly?
It’s hard to beat the value that third-party controllers now offer—you can get a better controller for less money compared to first-party options. I believe that the reason behind this price and feature difference lies in the fact that consoles like thePS5 Proare loss-leaders, meaning they’re sold at a loss or minimal profit in the hopes of selling other products down the line to make up for the losses.
These extra products that have to make up the difference include various digital products, subscriptions, accessories, and, of course, controllers. While a lot of engineering and design goes into the initial production phase of first-party controllers, they’re ultimately mass-manufactured goods that don’t cost that much to make.
If other companies can do more for less, Microsoft and Sony should lower the price on their controllers as well, especially for the premium models. What we can do to make that happen is to vote with our wallets and start buying more reasonably priced third-party controllers.
