Gaming

What are the best wireless game controllers for PC?

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DualShock PS4 Controller vs Steam Controller vs Xbox One Wireless Controller

 vs Logitech Gamepad F710 vs Astro Gaming C40 TR Controller vs Microsoft Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller vs EasySMX vs Xbox 360 Wireless Controller vs What are the best wireless game controllers for PC

Specs

Connectivity

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Compatibility

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Power source

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Controller Mode

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Controller Support

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Battery Life

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Connectivity

Wireless with USB receiver or bluetooth, wired with usb

Compatibility

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Power source

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Controller Mode

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Controller Support

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Battery Life

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Connectivity

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Compatibility

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Power source

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Controller Mode

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Controller Support

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Battery Life

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Connectivity

Wireless with USB receiver

Compatibility

Windows, Linux, Steam

Power source

2 AA batteries

Controller Mode

X-input, D-input

Controller Support

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Battery Life

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Connectivity

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Compatibility

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Power source

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Controller Mode

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Controller Support

PC & PS4

Battery Life

12 hrs.

Connectivity

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Compatibility

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Power source

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Controller Mode

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Controller Support

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Battery Life

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Connectivity

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Compatibility

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Power source

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Controller Mode

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Controller Support

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Battery Life

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Connectivity

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Compatibility

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Power source

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Controller Mode

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Controller Support

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Battery Life

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Connectivity

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Compatibility

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Power source

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Controller Mode

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Controller Support

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Battery Life

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Pros + Cons

Pro
 Built-in battery

Doesn't require purchase of batteries. Recharges over microUSB.
Comment

Pro
 Game compatibility is increasing

Some recent games will work with the PS4 controller without the need of an app/driver to emulate the XBox controller, and you will see PS4 button prompts on the screen (cross, square, circle, triangle, etc.). Some example games are: The Division (Ubisoft), Rocket League and Paragon (Epic Games / Early Access).
Comment

Pro
 Great ergonomics

Compared to other controllers, especially Xbox. Dualshock is the most comfortable for long gaming sessions.
Comment

Pro
 Can be used either wired or wireless

The controller has a microUSB port on the back for charging or connecting. It can also be used wirelessly over Bluetooth.
Comment

Pro
 Separate D-pad

This is a huge advantage in many games. Separate directions on the D-pad lets a player make sharp controls without any mistakes!
Comment

Pro
 Native support with Steam

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Comment

Pro
 Full audio available

With both a headphone jack as well as built-in speakers, the DualShock PS4 controller offers flexible audio experiences so you don't have to be tethered to your desktop at all when you game.
Comment

Pro
 App available that offers many functions

In order to get easy wireless support as well as button mapping and loading of profiles the user can install a third party app called DS4Windows. While this is an extra step, the features it offers are worthwhile for anyone looking to get full compatibility with the controller.
Comment

Con
 Short battery life

Battery lasts 7-8 hours before needing a recharge.
Comment

Con
 Wireless receiver is not included and expensive

To avoid common Bluetooth issues (like distance and input lag) and to support Xinput the controller requires a wireless receiver that must be bought separately.
Comment

Con
 May be too small for those with big hands

The PS4 controller has a smaller profile when compared to the Xbox controllers, which means it may not be as comfortable to hold for those that have large hands and are used to a larger controller.
Comment

Con
 Best compatibility requires an app on Windows

Out of the box support may not be that great with the PS4 controller on PC. Buttons may need to be mapped in order for the controller to work as intended. Only games with DirectInput support will work out of the box. This means the user will need to install button mapping software or some other app that allow gaming profiles to be loaded easily to get a similar experience to using an XBox controller. Please note this only applies to Windows, which requires a wrapper such as DS4Windows for XInput support (and thus vibration and touchpad support). Linux supports all of the controller's features natively since kernel version 3.15.
Comment

Con
 Most games have XBOX button indicators on UI, not PS4

Most games with controller support that include prompts on the UI for which buttons to press will show XBOX layout. Very, very few show button prompts for PS4.com
Comment

Pro
 Multi-touch trackpad

The upper-middle section of the controller features a multi-touch pad that allows you to click it as well. This can help navigation on a PC because you can use it just like a laptop's trackpad
Comment

Pro
 Integrates well with Steam

Considering this is a controller designed by Valve, it should come as no surprise that the integration with Steam is quite good. The user can easily launch into Big Picture mode straight from the controller for ease of use. The controller is plug and play, so there is little to mess around with in order to get going. For those that would like to customize the button layout, Steam allows for this in their settings.
Comment

Pro
 Developed specifically for PC games

The trackpads built into the controller make it simple to play certain games that would otherwise be impossible with a controller, such as Civilization and Cities: Skylines.
Comment

Pro
 Great battery life

A user can get around 80 hours of play out of a single charge on the device, which is a considerable amount of playtime. This frees the player up from having to constantly worry if their controller is charge on every use.
Comment

Con
 Trackpads not quite as accurate as mouse

The touchpads on the device are designed to emulate a mouse when playing games, but they are not as accurate and will at times require a lot of swipes in order to just turn a character around or even just look around. This lack of accuracy and delay in how long it takes to get the movement required may be difficult to get used to.
Comment

Pro
 Durable

Because it's an official product, you can expect superior durability and build quality to cheaper knockoff controllers. First-party accessories will be able to withstand more drops, and the buttons/triggers are less likely to start sticking.
Comment

Pro
 Comfortable to hold

Xbox controllers have always been comfortable to hold onto - their larger grips fit hands better than most controllers.
Comment

Pro
 Plug and Play on Windows

No need for mapping software for most games.
Comment

Pro
 Has a headphone jack on the controller

This convenience lets you use headphones even if the cord won't reach your desktop's headphone jack, or play games from bed or on the couch while wearing headphones
Comment

Con
 Requires USB cable connection to play Xbox PC games

In order to use the Xbox One controller with Windows Xbox games the USB cable has to be connected to the PC. Wireless is not supported currently when playing Xbox branded PC games purchased from the Windows Store.
Comment

Con
 Adapter has to be purchased for wireless to work

There is an available Xbox Wireless Adapter available from Microsoft that costs $24.99 that needs to be used in order for wireless to work with the controller and PC. This is an extra purchase that many may not want to make in order to have wireless compatibility.
Comment

Pro
 Wireless out of the box

The F710 comes with a wireless adapter, so there is no need to spend any extra money in order to get wireless working between the PC and controller.
Comment

Pro
 Easily replaced batteries

The controller takes two AA batteries to power it, which are easy to find in the store as well as easy to replace in the device itself due to an accessible battery door on the back.
Comment

Pro
 Hardware switch for DirectInput and XInput

Features a DirectInput<->XInput switch on the back, without requiring a software solution to emulate either input mode.
Comment

Pro
 Force feedback

Unlike the cheaper cousin to this controller (the F310), there is included in this controller a vibrating function that works out of the box with any games that support force feedback.
Comment

Pro
 Good for large hands

The F710 is larger than a PS3 controller, which makes it more comfortable for people with large hands.
Comment

Con
 Poor d-pad

The NW/NE and SW/SE directions on the d-pad feel a bit wonky as they do not always register or register with a delay. The controls for the d-pad almost feel lie it is meant to be a four way d-pad over and eight way. Definitely is not one of the better d=pads out there and may be a hinderance in games that require good d-pad control.
Comment

Con
 Does not support USB charging

There is no rechargeable battery with this device, it takes AA batteries, which will have to be replaced anytime the controller runs out of power. This may be inconvenient for those that are used to plugging in their controllers to a USB to charge.
Comment

Pro
 Works out of the box with Windows and Linux

Plug and play, the controller works seamlessly with Windows and any games that have Xbox 360 gamepad support. No third-party software is needed.
Comment

Pro
 Reliable and easy to use

The Xbox 360 controller is the most popular pick for gaming on PC, it rarely runs into compatibility issues and is easy to use in general. All you have to do is connect it and play.
Comment

Pro
 Player number indicator

The controller has a green LED circle around the home button, which shows what number player you are from 1 to 4. This can save you from confusion while focused on gameplay.
Comment

Pro
 Always available and underpriced on the second-hand market

There is a large supply of these Xbox 360 controllers on the second-hand market. This is an easy way to get them for a much lower price, especially since many people don't care about price they sell it at or just aren't aware of the value of this controller.
Comment

Pro
 Feels comfortable

The controller is very comfortable to hold and allows you to play for hours without tiring your hands. The controller's shape is well-designed, the buttons are well positioned and not slippery. This is one of the reasons, the Xbox 360 controller has been the first go-to for many experienced gamers. Compared to the wired option, it's a little more bulky, but on the other hand it's range is not limited.
Comment

Con
 A-B / X-Y buttons are swapped compared to SNES controllers

The A-B and X-Y buttons are swapped on this controller, compared to SNES controllers. Swapped controls can be confusing if you mainly play SNES(Super Nitendo Entertainment System) games.
Comment

Con
 Headset input is not standard

The headset input on the controller is 2.5mm, instead of the most common 3.5mm. Your headphones probably use a 3.5mm jack and you will need an adapter to use them with this remote.
Comment
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