When comparing SteelSeries Free vs PDP Afterglow / RockCandy AX.1 wired Xbox 360 controller, the Slant community recommends SteelSeries Free for most people. In the question“What are the best third-party game controllers for Android?” SteelSeries Free is ranked 9th while PDP Afterglow / RockCandy AX.1 wired Xbox 360 controller is ranked 14th. The most important reason people chose SteelSeries Free is:
The SteelSeries Free has a built in rechargeable battery that is charged through a USB cable. This makes it more convenient than a AA or AAA battery powered controller, as you won't have to worry about always having extra batteries on hand. Also, a rechargeable battery is cheaper in the long run.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Built in rechargeable battery
The SteelSeries Free has a built in rechargeable battery that is charged through a USB cable. This makes it more convenient than a AA or AAA battery powered controller, as you won't have to worry about always having extra batteries on hand. Also, a rechargeable battery is cheaper in the long run.
Pro Small and portable
The SteelSeries Free is pretty small and only weighs 1.91 ounces, meaning it is very pocketable and easy to carry around.
Pro 3rd party app support
Luckily there is a third party app that allows for customization of the inputs on this device. It is called Game Controller 2 Touch and has full support for the SteelSeries Free.
Pro First party app available
SteelSeries provides a free app on the Google Play Store to set up ones device.
Pro Good value for money
The wired controller is often sold under $30.
Pro Good availability
You can find it almost everywhere. Easy to find and purchase.
Pro Plug and play
Works out of the box as Android recognizes USB peripherals. You will need a USB OTG cable (can be found online for $2-3 usually) to power the controller, but once you have that it's just plug and play.
Cons
Con Only two shoulder buttons
Many ports and games utilize four shoulder buttons, meaning some games will not work with this controller.
Con First party app is useless
Apparently the SteelSeries Engine app does not work as advertised and is pretty much useless.
Con The tiny size makes your hands feel cramped after a while
While it's very portable, your hands are going to be squished after playing on it for a few hours.
Con USB OTG support required
In order to use this controller, you will need a third party OTG cable to connect to an Android device's micro USB port. Some devices won't have USB OTG support - to see if your device has USB OTG support check this out.