what's the best handheld controller for PC?

[ocean_in_a_drop]

i'm using an xbox controller at the moment though it's buggy while playing tetris classic

[Lancer]

8bitdos are pretty popular. I mostly use their SN30 Pro and SN30 Pro + and they’ve been very reliable in my experience. Go ahead and pick whatever suits your needs.

[Vazeyo]

For classic and older games I would actually recommend a wannabe SNES-controller:

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01EA7MVTQ/?coliid=I11H43AC0EPG2Q&colid=3FUNBEKFCG9U0&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[Robert]

I like the xbox dpad and the switch analog stick.

Still trying to figure out how to make the steam deck feel good, currently trying the analog stick with a huge deadzone but still playing with it 🙃

[LightRod]

Originally posted by SOLORED:

i'm using an xbox controller at the moment though it's buggy while playing tetris classic

Could you elaborate on what you mean by buggy? It's possible that you're just trying to make impossible rotations or struggling with the delayed autoshift (DAS)

[Electric Cupcake]

Xbox controllers are abomination.

A good PC controller should have:
-A sturdy, non-wobbly dpad above the parallel analog sticks, as nature intended.
-A selector switch or button combo to switch between proper directinput and the painfully limited xinput.
-Mapping software that can do full macros and autofire and map to keystrokes. Steam can do that natively, but is fairly unintuitive. I prefer the opensource AntimicroX.

8bitdo generally makes the best PC controllers. I use the compact SN30 Pro while travelling and 8BitDo Pro 2 at home.

Also, I quite like the Steelseries Stratus Duo, even though it's xinput only. It's very solid and rugged and feels perfect in the hands.

[Electric Cupcake]

That said, I am keeping an eye on Dualsense controllers and how well the gyro and touch pad works with D_lphin and C_tra forks.

[SharO]

the best controller is the most convinient controller for your hands. So go to ur local store and check which controller sits best for you

[[HM] Halfax]

Originally posted by Lancer:

8bitdos are pretty popular. I mostly use their SN30 Pro and SN30 Pro + and they’ve been very reliable in my experience. Go ahead and pick whatever suits your needs.

I will 2nd this. I have the 8bitdo bluetooth dongle, and the 8bitdo SN30 pro. I will say be careful though. If you have fat fingers like I do. While pressing the direction buttons left or right. It might read it as up. Other then that. I have had no other problem with the controller.

[Pinhead]

• Fightingbox Mini
  
• Haute Board mini

[CV511]

I had been looking for the best controller for years, and here is my anecdote, ordered by recommendation.

Stickless Fightstick ($-60)
I highly recommend using those stickless fightstick or even a decent keyboard. Quite honestly, gamepads are not the best method of playing control demanding title like Tetris. Fightsticks are generations ahead in terms of input comfort. Not exactly a handheld but if you can afford a space to place a smartphone, you can place small ones and it'll still be better than gamepad.

SCUF Envision ($200)
This has by far the best D-pad on a traditional-style gamepad, featuring OMRON microswitches that provide a "mouse click" touch. It comes with D2LS-11 switches, but I've swapped them with D2LS-21 since I wanted a lighter feel. It is expensive as hell though, and it's not problem free. People complain about iCUE integration, which I don't really have issue with, but mine had RB fell of it. Apparently people are having same issue. It will probably covered by RMA but if you've swapped the switches, god help you.

Conversion Kit ($50+)
You can buy a tactile conversion kit for major gamepads. I use eXtremerate DS4 kit and It works better than the stock controller, but the touch is not nearly as good as the SCUF Envision. Additionally, these tact switches are prone to breaking, and I had to regularly swap them about every 3-4 weeks. Despite of those cons, this is still valid choice due to sheer popularity. There are lots of major controller mods that you can try to tailor. Something like separated D-pad is very helpful. Potentially you can create your own mods if you can use CAD to design the PCB.

[Electric Cupcake]

Originally posted by CV511:

I had been looking for the best controller for years, and here is my anecdote, ordered by recommendation.

Stickless Fightstick ($-60)
I highly recommend using those stickless fightstick or even a decent keyboard. Quite honestly, gamepads are not the best method of playing control demanding title like Tetris. Fightsticks are generations ahead in terms of input comfort. Not exactly a handheld but if you can afford a space to place a smartphone, you can place small ones and it'll still be better than gamepad.

SCUF Envision ($200)
This has by far the best D-pad on a traditional-style gamepad, featuring OMRON microswitches that provide a "mouse click" touch. It comes with D2LS-11 switches, but I've swapped them with D2LS-21 since I wanted a lighter feel. It is expensive as hell though, and it's not problem free. People complain about iCUE integration, which I don't really have issue with, but mine had RB fell of it. Apparently people are having same issue. It will probably covered by RMA but if you've swapped the switches, god help you.

Conversion Kit ($50+)
You can buy a tactile conversion kit for major gamepads. I use eXtremerate DS4 kit and It works better than the stock controller, but the touch is not nearly as good as the SCUF Envision. Additionally, these tact switches are prone to breaking, and I had to regularly swap them about every 3-4 weeks. Despite of those cons, this is still valid choice due to sheer popularity. There are lots of major controller mods that you can try to tailor. Something like separated D-pad is very helpful. Potentially you can create your own mods if you can use CAD to design the PCB.

That SCUF thing sounds pretty cool, but the company sounds a bit snobby for not supporting Linux.

Plenty of hardware companies don't support Linux, but few outright say it so bluntly. Seems almost hostile with how they bold it. But I guess it's more Corsair's fault than theirs. edit. SCUF is Corsair. And you need the icue software running for full functionality. You cant just plug into a Windows computer at the library, save your settings to the device and then use it normally on a Linux machine. On-device settings are painfully limited, and I don't think that was mentioned anywhere in the product description.

[Epicurus]

Use your keyboard. Simple as.

[Gnome]

I use a GameSir T4 Pro. The D-pad is fantastic, and it's recognized as an Xbox controller (XInput), so it's fully compatible with all games without issues. Oh, and it also works on Linux as well.

[HOBO ON WHEELS]

Originally posted by Robert:

I like the xbox dpad and the switch analog stick.

Still trying to figure out how to make the steam deck feel good, currently trying the analog stick with a huge deadzone but still playing with it 🙃

Ew, both are terrible options for Tetris where you need finite controls.

[monochameleon]

The Logitech F-310 is a brilliant controller - cheap, comfortable, great d-pad, wonderful sticks and built like a tank. It doesn't rumble, unfortunately. The F-710 does rumble, though it's wireless, which can be an issue for some people.