Durable controllers that don't suffer from...

[O'pan-Hugh Rise´nC]

...analog drift and/or LB/RB/A-Button issues after a couple of weeks or months.

Do they exist?

Desperation is near when you read that even the 150,- pads suffer from the classic symptoms. After roughly 20 gamepads I'd call myself "advanced" in knowledge, troubleshooting and care so basic help tips won't do. Is there anybody holding the unbreakable mastersword that is worth it's price and will be your reliable weapon for a more than a week or two?

o/

[AJYXQ]

Every analog controller is prone to stick drift and wear and tear after so many uses. Mileage varies depending on how often you use and how you handle the controller.
The problem with Sony's Dualshock and Xbox's Controllers is that they are built to be cost effective and not to last. They cheap out on parts to bring the cost down and offer no access to easily replace those broken parts, so effectively, if one part of the controller breaks, the controller becomes useless.
Some companies have tried to mitigate this issue by making modular controllers.

The Astro C40 TR, while more expensive than an Elite controller, allows you to remove the left and right analog sticks and d-pad components easily to let you choose not only which layout you prefer. (Similar to DualShock or Xbox layout). It also means that should a part break or start to drift, you can buy a d-pad or analog component and replace it.

The ThrustMaster E-Swap is also another modular controller that is like the Astro C40.
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There are better quality built controllers out there, (and many worse as well) but you will more than likely have to pay a premium for them.
Have a look at reviews and decide what's best for you.

This ad trailer shows briefly how modular controllers work;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKZ3JPjcF6w

Astro C40 TR Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxBkVTDSQoQ

Why stick drift happens;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qPNyio3VDk
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You could also opt for another non-modular controller that's a higher build quality than the Normal DualShock or Xbox Controllers, like the Razer Wolverine V.2.
Or if money is a problem, you could try and go another route and buy the best cheapest 3rd party controller you can find and keep a spare knowing it will break.

If stick drift and buttons breaking is a common occurrence, and costing you a fortune, it's definitely worth looking into for yourself anyway.

[O'pan-Hugh Rise´nC]

Thanks for your response. These indeed look like the wet dream but i assume the manufacturers are also interested in selling the replacement parts which are the price of a new cheap 14-days throw away controller. The possibilities of having stuff fixed by soldering seem to be limited here. Also yeah, budget is a thing but I refuse to believe that everything that's halfways affordable is trash. What gamepads are you guys using?

[Willymywonka]

we all use Trashpads


But in all seriousness most of have this problem. I lift frequently and have very strong hands for the most part. I go through 2-3 controllers a year off stick drift and or a button getting finicky. Its terrible. Controllers are as janky as the old xbox 360 mics were if you remember those abominations from back in the day. If you looked at it wrong it would break.

[Yume no Akuma]

. . . . and here i am playing with an almost 8 year old ds4 without any problem whatsoever

[Red #]

Logitech F310 / F710

[Code Panda]

How do you people treat your controllers, holy crap. I get flashbacks to worn out Nintendo 64 controllers when they were brand new and that's not a mechanical problem, that's a user problem.

Perhaps a PDP controller would last longer.

[Specific Beef]

Do not get an Elite controller. I have the Series 2, and it's a horrible design.

It feels good when first out of the box, just because of that weight and solidity, but it's ultimately terrible in every way.

First, those alternative paddle-buttons on the back. Those are magnetically attached, and you're soon going to pull those out because they're levers, so much slower to operate than the face buttons that they double for, and they interfere with your grip of the controller. Obviously this could be a hand size thing, but since I have fairly big hands those things were getting in the way of where my fingers wanted to go and causing my hands to cramp. Also the roughened texture of the controller is genuinely unpleasant (I wish I'd gone for one of the Labs controllers with a bit of give in the grip areas).

There's still drift with these sticks. They're much stronger and better built, but you're still going to need to adjust in software.

Bluetooth wouldn't work with it and there's nothing you can do if it won't. Microsoft can't or won't help you. I'm not too bothered by this since I would rather use cable anyway, but it's annoying that any part of the tech I paid so much for doesn't work.

One shoulder button has now stopped working. I treat controllers very carefully, but this seems to be a common fault in Elite controllers. I will have to get hold of the correct tools to try and fix this, I guess, but getting inside this design is nothing like as easy as the ordinary controller.

[AJYXQ]

Originally posted by Bad Teammate:

Originally posted by Top-Heavy Ken:

Do not get an Elite controller. I have the Series 2, and it's a horrible design.............

I had an elite controller, I actually ended up bending one of the paddles through normal use. The right shoulder button also ending up breaking so I had to buy a third party kit and change it out myself. While it was good, it wasn't worth all that money at all. You end up only using one setup for games anyway which can be bought anyway.
The series s/x controller already has the 8 direction d-pad, trigger stops aren't 100% necessary, and the paddles are good if you don't want to claw. Higher analog sticks can be made with 3rd party parts.
If the build quality was better, I'd tell everyone to buy one.
Maybe they're counting on them breaking to sell more.
Either way, all we want as a consumer is a controller that actually works and lasts. I can't remember a ps1 or ps2 controller that hasn't broken on me yet and they're about 15 years old.