A good controller makes racing, sports and action games far more enjoyable on PC — and in 2026 even cheap pads come with Hall effect or TMR thumbsticks that resist the “stick drift” that plagued older controllers. Valve has also returned with a new Steam Controller, giving PC players a pad built around Steam’s input system.
These are seven controllers that PC Gamer and PCGamesN rate highly, from a budget pad to premium pro controllers. We focus on PC, but we note which ones also work with PlayStation, Xbox or phones. Prices are approximate euro prices from October 2026 where available.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overallGameSir G7 Pro Tri-Mode
- Best plug-and-playXbox Wireless Controller
- Best for SteamSteam Controller (2026)
- Best premiumRazer Wolverine V4 Pro
- Best budgetGameSir Nova Lite 2
- Best for PS5 & PCSony DualSense Wireless Controller
- Best wiredScuf Valor Pro
Prices are approximate and change often. Ad
1. GameSir G7 Pro Tri-Mode — best overall
PC Gamer’s best PC controller is the GameSir G7 Pro, which it says rivals much more expensive controllers for “pro” features. TMR thumbsticks and Hall effect triggers fight drift, tactile switches make buttons feel crisp, and it connects over 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth or USB-C. A charging dock and swappable parts are included.
Battery life is around 10 hours and there’s no RGB. In the US it costs about $80, often less.
GameSir G7 Pro Tri-Mode
PC Gamer's best PC controller: TMR sticks, Hall effect triggers and a charging dock for well under premium prices.
- Connection
- 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, USB-C
- Sticks
- TMR
- Triggers
- Hall effect
- Battery
- ~10 h + dock
Pros
- Pro features for less
- Sturdy, tactile buttons
- Swappable parts
Cons
- No RGB
- Battery life just average
2. Xbox Wireless Controller — best plug-and-play
PCGamesN still calls the standard Xbox Wireless Controller the best PC controller overall, because Windows games support it out of the box. The hybrid D-pad is excellent, the textured triggers feel good and it connects over Bluetooth or USB-C.
It runs on AA batteries and isn’t customisable, but at €54.99 on Amazon.de in September 2026 (UVP €64.99) it’s the safe default choice.
Xbox Wireless Controller
PCGamesN's best PC controller overall: the most widely supported pad on Windows, with a great hybrid D-pad.
- Connection
- Bluetooth, USB-C
- Power
- 2× AA batteries
- Platforms
- Xbox, PC, mobile
Pros
- Works with almost every PC game
- Excellent hybrid D-pad
- Comfortable
Cons
- Needs AA batteries
- Not customisable
3. Steam Controller (2026) — best for Steam
Valve’s new Steam Controller launched in May 2026 at €99. PC Gamer’s couch-gaming pick, it combines TMR sticks with gyro aiming and two haptic trackpads, so you can control mouse-driven games from the sofa. Battery life is rated at 35+ hours, it connects through an included wireless Puck or Bluetooth, and it’s designed to be repairable.
Face buttons are membrane rather than microswitch, and polling is 250 Hz, so competitive players may prefer a pro pad. For Steam Big Picture and a living-room PC it’s very appealing.
Steam Controller (2026)
Valve's new pad — PC Gamer's couch-gaming pick — adds trackpads and gyro for mouse-like aiming plus 35+ hours of battery.
- Connection
- 2.4 GHz (Puck), Bluetooth, USB-C
- Sticks
- TMR
- Extras
- Gyro, 2 haptic trackpads
- Battery
- 35+ h
Pros
- Mouse-like trackpads and gyro
- Deeply customisable in Steam
- Repairable
Cons
- Membrane face buttons
- 250 Hz polling
4. Razer Wolverine V4 Pro — best premium
PC Gamer’s high-end choice offers up to 8,000 Hz polling, a 27-hour battery and magnetic, swappable paddles, faceplate and sticks. Controls are snappy and accurate and the build quality is strong.
It’s expensive (about $200 in the US) and doesn’t include a charging stand.
Razer Wolverine V4 Pro
PC Gamer's high-end pick: 8K polling, 27-hour battery and magnetic paddles, faceplate and sticks.
- Connection
- HyperSpeed 2.4 GHz, USB-C
- Polling
- Up to 8,000 Hz
- Battery
- Up to 27 h
- Extras
- Magnetic paddles & sticks
Pros
- Snappy, accurate controls
- Long battery
- Excellent build
Cons
- Expensive
- No charging stand included
5. GameSir Nova Lite 2 — best budget
For the price of a game, the Nova Lite 2 gives you Hall effect sticks, back buttons, trigger stops, a mechanical D-pad and three connection modes. PC Gamer names it the best budget controller.
The grips are slippery, shoulder buttons are small and the battery lasts about 8 hours.
GameSir Nova Lite 2
PC Gamer's budget pick: Hall effect sticks, back buttons and trigger stops for the price of a game.
- Connection
- 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, USB-C
- Sticks
- Hall effect
- Battery
- ~8 h
- Extras
- Back buttons, trigger stops
Pros
- Very affordable
- Hall effect sticks
- Back buttons
Cons
- Slippery grips
- Modest battery
6. Sony DualSense — best for PS5 and PC
If you own a PS5, your DualSense also works on PC. PCGamesN likes its adaptive triggers, comfort and build quality, but notes the limits: haptics don’t work over Bluetooth on PC and the headphone jack isn’t supported there. It’s best for PlayStation ports on Steam that support it natively.
Sony DualSense Wireless Controller
PCGamesN's PS5-and-PC pick: adaptive triggers and haptics, though PC support is more limited over Bluetooth.
- Connection
- Bluetooth, USB-C
- Battery
- 1,560 mAh (built-in)
- Extras
- Adaptive triggers, haptics
Pros
- Adaptive triggers
- High-quality build
- Comfortable
Cons
- Haptics don't work over Bluetooth on PC
- Limited PC support
7. Scuf Valor Pro — best wired
The Scuf Valor Pro is a wired pro controller with swappable Hall effect sticks, magnetic faceplates and clicky or long-throw trigger modes. Both PC Gamer and PCGamesN rate it as the best wired option; a firmware update raised polling from 250 Hz to 1,000 Hz.
There’s no wireless at all, and some face buttons have a slight spring ping.
Scuf Valor Pro
A wired pro pad with swappable Hall effect sticks and trigger modes — PC Gamer's and PCGamesN's best wired pick.
- Connection
- USB-C wired
- Sticks
- Swappable Hall effect
- Polling
- 1,000 Hz (after firmware)
- Extras
- Magnetic faceplates
Pros
- Excellent build and comfort
- Lots of pro features
- Cheaper than wireless pro pads
Cons
- Wired only
- Slight spring ping on face buttons
Compare the key specs
| Model | GameSir G7 Pro Tri-ModeBest overall | Xbox Wireless ControllerBest plug-and-play | Steam Controller (2026)Best for Steam | Razer Wolverine V4 ProBest premium | GameSir Nova Lite 2Best budget | Sony DualSense Wireless ControllerBest for PS5 & PC | Scuf Valor ProBest wired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TechHive score | 9.0/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.1/10 | 8.3/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Approx. price | Varies | €55 | €99 | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Connection | 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, USB-C | Bluetooth, USB-C | 2.4 GHz (Puck), Bluetooth, USB-C | HyperSpeed 2.4 GHz, USB-C | 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, USB-C | Bluetooth, USB-C | USB-C wired |
| Sticks | TMR | — | TMR | — | Hall effect | — | Swappable Hall effect |
| Triggers | Hall effect | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Battery | ~10 h + dock | — | 35+ h | Up to 27 h | ~8 h | 1,560 mAh (built-in) | — |
| Power | — | 2× AA batteries | — | — | — | — | — |
| Platforms | — | Xbox, PC, mobile | — | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | — | — | Gyro, 2 haptic trackpads | Magnetic paddles & sticks | Back buttons, trigger stops | Adaptive triggers, haptics | Magnetic faceplates |
| Polling | — | — | — | Up to 8,000 Hz | — | — | 1,000 Hz (after firmware) |
| Shop Ad | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
How to choose a controller
Stick drift: look for Hall effect or TMR
Hall effect and TMR sticks use magnets instead of physical contacts that wear out, so they’re much less prone to drift. Most of our picks use them; the standard Xbox and DualSense pads do not.
Connection
A 2.4 GHz dongle gives the lowest latency wirelessly; Bluetooth is convenient for laptops and phones. Wired controllers have no battery and are cheapest for their features.
Layout
Xbox-style (offset sticks) is the PC standard; PlayStation-style (parallel sticks) suits players coming from PS5. Both work — it’s personal preference.
Back paddles and extras
Back buttons let you jump or reload without lifting your thumb from the right stick. Trigger stops shorten the trigger pull for shooters.
Buying in Europe
Controllers bought from EU retailers carry a two-year legal guarantee — useful if a stick does start to drift. Check whether a “PC/Android” version is cheaper than the “Xbox licensed” version of the same pad.
How we choose
We compare reviews from PC Gamer, PCGamesN and other established outlets, select controllers with consistently strong results and check European pricing. We don’t do hands-on testing yet — see how we research.
FAQ
Does a PS5 controller work on PC?
Yes, especially in Steam, but some features — haptics over Bluetooth and the headset jack — don’t work on PC.
What is TMR?
Tunnelling magnetoresistance: like Hall effect, it reads stick position with magnets instead of wearing contacts, which reduces drift.
Can I use these with a handheld PC?
Bluetooth controllers pair with handhelds such as the Steam Deck. See our consoles and handhelds guide.
