Group Test
HARDWARE
Xbox Wireless
MICROSOFT $60A top-shelf budget controller
After a precarious
relationship with the
long-championed Xbox
360 gamepad, it is finally time to
let go. The Xbox One Wireless
controller has been available for
quite some time now, and in
addition to being cheaper than
ever before, it boasts a vastly
superior d-pad that you won’t
dread using in fighting games and
platformers. In other words,
friendship ended with Xbox 360
gamepad, now the Xbox Wireless
controller is my best friend.
We capitalize Wireless for a
reason, not because the word is a
proper noun per sé, but because
the Xbox Wireless controller of
late leverages Microsoft’s ownwireless protocol it calls “Xbox
Wireless”. Though the name itself
could benefit from some creative
workshopping, you can take
solace in the fact that, after 2016,
the Xbox Wireless controller was
graced with a much-needed
helping of Bluetooth
compatibility. Once connected,
the controller automatically
works with almost all modern
games, making it a great pick for
PC players looking for a more
couch-friendly experience.Affordable
Officially supported by most games
Quality d-pad
Still uses AA batteriesVERDICTSPECS WEIGHT: .62 LBS (281G) / CONNECTIVITY: XBOX WIRELESS; BLUETOOTH / BATTERY: 2X AA6
F310 Gamepad
LOGITECH $15
Lightweight and ultra-affordable
This controller is my
favorite if you’re on a
tight budget—say, if you
want two controllers for the price
of one. At almost half the cost of a
DualShock 4, you lose the
wireless capability, but still get a
solidly-constructed gamepad
that worked as soon as I plugged
it in. The controller is light, but
feels like a tank, so I have no fear
of abusing it.
That said, the d-pad is
nowhere near the quality of the
DS4’s—it feels loose, and I had
trouble accurately maneuvering
in Super Meat Boy. Also, the
triggers and bumpers are housed
on outcroppings that the
knuckles of my middle fingers rub
against uncomfortably, and the
analog sticks, while pleasantly
springy, have a convex shape that
isn’t great for sweaty hands. I also
found that the triggers offer too
much resistance. In Grid
Autosport my finger got tired
from holding accelerate, which I
didn’t experience with the DS4,
Xbox 360, or Xbox One pads.
It’s not the best, then, but the
price makes it ideal if you need
some cheap extra controllers for
local co-op sessions.Very affordable
Easy plug-and-play
Stiff triggers
Subpar d-padVERDICTSPECS WEIGHT: .4 LBS (181G) / CONNECTIVITY: USB WIRED / CORD LENGTH: 6.5 FT (1.98M)
5
DUALSHOCK VS XBOX
Ignore those who seem to think every game
is best with a mouse and keyboard. Grid
Autosport is not best played with a
keyboard. Super Meat Boy is not best
played with a keyboard. Ultra Street Fighter
IV is ridiculous with a keyboard. True, we
play most games with a mouse and
keyboard, but for PC gamers with ranging
tastes, a good controller is a must.
Microsoft and Sony’s own console
pads—the Xbox Wireless controller and the
DualShock 4—set the standards by being
the default, first-party options for the two
most popular consoles, while third-party
controllers tend to mimic them. In this case,
the standard is the best. I haven’t found a
controller better than the DS4 for PC
gaming, though the wireless Xbox One
controller is very close.
It’s a slightly surprising conclusion when
the Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers are
the industry’s accepted Windows
gamepads, and even contradicts a previous
article I wrote in which I recommended the
Xbox One controller over the DualShock 4.
In that article I explain that I prefer the
shape and layout of Microsoft’s controllers,
but after further testing I’ve decided that
when I put aside my personal preference for
offset analog sticks, the DS4 stands out.456