How to Choose a Gamepad for PC?

For most people who play computer games, it's a way to escape from everyday worries and routine, primarily stress, and immerse themselves in the universe of their favorite game. However, to get the most enjoyment from the gaming experience, it is important to choose the right gamepad for your PC. In this guide, we will take a detailed look at what to pay attention to when choosing a gamepad, which models are the most popular, and what features they offer. From the guide, you will learn how to choose the perfect gamepad for your PC to make your gaming sessions even more exciting!

To ensure the immersion is as comfortable and effective as possible, it is necessary to make sure that you have the right equipment at hand that allows you to get the most out of the gaming process. Therefore, you need to make sure that you have a gamepad that can provide precise shooting, character movement, racing car movement, or a winning goal in the opponent's net.

Before choosing a gamepad, you need to answer a number of key questions that will help you accurately determine the criteria for choosing a gaming device:

After answering all the above questions and determining the selection criteria, let's move on to the most popular gamepad options for PC available on the market in 2024.

The Xbox Wireless Controller is one of the best gaming gamepads for PC for most people. It does not need to be configured manually using third-party software, and all the prompts in the games will be identical to the buttons on the gamepad.

Another undeniable advantage of the Xbox Wireless Controller is that it can connect to a PC using a USB-C cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth.

The Xbox Wireless Controller offers a number of improvements over its predecessors, including USB-C support, an updated D-pad design, and textured grips that make it easier to control in the player's hand. However, there is one major drawback: it is not rechargeable and requires two AA batteries.

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The 8BitDo Ultimate controller is another great choice among gamepads for personal computers.

There are two versions to choose from: a wired version (a more budget-friendly option) and a more expensive wireless gamepad but without the two rear buttons. However, there is an option to purchase the 8BitDo Ultimate with a charging dock and USB adapter, so it can be used wirelessly.

The 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth allows you to connect via USB-C or wirelessly using Bluetooth or the included 2.4 GHz adapter. The device uses a Nintendo button layout with B at the bottom instead of A (like on the Nintendo Switch), and this may seem unusual at first. The gamepad is equipped with Hall effect joysticks, meaning you won't have to worry about stick drift (misalignment of the stick's center point).

In any case, it is an extremely comfortable gamepad, and it also has one of the best D-pads if you like platformers or retro games (Sega or Dendy game enthusiasts will appreciate it).

You can also use 8BitDo's Ultimate Software to remap buttons and calibrate the gamepad's joysticks, triggers, and vibration.

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The GameSir T4 Kaleid is an unusual and interesting gamepad that offers quite a few Pro-level features. On the other hand, it should be noted right away that this is a wired controller and cannot be used wirelessly.

The gamepad offers the player: Hall effect joysticks, customizable back buttons (two of them), mechanical buttons on the front panel, and RGB (a method of color coding using three primary colors: red, green, and blue).

The front of the GameSir T4 Kaleid is transparent, the controller grips are matte and textured, and the gamepad itself is literally transparent to the point where you can see the boards inside.

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When playing on a PC, most players sit at a computer desk, which is why preference is given to wired gamepads, as they will have less latency, and you won't have to worry about the battery running out at the most inopportune moment.

HyperX is currently one of the top manufacturers of PC accessories, and the HyperX Clutch Gladiate gamepad is no exception. On the back of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, there are two back buttons that can be remapped, as well as trigger locks. The back buttons are quite easy to configure, and you don't need to install additional software for this.

The back sides of the handles (trigger locks) provide a mandatory textured grip, but the grip is slightly less and more prone to slipping, so players with sweaty hands or inexperienced gamers will have to get used to them. The D-pad is quite simple and lacks texture, making it visually flat, and this also causes some inconvenience at first.

Nevertheless, it is an excellent device that can become an indispensable companion in games.

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The DualSense Edge is a premium gamepad from Sony, one of the most expensive gamepads for the PS5, and at the same time one of the best devices for gaming on a PC. However, for PC gaming, you will need to install the PlayStation Accessories app and follow the setup instructions.

Intuitive settings and button remapping, replaceable joysticks, comfortable and ergonomic grips, well-thought-out back paddles — this gamepad can offer much more than previous Sony models.

The DualSense Edge comes with additional pairs of back panel buttons, which differ in shape from each other, allowing you to customize the gamepad to the player's requirements. There is also the possibility of replacing faulty joysticks, the process is extremely simple and does not require the use of a screwdriver or any other specialized tool.

The package includes a case that fits not only the gamepad but also all additional accessories, so even when playing on another PC, your familiar device will always be at hand. The R2 and L2 buttons are now equipped with three stop sliders, which will be extremely useful for players who play shooters.

As mentioned above, the gamepad is of premium level, so the price turned out to be corresponding: about 31,000 rubles as of September 2024. This means that the owners of the gamepad are likely to be either hardcore fans of Sony's new products or players who are willing to pay a substantial price for owning the device.

It is worth noting that a non-professional first-person shooter player will not notice a fundamental difference from more budget-friendly models.

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Now it is time to make a final decision on choosing a gamepad for PC gaming. Ask yourself the key questions mentioned at the beginning of the guide, evaluate your budget, and if possible, hold the device in your hands before purchasing.