After 16 hours of research among 7 controllers, we have a clear preference for the Sony DualShock 4 v2 .
Our Pick, Best Mid-Range
Sony DualShock 4 v2
Ergonomic, light, responsive and versatile, this
wireless controller is also solid and eliminates the worry of latency. Its
comfort is undeniable thanks to the soft keys and its triple connectivity.
With this model, Sony follows the first version, with
few changes but always the desire to improve. It is undeniably the most popular
on the market. Indeed, the brand sets the bar very high with this model.
Lightweight and constructed with good materials, it conforms to the shape of
the hand and offers a soft touch for zero-latency gaming sessions, regardless
of the game.
Hori Mini
Compact and pleasant to use, its attractive design and
its grip is ideal for young players or beginners. Its components are basic but
demonstrate great practicality.
25.08 € at Amazon
This small basic controller is ideal for young players
or simply for lovers of multi-party games who do not want to put too high a
price on additional controllers. Its compactness is also very suitable for
small hands. If it is not suitable for any type of game, you will make good use
of it for platform or fighting games.
Nacon Revolution Unlimited Pro
This controller combines precision and customization
with additional keys configurable via software. Its comfort is added to its
other qualities, which make it a model of competition.
132.11 € at Amazon
Designed in collaboration with esports professionals,
this controller is made for competition. Its rather massive look is similar to
that which can be found at Nintendo or Microsoft, but it is much more worked.
The Revolution Pro is pleasant to use and precise, in addition to being fully
configurable. Despite a few small flaws, it has something to compete with the
original dualshock ... except in terms of price!
Hori Fighting Commander
Fairly compact and light, this controller is intended
above all for lovers of fighting games. It has interesting ergonomics and a
layout of the keys suitable for this type of game.
60.00 € at Amazon
This controller displays a neat ergonomics and quality of
finish. Its symmetrical style and reduced size make it very pleasant to handle.
Despite this, the Fighting Commander is not the most versatile solution. Thus,
the absence of vibration and dedicated joysticks prevents it from being used
with titles other than versus fighting or 2D platforming.
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How did we make our choice?
The controller is the key element of a game console .
However, the choice of this type of device depends not only on your budget, but
also and above all, on the gamer that you are.
While some people often take this factor lightly, you
should know that several points should be taken into account before purchasing
this product:
Compatibility : There are several PlayStation 4
controllers that are also compatible with PlayStation 3 or with a computer.
However, these may be less efficient or be incompatible with certain games. It
is therefore advisable to check its use with Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi or
even iOS.
Connectivity : some controllers offer triple
connectivity (radio - to be favored because less latency -, wired, Bluetooth).
The type of connection can influence the latency and responsiveness of the
controller. For cordless use, be sure to check the battery or battery life so
you can last a whole day of playing. In wired mode, the length of the cable is
important and must correspond to the distance you want to put between you and
the Playstation, without it becoming cumbersome.
Playing comfort : this criterion linked to ergonomics
has an influence on the duration of use. The grip is favored by the presence of
handles and the location of the keys. The joysticks, the directional cross, the
triggers and the buttons must not be on top of each other to avoid handling
errors. And the lighter the controller, the more bearable it is.
Manufacturing components : these are important elements
for the durability of the controller. So, depending on these components, you
may or may not have a pleasant touch. In the heat of the moment, it must be
able to withstand any shocks or falls. These can also influence the weight of
the model.
The design : to a lesser extent but just as essential,
the design can be improved by matt or smooth finishes as well as by the
integration of bright lighting or colors.
After going through many tests carried out on the
Internet, analyzing the technical sheet of each product, consulting the
opinions of French and English speaking users and ensuring the legitimacy of
these comments, we were able to determine the 5 best PS4 controllers of the
moment.
Whatever happens, when making your purchase, don't
forget to set your priorities and your budget. If the official controller
remains the preferred choice, players adept at personalization will more
readily turn to more sophisticated proposals, such as those found at the Nacon
brand.
PS: If you are a fan of the Sony console, do not
hesitate to take a look at our best PS4 and PS VR games , as well as the
dedicated steering wheels .
Sony DualShock 4 v2
Ergonomic, light, responsive and versatile, this
wireless controller is also solid and eliminates the worry of latency. Its
comfort is undeniable thanks to the soft keys and its triple connectivity.
33.88 € at Amazon
With this model, Sony follows the first version, with
few changes but always the desire to improve. It is undeniably the most popular
on the market. Indeed, the brand sets the bar very high with this model.
Lightweight and constructed with good materials, it conforms to the shape of
the hand and offers a soft touch for zero-latency gaming sessions, regardless
of the game.
Rather light (218 g) is compact despite full controls,
it offers a very good grip even if we prefer asymmetrical solutions, more
pleasant. However, unlike the dualshock 3, this shouldn't be a problem for big
hands.
Its performance is based around its eight action
buttons, the touchpad and its two joysticks (which benefit from a better
material than the first version). The directional cross is sufficiently precise
and flexible for games of skill. On the other hand, the triggers are a little
difficult to access because of their small size.
Its soft-touch plastic design allows for a very good
grip, even with sweaty hands. The integration of a loudspeaker as well as an
audio input and output is a pleasure despite the sound quality that leaves much
to be desired.
Several options are available to you in terms of
connectivity with a triple connection (radio, Bluetooth, wired). But for the
latter, know that the cable is not provided. It also displays Windows and Mac
compatibility.
Its autonomy (wireless) is its biggest weak point. With
only 6 to 8 hours of resistance, it does not fit in the most powerful
controllers at this level and as much to say to you that it will always be
necessary to have a cable nearby so as not to have to interrupt you in the
middle of the game.
All in all, it's a versatile controller that's suitable
for all types of gaming, including those that involve virtual reality use . It
also contains a gyroscope and an accelerometer.
Hori Mini
Compact and pleasant to use, its attractive design and
its grip is ideal for young players or beginners. Its components are basic but
demonstrate great practicality.
25.08 € at Amazon
This little basic controller is ideal for young players
or simply for those looking for an additional controller without paying too
much. Its compactness is also very suitable for small hands.
What distinguishes this gamepad is above all its size,
of course, as well as its shape without handles, which is reminiscent of the controllers
of “old” consoles like the NES.
It has the four traditional buttons (triangle, round,
cross, square), the Options and Share keys, a flexible directional cross and
two non-slip plastic analog sticks. A Home button also replaces the traditional
touchpad.
As for the L1 and R1 keys, they are quite small while
the triggers lack a bit of precision, which makes it less practical for racing
games or FPS (the absence of a handle reinforces this feeling). The absence of
vibration is also to be deplored but the sensations linked to the buttons
somewhat catch up with the ergonomics. The reduced format also facilitates
access to the various commands.
On the connection side, a 3 m cable allows connection to
both a PlayStation 4 and a PC. On the connectivity side, there is a USB socket
but we regret however that it does not have a mini-jack to connect a headset or
lighting.
In the end, if you don't have a problem with a small
controller, then the Hori Mini is an excellent solution for small budgets.
However, keep in mind that it has some inherent flaws in this format.
Nacon Revolution Unlimited Pro
This controller combines precision and customization
with additional keys configurable via software. Its comfort is added to its
other qualities, which make it a model of competition.
132.11 € at Amazon
Designed in collaboration with esports professionals,
this controller is made for competition. Its rather massive look is similar to
that which can be found at Nintendo or Microsoft, but it is much more worked.
The Revolution Pro is pleasant to use and precise, in addition to being fully
configurable. Despite a few small flaws, it has something to compete with the
original dualshock ... except in terms of price!
With its 224 g, it is placed as a relatively light model
and pleasant in the hand. It offers good user comfort thanks to a studied
arrangement of the various elements and a soft-touch coating which minimizes
the risk of slipping. The sticks are also equipped with an anti-perspiration
coating. The real difference with a dualshock 4 at this level is the
asymmetrical position of the joysticks.
Designed for intensive players, it offers a set of
precise and sensitive keys coupled with adjustable triggers. On the other hand,
the size of the Share, Options and touchpad buttons is reduced because of their
secondary interest. Professional orientation is also felt by the addition of 4
buttons (M1 to M4) integrated into the handles. Their use requires some
adaptation time, but they turn out to be very interesting once you have learned
to master them.
Connectivity goes through 2 modes, namely: wired, with a
3 m long cable, or Bluetooth wireless, linked to a dongle provided. The latter
allows a minimum latency by optimizing the connection with the device as much
as possible, which allows an improved result compared to the standard
controller.
The Revolution Unlimited Pro can be used with both the
Sony console and a computer. A dedicated program also allows the creation of
profiles (max 4) usable via the Advanced mode. Personalization is even taken
even further with a system of weights, which can be added to make the
controller heavier, interchangeable joystick heads (convex or concave) and
different bases for the sticks in order to adjust the activation amplitude (30
°, 38 ° (standard PS4) and 48 ° (PS3)).
Finally, the Revolution Unlimited Pro has everything you
would expect from a controller dedicated to professionals. However, it remains
less complete than its counterpart at Microsoft, known as the best controller
on the market.
Hori Fighting Commander
Fairly compact and light, this controller is intended
above all for lovers of fighting games. It has interesting ergonomics and a
layout of the keys suitable for this type of game.
60.00 € at Amazon
This controller displays a neat ergonomics and quality
of finish. Its symmetrical style and reduced size make it very pleasant to
handle. Despite this, the Fighting Commander is not the most versatile
solution.
It presents itself in a symmetrical look with rounded
edges and a lightness conducive to the grip. Riding the retrogaming wave, it
looks, to be mistaken, to the 6-button controller of the Sega Megadrive. There
is also a classic structure with six buttons, four triggers and a fairly small
and rigid cross, ideal for precision.
It incorporates several switches. The first allows
assigning the L3 and R3 commands to the L1 and L2 keys. The second is useful
for changing the function of the directional cross by assigning it the role of
D-Pad, left joystick or right joystick. Finally, the switch located on the
lower edge is used to adjust the controller according to the medium with which
it is used.
It is, in fact, a wired product compatible with
PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and computers running Windows 10.
Some caveats are a bit deplorable. Thus, the absence of
vibrations and dedicated joysticks mar the experience and prevent it from being
used with titles other than versus fighting or 2D platforming.
In the end, the Fighting Commander is not the most
versatile and in this sense, it is mainly dedicated to fans of fighting games
or 2D retro games.
Honorable mentions
Hori Onyx (€ 47.90 when published): comfortable, this
wireless controller has a battery life of 20 hours. The asymmetrical placement
of its keys wins points in terms of ergonomics while the buttons are flexible,
precise, responsive and quite quiet. However, its beautiful finishes do not
make us forget the discreet vibrations and the lack of resistance of the L2 and
R2 triggers. The lack of a light bar, gyroscopic functions, speaker and jack
are also lacking.
Nacon Asymmetric Wireless (€ 59.89 at the time of
publication): Solid, this asymmetrical model comfortable in hand benefits from
a judicious positioning of the joystick and the cross, as well as a pleasant
trackpad. It works in Bluetooth (7 hours of autonomy) or via an imposing and
rather short USB dongle. Its buttons are responsive and you can feel the
vibrations. However, it is quite heavy and takes a long time to load. In
addition, no software is provided to configure the object while the cross and
the triggers are a little stiff and imprecise.
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