Undeniably, the original Xbox 360 and Xbox One S, Sony Dualshock 4 and DualSense controllers, and the Nintendo Pro Controller are the most comfortable. These are high-precision sticks without dead zones, and smooth triggers with an understanding of the force of pressing, and a D-pad, which clearly works in the right, and not random direction. The Swiss Logitech gamepads with a three-year warranty have also proved to be very reliable. But they are all, to put it mildly, not cheap. Although compared to the Xbox Elite, Razer Wolverine and Thrustmaster eSwap Pro are not mere pennies. But still, this time we picked up five budget gamepads costing from 500 to 1000 UAH. Fortunately, even among them there are models that are compatible not only with PCs and smartphones, but even with PS4 and Switch.

Help

iPega PG-9128 Kingkong – the gamepad is named after a giant monkey, apparently due to the focus on fighting games. Especially for this, a wide eight-position nozzle on the D-pad is provided. It allows you to press diagonally faster in order to more effectively bludgeon opponents with ultimate blows and fatalities. Fans of platformers, where it is important to clearly choose the direction of movement, can remove the nozzle and gain access to the classic split cross.

The location of the analog sticks on the iPega PG-9128 is symmetrical, like that of the PlayStation controllers. But the designations on the action keys are ABXY, which is more typical for Xbox gamepads. Connection either via USB-cable (complete short, convenient only for charging), or via Bluetooth. It is convenient for playing on a laptop, smart TV, Android and iOS smartphone (there is a detachable phone mount). But to play on a desktop computer, you will have to buy a Bluetooth adapter or at least a longer cable.

Pros : Fighting 8-position D-pad, detachable smartphone mount.
Cons : For wireless connection to a PC, you need to purchase a Bluetooth dongle.

Gembird JPD-PS4U-01 is one of the most affordable gamepads that is compatible not only with PC, but also with the PlayStation 4 game console. It costs about half the price of the original Dualshock 4, though it is wired. But the cable length is a solid 3 meters, which will allow you to play both sitting on a chair at the monitor, and lying on the couch in front of the TV. It largely repeats the original, the same symmetrical arrangement of the sticks and the designations of the buttons “Square”, “Cross”, “Circle” and “Triangle”, but still there are a number of design improvements.

First, the stick caps are textured, making them more grippy. Secondly, the action buttons are backlit, which is convenient for playing in the evening twilight. Thirdly, the crosspiece has become partially solid, which is more convenient for fighting games, although this is largely a matter of habit. Otherwise, almost all the functions of the Dualshock 4 are present: a touchpad, a built-in speaker and a stereo headset jack. There is perhaps no gyroscope, which, however, is absent in almost all clones of the original PS4 controller.

Pros : Compatible with PC and PlayStation 4, the cable is as long as 3 meters.
Cons : No gyroscope required for some PS4 games.

The Hori Horipad Mini is a wired compromise between the tiny built-in Joy-Cons of the Nintendo Switch handheld game console and the larger Nintendo Pro Controller wireless controller. It is made quite flat, thanks to which it takes up minimal space in a backpack, and also tactilely resembles the gamepads of old-school game consoles that were still without sticks. In addition to the Nintendo Switch, it is compatible with a PC – good, the Steam application can automatically reconfigure almost any gamepads in XInput mode.

Unless you have to get used to the swapped labels on the A and B buttons, compared to the Xbox gamepad. Horipad Mini is available in three colors to choose from: red and blue with plumber Mario and Bowser the dragon, turquoise brown with Evie and Pikachu, and black and gold with Pikachu and lightning bolts. It’s a pity that only the larger and more expensive Horipad Wireless has the Legend of Zelda coloring.

Pros : Compact size, three colors in the style of Mario and Pokemon.
Cons : No Legend of Zelda coloring.

GamePro MG850 is a universal gamepad for PC, PlayStation 3, Android and iOS smartphones that connects via Bluetooth or USB radio. Outwardly, it almost completely repeats the Sony Dualshock 4, but the handles are rubberized for a more secure grip with sweaty hands. And also the sticks are located a little further apart, as a folding smartphone mount is placed between them. Compatible with screen sizes up to 6.7 inches.

Under the hinged cover is the Home button (needed, for example, to launch the Steam Big Picture mode on a PC) and a tray for storing a USB radio module. Built-in battery with a capacity of 400 mAh, according to the manufacturer, lasts up to 15 hours. But most likely, this is only achievable when connected via Bluetooth with a low polling rate of 125 Hz. Whereas at 1000 Hz via a USB radio module, the battery life will be reduced by about half. The ShootingPlus V3 app will help you bind virtual buttons in mobile games to physical gamepad buttons.

Pros : Rubberized grips, Bluetooth or USB radio connection.
Cons : Smartphone mount only accepts models up to 6.7 inches.

Canyon CND-GPW3 is a wireless gamepad that, in addition to PC (in XInput mode), PS3 (Direct Input) and Android, is also compatible with Nintendo Switch. There’s even a built-in gyroscope to make movements like aiming a bow in Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild. Moreover, using the Better Joy application, the gyroscope can even be used on a PC in the Yuzu emulator. True, to connect to a smartphone or Switch, you will have to use an OTG adapter – the gamepad does not have Bluetooth.

But the socket for charging, as well as for a wired connection to a PC, the Canyon CND-GPW3 already has a modern USB Type-C. The complete radio module is large, but maybe it’s for the better – a little further from the PC and, as a result, less susceptible to electromagnetic interference. The illuminated ABXY keys correspond to the Xbox controller – the letter A is on the bottom, and not on the right, like on the Switch. There is also a Turbo button, which can be programmed to repeat the desired action indefinitely, such as shooting in side-scrolling shooters.

Pros : Compatible with PC and Switch, USB Type-C charging, built-in gyroscope.
Cons : To connect to a smartphone or Switch, you need an OTG adapter.