The best wireless gamepads for PC

Inexpensive (especially for wireless solutions) Trust brand gamepad is a cross-platform accessory. It is suitable for gaming for owners of PCs, smartphones (compatible with Android and iOS) or even a portable Switch console.

Trust GXT-542 Muta Wireless Gaming Controller supports different connection options. Without a cable - via radio (using a USB receiver) or Bluetooth - a range of up to 8 meters is provided. Plus, there is a 3 m cable. The latter option is useful while charging the battery from USB C. But, as practice shows, you won’t have to power it often - autonomy reaches 10 hours.

The gamepad body is made of plastic, and the use of recycled materials is stated with an emphasis on caring for the environment. The predominantly matte body is complemented by glossy elements (for example, triggers and main buttons) and perforated inserts for a comfortable grip. In its shape, the location of the cross and sticks, the controller is close to Sony DualSense, but the designation of the buttons is borrowed from the classic Xbox gamepad.

There is also the possibility of customization. The package includes two additional D-Pads, including an Xbox Elite-style D-pad. It is important that the user can expect quiet and precise clicks with vibration as feedback, and the sticks have virtually no so-called “dead” zones.

Trust GXT-542 Muta Wireless Gaming Controller does not bring anything new in functionality or design, but in the budget segment it is a well-balanced wireless gamepad for PC and not only.

The 2024 debutant from the A4Tech brand is a gamepad in the entry-level price category. Although in the branded line it is the older model. For example, compared to the GPW50, it is distinguished not only by a different design (including the presence of RGB backlighting), but also by a pair of programmable rear buttons, as well as a headphone output.

The layout of the A4Tech Bloody GPW70 follows the classic Xbox controller, has comfortable perforated handles, fits well in your hands and does not slip out. The buttons work very clearly, and the tactile feedback is adjustable, but in any case not very strong, but comfortable. The functions of the left stick and D-pad can be quickly swapped if necessary. The Clear and Turbo buttons have an adjustable response speed, which may be useful for shooter fans.

You can use the gamepad with a PC, Android devices (including smart TVs), the Switch console and even the PlayStation 3. Wireless connection is carried out via radio and provides a 10-meter range. The 600 mAh battery is charged via USB C and lasts for a maximum of 13 hours without recharging (up to 7 hours with active backlighting).

The disadvantage of the model is a short meter cable and a large USB receiver, but a disadvantage for some users may be the very colorful and bright appearance of the black model. Although this, of course, is a matter of taste and there is a more restrained white version. In any case, the A4Tech Bloody GPW70 is an interesting cross-platform gamepad with a low price tag and decent functionality.

Surprised to see a PS5 gamepad in the selection of PC controllers? Don’t rush, because after the announcement of the PS5, Sony made friends with the PC platform to the delight of all its fans. The PC boyars have already completed the exclusives of Death Stranding, Days Gone and Horizon, and an addition is coming in the form of God Of War 2018 and what looks like a remaster of Uncharted. With all that said, it's not surprising that the PS5 gamepad can be easily paired with a PC using native support in Win 10, forced support in Steam, or the DS4Windows crutch app.

The only downside to this connection is that most games don't support the DualSense's adaptive triggers. This is almost the main feature of the new gamepad, which significantly enhances the gaming experience. For example, the trigger may become tighter when Horizon's Aloy draws back on her bow. Or it can create a tactile feedback effect when shooting in Deathloop. On PC, these features are just beginning to appear - the first signs with support for tactile triggers were Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition and Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Otherwise, when connected, almost all basic functions are supported, including a touchpad (can be used to replace a mouse), a gyroscope, a microphone and a motion sensor. Haptic feedback in most games is implemented at a basic level.

Regarding the gamepad itself, the sensations are twofold. On the one hand, he stepped forward in terms of quality. It feels expensive, the buttons are pressed softer and more confidently, the D-pad seems a little stiffer, and the coating is many times nicer than that of the Dual Shock 4 (I especially liked the coating on the handles). Fast charging has appeared, and the battery itself holds a charge a little longer. The bumpers have remained virtually unchanged; we already talked about adaptive triggers above. On the other hand, not everyone likes the updated design of the gamepad. The old DualShock was a thing in itself that spawned a million imitators, the new DualSense is trying hard to stand out because of which it itself becomes like an imitator. Well, you've probably already heard the story about drifting sticks. For some PS5 owners, after just a couple of weeks, the sticks began to malfunction when registering movements, or worked independently without the player touching them. Sony has already apologized several times and seems to have fixed everything in the spring firmware update.

Over the past decade, Microsoft/Xbox management has been doing anything other than their main job - making unsuccessful kinects, trying to turn the console into a DVD player and ultimately losing the war of exclusives. Amid all this red tape, what went unnoticed by many players was the fact that the Xbox has a damn comfortable controller. And it would be blasphemy not to include it in the selection of the best wireless controllers for PCs.

The main complaint about the Xbox controller is usually that it's not a DualShock. The shape is not the same, and asymmetrical sticks - who even came up with this? In fact, these complaints disappear after just a few minutes of play. It turns out that asymmetrical sticks are in some ways even more convenient than symmetrical ones. Well, unlike Sony gamepads, for which you often need to manually add the game to Steam or install third-party drivers, the Xbox Controller works without problems on any device, be it a gaming laptop on Win 10, a smartphone on Android OS or a brand new iPad Pro.

Otherwise, the new Xbox Controller remains almost the same as in the days of the Xbox 360. Microsoft has slightly upgraded the sticks and finalized the shape, removing the small bevel on the front top and replacing the non-durable glossy finish with practical matte plastic. Thanks to this, the gamepad turned out to be a little more ergonomic and convenient. In addition, it fits more comfortably in both large and miniature hands. Well, a headphone output was added, and the charging port was updated to modern USB C. True, out of the box the gamepad runs on a pair of AA batteries, and the battery is usually sold separately. Well, the d-pad was updated, borrowing an idea from the Xbox Elite tournament model.

A representative of Asus' ROG gaming line, this is a stylish and functional gamepad for two platforms - Windows PC and Xbox. The shape of the case and the location of the buttons duplicate the “native” controller for Microsoft consoles. But the design still has differences: it has customizable RGB lighting in the form of two diagonal stripes, embossed inserts and patterns for a secure grip.

And the most important feature of the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro is the built-in 1.3-inch OLED display. It shows the charge level, helps switch game profiles, and also acts as another way to personalize the design - here you can display custom animations, images or text.

Asymmetrical sticks, a pair of triggers and shifts are complemented by a rich set of 14 buttons, of which 4 programmable rear keys are worth highlighting. Separately, it is worth highlighting the two available trigger stroke options - short or full. The first one is suitable for shooters, and the second one, for example, for racing simulators. Even more personalization options are provided by the proprietary Armory Crate utility. Here you can change the sensitivity of the buttons, the strength of the vibration response, adjust the “dead” zones, control the backlight and much more.

The controller is connected to the PC in one of 3 ways - with a 3-meter cable with USB C, via Bluetooth or a radio channel. For wireless options, the range is 10 meters. Only wired pairing is possible with Xbox.

To reproduce high-quality sound, there is both a headphone output in the controller itself and a built-in ESS digital-to-analog converter. The advantages of the model also include an excellent reserve of autonomy - up to 2 days (48 hours) with the backlight and vibration turned off.

The main disadvantage of Asus ROG Raikiri Pro is its high cost. But for the controller's exclusive features, including the display, the extra charge seems reasonable, especially if you're a demanding gamer or a dedicated fan of the Republic of Gamers line.