Which gamepad to choose for PC: XInput or DirectInput?
We independently test the products and technologies that we recommend.
In this table, you can compare the technical characteristics of the gamepads presented in the review. You can choose the best device for yourself in the game controllers catalog.
| Rozetka.ua | 3 629 ₴ | To Store |
| Rozetka.ua | 4 918 ₴ | To Store |
Microsoft Xbox One S Wireless Controller Price from 3 629 up to 4 918 ₴ →
Who better to make a gamepad compatible with Windows PC games than the operating system company itself? The gamepad from the Microsoft Xbox One S game console is indeed the first candidate for purchase. It works on XInput technology, making it compatible with all modern games.
Connects the Xbox One S Wireless Controller to a PC either in wired mode via a microUSB cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, neither the cable nor the Bluetooth receiver are included in the kit - you will have to buy it separately. In the case of Windows 8 and 10, the gamepad driver is installed automatically, but for Windows 7, you will have to download and install it manually.
Moreover, the updated version of the gamepad with the letter "S" in the name (can be distinguished by the white body color) became in many ways better than the first version (black color). In addition to Bluetooth support (earlier, an expensive proprietary radio receiver was required for wireless connection to a PC), the gamepad received a MiniJack audio jack for connecting a stereo headset. Softer bumper buttons (RB and LB) have become another improvement in the One S version.
The disadvantage of Microsoft's wireless gamepads is traditionally the same - they are powered not by a built-in battery, but by two AA batteries. However, it is worth recognizing that even the Xbox One S controller works on disposable batteries for a very long time - up to 30 hours of play.
Speed-Link TORID Gamepad Wireless PC/PS3
SpeedLink Torid is a clone, in the good sense of the word, of the Xbox 360 gamepad. ) gamepads are really very similar. At the same time, the creation of SpeedLink not only costs one and a half to two times cheaper, but also has a number of advantages.
Firstly, the Torid handles are rubberized on the sides for greater grip. Secondly, the gamepad has a built-in lithium-ion battery, one charge of which is enough for 8-10 hours of play. Moreover, you can simultaneously charge the gamepad and continue to play, only, of course, in wired mode. Thirdly, there are three color options available: classic black and white, as well as outrageous green.
The main advantage of SpeedLink Torid is its dual mode - supported by both XInput (Windows recognizes this gamepad as an Xbox 360 Controller), and and DirectInput. The latter allows you to connect Torid not only to a PC, but also to the PlayStation 3 console. DirectInput technology is also required for some old computer games (late 1990s - early 2000s).
Speed-Link STRIKE NX Gamepad PC Price from 1 910 up to 1 913 ₴ →
The cheapest gamepad worth buying is probably the SpeedLink Strike NX. It exists in two versions: only DirectInput (buttons "Cross", "Square", "Circle" and "Triangle") and XInput + DirectInput (buttons "A", "B", "X" and "Y"). For purchase, we recommend the second version - dual-mode.
In addition to low cost and dual-mode, Strike NX should be praised at least for the design that does not copy any existing console gamepad. The shape of the Strike NX handles is a bit like the old Nintendo gamepads. The sticks are symmetrical like those of Sony solutions, but the shape of the caps is more similar to the creations of Microsoft.
SpeedLink Strike NX triggers are shaped like Sony DualShock 4, but much longer. And it is precisely about the durability of triggers that there are the biggest doubts - they creak and bend very much, which does not promise a long life for the gamepad. However, for the price of one original console gamepad, you can buy two or even three copies of Strike NX, so it's forgivable even if it breaks over time.
| Rozetka.ua | 1 411 ₴ | To Store |
| Rozetka.ua | 2 299 ₴ | To Store |
| Rozetka.ua | 950 ₴ | To Store |
| Rozetka.ua | 1 499 ₴ | To Store |
| Rozetka.ua | 1 649 ₴ | To Store |
Sony DualShock 4 Price from 950 up to 2 299 ₴ →
One of the hottest topics among gamers is which console's controller is cooler - Xbox or PlayStation? The truth, as it always happens in holivars, is somewhere in the middle. The Sony PlayStation 4 controller has both strengths and distinct weaknesses, especially when connected to a PC.
The DualShock 4's symmetrical stick layout is an alternative to the asymmetrical Xbox One S Wireless Controller. Someone likes the first option more (more convenient for sports simulators), someone else likes the second (more convenient for platformers and slashers). But from personal experience, I can say that in a week you can easily relearn back and forth.
You can praise the DualShock 4 for soft and quiet bumpers, and blame it for not the easiest connection to a PC. The gamepad can work both in wired mode via USB and wirelessly via Bluetooth, but to connect you will have to use unofficial software - InputMapper or DS4Pad, which emulate the operation of the Xbox controller. And, as is often the case with unofficial software, no one guarantees error-free operation.
Despite the appearance of the Sony PlayStation 4 console and, accordingly, the DualShock 4 gamepad, the PlayStation 3 controller has not lost its relevance at all. First, the PS3 consoles, thanks to a rich library of games (many times more than the PS4), are still willingly bought both new and used. Only one gamepad comes with the console, so most users immediately buy a second one.
Secondly, the gamepad can be connected to a PC via a USB cable or Bluetooth. In the case of Windows, you will have to resort to third-party applications, of which there are several at once: SCP DS3, XInput Wrapper, MotioninJoy and Better DS3. But with macOC and Linux, Sony gamepads work without any additional software.
For fans of at least one game genre - fighting games - DualShock 3 is indispensable. Unlike the DualShock 4 and Microsoft controllers, the DualShock 3 has a D-Pad made of separate buttons, which completely eliminates accidental presses and allows you to perform even the most complex combinations of blows in fighting games with high accuracy. However, the relatively small size of the DualShock 3 can be an inconvenience for players with large hands.
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