We measured input lag on eleven pro controllers. Two were worth the money
Our bench test put every premium pad through 2,000 button presses. The price tag turned out to be a poor predictor of speed.
How we tested
Every product in this test was bought at retail. We ran each one on the Console Alley bench using a high-speed camera at 1,000 frames per second, a calibrated sound meter at 50 centimetres and a thermal probe on the hottest accessible surface. Each measurement was repeated five times and averaged.
What the numbers say
The gap between the best and worst results was larger than the gap in price. Two mid-priced models beat products costing twice as much, and one premium option finished second from last. Build quality was more consistent than performance.
Price told us almost nothing. Measure first, then buy.
Our recommendations
- Best overall: the mid-priced model with replaceable parts
- Best value: last year’s version, now discounted
- Avoid: anything that needs an app to change basic settings
The full data table and methodology are published on our hardware lab page and updated after every firmware release.
Tomas Reedwell
Tomas Reedwell writes about all gaming topics, including news, guides, reviews, games, and gear. He is curious about how games work and what they make people think. He explains the basics before asking bigger questions. His views come with reasons that readers can weigh for themselves. He welcomes people who see things another way. Tomas enjoys plays, old tales, and drawing rooms from worlds he has made up. These hobbies feed his love of stories and small details. His writing aims to spark thought without becoming hard to follow. He wants readers to learn, explore, and enjoy talking about games.
