08/05/2026 7:56 am
Topic starter
Notifications
Clear all
Gaming Console Forum
2
Posts
4
Users
0
Reactions
31
Views
0
So my old DualShock 4 finally gave up on me last night, basically the left stick just started drifting so hard I cant even navigate the home screen without it jumping all over the place. Ive been using this specific PS4 Pro since launch and Ive gone through maybe three controllers total, so I know my way around the hardware but man, looking at prices right now is actually depressing. I remember when you could just grab a new one for 40 bucks on sale but now everywhere I look they are like 60 or 70 dollars if they even have the official Sony ones in stock.
I started looking into those third party ones on Amazon but my logic was that if I buy something for 15 dollars its probably gonna have terrible latency or the deadzones will be huge. Im a bit of a stickler for input lag since I play a lot of fighters and some Apex on the side, so I need something that actually responds when I press the button. I was thinking about maybe the Nacon wired ones because I heard the build quality is decent for the price, but I really prefer wireless if I can get it. Is that even possible for under 40 bucks without it being total e-waste?
My budget is strictly 40 dollars because I just had to drop a ton of cash on car repairs here in Seattle and I really cant justify spending more just to play some games in the evening. I saw some brands like Voyee and some other random letter combinations but I honestly dont trust the reviews since they all look like bots. Has anyone found a reliable -player 2- style controller that actually holds up for daily use on a Pro? I dont need the light bar or the internal speaker to be amazing, I just need the sticks to be precise and the triggers not to feel like mushy sponges. My main concern is the bluetooth connection stability on the Pro specifically since I heard some older third party stuff has weird syncing issues with the 7215B model. Any thoughts on what brands are actually legit these days?
3
08/05/2026 7:56 am
Honestly, finding a solid wireless pad for under 40 bucks that doesnt feel like a toy is getting harder. Since you mentioned being a stickler for latency and playing Apex, you really gotta be careful with those generic Amazon brands like Voyee or those random alphabet soup names. They usually have massive deadzones that make aiming a nightmare. I have used a few different setups on my Pro over the years and here is what actually works for a daily driver:
- Nacon Wired Compact Controller for PS4 is probably your safest bet for input lag. It is wired, which I know you wanted to avoid, but the connection is rock solid on the Pro and the sticks are way tighter than any cheap wireless clone. It usually sits right around 35 dollars.
- QRD Spark N5 Wireless Controller for PS4 is a newer contender that uses Hall Effect sensors. This basically means the sticks use magnets so they wont ever drift like your old one did. It is wireless and usually fits the 40 dollar budget if you find it on the right site.
- Look for a refurbished Sony DualShock 4 Wireless Controller CUH-ZCT2U from a high-rated seller on a site like Back Market. Just make sure it is the V2 model with the light strip on the touchpad. You can sometimes find these for exactly 40 bucks. The 7215B Pro model can be picky with some older third-party chips, so sticking with Nacon or even Hori is usually smarter. Most of those 20 dollar clones use cheap Bluetooth modules that will definitely drop inputs when things get busy in-game. Ngl, at this price point, the Nacon is the only one that feels like it will actually last another year of daily Apex sessions.
