Best PC controllers (UK)
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 is the best PC controller for most people, with drift-resistant TMR sticks and a charging dock for around £55. On a tight budget, the GameSir Nova Lite 2 brings Hall-effect sticks for around £30.
Published 6 Nov 2026 · Last updated 14 Nov 2026
Quick picks
- 8BitDo Ultimate 2 EDIT'S PICK · Most PC players who want a comfortable wireless pad with drift-resistant sticks, back buttons and a dock, without paying pro prices · around £55
- GameSir Nova Lite 2 BEST VALUE · Tight budgets, second controllers for guests, and anyone who wants Hall-effect sticks for the price of a takeaway · around £30
- GameSir G7 Pro · Players who split time between a PC and an Xbox and want one pad with TMR sticks for both · around £90
- Valve Steam Controller NEW ARRIVAL · Steam players who game from the sofa on a living-room PC or Steam Deck, and anyone who wants trackpads and gyro aiming for mouse-driven games · around £85
- Razer Wolverine V3 Pro BEST PREMIUM · Competitive players on PC and Xbox who want fast, clicky buttons, six remappable extras and Hall-effect sticks · around £190
- SCUF Valor Pro · Players who always play plugged in and want pro-style back paddles and drift-resistant sticks without paying for wireless · around £95
- Xbox Wireless Controller · Anyone who wants the familiar, comfortable standard pad that works across Xbox, Windows and phones · around £55
No. 1 · EDIT'S PICK
8BitDo Ultimate 2
around £55 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
8BitDo's flagship pad, with TMR thumbsticks, triggers that switch between linear Hall-effect and short tactile modes, two extra bumpers (L4 and R4), two back paddles and RGB rings around the sticks. On Windows it connects over a USB-C 2.4GHz adapter or by cable, and it comes with a charging dock.
Why we picked it
TechRadar names it the best PC controller overall, calling the TMR sticks superb and praising the comfort, the trigger locks and the dock in the box. GamesRadar+ also recommends it and lists Steam Deck among the supported devices. The trade-off is battery life, which TechRadar puts at 10 to 15 hours and says the RGB lighting eats into.
Best for: Most PC players who want a comfortable wireless pad with drift-resistant sticks, back buttons and a dock, without paying pro prices
Skip it if: You also want to use it on an Xbox or PlayStation, or you need all-day battery life with the lights on.
| Sticks | TMR |
|---|---|
| Triggers | Hall effect, switchable to tactile |
| Connection | 2.4GHz (USB-C adapter), wired; Bluetooth on Switch |
| Extra buttons | Two back paddles, L4 and R4 bumpers |
| In the box | Charging dock, 2.4GHz adapter, USB cable |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 2 · BEST VALUE
GameSir Nova Lite 2
around £30 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
A low-cost wireless pad with offset Hall-effect thumbsticks, Hall-effect triggers with trigger stops, a mechanical D-pad and two rear buttons. It connects to a PC through a 2.4GHz dongle or a cable, and over Bluetooth to phones and Switch.
Why we picked it
PC Gamer names it the best budget PC controller and scores it 87, saying it packs Hall-effect sticks, trigger stops, back buttons and a 1,000Hz polling rate into a pad that costs about £30. Its reviewer measured around eight and a half hours of battery and criticised the slippery plastic, small bumpers and basic software.
Best for: Tight budgets, second controllers for guests, and anyone who wants Hall-effect sticks for the price of a takeaway
Skip it if: You want a premium feel, a gyro, or more than about eight hours between charges.
| Sticks | Hall effect |
|---|---|
| Triggers | Hall effect, with trigger stops |
| Connection | 2.4GHz dongle, Bluetooth, wired |
| Polling rate | 1,000Hz |
| Battery | About 8.5 hours (PC Gamer's measurement) |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 3
GameSir G7 Pro
around £90 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
An officially licensed Xbox controller with TMR sticks, Hall-effect triggers with switchable trigger stops, optical face buttons, two back buttons and a magnetic swappable faceplate. It's wired on Xbox, and wireless over 2.4GHz on PC at up to 1,000Hz. A charging dock and receiver are in the box.
Why we picked it
PC Gamer picks it as the best PC controller overall, saying it rivals much pricier pads for features and feels close to a standard Xbox controller. Tom's Guide rates it the best value pick, praising the comfortable grips and responsive sticks, though it wishes there were more back buttons.
Best for: Players who split time between a PC and an Xbox and want one pad with TMR sticks for both
Skip it if: You want to play wirelessly on an Xbox (it's wired-only there), or you want RGB lighting.
| Sticks | TMR |
|---|---|
| Triggers | Hall effect, with trigger stops |
| Connection | Wired on Xbox; 2.4GHz or wired on PC; Bluetooth on Android |
| Polling rate | 1,000Hz on PC |
| In the box | Charging dock, wireless receiver, USB-C cable |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 4 · NEW ARRIVAL
Valve Steam Controller
around £85 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
Valve's 2026 controller, with symmetrical TMR thumbsticks, two trackpads, a gyro, four rear grip buttons and four haptic motors. It connects through a small wireless Puck that doubles as a magnetic charger, or over Bluetooth or USB-C, and Valve quotes more than 35 hours of battery.
Why we picked it
Tom's Guide names it the best PC controller overall, and PC Gamer scores it 83, praising the mouse-like control from the trackpads and gyro, the battery life and the repairable design. PC Gamer also notes it shares its inputs with the Steam Deck, so Deck layouts carry over, and it can pair with a Deck over Bluetooth. Both reviewers point out it relies on Steam, and its 250Hz polling rate and membrane face buttons put off competitive players.
Best for: Steam players who game from the sofa on a living-room PC or Steam Deck, and anyone who wants trackpads and gyro aiming for mouse-driven games
Skip it if: You play competitive shooters, or mostly use launchers other than Steam.
| Sticks | TMR |
|---|---|
| Extras | Two trackpads, gyro, four rear buttons |
| Connection | Wireless Puck, Bluetooth, USB-C |
| Battery | 35+ hours (Valve) |
| Polling rate | 250Hz |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 5 · BEST PREMIUM
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
around £190 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
Razer's wireless esports controller for Xbox and PC, with Hall-effect thumbsticks with swappable caps, mouse-style mechanical face buttons, four back paddles plus two extra bumpers, trigger stops and a carrying case. It connects through Razer's 2.4GHz HyperSpeed dongle or a USB-C cable, with a 1,000Hz tournament mode when wired to a PC.
Why we picked it
TechRadar names it the best premium PC controller for its build quality, Hall-effect sticks and responsive buttons, and Windows Central rates it the best premium Xbox pad. Both flag the high price and average battery life, and Windows Central notes there's no Bluetooth and that a paddle came loose on one of its review units.
Best for: Competitive players on PC and Xbox who want fast, clicky buttons, six remappable extras and Hall-effect sticks
Skip it if: You need Bluetooth, long battery life, or you'd rather not spend close to £200 on a pad.
| Sticks | Hall effect |
|---|---|
| Extra buttons | Four back paddles, two extra bumpers |
| Connection | 2.4GHz dongle, wired USB-C |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC |
| In the box | Carrying case |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 6
SCUF Valor Pro
around £95 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
A wired-only controller for Xbox and PC with four rear paddles, triggers that switch between clicky and long-throw modes, audio controls and swappable thumbsticks. SCUF sells it with either Hall-effect or TMR sticks, and it comes with a 10ft USB-C cable.
Why we picked it
PC Gamer picks it as the best wired PC controller, praising the build quality, clicky switches and swappable parts, and notes a firmware update raised its polling rate to 1,000Hz. Tom's Guide also lists it, pointing out the lack of customisation software. The TMR version was in stock at SCUF's UK shop when we checked; the Hall-effect version was cheaper but out of stock.
Best for: Players who always play plugged in and want pro-style back paddles and drift-resistant sticks without paying for wireless
Skip it if: You want to play wirelessly, or you want companion software to tune it.
| Sticks | TMR or Hall effect (two versions) |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired USB-C only |
| Extra buttons | Four rear paddles |
| Polling rate | 1,000Hz on PC |
| In the box | 10ft USB-C cable, two spare thumbsticks |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 7
Xbox Wireless Controller
around £55 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
Microsoft's standard controller. It connects to Windows over Bluetooth or a USB-C cable (Microsoft sells a wireless adapter separately), runs for up to 40 hours on two AA batteries, and has a hybrid D-pad, a Share button and a 3.5mm headset socket.
Why we picked it
Windows Central still rates it the best Xbox controller overall for its balance, comfort and compatibility. It's here as the safe default, but with caveats that the newer pads above avoid. Windows Central points out it has no Hall-effect sticks, so it can develop drift over time, and that it lacks an internal battery and back buttons.
Best for: Anyone who wants the familiar, comfortable standard pad that works across Xbox, Windows and phones
Skip it if: Stick drift worries you, or you want a built-in rechargeable battery or back buttons.
| Sticks | Standard analogue (not Hall effect) |
|---|---|
| Connection | Bluetooth, USB-C, Xbox Wireless (adapter sold separately) |
| Battery | Two AA batteries, up to 40 hours (Microsoft) |
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Android, iOS |
Retailer links coming soon.
How we chose
We started with the PC controller round-ups from TechRadar, PC Gamer and Tom’s Guide, all updated in October or November 2026, plus Windows Central’s Xbox controller guide and individual reviews from PC Gamer and GamesRadar+. That gave us a shortlist of around a dozen pads, which we cut to those on sale new in the UK now.
Stick drift was our first filter. Most of the picks use Hall-effect or TMR sticks, which sense position with magnets and are designed to resist the drift that wears out standard controllers. The Xbox Wireless Controller is the exception, and it’s here because Windows Central still rates it the best all-rounder for comfort and compatibility.
Next came comfort, connection options and value. We wanted a spread of needs: an all-rounder, a cheap pad that doesn’t cut the important corners, one for PC and Xbox, one built for Steam and the Steam Deck, a premium esports option and a wired choice.
This guide is based on manufacturer specs, retailer listings and expert reviews, listed below. We haven’t used these controllers ourselves. Prices are typical UK prices on the date shown beside each pick, and they move around Black Friday and Christmas.
Sources
- TechRadar: Best PC controllers
- PC Gamer: Best PC controllers in 2026
- Tom's Guide: Best PC game controllers of 2026
- Windows Central: Best Xbox controllers in 2026
- 8BitDo: Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller
- GamesRadar+: 8BitDo Ultimate 2 review
- Scan: 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Black with charging dock
- PC Gamer: GameSir Nova Lite 2 review
- Argos: GameSir Nova 2 Lite PC Wireless Controller
- GameSir: G7 Pro Tri-Mode controller
- PriceSpy UK: GameSir G7 Pro (PC/Xbox)
- Argos: GameSir G7 Pro Xbox and PC Controller, White
- PC Gamer: Steam Controller (2026) review
- GamesRadar+: Should you buy the Steam Controller this deals season?
- TheSixthAxis: The Steam Controller launches this May for £85
- Steam: Steam Controller
- Razer: Introducing the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
- Scan: Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Wireless Controller, Xbox/PC
- SCUF Gaming UK: Valor Pro wired with TMR, White
- SCUF Gaming UK: Valor Pro wired with Hall Effect, Blue
- Microsoft Store UK: Xbox Wireless Controller
- Xbox: Xbox Wireless Controller
FAQs
What are Hall-effect and TMR sticks, and do I need them?
Both use magnets to sense where the stick is, instead of the worn-down contacts that cause drift in many standard controllers. TechRadar describes TMR as keeping Hall-effect's drift resistance while feeling more like a traditional stick. Windows Central notes the standard Xbox controller lacks Hall-effect sticks and can drift over time, so if your last pad started drifting, every pick here except the Xbox one is designed to avoid that.
Which of these work with a Steam Deck?
The Steam Controller is the natural partner. PC Gamer says it shares its inputs with the Steam Deck, so layouts carry over, and it can pair over Bluetooth. GamesRadar+ also lists the Steam Deck as supported by the 8BitDo Ultimate 2.
Does the Steam Controller work outside Steam?
Only through Steam. PC Gamer found you can add non-Steam games to Steam or use a desktop layout, and the Steam Link app works too, but it did not register in GeForce Now over Bluetooth. If you mostly play through Game Pass or other launchers, a conventional pad is simpler.
Wired or wireless?
Wireless is tidier, and every 2.4GHz pick here offers a low-latency dongle. Wired pads such as the SCUF Valor Pro never need charging and avoid connection drop-outs, which is why PC Gamer rates it for players who always sit at a desk. Most wireless picks can also be used with a cable.
Last updated 14 Nov 2026.