5.2.2021

I've bought a couple of these a few months ago and have become very fond of them.You will have to train and adapt to them though , as their shape feel strange at first.But if you can find a way to hold them and adapt to it , it can actually feel more comfortable than a Dualshock 4.First thing to be aware of when looking at pictures of this thing online that you won't realise until you see it in person is : The controller overall is much smaller than it looks. Especially the ends of the handles. (Which will actually be the deal breaker whether you will be able to hold this comfortably in your palms or not)I am not sure if those with bigger hands will be able to adapt though ,the size and shape might be too much in the end. But I can speak for those in between medium sized and smaller sized hands , that these feel quite comfortable. They'd probably be perfect for kids too.There are tons of great things about this controller , but tons of not so great things though.A lot of the bad things can be overcome if you are will to adapt/train yourself to be more weary of the controllers short comings though.--------------------------------------------------------------First let's go through the positives :- Can be very comfortable to hold with right technique :Since the handles are shorter and probably won't reach the lower part of your palms if you grip it normally , which will feel awkward , like you're just grasping air in the lower part of your palms.The way to fix this is position the controller in your palms so the ends rest in the lower parts of your palm instead.Now your index fingers will just have to move slightly more to compensate for the new controller position , which isn't as bad as it sounds.I found this very comfortable to hold after changing to this style of gripping , although I am unsure if this will work with those with larger hands.- Half way between an Xbox controller and Dualshock: (Also decent triggers L2/R2)Even though the button and stick layout is for Playstation and actually shape of the controller itself is more akin to an Xbox controller. Although more accurate one could say a smaller version of an xbox controller.Handle shapes feel nice in general , even though they feel shorter. There is a big groove in there to rest your middle fingers for optimal gripping.The Triggers (L2/R2) are also more gun-like kind of like an Xbox controller , although not as much resistance on them as a Microsoft one though. (But still more satisfying to pull than the DS4 triggers though in my opinion)Because of the lower level of resistance I am weary of the lifespan of these triggers. (I will update this review later if one of them breaks)I actually prefer the xbox layout and grip/trigger style more than a dualshock 4 , espeically the size. Too bad nacon didn't make the controller bigger to cater more to Xbox Lovers.- Face buttons are nice and clicky / tactile.Something I don't like on the Dualshock 4 is that due to poor quality control , sometimes you can end up with spongy/mushy soft click buttons if you are unlucky.The face buttons on this controller have more satisfying clicky/tactile feeling than most PS4 controllers , but also at the same time are a little more noisy.- Wired and light :Being a wired controller makes it very light , since it has no battery. This goes a long way for comfort for longer sessions. Being wired also means no need for batteries any more and less input lag. The main disadvantage being of course being the wire might get in the way of family members and pets depending on which room your PS4 is in. (Also less freedom to move about wherever you want in the room with the controller too)- Has a functioning touchpad:This controller also has a functioning touchpad and depending on your preference you may like this style more than the DS4 touchpad.- Most versions of this controller have a rubber coating :The versions I bought of this controller have a rubberised coating , which greatly enhances the comfort and grip of the controller. There are a few clear plastic versions of this controller which I hope to buy one or two later this year , hopefuly they are just as comfortable.Unfortunately in a few years or so though , I am expecting this rubber coating to eventually go sticky , as most rubber coated products seem to do. (Which is why I am interested in the clear plastic ones next)- Stronger rumble feedback/vibration.Since it's a wired controller , it has more electricity to work with (And battery life isn't a concern) , the rumble mechanism on this controller is designed to be a lot stronger and intense than a Dualshock 4's rumble capabilities. If you enjoy this part of the experience , this might appeal to you.- Price Point:Amazon usually sell them at £25 when they get restocks. Half the price of an official controller.Great value if you can adapt to the controller and appreciate it for what it is.For those who can't though , it will be a waste and the DS4 will be the better choice if you can afford it.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Disadvantages , some of which can be overcome with you adapting around them :- Small sensitive analogue thumb sticks:As with most third party controllers in this price range , yes the controller has thumb sticks that feel too sensitive.This controller also has the strange predicament of having undersized thumb sticks too.But this somehow works in it's favour if you can adapt , as having smaller thumb sticks means you have less space to overshoot and even somewhat encourages you to be more subtle with your stick movements.Another reason I think the thumb sticks might have been designed smaller , could be to suit the overall size and shape of the controller itself. (Especially in regards to the lower grip) Maybe the size of the analogue stick worked best with this kind of controller.Also another thing to mention pushing in the analogue thumb sticks to activate the L3/R3 commands results in a satisfying and loud click , instead of a soft/mushy click which is more common in Dualshock 4 controllers. (How pronounced it is depends on the quality control of the Dualshock you got)I suppose that part is a matter of preference and not necessarily a positive or negative point either.- D-pad seems a little inaccurate and you could end up with a noisy one:D-pad looks great and is clicky/tactile.Unfortunately I think it registers corners too one pressing one of the main directions. I noticed this while pressing down , it would sometimes registers one of the diagonal down corners too , which in some games would cause your character to face in the opposite direction.While pressing the down button for example , whichever corner you thumb is closest too ( Downleft or down-right) , it will seem to press down that corner too.Although nowadays it seems to happen to me alot less , so I am unsure if I have subconsciously adapted to press it in a certain way to avoid it more or it got better overtime. (Unlikely)Also one out of my two nacon controllers, the d-pad is much more noisey and doesn't feel as smooth to press/click as my other controllers. So due to quality control , you could end up with a more noisy d-pad than usual.- Face buttons are actually to close together. (Including the Options/pause button)The action buttons (X, circle , triangle and square) are actually a little too close together, so pushing two at the same time by accident might be a common occurrence.But due to subconscious adaption , this frequency will become less often.One thing that is particularly annoying though is that the options/pause button is way to close to the Square and triangle button.Which will cause you have the odd accidental pause/ bringing up the menu incidents during gameplay , especially in a frantic heat of the moment, high pressure gaming kind of situation. Something you definitely don't want , so that's quite a heavy strike for this controller.Accidentally hitting the pause button during gameplay , is something I have rarely ever done in my many years of gaming. It happened a few times while playing on this controller in a short space of 3 months. Funny thing is it probably happened more in those 3 months of owning this controller than over two decades of me gaming.That's actually saying a lot , so one might say the button placement of this controller is a little too overcrowded.Although yet again , it's probably another thing that can be subconsciously overcome.- Shoulder buttons (L1/R1) might be too big for some.Strange design choice is having some really chunky P1/L2 shoulder buttons.Actually not really a positive or negative point really , just a strange one.They nice and clicky. Maybe even the loudest button on the controller though.One of my controllers even has an additional faint hollow spring sound when I press it. (Although you won't hear it during gameplay , only in a quiet room)The shoulder buttons are kinda big and ugly looking to be honest.Dualshock 4 Shoulder buttons are still nicer to press in my opinion though.- Bright LED at the front of the controller.Can be a little annoying for some , although I don't notice it because I'm too busy looking at the screen instead most of the time. (Which you should be doing too)-------------------------------------------------------------Summary:In the end despite all these short coming , I still find myself coming back to using the controller and enjoying it.Maybe I subconsciously just want to get my money's worth... lol ...I do know though that many 3rd party controllers within this price range are very poor quality.But I think this one is considered one of the better ones though.Only if you can adapt to it's shape and size in a way to make it comfortable to hold.Then train yourself to be weary of all the short comings of the controller.But I definitely wouldn't call it a rubbish controller , especially at that price.Maybe I dare class it as average ? ( Although I myself like it way more than average)Basically the price you pay of £25 , is the compromise that you're going to have to train yourself to adapt to it.But you might want to skip it if you have large hands , because I can't speak for that , if you'll be able to adapt to it as well as I did.The only question left for me is the lifespan.I'm generally not rough on my controllers , so I am curious how long this model of controller will last me.Also another option is you could also use it as a spare controller , for your less intensive / less precise games , to give your more expensive Dualshock 4 controller a break now and again , so in turn it's lifespan will increase. (And save your Dualshock for your more important games)

12.1.2020

I bought two of these Nacon Compact Controllers last year, the translucent one with LED lights for using on PC and this Solid Black one for using on my PS4. I have had my PS4 since launch, the Official Wireless Controller was starting to show it's age by not holding much charge. So got this Wired Controller to replace it. First much cheaper then an Official Controller, however when I plugged it in it worked perfectly so couldn't tell it was a 3rd Party Licensed Controller. I did immediately notice this controller is physically smaller and lighter then the Dualshock 4, not a problem for me as I admit to having tiny hands,

30.7.2018

I just got the controller delivered and tested it right away. I used it to play COD, Monster Hunter World and FIFA 18 on my Fat PS4. The built quality is really good better than the the original DS4 and all buttons worked really good. While playing COD i dint have any issues. But the R1 and L1 buttons are placed in such a position where a casual click on those buttons will do little or nothing , u need to apply more pressure to make them work and u should click in the middle of R1L1 buttons. And the same thing happened with MHW while i tried to sprint with R1 button sometimes the character sprints and stops and then sprints and this repeats forever.

31.5.2020

This is hands down one of the best wired controllers I have used for the PS4 systemPersonally I am not a fan of wireless controller because of having to constantly charge them up after long gaming sessionsAfter been doubtful about buying a corded controller....I would now ever buy a wireless one..I love this range of controller so much that now have a collection of red blue black and orangeThe matte black rubbery plastic feel of the back of the controller is great.....feels great on the hands.....also the sticks both have a dip into it....so your thumbs don't slip off....(something Sony should have thought about units fourth installment of the dual shock)Also the touch button is very kool and

23.6.2019

Actually really pleased with this controller. My last wired controller broke so I picked this replacement after a decent review on YouTube.When you first pick this controller up I must admit it felt weird. The sizing is off compared to usual controllers. The face buttons are massive, the options and share buttons are tiny, the L and R stick small, the L and R triggers are heavy and have quite a small gap from the shoulder buttons, finally the handles are really small, only my middle two fingers holding it in place while my pinky just sits there.But after about two gaming sessions I finally understand what makes this gamepad so amazing. The sticks are small yet really precise,

10.6.2018

I purchased this controller after having problems with a Razer Raiju unit earlier, and having very bad (i.e. being completely ignored) customer service from them. Despite being a great controller, it suffered from a glitch unique to a game I play, insofar as the R2 trigger function always activates while using the Left stick to reverse. This controller has all the responsiveness of the Raiju, without the hassle- and despite being fractionally smaller (It is a compact, after all!) it was really easy to get used to and gameplay was as fast and responsive as ever, without any of the malfunctions I experienced with the Razer unit. Not only this, but the cable is hard-wired to the controller,

22.11.2018

I just received this product and was pleasantly surprised with the quality. The controller is a similiar size to the an official PS4 controller. The buttons are a little chunkier and closer together but work just as fast. The R1/L1 buttons have more of a 'clicking' action rather that a 'smooth' pressed action like a standard PS4 controller and the triggers are more straight than curved so it'll take some time to get used to. I personally don't mind these differences and it'd be more personal preference to whether you like it or not.The analogs are a lot smaller and feel like they have a fuller range of movement for shooter games. Although when the analogs are clicked,

28.4.2020

This is hands down the best wired controller and as Sony won't allow us to change batteries the old ones are now wasting away. I bought 2 others before I got this and both dreadful quality I should review them and help people avoid it.However on this product I was back playing bloodborne and it was perfect, great reaction time and no bad loose buttons it's all nice and tight fitting components. I work in IT so can repair my old controllers but I wanted something wired for the family, this is ideal and as I said I actually use this and have now bought a second controller for 2 player games.100% recommended and child proof,

8.2.2020

I bought this to play emulator games on my PC without having to deal with the PS4 controller's awful Micro USB port, which wiggled around in there and kept disconnecting, this was a great fix, and it also feels pretty high quality and compact.As for the oddities I mentioned in the title, this controller doesn't have an integrated speaker unlike the PS4 controller,Very few PS4 games use that speaker, and even if they do, you can just wear headphones and it will play the controller's sound in your headphones.The other oddity is that it shows up as a PS3 controller on steam big picture, and from what I understand that might mean you can't use the touchpad as the mousepad,

3.8.2020

Absolute value for money, I'll get the bad point out if the way, the square button, is a little too close to the touchpad button, there, that's the only negative, I have fat fingers.This thing for being so cheap, is so well built, soft to touch plastic, buttons are sturdy and precise, shoulder buttons are the same, ps button the same as well.It looks bulky buy actually feels better than an original controller for me personally.Yes it's wired, but the wire is 3 meters long, and so it feels wireless anyway, so good it is that we have bought another as a spare, and it being an official licensed product, will get up dates for some time to come,

23.5.2020

I bought this as my originals left stick began to mess up. During the first few days it took a while to adapt too playing COD etc. as the L1 and R1 buttons are angled unlike the originals so take a bit of getting used too. I still find the R1 button fails in COD throwing grenades, molitovs etc. but its probably just me! The cable is huge, well enough for most living rooms/bedrooms but for me is tied up in a ball as I don't need it but the annoying charging of the pad is now gone! I need a way to figure out how to turn on the PS4 using the pad so HMU if you know but its no biggy! Excellent value for money but NOT for those with larger hands as the sticks and buttons are smaller than the original

3.2.2020

Excellent value for money. Soft grippy rubberised plastic makes the controller comfortable to hold and easy to grip if your hands start sweating. The buttons are resposive and very clicky. The triggers are very smooth and much larger than standard dualshock 4 controller. They are also a bit heavier than the dualshock controller which can take a while to get used to. Long durable cable, which would have been nice to have seen a braided cable, but for the money, not surprising. I would recommend this to anyone needing an extra controller and doesn't want to spend too much. This also works much better with a pc then a standard dualshock 4 controller does.

29.7.2020

Got my controller for £25 and It's great for the money. I'm using it to play FPS games. Low price convince me to glue in DIY trigger stoppers, which I was little bit reluctant to do on original PS4 controller that cost 2x as much. The only con/negative I found so far is that analog sticks. There is this minimal different feel between horizontal/vertical and more angled one (like going top left) movement that I didn't noticed so much in DS4. Also, you cannot use it with attachments like KontrolFreaks because the analog stick "head" is smaller.If you're looking for cheap wired controller this is definitely good choice!

22.2.2019

Excellent controller, works and feels like the official Sony ps4 controller. The buttons feel very similar to the original ps4 controller, even the directional-pad. Was very suprised when I found out the touch-pad on the controller is identical to the official controller, and can be used as a mouse/cursor. My only complaint is that I've been told my audio output is very quite and echos when using a Mic and talking with friends, so others struggle to hear. Although, this was sorted by adjusting microphone sensitivity (echo still remains)

14.8.2020

on the face of it, it looks about the same size as sonys controller but it holds smaller in the hand, the xbox style shoulder buttons are chunky and easy to reach, the d-pad is nicer than sonys, input buttons are slightly bigger than sonys, the analogue sticks are a little smaller theyve a nicer movement though, also the rumble is stronger.if you have shovels for hands you will be disappointed by this though just because of how it wears in the handits also just plug and play on pc no driver or messing about with ds4windows or anything

Nacon Wired Compact Controller - Reviews

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