2025 is the year of the Hall Effect (HE) gamepad, with pretty much every new model sporting this new tech in its sticks or triggers, promising an end to stick drift in favour of longer-lasting, more precise controls. Despite that convergence around a new standard, it’s also a year for innovation in terms of design, with tried-and-tested layouts sitting alongside some interesting experimental redesigns and more daring colourways.
To show off the state of the current controller market, we’ve written reviews for 10 recent releases, from major players like Scuf, Thrustmaster and Turtle Beach to emerging names like GameSir, HexGaming and Nyxi. Eight come with Hall Effect sticks, one comes with next-gen TMR sticks and just one – a budget Nintendo offering – features traditional potentiometer-based controls.
The vast majority are PC controllers, but most also work on at least one other platform – including one PS5 option, a small assortment of Xbox models and a fair few that add on Switch and/or mobile support. Maybe your next gamepad lurks within this round-up – you’d better read it to find out!
To see this content please enable targeting cookies. HexGaming Phantom Pro Hall Effect Explorer Edition In short: Upgraded PS5 DualSense controller with a transparent body and extra featuresSpecs: 2.4GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, Wired, PC/Switch/Mobile, 330g, 160x100x60mmBuy: Amazon UK, Amazon US, HexGears Store
The HexGaming Phantom Pro is a powerful but expensive upgraded DualSense controller, offering PS5 and PC compatibility, button remapping, adjustable triggers and stick swaps. We’ve tested upgraded DualSense models from the likes of Scuf and MegaModz, which come with similarly steep price tags but add some worthwhile options unserved in the PS5 market outside of Sony’s (admittedly less expensive) DualSense Edge, which Tom liked back in 2023.