Advertisement · 728×90 Leaderboard
Home › Gaming › Game Controllers

The 10 Best Game Controllers as of June 2026

Updated 18 June 2026 · Reviewed by the Pickarank team · Prices in GBP, subject to change

We compared the best game controllers you can buy in 2026, scoring each out of 10 on performance, value, build quality and features. Here are the ten worth your money — with an at-a-glance table and the current best prices.

Disclosure: Pickarank is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn funds from qualifying purchases — buying products through our links won't cost you anything extra, but it will help us maintain and improve our website. Thank you for your support!

Our top picks at a glance

Top pick

Xbox Elite Series 2

9.1Best premium
Check price on Amazon ≈ £160
Best value

8BitDo Ultimate

8.8Best value pro
Check price on Amazon ≈ £60
Also great

Sony DualSense Edge

9.0Best for PS5
Check price on Amazon ≈ £200

Prices were correct at the time of writing and change often — tap through for today's price on Amazon.

How we ranked these game controllers

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

  • Performance (35%) — how well each controller does its core job.
  • Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
  • Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
  • Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

At a glance: top 10 compared

#Game ControllersScoreBest forPlatformApprox priceAmazon links
1Xbox Elite Series 29.1Best premiumXbox/PC£160View Price
2Sony DualSense Edge9.0Best for PS5PS5/PC£200View Price
38BitDo Ultimate8.8Best value proPC/Switch£60View Price
4Sony DualSense8.7Best standard PS5PS5/PC£60View Price
5Xbox Wireless Controller8.6Best all-roundXbox/PC£55View Price
6Nintendo Switch Pro Controller8.5Best for SwitchSwitch/PC£60View Price
78BitDo Pro 28.5Best retroPC/Switch£45View Price
8GameSir G7 SE8.5Best wired valueXbox/PC£45View Price
9Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra8.4Best with screenXbox/PC£130View Price
10PowerA Fusion Pro 48.2Best budget proXbox/PC£70View Price
Advertisement · 970×250 Billboard

The full ranking

1
Best premium

Xbox Elite Series 2

9.1Our number one pick.

The Elite Series 2 is the premium controller to beat, with swappable sticks and paddles, adjustable triggers and a superb build that works across Xbox and PC. It is expensive and earlier units had reliability questions, but the customisation and feel are excellent.

Build: 9.0Features: 9.4Comfort: 9.2Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Highly customisable
  • Premium feel
  • Swappable components
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Past reliability concerns
Check price on Amazon≈ £160
2
Best for PS5

Sony DualSense Edge

9.0A superb runner-up.

The DualSense Edge is the pro choice for PS5, adding back buttons, swappable stick modules and remappable profiles to Sony's excellent haptics. It is very pricey and battery life is short, but for competitive PS5 play it is the best pad.

Build: 9.0Features: 9.2Comfort: 9.0Value: 8.0
Pros
  • Pro features for PS5
  • Excellent haptics and triggers
  • Swappable stick modules
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Short battery life
Check price on Amazon≈ £200
3
Best value pro

8BitDo Ultimate

8.8Rounds out our top three.

The 8BitDo Ultimate offers Hall-effect sticks (no drift), back buttons and a charging dock for a fraction of pro-controller prices, brilliant for PC and Switch. It is not officially for PlayStation or Xbox, but for the money it is outstanding.

Build: 8.6Features: 9.0Comfort: 8.6Value: 9.4
Pros
  • Drift-free Hall-effect sticks
  • Back buttons and dock
  • Superb value
Cons
  • No Xbox or PlayStation support
  • Small for big hands
Check price on Amazon≈ £60
Advertisement · In-content 728×250
4
Best standard PS5

Sony DualSense

8.7A standout in the upper half.

The standard DualSense is one of the best controllers ever for immersion, with adaptive triggers and haptics that genuinely add to PS5 games, and it works well on PC too. Battery life is its main weakness.

Build: 8.6Features: 9.0Comfort: 9.0Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Brilliant adaptive triggers
  • Immersive haptics
  • Comfortable
Cons
  • Short battery life
  • Sticks can drift over time
Check price on Amazon≈ £60
5
Best all-round

Xbox Wireless Controller

8.6A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The standard Xbox pad is the most versatile all-rounder, comfortable, reliable and compatible with Xbox, PC and mobile, with swappable AA or rechargeable batteries. It lacks back buttons and rumble is basic next to the DualSense, but it is a superb default.

Build: 8.6Features: 8.4Comfort: 9.2Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Comfortable and reliable
  • Works everywhere
  • Flexible battery options
Cons
  • No back buttons
  • Basic rumble; battery extra
Check price on Amazon≈ £55
6
Best for Switch

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

8.5Great value in the middle of the pack.

The Switch Pro Controller is the must-have upgrade for serious Switch players, with a comfortable grip, a proper d-pad and excellent battery life. It is pricey and the sticks can drift, but it transforms Switch play.

Build: 8.6Features: 8.2Comfort: 9.0Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Comfortable grip
  • Great battery life
  • Proper d-pad
Cons
  • Pricey
  • Stick drift risk
Check price on Amazon≈ £60
7
Best retro

8BitDo Pro 2

8.5A dependable pick if the price is right.

The Pro 2 is a feature-packed retro-styled pad with back buttons and deep customisation for PC, Switch and mobile at a low price. It is not for Xbox or PlayStation, and the d-pad-forward layout suits 2D games best, but it is great value.

Build: 8.4Features: 8.8Comfort: 8.4Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Lots of features for the price
  • Great d-pad for retro games
  • Customisable
Cons
  • No Xbox or PlayStation
  • Smaller grips
Check price on Amazon≈ £45
Advertisement · In-content 728×250
8
Best wired value

GameSir G7 SE

8.5Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

The G7 SE is the value wired pick for Xbox and PC, with drift-free Hall-effect sticks and a comfortable design at a bargain price. It is wired-only, but for reliable, affordable play it punches well above its price.

Build: 8.4Features: 8.4Comfort: 8.6Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Drift-free Hall-effect sticks
  • Officially Xbox-compatible
  • Great value
Cons
  • Wired only
  • Plain design
Check price on Amazon≈ £45
9
Best with screen

Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra

8.4A budget-friendly option worth a look.

The Stealth Ultra packs a built-in display for tweaking settings on the fly, plus back buttons and Hall-effect triggers, a feature-rich pad for Xbox and PC. The screen is a bit gimmicky and it is pricey, but it is well made and capable.

Build: 8.6Features: 9.0Comfort: 8.6Value: 8.0
Pros
  • Built-in control screen
  • Back buttons and Hall triggers
  • Solid build
Cons
  • Screen feels gimmicky
  • Pricey
Check price on Amazon≈ £130
10
Best budget pro

PowerA Fusion Pro 4

8.2Rounds out our top ten.

The Fusion Pro 4 is the budget pro-style pad, with back paddles, swappable sticks and a carry case for Xbox and PC at a fraction of Elite money. It is wired and the build is less premium, but it is excellent value for pro features.

Build: 8.0Features: 8.6Comfort: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Pro features for less
  • Swappable components
  • Includes a case
Cons
  • Wired only
  • Less premium feel
Check price on Amazon≈ £70
Advertisement · 728×90 Leaderboard

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the game controllers in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Xbox Elite Series 2, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Sony DualSense Edge and 8BitDo Ultimate are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best game controllers without overthinking it, the Xbox Elite Series 2 is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £160

⚖️ Build your own comparison

Add up to 10 products and compare them side by side. Type in any column's search box to find a product from this category or anywhere on Pickarank, then drag the ⠿ handle to reorder columns. The table starts empty — search and pick a product in each column to fill it in.

⚖️ To compare tool