The Competitor is a no-nonsense symmetrical Xbox controller that barely puts
a foot wrong
Date:
Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000
Description:
The Competitor might not be stacked to the gills with features, but theres much to love in its straightforward, no-nonsense approach.
FULL STORY ======================================================================The Competitor: one-minute review
The Competitor is an Xbox and PC-compatible controller from manufacturer Hyperkin that adopts a DualSense-like appearance and symmetrical thumbstick layout. While it does feature niceties like drift-resistant Hall effect
sticks and triggers, Ive found it to be a blissfully simple controller.
The Competitor has no fancy RGB lighting, no gyro sensors, no trigger locks, no wireless connectivity options, and no supporting apps or software. Its
also impressively cheap, has a nice design, and a great idea or two of its own. Its straightforward nature serves it well, and its one reason why its
one of the best Xbox controllers Ive tested in quite a while.
Some of my favorite controllers in recent years have been the likes of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and GameSir Tarantula Pro - both gamepads that are stuffed with desirable features that definitely make their price tags trend upward. The Competitors stripped-back, simplistic nature is actually quite refreshing in comparison, and is a staunch reminder that controllers dont
need to be a smorgasbord to remain appealing in the contemporary market.
There are some slight missteps. Ive never been a fan of the PlayStation-style D-pad adopted here, the Menu and Share buttons are rather awkwardly-placed, and - while this is certainly personal preference and not indicative of The Competitors quality - it lacks wireless connectivity. Though at its
relatively low price point, its easy to forgive these shortcomings. (Image credit: Future) The Competitor review: price and availability List price: $49.99 / 39.99 (around AU$74.95) Available from most major retailers in the
US and UK Compares in price to similarly cheap controllers like the GameSir Kaleid
You can get The Competitor today for $49.99 / 39.99 (around AU$74.95), making it one of the cheaper Xbox and PC controllers thats actually worth recommending. Readily available at Amazon in the US and the UK, youll also likely find it at your local retailers of choice, including Best Buy in the
US and Argos in the UK.
The cheaper Xbox controller spectrum has gotten broader in recent years, with pads like the GameSir Kaleid ($49.99 / 59.99) and 8BitDo Pro 2 ($44.99 / 39.99) also coming in at similar price points. The Competitor, rather fittingly, has some tough competition in the space, then, but Id definitely say its comparable in quality to those aforementioned pads. The Competitor review: Specs
Price
$49.99 / 39.99 (around AU$74.95)
Weight
7.1oz / 200g
Dimensions
6.2 x 5.0 x 2.5in / 158 x 127 x 64mm
Compatibility
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Connection type
Wired (USB-C)
Battery life
N/A (Image credit: Future) The Competitor review: design and features
The Competitor differs from most Xbox controllers in its symmetrical thumbstick layout and design thats practically identical to that of the DualSense Wireless Controller . Youll find the same boomerang-esque shape here, with similarly designed D-pad and face buttons.
I wouldnt say build quality is luxurious, certainly not up to the DualSense standard, but it does the job at its price point. That is to be expected, though, given the lower price. Otherwise, nothing about the controller
screams cut corners or lazy design; its an extremely tight ship. Usually,
youd expect one or two blemishes to stand out on budget-friendly controllers.
But my only issues, really, are the slightly awkward placement of the central Menu and Share buttons, as well as the spongy-feeling PlayStation-style
d-pad. However, the latter comes down to personal preference more than anything else.
The color scheme of The Competitor is quite pleasing, too. It sports a black and white aesthetic in a sort of X pattern across the front of the pad. The face buttons and d-pad have a translucent, glossy finish that feels quite
nice against your thumbs, too. (Image credit: Future) The Competitor review: Performance
The Competitor is a strictly wired controller. However, thats not strange at its relatively low price point, so easy to forgive. That said, if youd prefer a wireless model, you may be better off checking out similarly priced
gamepads like the Xbox Wireless Controller or 8BitDo Pro 2.
What isnt a guarantee for cheap controllers is the inclusion of drift-resisting Hall effect thumbsticks, but they are here on The Competitor. The sticks themselves feel great, too, with solid responsiveness and a rugged textured finish around the edges.
The Competitor features two remappable buttons on the rear of the controller. And these are easy enough to customize by holding the mapping button on the back, in conjunction with one of these rear buttons and one of the main ones on the front.
These remappable buttons are assigned by default, which I typically find a touch annoying. However, this is alleviated by a handy feature you dont see
on all that many controllers. There are lock switches for both remappable buttons, which can prevent them from being pressed in entirely. Its arguably
a bit of a workaround to keep them unassigned, but I welcome the ability to manually enable or disable them in such a way. (Image credit: Future) Should
I buy The Competitor? Buy it if...
You want an affordable, effective controller
The Competitor simply does what it says on the tin (or, um, the cardboard
box, I suppose). Its a straightforward gamepad with no obvious flaws, available at a fittingly competitive price point.
Youre looking for a drift-beating option with light features
Hall effect sticks and two remappable buttons are present here. Its on the lighter side in terms of features, but its really all a controller at this price needs to stand out. Don't buy it if...
You want a more robust D-pad
Some game genres, like fighting games and platformers, benefit from a more well-rounded d-pad than the one on The Competitor. I actually love the circular design of the Xbox Wireless Controller's d-pad, and would recommend it over The Competitor if that's something that will be important to you.
Youre on PS5
The Competitor isnt compatible with PlayStation hardware, despite the DualSense-looking design. Consider checking out our best PS5 controllers
guide if youre shopping for a Sony gamepad instead. The Competitor review: Also consider
If The Competitor isnt quite competitive enough for you, here are a couple other options very much worthy of consideration.
The Competitor
Xbox Wireless Controller
GameSir Super Nova
Price
$49.99 / 39.99 (around AU$74.95)
$59.99 / 54.99 / AU$74
$44.99 / 49.99 / AU$89
Weight
7.1oz / 200g
8.5oz / 241g
9.3oz / 263g
Dimensions
6.2 x 5.0 x 2.5in / 158 x 127 x 64mm
5.9 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 150 x 105 x 60mm
6.1 x 4.2 x 2.3in / 156 x 106 x 59mm
Compatibility
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
PC, Switch, Switch 2
Connection type
Wired (USB-C)
Wireless (Xbox), Wired (USB-C)
Wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz USB dongle), Wired (USB-C)
Battery life
N/A
Varies, around 20-40 hours
15 hours
Xbox Wireless Controller
Always an incredibly solid choice, the official Xbox Wireless Controller isnt big on bonus features, but it offers incredible reliability and is available in countless color options these days.
Read our full Xbox Wireless Controller review
GameSir Super Nova
While losing Xbox compatibility, this is a fantastic and affordable wireless controller for PC and the Switch family of consoles. Id go for this one if youre after a PC controller and interested in a budget-friendly wireless option. Oh, it comes with a charging dock and some lovely color options, too.
Read our full GameSir Super Nova review How I tested The Competitor Tested for one week Primarily tested on PC Played a wide range of games
I tested The Competitor over the course of about a week, putting the wired wonder through its paces primarily on a gaming PC with my Steam library. All my go-to games were present here, including Final Fantasy 14 Online, Tekken 8 , Elden Ring Nightreign , and Tokyo Xtreme Racer.
Given the shape and feel of the controller, I tried to compare the experience of playing with The Competitor to that of the DualSense Wireless Controller. Obviously, the PlayStation controller is more feature-rich, with bespoke haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, as well as its touchpad. Build quality isnt quite as strong with The Competitor, in comparison, but its certainly
not miles off, given the price.
First reviewed December 2025
Read more about how we test
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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/gaming/hyperkin-the-competitor-review
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