After a huge case study of 100+hrs with each controller, I've finally concluded...

All three of them are good. :)

I keep swapping them out and it takes a bit getting used to one from the other but they're all very good and comfortable.

The analog stick placement of the PS4 controller doesn't bother me one bit but the battery life could be better. The Switch is also very good but I feel the triggers aren't quite as responsive as the DS4 but the battery life is fantastic. Xbox One/Xbox 360 are also very good and feel closer to the Switch but the triggers and shoulder buttons are like a mix of both.

In conclusion: All do their job and are pretty solid.

The XB1 controller is still my favourite, followed by the Switch Pro controller. They're both waaaaay more comfortable for me than the DS4.

Although the DS4 is easily the best controller PS has ever made. It's infinitely better than the old DS controllers.

My personal take and in this order:

1. Xbox Elite Controller-best all-around controller I use on my PC everyday when KB/M is not needed and fits well in the palm of my hands. Best controller MS has ever put out.
2. DS4-best use for playing any fighting games and it's okay for the most parts, but not good enough to be my personal to go controller.
3. Nintendo Pro-so much better then joy-cons and Nintendo Pro is more in line with Xbox One in terms of holding in the palms of my hands.

Yeah I use a ds4 on my pc and pro but microsoft have the best controllers easily in the last two gens. Ignore the original xbox controller mind you could literally beat a man to death with that thing.

Same

The Xbox One controller is my favourite. The thing has a nice solid feel to it, the way it’s contoured is very comfortable, and I find the asymmetrical layout for the analog sticks to feel more comfortable to use as well. I’d probably give the Switch joycons the slight edge over the DS4. They are a bit smallish but have a nice solid feel to them and the asymmetrical layout of the analog sticks help out as well.

I can't forgive the DS4's batter life. Sony should have at least bundled their system with a longer charge cord.

I loved x1 button layout but I grow up with DS symbols so I did the next best thing which is using the Nacon asymetric controller on ps4. Its really good.

Steam Controller is secretly the best controller.

@getyeryayasout: Ewww...gross.

Haven't tried the Xbox One controller yet, so my order goes:

1. Switch Pro controller. Love the shape and buttons. Great battery life. Could have a better D-pad.

2. Xbox 360 controller. All around good. A bit plastic feeling and the D-pad is horrible.

3. DS4. Analog stick placement is wrong. Got to bend my thumb down to the left one, which sucks, since that's where you need to have your thumb all the time. Awful battery life and a huge annoying light.

I'd rank them...

1. Switch Pro - Excellent battery life, great feel, excellent layout.

2. X360 - Great all-rounder.

3. Steam Controller - Surprisingly great range of control options, but with a cheap plastic-y feel.

4. PS4 controller - Poor battery life, poor analogue stick layout. I actually find it uncomfortable to use over long periods of play.

@SOedipus: The Switch controllers have worse battery life.

Switch Pro has the best button quality/feel and d-pad. The only things I don't like is the lack of official PC support and triggers being digital a.o.t. analogue. It feels more expensive and sturdy than the other controllers.

I bought an 8bitdo sn30 pro + for my arcade because some people called it the best controller ever, and even that controller feels worse than the Switch Pro. Including its d-pad. So I'm going to get another Switch Pro controller for my arcade games.

X1 Elite is 1 million times better than all. Although my left thumb does ache eventually because of the layout, DS4 is better in that respect.

1) 360

2) PS4

3) Xbox one

Out of the ones I've used, I prefer the DS4. But in all reality they're all really good controllers this gen, minus the joy cons, god I can't stand them.

@SOedipus: Is there any way to turn off the unnecessary light bar on the back of the controller? That might prolong battery life, I guess.

KB/M FTW.

I never had an issue with the default controller‘s battery life.

I don’t know if you can now. I haven’t played my PS4 in awhile and I am not aware if that feature exists. But you can turn the brightness down, which I have.

Dont rank x360 amd x1 the same. X360 controller is way better minus the horrible d pad. Its a bit improved on the x1, but still not as good as ds/ds4 and switch pro.

Still they're all good. Prefer ds here since it has been around the longest. Only downside is the battery life. Also symmetrical sticks is preferred here

I agree. The d-pad is horrible. Don't know how it passed the testing phase on the Xbox 360. Started playing HAWX 2 and you need to scroll through weapons or features pretty quickly, its not game breakingly bad, but it adds challenge where there didn't need to be any.

I will say it is so bad though that it rendered many d-pad games useless on the Xbox 360 until you got a Street Fighter 4 pad which is a requirement to play those game pretty much.

Yeah you can come to use any pad but tbh those elite XB1 pads take some beating.

Pretty much what I think, too.

This is how I always see it

• Xbox One
• Nintendo Pro/Joycons
• DS3/4

1. Xbox One - It's by far the best controller of the last 2 generations.

2. Switch - The controller design seems influenced by the Xbox's design. It's a good controller but not as great as the OG.

3. PS4 - a very distant third. The battery life is trash, Not a fan of the design.

Nice! I have been trying to find the perfect controller as well.

• Xbox One - I don't like the offset sticks. D-Pad is hot garbage. Battery largely depends on your solution (AA, rechargeable options can be hit or miss)
• Switch Pro - Offset sticks. D-Pad ain't great. USB-C is friggin' awesome.
• PS4 - Best layout IMO. Decent d-pad. Horrible battery life due to poor design choices.

I just got one of 8BitDo's new SN30 Pro+ controllers.

Only had it for a few days but so far I really like it. It has a similar layout to PS4. It's got USB-C!!!!. Battery life seems good, but I need to spend some more time with it to be sure. It does have a battery solution similar to the X1, but it comes with a rechargeable pack instead of AAs.

I've only used PS4 and Xbox controllers and I think the PS4 is more comfortable to use but the Xbox One is much better made it's more durable and I have rechargeable packs so battery life lasts much longer too.

Like you said though they're both very good.

1. Xbox Elite
2. Xbox One
3. Switch Pro
4. PS4
5. Switch Joycon

My opinion, naturally.

DS4 is my personal favorite.

XB1 .. haven't had enough time with to make full opinion on.

Switch - joycon's hd rumble is great, but I hate the 10 hour battery life, it's beyond crap

I don't have a pro controller for switch, I bought an 8bitdo adapter which lets me use my ds4 on switch, pc, ps classic, android, etc.. So If I do dock my switch I can control it with ds4.

Don't fall for that Daily's slapstick Juub.

Its just one person's opinion no matter who posts it even you.

Does this "study" use the same games across all platforms playing for the same amount of time etc, is there any evidence to back up the OP's claim?

No, well then its just an opinion piece, and you want to accuse me of slapstick, this thread is slapstick.

Yes to all of those.

Data will come at a future date.

Riiiiiiiiight.

I have been using PS controllers sense the PS1 and still find them horrible to this day.

Yeah, I cant quite put my finger on it. Maybe size. something about the controller, throws me off. i can adapt to it, but the layout and the size just give me trouble

@Elaisse: But yet you keep using them and playing games with them, hmmmmmmm...

I love my Switch, but I hate the joy cons. I own two pairs and both have issues with wireless connectivity, and they’re not as responsive as they could be. Also one pair had already broken after normal use.

They just seem very cheap.

I agree with this. They are all good though. The Elite Controller is just amazing and I can't wait to get the new one.