Hyperkin Competitor Xbox and PC Controller Review – Sensing A Duel

Listen, I cognize what it looks like, and I cognize that Hyperkin knows what it looks similar – the Competitor is consecutive up an imitation of the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller. But it's not an alternate for the PS5, and alternatively an Xbox and PC controller that brings the PlayStation's signature symmetrical instrumentality layout on with a fewer worthwhile features connected the side. Hall Effect sticks and triggers mightiness beryllium what gully you to it, yet the smaller things similar elemental and responsive backmost buttons and bouncy D-pad are what assistance it basal out. Once you get past its aesthetic gimmick, you'll find a controller that doesn't needfully interruption caller ground, but gets the occupation done good each the same.

Hyperkin Competitor – Design and Features

Looking past the two-tone DualSense colour strategy (it is besides disposable successful all-black), the Hyperkin Competitor is simply a smartly designed controller. Starting with the analog sticks, the anti-friction rings and metallic stems assistance them glide on the afloat scope of question and the default instrumentality caps are astir identical to the DualSense's successful presumption of texture and concave depth. However, the sticks themselves don't person the aforesaid weightiness arsenic either consoles' gamepads, giving the Competitor a somewhat toyish consciousness adjacent if it performs well. The symmetrical sticks volition beryllium deed oregon miss depending connected your preference, but arsenic idiosyncratic who's played connected each consoles for decades astatine this point, I tin spell either mode – some person their merits and instrumentality nary clip for maine to set to.

The look buttons are oddly small, and portion they are rather responsive and springy for accelerated fastener mashing, their spacing is different 1 of those plan decisions that isn't needfully bad, but feels a spot awkward owed to a tiny summation successful question region for my thumb. The D-pad works arsenic a unified rotational portion with inward facing arrows, conscionable similar the DualSense, but I volition accidental that the Competitor has it bushed with a bouncier feel. For bushed games and warring games, I similar that it's not squishy, which would tyre retired my thumb faster, and compared to the eight-way D-pad connected the Xbox controller, it's a demonstrable improvement.

Above each else, I truly bask utilizing the backmost paddles since they're elemental and effective. They beryllium on the grips wherever your mediate fingers remainder and you tin consciousness them by their tiny bump. It doesn't instrumentality overmuch effort to property them truthful they're a earthy hold of the wide layout, and they're casual to programme with the mapping fastener down the controller. Each 1 has a power that locks them successful spot if you don't privation to usage them oregon if you person a steadfast grip and privation to debar accidentally hitting them.

Don't mistake it for trying to bash what the DualSense does, though. The Competitor isn't meant to beryllium a blase portion of tech, truthful you're not getting elaborate rumble feedback oregon adaptive triggers (it's an Xbox/PC gamepad aft all). That said, the Hall Effect triggers are exceptionally smooth, and the magnetic absorption helps you consistently use the magnitude of unit you privation – that's utile for racing games wherever the analog trigger input matters. The enarthrosis buttons besides intimately lucifer the DualSense's, but they're clicky similar the Xbox controller.

You'll find each the different staples of an Xbox gamepad specified arsenic the Menu, Share, and View buttons (which are smaller and hardly protrude, making them harder to use) and the Home X fastener close astatine the center. There's besides a 3.5mm analog input for headphones and a mic mute toggle (which is adopted from the DualSense). In the package, you get a agelong 10-foot USB cablegram to link the controller and swappable thumbsticks successful lawsuit you similar a much pronounced concave dip connected your sticks.

Hyperkin Competitor – Gaming and Performance

Solely comparing the Competitor to the DualSense isn't precisely conducive to determining if it's a worthy alternate to the regular Xbox controller oregon your go-to PC gamepad. So, I enactment it done its paces by playing a clump of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 multiplayer, Hades II, and Hollow Knight: Silksong – and erstwhile it comes to performance, the Competitor surely holds its extremity of the bargain.

The astir important portion for playing a shooter connected a controller lies successful the smoothness of the analog sticks. Lining up precise shots oregon rapidly flicking successful heated situations each felt close with the Competitor successful the fistful of rounds of Deathmatch and Domination I played successful Black Ops 6, and that's a recognition to however it fto maine enactment nimble with their airy resistance. Listen, I mostly play Hardcore connected Stakeout (low time-to-kill and a tiny map) truthful I request to determination fast, but besides request due power to beryllium capable to onshore shots from crossed the map's hallways. Mapping leap and reload to the backmost buttons kept maine agile arsenic good since they're airy to the interaction and casual to deed successful a moment's notice.

As bully arsenic the basal Xbox controller is, playing Silksong with its D-pad is simply a pain. Sure, it's tactile, but it's overly clicky and crisp astir the edges successful a mode that digs into my thumb aft hours of playing. Since the Competitor mimics the DualSense D-pad, you get that softer interaction without losing precision, and its flimsy bounce makes platforming and nonstop directional moves little of a chore arsenic it tin beryllium with different controllers. When it comes to Hades II, I'm conscionable investigating for bully fastener consciousness and accelerated tapping, which worked arsenic good arsenic I could inquire from a budget-level gamepad.

The Competitor is capable to enactment airy since it doesn't request a artillery oregon transportation blase features. So, if you're looking for density successful your controller, this doesn't needfully person that. It feels a spot hollow and there's a flimsy toyish consciousness to the full thing, adjacent though it performs incredibly well. However, it is built solidly – the controller doesn't creak oregon consciousness similar it has parts that tin loosen oregon travel undone, avoiding allegations of being cheap. Unfortunately, it's a crowded controller marketplace and it being wired-only doesn't bash it favors successful presumption of versatility, adjacent if it keeps outgo comparatively down.