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Steam Controller

erek

erek

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View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfr4QN1Hvhs

"Valve Steam Controller Review | Latency Benchmarks, Battery Life, Repairability​

The Valve Steam Controller has arrived. We're testing it for latency performance, wireless and bluetooth range and response, battery life, charge time, and more. Our Steam Controller (2026) review also includes an explanation for TMR thumbsticks (tunnel magnetoresistance analog sticks) with a custom 3D animation that we made, hopefully making it easier to understand how TMR sticks work. Our tear-down of the Valve Steam Controller will post shortly after this video, but we found its assembly and ease of access to be a major positive."

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This video from Gamers Nexus provides a comprehensive review of the new Valve Steam Controller (2026), focusing on technical performance, hardware design, and usability.

Key Highlights:​

  • TMR Thumbsticks: The controller features Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) analog sticks, which offer a contact-free design meant to outperform traditional potentiometers and Hall effect sensors in durability and precision (0:02:42 - 0:08:14).
  • Latency Testing: Using a custom-soldered setup, the team measured impressively low input latency (0:08:15). Wireless performance via the included puck was nearly identical to a wired connection (approx. 21.6ms vs 19ms full-system end-to-end), making it a reliable wireless option (0:09:45 - 0:10:21).
  • Battery Life & Charging: Testing showed an exceptionally long battery life, lasting nearly 73 hours during constant input testing (0:12:34 - 0:13:26). The controller charges via the included puck, with a full charge taking roughly 3 hours and 26 minutes (0:13:27 - 0:14:00).
  • Repairability: The controller is noted for being highly repairable, utilizing non-security Torx screws and a modular battery design that allows for easy replacement (0:18:32 - 0:19:35).
  • Target Audience: While the $100 price point is high, the controller is primarily designed for enthusiasts who enjoy the Steam Deck ecosystem and want a dedicated controller solution for living room PC gaming (0:24:54 - 0:25:31).
 
Interesting. I wouldn't mind replacing the two Steam controllers I currently have.
 
$100 isn't too bad considering the features and repairability. Sure you can get an 8bitDo controller for $50ish or a high-end Gamesir/Flydigi for $70-130 but there are some horror stories with things breaking on pretty much all of them while also being a pain to fix. The Steam Controller has a lot going for it IMO.

I'll probably end up buying one but it doesn't look like it will be as comfortable as an Xbox controller and I never really liked using the thumbpads in games for either the original Steam Controller or the Steam Deck.
 
Pretty cool - I was a big fan of the 'concept' of the OG Steam controller, and the SC2 definitely addresses the shortcomings I had with that controller.

$149 CAD is a hefty price, though.
 
I like some of the features, but it looks ungainly to actually hold and use. Plus, I do prefer the offset analog layout from the Xbox pad. I know I'd have to turn those touch pads off or risk hitting them by mistake pretty regularly, too. At that point, I might as well just get another pad. Neat idea, but it's not for me. I'm a living room PC gamer, but I rock tray tables with a good wireless KB/M setup, too.
 
Console controller would be hard to beat at their price point, to make this have any relevane maybe that the only way to go, going extra fancy like this, could explain the rumors of extremelly small amount of stock for those we heard a couple of weeks ago.
 
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vegeta535 said:
PS5 controller is $65, Xbox is $65, S2 Joycons are $100 while the S2 pro controller is $90.
Click to expand...

Xbox controllers at least go on sale, and regularly enough, for $40 - so even with a sale price Steam controller still has it's (pricing) work cut out for it IMO
 
I have 3 of the OG steam controllers and still use them on occasion. Will probably spring for one of these as well
 
Something to at least think about when one of my many controllers start to drift. I haven't bought a "new" retail controller in ages, it's always been used.
 
kram182 said:
Xbox controllers at least go on sale, and regularly enough, for $40 - so even with a sale price Steam controller still has it's (pricing) work cut out for it IMO
Click to expand...

I replaced one of Xbox controllers at Best Buy yesterday (thank you protection plan) and they're $39 right now. Black, White, Red, and Blue only, though. For some wild reason the custom color ones are like $75.
 
It is cool they use quantum tunneling though - credit where credit is due
 
Looks alright. Yeah it is expensive but this is very much like a player 1 type controller, you won't bust out 8 of these for a couch gaming party.

Disappointed about what I've been hearing about the triggers on this thing. Think I'll stick to my DualSense, but I'll give it a try.

I'm really bummed about Sony withdrawing from PC market though, that means the DualSense is going to get even less attention now. I'm glad the steam controller is bringing more eyes on the magic of gyro and touchpads but I wish adaptive triggers were more of a thing
 
Might get one just in case they "go away" like the original controller did. Not that I really need another controller, but I might use it as a mouse for my HTPC.
 
I’m happy to see this released even though I don’t need one. Now if they’d just release the other two products despite the ongoing problem with deditated wham.
 
I'm in for one now for my unofficial sTeAm MaChInE, and a second with the official Steam Machine later when that's finally a thing. Pricing isn't unreasonable for what it offers, even if it doesn't make everybody hard.

Screenshot_20260427-223145.png
 
DrezKill said:
But they regularly go on sale for $40, which is an appropriate and proper price for a controller. Sony and Nintendo can get fucked.


Oh whoops, you already made this point, lawlz!
Click to expand...

And you can get a mouse for $20. Of course the more expensive ones with more and better features cost more. Apparently stick drift is becoming more of a problem in current Xbox controllers (supply chain issues? lower QC due to rising component costs?) but at $40 it will probably last a few years for most people. But if you want TMR, better wireless, and other customization some of the 3rd party controllers have it will cost more. Steam's offering seems about right price wise. But again, a $40 Xbox controller is probably good enough for most people.
 
Paid $120 for my Flydigi Apex 4 so 100 isn't too bad to me. The track pads are the most interesting part to me. I wonder what difference it would make in games.
 
Flogger23m said:
Apparently stick drift is becoming more of a problem in current Xbox controllers (supply chain issues? lower QC due to rising component costs?) but at $40 it will probably last a few years for most people. But if you want TMR, better wireless, and other customization some of the 3rd party controllers have it will cost more.
Click to expand...
Third party controllers can be cheaper AND use better components (HE sticks on 8bitdos). I see 0 reason to buy a first party Xbox controller. Hell the 8bitdo even comes with a dongle, pretty sure that is a separate purchase for Xbox

Actually I guess the xbox controller has trigger rumble. Okay, I see one reason now.

I really like the magnetic charger/dock on the Steam controller. Although this would have been way cooler like a decade or 2 ago, nowadays I'm just fine with built in bluetooth but this is still a nice to have! I also run into issues connecting multiple controllers over bluetooth, the steam controller dongle apparently supports up to 8 I think which is great. Although I'm not trying to hand out $800 worth of controllers to my friends/family 💀
 
ivandagiant said:
Third party controllers can be cheaper AND use better components (HE sticks on 8bitdos). I see 0 reason to buy a first party Xbox controller. Hell the 8bitdo even comes with a dongle, pretty sure that is a separate purchase for Xbox

Actually I guess the xbox controller has trigger rumble. Okay, I see one reason now.

I really like the magnetic charger/dock on the Steam controller. Although this would have been way cooler like a decade or 2 ago, nowadays I'm just fine with built in bluetooth but this is still a nice to have! I also run into issues connecting multiple controllers over bluetooth, the steam controller dongle apparently supports up to 8 I think which is great. Although I'm not trying to hand out $800 worth of controllers to my friends/family 💀
Click to expand...

The two big things that the stock Xbox controller does that almost nobody else does = You can use both Bluetooth and/or a dongle & it takes normal AA batteries.
 
Domingo said:
The two big things that the stock Xbox controller does that almost nobody else does = You can use both Bluetooth and/or a dongle & it takes normal AA batteries.
Click to expand...

Swapping AA batteries is the one thing that keeps me playing most days. I suspect I could get used to having to remember to charge it if the batteries weren't removable but the convenience of just grabbing a new set of rechargable AA's and keeping going it pretty convenient.
 
Ididar said:
Swapping AA batteries is the one thing that keeps me playing most days. I suspect I could get used to having to remember to charge it if the batteries weren't removable but the convenience of just grabbing a new set of rechargable AA's and keeping going it pretty convenient.
Click to expand...

Ditto. I bought a set of 8 Eneloop Pros and a charger for like $30 and that covers all my AA needs for the whole house. Anything starts running low - just swap 'em with the ones charging. No cables or charging stands needed.
 
looks like a GIANT controller. the dualshock 4 is a great size, this is way too much compared.
 
kram182 said:
Xbox controllers at least go on sale, and regularly enough, for $40 - so even with a sale price Steam controller still has it's (pricing) work cut out for it IMO
Click to expand...
They need to go on sale frequently because eventually they all stick drift and then get thrown at the wall or in the trash. So, they gotta get replaced one way or the other.

I don't think anyone's pointed out that MS and Sony both have premium controllers that cost well north of $100. And they use the same shitty pots their cheaper controllers use. I should know, I went through 3 of them before I gave up.

Currently using a GuliKit KK2 Pro which I've had for about 4 years now. No issues so far. Magnets just work.

New Steam controller checks a lot of boxes for me. But, I'm not sold on the ergonomics. I have no objective complaints, but I have some subjective complaints.
 
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My Xbox controller has developed some weird variation of stick drift over the past week or so. I understood stick drift to be when the sticks don't auto-center and therefore you always have this slight movement whenever you let go of the stick. What I've been having is if I hold the stick at a constant position (say an 1/8 of the way to the right) the input will work slowly for a second or three and then it suddenly acts like I've jammed the stick all the way. Maddening.

Might be ordering one of these earlier than I expected.
 
ivandagiant said:
Third party controllers can be cheaper AND use better components (HE sticks on 8bitdos). I see 0 reason to buy a first party Xbox controller. Hell the 8bitdo even comes with a dongle, pretty sure that is a separate purchase for Xbox

Actually I guess the xbox controller has trigger rumble. Okay, I see one reason now.

I really like the magnetic charger/dock on the Steam controller. Although this would have been way cooler like a decade or 2 ago, nowadays I'm just fine with built in bluetooth but this is still a nice to have! I also run into issues connecting multiple controllers over bluetooth, the steam controller dongle apparently supports up to 8 I think which is great. Although I'm not trying to hand out $800 worth of controllers to my friends/family 💀
Click to expand...

Of course, I went with a Gamesir G7 (don't recall specific model). Hall Effect but no wireless. If I need something wireless I can check back in a few years. But the Xbox controller will probably be fine for most people, or you can use a GameSir or 8bitdo which have affordable models. 8bitdo and GameSir even sell at Walmart and Best Buy now.
 
Bankie said:
My Xbox controller has developed some weird variation of stick drift over the past week or so. I understood stick drift to be when the sticks don't auto-center and therefore you always have this slight movement whenever you let go of the stick. What I've been having is if I hold the stick at a constant position (say an 1/8 of the way to the right) the input will work slowly for a second or three and then it suddenly acts like I've jammed the stick all the way. Maddening.

Might be ordering one of these earlier than I expected.
Click to expand...
That's not stick drift so much as it progressively failing. I'd say your symptoms will get worse with more use. The carbon contact has probably degraded to the point of failure. You could open it up and give it some compressed air to see if that loosens any dirt or debris. But that's a long shot.

If you have a bit of soldering skill and don't mind the work, you can replace the stick pots for relatively cheap. But for most the time and effort isn't worth it, and getting a full replacement gamepad at $40 seems a better option.

... or you can throw your pot-based garbage in the trash and go magnetic and never look back.
 
$100 is a bit steep, but I think I'll get one. Was thinking about putting some TMR or Hall effect sticks into my DualSense, but I guess I can hold off on that. Anyone know if this will work without steam running just as a basic like x-input controller? If it doesn't it'll kind of suck because I don't want to run steam and have to add GoG games to my list just to be able to use it. That was what I had to do with the old steam controller.
 
LurkerLito said:
$100 is a bit steep, but I think I'll get one. Was thinking about putting some TMR or Hall effect sticks into my DualSense, but I guess I can hold off on that. Anyone know if this will work without steam running just as a basic like x-input controller? If it doesn't it'll kind of suck because I don't want to run steam and have to add GoG games to my list just to be able to use it. That was what I had to do with the old steam controller.
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SkillUp said that it requires Steam Input and won't work outside of Steam. (But it will work if you add the game's shortcut into Steam)
 
Absalom said:
That's not stick drift so much as it progressively failing. I'd say your symptoms will get worse with more use. The carbon contact has probably degraded to the point of failure. You could open it up and give it some compressed air to see if that loosens any dirt or debris. But that's a long shot.

If you have a bit of soldering skill and don't mind the work, you can replace the stick pots for relatively cheap. But for most the time and effort isn't worth it, and getting a full replacement gamepad at $40 seems a better option.

... or you can throw your pot-based garbage in the trash and go magnetic and never look back.
Click to expand...
I found TMR stick kits on Amazon for $10-$20. I'm not a soldering pro by any means but could probably do it. I'll probably pick up a kit to fix the controller and grab a Steam Controller or GameSir G7 Pro just to have something new to try.
 
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