The Best VR Controllers

The virtual world is as fun as your controllers allow. The controllers in your hands are the only things that connect you to your virtual world. Whether for an intense part of

Beat Saber

, or just to navigate your menu to your mediation app, controllers are essential for any VR experience. Finding your perfect controller is just as important as

find your perfect helmet

. Your virtual headset is as good as your controllers.

We'll be covering the best controllers on the market today. From original Oculus Rift Touch controllers to newly released Valve controllers, you'll find exactly what you're looking for. The controllers we will cover are the:

Original Rift Touch Controllers

Rift S Touch controllers (also Oculus Touch)

Vive Controllers

Valve Index Controllers

Vive Cosmos Controllers

PSVR Controllers

Windows Mixed Reality Controllers

Samsung Gear VR Controller

This list will be updated as controllers enter rotation.

1. Original Rift Touch Controllers

When the original Oculus Rift came out, this control was on top of the world. the

HTC Vive

had its original controllers with the Vive, but they didn't compare to what Oculus was doing with their virtual hands. Those touchscreen controllers with the grip buttons, easy-to-reach joysticks, and perfectly placed triggers made it easy to crown a winner 3 years ago. But that was a long time ago and we've had plenty of controllers in our hands since then. Let's see how they compare to today's models.

If you've used the original Touch controllers right after using one of another VR company's newer controllers, you've probably been pretty disappointed with how they felt. It has nothing to do with tracking controllers. Rift sensors are great, but those touch controllers are just a poor representation of your hands in virtual space. They're not perfect for a particular game, and they underperform for

Beat Saber

, which is a big problem.

The haptics of this controller are pubescent compared to newer models, although they are used to getting the job done. These controllers were great back when they were the hot topic, but the industry has moved on. Controllers are great if they're all you have with the Oculus Rift. But if you have another option, take it.

2. Rift S (and Quest) Touch Controller

The latest versions of touch controllers are also the best. They are not as conspicuous as

Valve controllers

, but they do the job and more. The versatility of these touch controllers is on par with Valve controllers. I know that might sound like a hot take, but let's dive into what exactly it means.

Like any controller in VR, it will have more than one purpose. You'll be able to switch between SteamVR games and your Oculus exclusives, and the touch controller will work just fine. The weight of these is light enough for you to play

Beat Saber

for a few hours without feeling a burn in your shoulders. You can go from web to web like you're Spider-Man with these controllers without feeling like you're actually holding a controller. There's nothing this controller isn't good at. It is used both for

Quest

and the

Rift S

, but both have different sensors.

The haptics of these are also much more powerful and precise than the original touch controllers. As you play, you will definitely feel the vibrations rumbling through your hand. With the originals, you'd often feel like they were just sending text to your hand, but the newer controllers feel like they give an actual representation of how you feel in the virtual world.

The new Touch Controllers are the best overall controllers on the market right now. Some may argue that Valve controllers have taken the title, but we argue differently.

3. Vive Controllers

When the original

HTC Vive

was released in 2016, it seemed like a blast to find out who had the best VR controller on the market. On the face of it, Rift controllers were going to win in every argument. Until you try Vive controllers, you'll keep thinking so.

The Vive controller catches you off guard when playing with it. The ease of holding them and the location of the buttons are things they clearly focused on during development and production. The controllers do a great job of representing your hands in the virtual world (even with the new HTC Vive Focus), but they often feel like they were made for a specific purpose. The best VR controllers don't have anything specific in mind, they just try to give you a helping hand in the virtual world.

The Vive controller's lack of a grip button is what hurts this controller the most. When you're in VR, you want to be able to pick up things and throw them. Without it, it's hard to feel fully immersed, and it's something the entire VR community is aiming for. Once Vive can give us a controller that can be a real hand (or hand tracker), they're going to rank last for their VR controller. One benefit of this controller is VR development of accessible apps and games. This controller was set up from the start for developers, not gamers, even though it works incredibly well with Steam VR.

4.Valve Index Controller

In the months leading up to the release of the

Valve Index

, many were more excited about the Valve controllers themselves than the headset itself. Although there were a lot of people who thought they would be a bust, the controllers turned out fine. And by okay, I mean they're some of the best, if not the best, VR controllers on the market right now.

Putting on Valve controllers for the first time is a spiritual experience that I will never forget. It was like Cinderella with her glass slipper, except I am Cinderella and a video game controller is my glass slipper. In short, the cut was perfect. It was like a virtual reality glove. After demoing with them, I was ready for a few Beat Sabers to test out the tracking and feel of the motion controllers. The experience was amazing. This device, like all VR devices we test, was built with Beat Saber, the VR industry's best virtual reality gaming experience.

The haptics of this controller are second to none, the thumbstick is out of the way, and the motion sensors captured my movement perfectly. This controller also included an on-device digital touchpad for scrolling. This VR hardware is perfect for all SteamVR games and virtual reality games. Being able to interact with the virtual world through finger tracking is something I never thought possible until now. This will be dubbed the original Index controller, the best device on the market that a consumer can order. Thank you Valve and Steam for this great product!

5.Vive Cosmos Controller

The Vive Cosmos had a slow start to sales, and part of that was due to the controllers. Not all the blame can be placed on them, but a good deal of it goes to the controllers and following up with them. Vive tried to reinvent the wheel here, and it didn't pay off at all. Big companies, including HTC Vive, have shown time and time again that tracking indoors to outdoors with sensors works, or outdoors with base stations works just fine.

There was no reason to jump into the Cosmos with controllers that are only tracked by light. It didn't work at all, and it showed in early updates. The latest updates have attempted to fix the problem, but unless there's a major hardware overhaul, we'll notice these controllers failing time and time again. For now, we suggest at least toying with the idea of ​​buying stock HTC Vive headsets and rolling with those controllers.

6. PSVR Controller

The PS controller is the simplest of all controllers currently available. With the same hardware and some of the same software as the controllers used for motion capture on the PS3 Move, PlayStation has kept things simple with their controller this time around. The whole

PSVR platform

is simple, but the controllers are the best part. They are simply a wand with a soft ball on top.

What the controller lacks in style, it makes up for in performance. The controller is perfect for anything you'll face in the virtual world of PlayStation. You may be wondering because the controller doesn't have a thumbstick, but PSVR games are optimized for the headset and controllers they'll be on, so you won't have to worry about moving around too much. You won't need to break out your Dualshock controller anytime soon.

PSVR controllers are very average in all but one area. Beat Saber on PSVR with submerged motion controls is something you don't want to miss. The haptic feedback is there, but also not overwhelming like other controllers. The PlayStation Camera is also imperative for the controllers and the immersive experience you're likely to have.

7. Windows Mixed Reality Controllers

These controllers are compatible with any VR headset on Windows, and they're still great for

VR games

. Although not the first option for many people, these controllers still get the job done. The trigger on these is a bit high and the tilt is sometimes hard to manage, but it's worth it.

They are powered by two AAA batteries, which keeps the weight low at all times. The trackpad on these controllers sometimes gets in the way throughout your gameplay on your favorite VR rig, but that's a risk you live with when buying a controller designed for a headset that's never been fully released. .

8. Samsung Gear VR Controllers

The Gear VR controller is exclusive to Gear products. This controller is charged via a USB cable, and the battery life is nothing short of impressive. This controller was designed to navigate the simple Gear VR headset, and not much more. There's been a disappointing amount of Gear VR games out there, so this controller hasn't seen any real action yet.

This portable controller was designed for one hand, and only one comes with your headset. You can also control your Android mobile smartphone with the controller. Although the controller is not designed for heavy VR gaming, it still has many uses. Daydream and Daydream View are also compatible with Bluetooth controller or Bluetooth gamepad for augmented reality.