FLYDIGI Vader 4 Pro Controller Force Adjustment Lever Joystick, Hall & Micro Triggers, 1000Hz Report Rate, 4-Motor Stereo Vibration, 800mAh, Multi-Platform for PC/NS/Android/TV (No Xbox/PS)

After using the controller for approximately 30 days, here are my initial impressions.As a seasoned gamer with a passion that spans decades, I'm always on the lookout for the perfect controller to elevate my gaming experience. That's why I was determined to avoid the usual suspects: the pricey DualSense Edge and the hassle of Xbox controllers with their notorious stick drift issues. After exploring the market, I discovered a range of innovative brands, including 8Bitdo and GameSir, but I'm excited to share that I've found a game-changing alternative that's exceeded my expectations.If you've landed on this review and come across this controller on Amazon, it's likely because you're searching for a high-quality "pro controller" at an affordable price. Something that offers premium features without the hefty price tag of a more expensive controller. Look no further.The Vader 4 Pro by Flydigi boasts an impressive array of features typically found in high-end pro controllers. This includes a 1000Hz polling rate for lightning-fast response, whether connected via wireless or hardwired connections. It's compatible with PC, Android, and iOS devices via Bluetooth, or a provided dongle for wireless connectivity. The controller supports both Xinput and Dinput protocols.The Vader 4 Pro features clickable triggers with hair-trigger switches, ideal for fast-paced games like Call of Duty. The digital face buttons offer a tactile experience, unlike the mushy feel of membrane-based buttons. Two additional face buttons on the front allow for easy customization, while the digital D-pad provides accurate input with a satisfying click. This is particularly beneficial for fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, where diagonal inputs are crucial.The controller also features four mappable back buttons, accessible with your ring or middle fingers, and removable thumbsticks that can be replaced if worn out. The thumbstick kit (sold separately) includes two sets of thumbsticks: standard and taller lengths. Additionally, the tension rings around the sticks are manually adjustable, allowing for precise control without relying on software. The Hall Effect thumbsticks help prevent stick drift over time, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.The Flydigi Space Station app offers a comprehensive range of customization options, allowing you to tailor the controller to your preferences. Key features include the ability to create multiple profiles for different games, as well as the option to create macros that combine multiple button presses or sequences into a single button command.Advanced users can take advantage of features like gyro controls, adjustable vibration strength, and RGB lighting customization. The app also allows for granular adjustments to settings such as dead zones, polling rate, sleep mode, and joystick sensitivity. Whether you prefer a basic or advanced setup, the Space Station app provides the flexibility to create a customized gaming experience.The app is complemented by the controller's battery life, which can be charged via USB-C. This convenient charging method ensures that you can keep playing without interruption.While this controller excels in numerous areas, I did encounter a minor issue. After extended play sessions, the tension rings may require readjustment as they can shift slightly from their initial settings. This is the only drawback I've experienced with the controller. Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with its performance and features, and I'm hard-pressed to think of anything else it could offer.At the price point of $80, this controller represents an exceptional value. It's no surprise that it has been so well-received, given the impressive features and performance it offers.

I can’t tell you if the Vader 4 Pro is truly the best gamepad on the market, but I can say that it runs circles around the Xbox Core controller that most users will probably be comparing it to.First is the extra buttons. The four underneath are easily reachable, which isn't always the case with these specialized gamepads. They also don't click loudly, nor do they require much force to press -- both of which are problems with the Aim gamepad’s paddles, IMO. Then there are two extra face buttons, conveniently located. They are mapped by default to L3 and R3.The extra buttons were of immediate help to me, actually. You see, in Assassin's Creed Shadows, you have to hold the R3 button down to use Eagle Vision. Holding down the Z button feels much better. The ABXY buttons are also mechanical, which should help with durability. They make a light mouse-like click when you press one of them, and they require much less force and have much less travel than the usual membrane buttons that you see here. The 8-way D-pad is also quieter than the one on the Xbox gamepad.I also really appreciate the tension dials on the analog sticks. You can adjust these in-game to get the exact amount of resistance that you prefer. Speaking of analog sticks, they also offer up to 12-bit accuracy. Between that and the 1000 Hz polling rate, aiming and movement do feel smoother than what is possible with an Xbox gamepad.I also find the Space Station app pretty easy to use. Most of the settings have detailed explanations — but what I like best is that I didn't need to fiddle very much to begin with. The V4P works great right out of the box. It also already had the latest firmware, according to the app. And despite it coming from a company in China, all of the app text is written in pretty much perfect English. I actually handle this kind of copy in my day job, so I can tell you that they went the extra mile here.For those who want to fine-tune how the V4P behaves, there's just a nutty amount of settings. For example, you have 100 increments of trigger vibration, and you can adjust the amplitude for each one. You can also adjust how quickly a game responds to different levels of trigger pull. You can also fiddle with the sensitivity curves of either analog stick. Or you can make one of the sticks act as a mouse pointer. And of course you can tune dead zones. And the V4P can store up to four different configurations, swapping between them with just two button presses. The list goes on.The 800 mAh LiPo battery sounds small on paper, but users report at least 10 hours of usage per charge. That should be enough even for a marathon session, as long as you remember to plug it in after. If you're playing on PC, then you're probably sitting right next to a USB port anyway.Overall, I feel like you get quite a lot for the price: lots of additional well-designed buttons, high accuracy and fluidity for the analog sticks, and loads of optional configuration in the app. You would be hard-pressed to find a gamepad this featureful elsewhere for anywhere near this price. If you are missing rubberized grips, you can actually order an inexpensive third-party set right here on Amazon, from an outfit called Talon Games. You can even use this gamepad with an Xbox, via the Mayflash Magic-X wireless Bluetooth USB adapter, also sold here on Amazon.I'm not sure what the other reviewer is referring to about the digital trigger setting. I don't notice any particular extra force needed to get a click in that mode, nor do I experience a significant amount of travel. And I guess that the analog sticks are slightly taller than normal, but I honestly wouldn't have noticed if someone hadn't mentioned it, and I've played thousands of hours with gamepads over many years. And my hands are towards the smaller end of the spectrum.

As many other reviews have said, the controller is accurate and responsive and very customizable - especially for this price. And I love the extra, easy to reach buttons you can setup macros on or just single keys. The look and feel are great and the customizations are great. I'm just sad that I had to resort to googling reddit and other reviews to figure out how to connect it to my windows 11 pc, how to charge it, how long a charge holds, how to get the software (Flydigi Space) and how to make the software work. That's my only complaint. I guess the company figures all the customers are gamers and know how to do this or will figure it out - but this almost made me return it after 1 hour of frustration. I'm still not sure I have I have to keep provided dongle connected for Bluetooth or for hard wired but I'll figure that out later. If it weren't for such a poor job of documentation I would have given 5 stars.