Wireless game controllers
prices on 121 modelWireless connection
— the main advantage of wireless connection is obvious: the absence of a cable, which limits mobility and can create inconvenience. And for motion controllers (see "Device"), this option is, in fact, the only possible one at all (otherwise it would be at least problematic to use such a manipulator). In addition, it is wireless communication (for a number of reasons) that is most convenient for working with portable gadgets — smartphones and tablets. At the same time, the range of such a connection is usually sufficient to work at least within a large living room, and more often at greater distances. On the other hand, wireless controllers are noticeably more expensive than their wired counterparts, and they usually receive energy for operation from batteries or accumulators — so the operating time is inevitably limited.Also note that modern game controllers can use different wireless standards:
— Bluetooth. See "Features" for more information on this technology. Also note here that due to its versatility and practicality, it is Bluetooth that is most popular in manipulators with the ability to wirelessly connect (both purely wireless and combined — see the relevant paragraph).
— Radio. Non-Bluetooth radio connection. The specific features of such a connection largely depend on the gaming platform (see "Compatibility"). For example, native radio standards are used by many desktop consoles, and connections to such devices are often made directly, without additional equipment. In turn, controllers with the ability to work on a PC (Mac) are equipped with special adapters, usually connected via USB (in this case, such models can be combined and also support a direct connection to the game console). But for mobile gadgets, this method of communication is not used — in this case, Bluetooth is more justified.
— Bluetooth / radio. Ability to work in any of the formats described above. This option is found in controllers that are compatible with several gaming platforms at once: for example, a radio channel is used for a desktop console, and Bluetooth is used for a mobile gadget (in this format, in particular, a regular gamepad for the Xbox Series S / X of the 2020 model works). However, such versatility is not required so often, and it can significantly affect the cost. Therefore, there are very few models with two wireless connection options.