Joystick controller technology HAS NEVER BEEN PERFECTED. Every handheld controller type I’ve ever had ends up having that one controller that drifts. N64, PS4, Oculus Quest, Windows, they all have a controller that drifts.
For your information, it looks like you have only / mostly used first-party controllers. The big brands like Nintendo, Sony, Xbox/Microsoft, etc. use potentiometer sticks over hall effect or TMR in order to save a little bit of cost, and for planned obsolescence too, so new controllers and/or repair ports need to be bought more frequently.
There are a lot of really good third-party controllers that are cheaper with additional features, cross-platform connectivity, and longer lasting designs with HE/TMR sticks + triggers. You might have heard of 8BitDo, GameSir, GuliKit, etc. being mentioned.
I have the Ultimate 2 by 8BitDo, the Supernova by GameSir, and the KK3 Max by Gulikit. The 8BitDo one has a very clean design with a charging dock too, but is the cheapest feeling of the three. The Supernova also has a charging dock, bit it leans heavier into the “gamer look” with more RGB, and it has rubber grips. The GuliKit has the best build quality out of the three hardware wise, has the nicest buttons and triggers in my opinion, and has a textured plastic (not rubber) grip. However, the wireless connectivity is spotty at best, and the connection is very poor at longer distances. I’m fine with that as I sit close to my laptop when playing my games, but it’s not good for a console-style setup.
All three have membrane buttons + d-pad, which is what me and my siblings prefer, since those are most similar to the kind in the first-party PlayStation controllers. They all support Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, Switch, etc. (and Windows too if you like spyware and bloat)
If you prefer mechanical/clicky buttons (longer lasting, but they feel different and are loud), the GameSir Cyclone is a really good option, but leans hard on the “gamer look”. You also have other brands who make mechanical button controllers, there’s a lot of them! If you want something with symmetrical sticks, I heard that the 8BitDo Pro 3 and the GameSir Tarantula Pro are very good. GuliKit’s ES Pro line is new and looks similar to the KK series, but it lacks wireless connectivity via the dongle (you won’t be missing much, the connection is terrible) and is a little cheaper too, but I haven’t tried that one yet.
If you need something cheap and don’t need things like gyro support or advanced rumble, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C and the GameSir Nova 2 Lite are both very good for the price. You might also like the GameSir Tegenaria Lite, which is a wired-only controller that has a symmetrical stick layout, and it is the most affordable one out of the lot that still uses HE sticks and isn’t a random no-name brand.
Also, what on Earth is a “Windows controller”? As far as I can tell, Microsoft has never produced a gaming controller branded as being for Windows (or Surface), they only have controllers under the Xbox brand.
Joystick controller technology HAS NEVER BEEN PERFECTED. Every handheld controller type I’ve ever had ends up having that one controller that drifts. N64, PS4, Oculus Quest, Windows, they all have a controller that drifts.
For your information, it looks like you have only / mostly used first-party controllers. The big brands like Nintendo, Sony, Xbox/Microsoft, etc. use potentiometer sticks over hall effect or TMR in order to save a little bit of cost, and for planned obsolescence too, so new controllers and/or repair ports need to be bought more frequently.
There are a lot of really good third-party controllers that are cheaper with additional features, cross-platform connectivity, and longer lasting designs with HE/TMR sticks + triggers. You might have heard of 8BitDo, GameSir, GuliKit, etc. being mentioned.
I have the Ultimate 2 by 8BitDo, the Supernova by GameSir, and the KK3 Max by Gulikit. The 8BitDo one has a very clean design with a charging dock too, but is the cheapest feeling of the three. The Supernova also has a charging dock, bit it leans heavier into the “gamer look” with more RGB, and it has rubber grips. The GuliKit has the best build quality out of the three hardware wise, has the nicest buttons and triggers in my opinion, and has a textured plastic (not rubber) grip. However, the wireless connectivity is spotty at best, and the connection is very poor at longer distances. I’m fine with that as I sit close to my laptop when playing my games, but it’s not good for a console-style setup.
All three have membrane buttons + d-pad, which is what me and my siblings prefer, since those are most similar to the kind in the first-party PlayStation controllers. They all support Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, Switch, etc. (and Windows too if you like spyware and bloat)
If you prefer mechanical/clicky buttons (longer lasting, but they feel different and are loud), the GameSir Cyclone is a really good option, but leans hard on the “gamer look”. You also have other brands who make mechanical button controllers, there’s a lot of them! If you want something with symmetrical sticks, I heard that the 8BitDo Pro 3 and the GameSir Tarantula Pro are very good. GuliKit’s ES Pro line is new and looks similar to the KK series, but it lacks wireless connectivity via the dongle (you won’t be missing much, the connection is terrible) and is a little cheaper too, but I haven’t tried that one yet.
If you need something cheap and don’t need things like gyro support or advanced rumble, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C and the GameSir Nova 2 Lite are both very good for the price. You might also like the GameSir Tegenaria Lite, which is a wired-only controller that has a symmetrical stick layout, and it is the most affordable one out of the lot that still uses HE sticks and isn’t a random no-name brand.
Also, what on Earth is a “Windows controller”? As far as I can tell, Microsoft has never produced a gaming controller branded as being for Windows (or Surface), they only have controllers under the Xbox brand.
Hall effect sticks don’t have that problem, and they’re not new. Dreamcast controllers had one.
And nowadays third parties can make them even in the tiny joycon form factor.
TMR sticks are great, too. No drift after almost a year. And I don’t expect there to be for the lifetime of the product.
Nvr had any drift with my hall effect controllers, I didn’t even know what it was until my friend showed it to me
I’ve been using my steam deck since launch very regularly and so far no drift.