If you want better microphone passthrough quality
Choose Asus ROG Raikiri II. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for microphone passthrough quality, with a 4.3 overall score.
Hyperkin The Competitor Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for a comfortable, affordable Xbox/PC pad with precise Hall sticks, a PlayStation-style layout, and useful rear buttons. Skip it if wireless play, deep software tuning, or consistently top-tier D-pad performance matters most.
Best for
Best for Xbox or PC players who prefer symmetrical PlayStation-style sticks, game at a desk or do not mind a cable, and want Hall Effect precision plus useful rear buttons without premium-controller pricing.
Not for
Less suitable for couch players who insist on wireless, small-handed users, or competitive players who want 1000 Hz polling, hair-trigger stops, deep software tuning, and a universally consistent D-pad.
Verdict
The Competitor succeeds by keeping its ambitions focused: it delivers a comfortable PlayStation-style shape for Xbox and PC, precise Hall Effect sticks and triggers, useful lockable rear buttons, and generally solid construction at about $50. Its best traits are tactile rather than flashy, and many players find it excellent for 2D games, racing, shooters, and long sessions. The tradeoffs are clear, though. It is wired-only, software customization is shallow, trigger stops are absent, and D-pad opinions range from excellent to spongy or inaccurate during rapid reversals. Polling-rate and latency assessments also conflict, making it less convincing as an esports-first choice than as a dependable everyday controller.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
71 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.036 (51%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.416 (23%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.46 (8%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.411 (15%)
-
Very negative below 1.52 (3%)
Pros
-
Comfort is one of the clearest strengths: the broad DualSense-like shape, rounded grips, and light weight work well for long sessions. Players who already like symmetrical PlayStation-style controllers tend to feel at home quickly.
-
Anti-friction rings and metal contact surfaces give the sticks a notably smooth glide and clean return to center. A few mentions of snapback do not outweigh the broader praise for fluid movement.
-
Drift resistance is a major selling point, with the Hall sensors repeatedly praised for avoiding the wear pattern associated with conventional sticks. Long-term certainty is impossible, but confidence in drift resistance is very high.
-
The Competitor is widely liked as a comfortable, capable $50 Xbox/PC controller, especially by players who want a PlayStation-style layout. Lower-scoring takes mostly point to wired-only play, latency concerns, or a thin feature set rather than weak fundamentals.
-
Stick accuracy is a standout, with very small deadzones, strong centering, and precise aiming or directional input. Multiple hands-on tests describe the Hall sticks as exceptionally controlled.
-
The DualSense-inspired shape and two-tone styling are a major part of the appeal, with the white, black, gold, and purple treatments drawing frequent praise. The look is distinctive for an Xbox controller even when the imitation is obvious.
Cons
-
Hyperkin provides little to no software support for deeper controller tuning. That simplicity suits plug-and-play users, but it is a clear weakness for players expecting pro-style configuration tools.
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There is effectively no companion app for sensitivity, curves, profiles, or other deep settings. Several players see that absence as a meaningful disadvantage against similarly priced rivals.
-
There is no meaningful companion software for tuning curves, deadzones, profiles, or sensitivity. Players who expect software-driven pro customization see this as a major limitation.
-
The lack of trigger locks or hair-trigger stops is one of the clearest missing pro features. Players focused on fast shooter inputs may find the full travel slower than dedicated competitive controllers.
-
Menu, View, and Share controls are a recurring weak spot because they sit too flat, too small, or too far from the thumbs. They can be easy to miss by feel, especially at first.
-
Customization is intentionally shallow: rear-button mapping and swappable caps are useful, but there are no deep profiles, turbo settings, trigger tuning, or stick-curve controls.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Video Game Controller, this product is above average in compatibility with Xbox, hand fatigue over long sessions, consistency across sessions, near average in d-pad feel, overall satisfaction, below average in onboard profile storage, software customization, customization depth.
Comparison summary
69 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher30 (43%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts18 (26%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower21 (30%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| onboard profile storage | 1.5 | 4.3 | -2.8 |
| software customization | 1.6 | 4.1 | -2.5 |
| customization depth | 2.0 | 4.4 | -2.4 |
| trigger stop effectiveness | 2.2 | 4.4 | -2.2 |
| bumper responsiveness | 2.0 | 4.2 | -2.2 |
| compatibility with PlayStation | 1.0 | 3.1 | -2.1 |
| companion app quality | 1.6 | 3.6 | -2.0 |
| casual gaming suitability | 2.3 | 4.0 | -1.7 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better onboard profile storage
Choose Turtle Beach Rematch. It scores 5.0 vs 1.5 for onboard profile storage, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better software customization
Choose Thrustmaster eSwap X2 H.E.. It scores 5.0 vs 1.6 for software customization, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better compatibility with PlayStation
Choose GameSir G8 Galileo. It scores 4.1 vs 1.0 for compatibility with PlayStation, with a 4.1 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Worse: overall controller preference The Competitor impressed the reviewer enough to replace the 8BitDo Pro 2 as the preferred option.
DualSense
- Better: build quality The Competitor's build is judged below the DualSense standard, though acceptable for its lower price.
DualSense Edge
- Worse: features for the price The reviewer argues The Competitor's Hall sticks, rear buttons, and grip refinements undermine the much pricier DualSense Edge's value.
FAQ
Is The Competitor wireless?
No. It is wired-only, using a detachable USB-C cable. Some players value the stable connection and no-charging convenience, while many couch gamers call the cable its biggest drawback.
Does it work on Xbox and PC?
Yes. Reviewers report straightforward plug-and-play use on Xbox and Windows PC, helped by official Xbox licensing. Despite its DualSense-like design, it is not compatible with PlayStation hardware.
Do the Hall Effect sticks prevent stick drift?
The Hall Effect sticks are consistently praised for strong centering, smooth movement, and drift resistance, and several tests reported no drift. They reduce the usual wear risk, but the reviews do not establish an absolute lifetime guarantee.
How good is the D-pad?
Opinions are mixed. Many players love its soft, bouncy PlayStation-style feel for 2D and fighting games, while others find it spongy, wobbly, harsh, or prone to misreads during very fast reversals.
Can the rear buttons be remapped?
Yes. The two rear buttons can be mapped directly on the controller without software, and physical locks can disable their movement. Placement is usually praised, though a few players still press them accidentally.
Is it good for competitive gaming?
It can be, but it is not a universal esports pick. Some tests praise its wired responsiveness and tournament-ready feel, while others criticize the 250 Hz polling ceiling, full trigger travel, or D-pad behavior.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Red Bandana Gaming
- Review score
- 5.0
YouTube - Tayboss4K
- Review score
- 4.0
Article Reviews
gamingnexus.com
Go to GamingNexus.com for news and reviews on video games, consoles, and PCs.
- Review score
- 4.5
neowin.net
Hyperkin The Competitor is an attempt to bring a DualSense-like gamepad to Xbox. Here is our review.
- Review score
- 3.6
gamerdeal.com
Video Game News & Reviews from hardcore gamers.
- Review score
- 4.7
pcgamer.com
The latest Review,,,reviews, breaking news, comment, reviews and features from the experts at PC Gamer
- Review score
- 3.1
mmorpg.com
The Competitor from Hyperkin promises tournament-ready performance. Can it deliver? Find out in our review.
- Review score
- 4.4
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