- QRD Spark N5 Wireless Controller for PS4 PS3 Steam Deck PC Windows Mac

I've been a multi-time victim of the dreaded "stick drift" issue with Sony's first party Dualsense controller -- I've gone through 2 since 2021. As a result, I've opened to considering third party controllers, accepting whatever drawbacks that come with them. Recently, I purchased the QRD Spark N5 and have take a few days to put it through its paces. Overall, the experience has been positive, especially given the price point ($45). On the positive side: - initial pairing with the Blackpill PS5 adapter (which appears to be required to play wirelessly on the PS5) was pretty straightforward. I've run into no issues on any subsequent sessions with reconnecting. - while it's still not possible to turn on the PS5 from the controller, the controller does shut off when powering down the console. It might not sound like great shakes, but this is pretty handy. I also use the PDP Victrix BFG Pro, which doesn't include this feature -- I've run into more than once instance of my forgetting to turn off that controller and burning battery as a result. No such issues exist for the Spark N5. - on the gameplay front, it's very smooth. No detectable input lag for joysticks or buttons. - tactically, inputs feel great as well. The benefit of hall effect (besides the elimination of drift) is the noticeably smoother joystick movement. Buttons also feel good as well. - I haven't had a chance to test the back buttons or to program macros. However, the location and feel is a big upgrade from the Victrix BFG Pro, whose buttons I accidentally pressed more times than I can count. The buttons are flatter and are pretty resistant -- you have to WANT to push them on the Spark N5. There are some items that might swing people one way or the other that I should note: - it is noticeably lighter than the Dualsense. It's also a little smaller -- for people with small hands, this might turn people off. I had no issues adjusting, however, with my average-side hands. Also, despite the smaller profile, it doesn't feel cheap. - there is no rumble or vibration. At least I think so -- I died playing Days Gone and my controller shook when it returned to the load screen. YMMV on this one, but as I understand it, there are no 3rd party controllers that support rumble or haptics, so if it's there on the Spark N5, it's a plus. - battery life, best I can tell, is somewhere between the Dualsense Edge and the Victrix BFG -- probably in the neighborhood of 15 hours. It's not bad. Overall, I'd say that, for the price point, this is a great addition to the collection of available controllers. In addition to the input responsiveness, the Hall Effect joysticks give me assurance I'll have this available for quite a while. UPDATE 6/14/2025 - This is more of an addendum after playing a native PS5 game with the Blackpill adapter: I recently upgraded my Days Gone playthrough to the remastered PS5 version. I was pleasantly surprised to feel actual rumble where I hadn't on the native PS4 game version. It was great to feel it during activities such as bike riding and survival vision. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only third-party controller that supports rumble, so I'd consider that a big plus when you factor in the extended battery life and Hall effect sticks.

Overall, the QRD controller is a versatile and reliable controller. Its compatibility with multiple systems, robust build, ergonomic design, and impressive battery life makes it #1 in my book. The controller feels robust and well-built. The buttons are responsive, and the joysticks are smooth, and seamless. It gives me precise control with no stick drift. Pairing was easy with the various devices I have tried with no connectivity or lag issues like I have experienced with other more expensive controllers. I don’t have a PS5, but I understand you would need a separate dongle for that. The programmable back paddles and turbo function have been a great addition too. I highly recommend this controller for anyone seeking a quality controller, QRD did an amazing job on all fronts. Great job, QRD! Pros: • Solid and well-built construction • Responsive buttons and smooth joysticks • Easy pairing with multiple devices • Zero connectivity or lag issues • Comfortable ergonomic design for long sessions • Long battery life • Programmable back paddles and turbo function • Hall effect Joystick prevents stick drift Cons: • Requires dongle for PS5 connectivity

everything arrived in perfect condition, works with every device i have (ps3, ps4 and PC). feels great in my hands and the quality is good for it's price... if i had to warn about something that the usb cable that comes with the controller doesn't let you connect it to anything since it only charges the controller but you can use any other usb C that you have with no problems

"High quality at a reasonable price" is an apt description of the Spark N5 Wireless Controller from QRD. Although it excels as a PS4 controller alternative, this gamepad holds its own against even more expensive gaming products. First and foremost, let's address the Spark N5's body. It interestingly reminds me of a comfortable Xbox controller... but you have inline joysticks, not offset ones! If you are used to using DualSense controllers, this will make you happy. You get the best of both worlds. You also get Hall Sensor joysticks, eliminating worries about stick drift. Both of these feel extremely smooth to handle. Finally, aside from the joysticks, there is a speaker at the front of the Spark N5, which outputs audio nicely. As far as the face and shoulder buttons are concerned, they are both responsive to presses. While I cannot test them precisely, I had zero issues with immersing myself in games. The back buttons are also clicky and work as you expect them to. Even the trackpad is clickable and responsive, if you use it. All in all, if you're looking for many of the bells and whistles that newer gamepads have for a fraction of their costs, the QRD Spark N5 controller should be considered. It can be used on multiple platforms, and the included phone mount attachment is a particularly nice addition for mobile gamers. Simply put, it's a well thought out product.

This works great as a premium joystick. No sound was playing on the built in speaker and connecting it to usb cable to use while charging took my sound away from the game and i played in silence. I have learned that you can go into windows settings into sound and change the default back to your normal headset and then normal headset works correctly and you have sound & mic. I have also learned that only SOME games support the built in speaker on the controller. However, all games support the HEADPHONE JACK for sound on the controller. I messed up again by plugging in a headset that had mic and speakers combined on the connector. You can only plug in earphones on the controller, not a true communications headset that includes a mic. This controller is super smooth and top quality. I love it. It's well worth the money. I'm glad I bought it. [EDIT] Fast forward 9 months. The buttons are broken, and the battery no longer holds a charge and you cannot buy a replacement battery anywhere. Also had many problems syncing it with my pc.

Great controller for the PS4. Not the best for the PS3, but for the PS4, it is great. Battery life isn’t the best, but Hall Effect joysticks and RGB lights will use more energy than TMR or Analog and no RGB lights. Still a great controller as long as you charge it after one or two gaming sessions.

The controller died after 4 days. Resting with the hole at the back nothing. Disappointed!

Great controller, love that it works with my PS3. My original shipped controller had difficulty registering the right dpad. I got a replacement that has the same exact issue. That'll lose you two stars.

Les palettes à l'arrière sont embêtantes pour le gameplay et les joystick ne sont pas fous

Its great i loved it so much worth buying

It's a pretty good controller I have been dealing with stick drift on all my ps4 controllers but with this I dont have to worry about that anymore. For that alone this purchase is worth it if you are still using a ps4

Ho scelto questo controller sperando che fosse preciso quanto l'originale. Le levette analogiche sono molto precise e i tasti aggiuntivi posteriori sono facili da impostare e si possono anche selezionare i tasti L3 e R3. L'impugnatura mi è sembrata più comoda rispetto al controller ps4. Spero solo che duri e magari farò una aggiornamento a questa recensione

Mi única gran queja con este control es el Dpad, pues si bien este funciona correctamente, se siente algo flojo y se mueve un poco en la ranura en la que está integrado, por lo que si buscas un buen control para plataformeros 2D o para juegos de pelea te recomiendo buscar otra opción, dicho eso, este control es maravilloso y definitivamente mejor que el Dualshock 4. Se siente algo ligero pero los botones suenan y se sienten bien, el agarre es cómodo, el control es lindo y las luces tienen buenas opciones de colores. Los botones traseros se sienten bien y la batería tiene una duración más que decente a diferencia del DS4. Lo he usado mucho en PS4, un poco en PC y un poco en Switch con un adaptador de 8bitdo y este último es el único que me ha generado problemas de delay (entendible ya que hay un adaptador de por medias en adición a la conexión bluetooth), mas en PC y en PS4 me ha funcionado de maravilla tanto de forma inalámbrica como conectado.