Best Polling Rate Controllers Explained

The polling rate, measured in hertz (Hz), represents the number of times per second a device, such as a controller, reports its input. To convert the polling rate from Hz to milliseconds (ms), you can use the formula:

Milliseconds (ms) = 1 / Polling Rate (Hz) * 1000

Let’s do the calculation for both 125Hz and 1000Hz:

• For 125Hz: Milliseconds (ms) = 1 / 125 * 1000 ≈ 8 ms
• For 250Hz: Milliseconds (ms) = 1 / 250 * 1000 = 4 ms
• For 500Hz: Milliseconds (ms) = 1 / 500 * 1000 = 2 ms
• For 1000Hz: Milliseconds (ms) = 1 / 1000 * 1000 = 1 ms

So, a controller with a polling rate of 125Hz like the Xbox controller will report input approximately every 8 milliseconds, 250Hz = 4 ms, 500Hz = 2ms and a controller with a polling rate of 1000Hz will report input every 1 millisecond.

TLDR: Polling rate is how often your controller tells the game console what you’re doing. Higher polling rates mean it communicates more frequently, potentially making game responses faster. For example, a 125Hz polling rate means it reports every 8 milliseconds, while a 1000Hz rate means every 1 millisecond.

But also keep in mind that higher polling rate doesn’t always translate to lower button or joystick latency.

There a couple of other factors that come into play, such as connection, software.

My Favorite Controllers with High Polling Rates

• Razer Wolverine V3 TE 8K and Pro 8K – 8000Hz polling rate
• PXN P5 8K – 8000Hz
• BigBig Won Blitz2 – 2000Hz
• Flydigi Apex 4 Wukong Edition – 2000Hz (standard Apex 4 has 1000Hz)
• Gamesir Cyclone 2 – 1000Hz
• Gamesir G7 SE – 250-500-1000Hz
• Flydigi Direwolf 2 – 500Hz
• PS5 Dualsense – 250Hz (can be overclocked to 8000Hz)
• Xbox One controller – 125Hz
• Nintendo Switch Joy-Con – 125Hz
• Switch Controller – 67Hz

Controller polling rate list

Note: these are polling rates of controllers when with wired connection to a PC. These values will be limited when connecting them to a console, for instance most Xbox-licensed controllers will have just a standard 125Hz polling rate with the only one exception of Gamesir G7 SE which has a 1000Hz update.

High polling rate doesn’t mean great (low) latency as you can see in the table below.

Controller	Wired polling rate (Hz)	Wireless – 2.4GHz polling rate (Hz)	Wired joystick latency (ms)
PXN P5 8K	8000	4000	6.8
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and TE 8K	8000	–	13
Razer Raiju V3 Pro	2000	500	5.4
BigBig Won Blitz 2	2000	2000	4.7
Flydigi Apex 4 Wukong Edition	2000	1000	37
8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth	1000	250	15.5
Flydigi Vader 5 Pro	1000	1000	3.4
Gulikit KK3 Max	1000	250	36
GameSir G7 Pro	1000	1000	12.5
Flydigi Apex 4	1000	1000	41
Gamesir G7 SE	250 (can be overclocked to 1000)		4.2
Gamesir Cyclone 2	1000	1000	8.2
Flydigi Vader 3 Pro	500
GameSir T4 Cyclone Pro	500
Thrustmaster eSwap X/S Pro	500
Victrix Gambit	500
Sony PS5 Dualsense	250 (can be overclocked to 8000)	–	11.6
Sony DualSense Edge	250 (can be overclocked to 8000)	–	4.6
Sony Dualshock 4	250
Logitech F310	250
8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller	125
Google Stadia Controller	125
Xbox One Controller	125
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core	125	63	8.7
BINBOK Gemini	125
Nintendo Switch Controller	67	67	25

Xbox vs Playstation controllers polling rate

• Xbox controllers (official first‑party including Elite Series 2) report at about 125 Hz (≈ every 8 ms) when used in normal wired/console modes and often cannot be overclocked beyond that without special utilities or third‑party hardware. This includes standard Series/X controllers and Elite Series 2 in most typical configurations.
• PlayStation controllers (DualSense / DualSense Edge) natively tend to operate at higher polling rates on PC when wired (commonly ~1000 Hz) — significantly higher than Xbox controllers in similar conditions; on console, they only have a polling rate of ~250 Hz. Additionally, with overclocking you can achieve even 8000Hz polling rate, but only on PC.

Wired vs Wireless Controllers Polling Rates

• Wired connections are recommended for lower and more consistent input latency.
• Some controllers may have lower input latency when used wirelessly, but wireless connections introduce spikes in latency, leading to inconsistency.
• The general rule is to use a wired connection when possible for more consistent input lag.

Is polling rate in controllers really important?

For many casual gamers or those who aren’t engaged in highly competitive gameplay, the distinction between different polling rates may not be very noticeable.

However, in fast-paced and competitive video games some players, especially those with highly tuned reflexes and precision requirements, might perceive a difference.

A higher polling rate can provide a slightly more responsive feel, which can be beneficial in situations where split-second reactions matter.

Disable Steam Controller Settings for Better Latency

• Steam’s “General Controller Settings” tool is built-in and adds controller support for many games, allowing customization.
• Using these features when gaming on Steam introduces significant input lag and may lead to double inputs.
• Steam’s default controller support can be disabled to improve performance.

How to Overclock Your Controller’s Polling Rate

The best thing is to use your controller’s dedicated software. But another way to enhance polling rate and reduce input latency is to use the polling rate overclocking tool Hidusbf by LordOfMice. It’s a tool created for mices, but it also works for gaming controllers Follow these steps:

1. Download and Extraction:
   • Obtain the latest version of Hidusbf from GitHub [github.com].
   • Extract the package to a secure location to avoid accidental deletion (functions as the tool’s program directory).
2. Creating a Shortcut:
   • In the extracted folder’s DRIVER folder, locate setup.exe, the tool’s executable.
   • Create a shortcut for setup.exe on your desktop or start menu for easy access.
   • Optionally, rename the shortcut for convenience (e.g., “Polling Rate Overclocker”).
3. Running the Tool:
   • Launch the tool by double-clicking setup.exe.
   • In the tool’s window, choose the “select all” option at the top left.
   • Identify your controller entry by disconnecting and reconnecting the controller (should appear in the list when connected).
4. Adjusting Settings:
   • Check the “filter on device” box.
   • Click on “Default” to the right of it.
   • Select 1000Hz and click on “Install Service.”
   • Wait for the process to complete, then click restart.
5. Verification:
   • After restarting, check the “Rate” and “Filter?” columns for your controller entry.
   • “Rate” should display “1000,” and “Filter?” should be “Yes,” indicating a successful custom polling rate of 1000Hz.
6. Maintenance:
   • Your custom or overclocked polling rate should persist through computer restarts.
   • Periodically check your polling rate, especially after Windows updates, as it may reset.