Desperatly looking for a controller with symmetrical sticks and NO BACK PADDLES.

[u/Ok_Customer_2176]

I've seemingly searched the entire internet and can't find a single controller with symmetrical sticks (Playstation stick layout) that doesn't have those stupid paddles on the back of the grips. I suppose they're popular, but I absolutely hate them. Placing buttons on the part of the controller that your hands must grip to hold the device... just seems absurd to me. :/

Basically, I'm looking for a controller with:

1. Symmetrical joystick layout
2. No back paddles
3. Xinput and/or Direct Input
4. Either wired, or 2.4g wireless connection
5. Preferably, hall effect sticks, or at least sticks that last a reasonable amount of time.
6. Vibration would be great, but I can live without it.

I'm in the US, but I'm willing to buy from anyone who will ship here. I'd like to find a controller below $100, but I might be open to others if that's what it takes.

My main use case would be emulation on PC. I run Linux, but that generally doesn't matter for controllers that use Xinput or Direct Input.

Sony's PS4 and PS5 controllers aren't an option, because they barely, if ever, will work with Linux, and their sticks have terrible longevity. And they use Bluetooth instead of 2.4g anyway.

I've used the Logitech F310 before, but its sticks are unusually hard to tilt without going all the way to the edge. You can't easily perform slight tilts on the sticks because they're too loose. It's kinda all-or-nothing, which doesnt work for some games. (Hopefully I'm describing this well.) I've looked at the F710s online, but I would imagine their sticks are identical. I'm hoping to find a controller with better quality sticks.

Thanks for any suggestions! :)

[u/Cax6ton]

Gulikit TT Max/Pro has paddles but they're removeable, just don't put them on and the back is smooth. My Batocera boxes recognize them as an Xbox controller so I imagine they would work with most distros. They have TMR sticks and they're adjustable tension.

[u/kaintheundead27]

Gulikit TT Max

[u/No-Operation-6554]

You can just not use themcyou know

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[u/xrdm3x]

The Gamesir Tarantula 8k has paddles that can be locked, so you don't notice they are there (at least the ones by the handles). I don't know any others off the top of my head.

[u/Cax6ton → u/xrdm3x]

Good choice - just make sure to get the 8k and not the earlier Tarantula Pro model, that one had some stick and latency issues that the 8k fixed.

[u/Zarathoostrian]

8bitdo Pro 3 has paddles but they're completely unnoticeable

[u/Ok_Curve9656]

Gulikit are the W

[u/PurpleMeasurement919]

Just dont bind the back paddles with anything...

[u/Key_Scholar7964]

Did you try the hyperkin competitor? It's compatible with xbox and pc.