Updated: September 7, 2026 · AceGamer Editorial

Quick answer — A PS4 controller without a touchpad breaks something in a large share of PS4 games — the map, the inventory, the scoreboard, a gesture — so the touchpad is the first thing to check on any third-party pad. In 2026 the field with a working, clickable touchpad splits into three tiers. The AceGamer HyperShadow D4 ($49.99) is the value pick: touchpad, built-in speaker and headset jack, TMR sticks, four back buttons and console wake, unlicensed. The Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG (about $175–180) and the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro ($199.99, often discounted) are the licensed pro picks with Hall Effect sticks, deep software and PS5 support. Hori's FPS Plus and Nacon's Compact are licensed wired pads with touchpads at lower prices, and budget unlicensed pads at $15 to $40 usually keep the touchpad but pair it with potentiometer sticks. This guide compares them on the touchpad, the rest of the PS4 feature set, sticks and price.

Why does the touchpad matter on a PS4 controller?

Because PS4 games were designed around the DualShock 4, and many assume its touchpad is there. The click opens maps, inventories, journals, scoreboards and photo modes; the surface handles swipes and gestures in a smaller set of titles. A controller without one leaves those functions unreachable, and no amount of stick quality compensates.

The touchpad press is the more important of the two behaviours. Sony gave the DualShock 4 a large clickable pad and developers treated it as an extra button, usually for the one screen a player opens most often. On a pad without it, that screen may be reachable through a menu — or may not be reachable at all. The touch surface matters less often, but where a game uses swipes to page through a menu or two-finger touches for a mechanic, a pad without a surface cannot do it.

That is why this guide starts from the touchpad and works outward. Every pick below has a clickable touchpad. What separates them is the rest of the PS4 feature set — speaker, headset jack, light behaviour, console wake — and then the things any controller buyer weighs: sticks, back buttons, triggers, connection, software and price. The D4's PS4 hardware specifically is covered in using the D4's touchpad and speaker on PS4.

What should you check beyond the touchpad?

Five things, in rough order of how often their absence bites: whether the pad wakes the console, whether it has a headset jack and a speaker, what its sticks are made of, whether it is wired only, and whether its extras depend on an app.

Console wake. Many third-party PS4 pads cannot wake the console from rest mode, which means reaching for the console or a DualShock 4 every session. The D4's manual confirms it wakes the PS4 from the Home button; licensed pro pads generally do; budget pads vary.

Headset jack and speaker. The 3.5 mm jack is how most PS4 players get chat audio; the speaker plays the cues some games send to the pad. Licensed pads and the D4 keep both; some third-party pads drop one or both.

Stick sensor. Potentiometer sticks drift with wear; Hall Effect and TMR sticks are contactless and drift-resistant. Budget PS4 pads are almost all potentiometer; the licensed pro pads are Hall; the D4 is the only TMR option on PS4 in this guide. The technology is explained in what is a TMR joystick?

Wired or wireless. Several licensed pads, including Hori's and Nacon's Compact, are wired only. Fine at a desk, limiting on a sofa.

App dependence. Pro pads route remapping and tuning through software; the D4 sets everything on the controller. Neither is wrong, but a pad whose back buttons need a PC app is less convenient for a console-only player.

PS4 controllers with a touchpad compared

AceGamer D4 figures are from AceGamer's listing and user manual. Competitor figures are paraphrased from the reviews and deal coverage listed under Sources; prices are US list or typical retail at the time of writing and move with sales.

Where a cell shows a dash, the feature is not documented in the coverage consulted and is not claimed either way.

AceGamer HyperShadow D4: the value pick with TMR sticks

The D4 is the pick when you want the full PS4 feature set and pro hardware without a licensed pad's price. It is the only controller in this guide with TMR sticks, and at $49.99 the only one under $100 with a touchpad, speaker, headset jack, four back buttons and console wake together.

In PS4 mode the D4 provides the three pieces of DualShock 4 hardware that matter: a clickable dual-point capacitive touchpad, a built-in speaker, and a 3.5 mm TRRS jack for a headset and microphone. Its manual confirms that pressing Home on a paired D4 wakes the console, that up to four D4s can share one PS4, and that the indicator light syncs with game events. Around that PS4 core it adds what the DualShock 4 never had: JS13Pro TMR joysticks, four back buttons with on-controller macros of up to 24 inputs, two-stage triggers, trigger haptics, Turbo and an FPS zero-dead-zone mode, all set on the controller with no app. And the same $49.99 controller also covers PC, Switch, Switch 2, iOS and Android with a rear mode switch.

The honest limits: it is not Sony-licensed; it does not claim a camera-trackable light bar, so PSVR needs a DualShock 4; it does not support the PS5; it publishes no polling rate, weight or dimensions; and only black is confirmed. Against the licensed pro pads it gives up documented Hall triggers, modularity and software depth. For a PS4 owner who wants a touchpad and better-than-Sony sticks at a third of a pro pad's price, it stands alone. Setup is in how to connect the D4 to a PS4, the full sheet in D4 specs and price, and the assessment in the D4 review.

Turtle Beach Victrix Pro BFG: the licensed modular pick

The Victrix Pro BFG is GamesRadar's top PS4 controller overall, a licensed pro pad with Hall Effect sticks, a touchpad, a headset jack and swappable modules — including a fightpad module — for about $175 to $180. It is the most complete PS4 pro controller and priced accordingly.

GamesRadar's PS4 controller guide ranks the Victrix first, calling it the best gamepad the site had handled in some time and fairly priced for its features — cheaper than Sony's own pro option. Its defining trait is modularity: the stick and D-pad modules swap, and a fightpad module replaces the right stick with six face buttons for fighting games. It supports PS5 and PC as well as PS4.

Where it leads: official licensing, Hall sticks and triggers, the modular system, PS5 support. Where it trails: price — three and a half times the D4 — and a body that reviewers note is larger and heavier than a standard pad. For a PS4 owner who also has a PS5, plays fighting games, and wants the best licensed hardware, it is the pick; for value or a lighter pad, it is not. The PS4 pro tier is set out in the best third-party PS4 controllers.

Nacon Revolution 5 Pro: the licensed tuning pick

The Revolution 5 Pro is the licensed pad for players who want to tune everything: Hall Effect sticks, four rear paddles, trigger stops, Bluetooth audio, a touchpad, a wireless dongle and deep PC software, at $199.99 list and often $130 to $150 on sale.

Coverage of the Revolution 5 Pro is consistent on its strengths. GameRant describes it as targeting PS5 and PC with a dedicated PS4 mode, offering very low wireless latency and extensive customisation, with four remappable rear buttons and swappable stick covers and D-pads, at a premium. TechRadar's deal coverage records it discounted to $149.99 and, at its lowest, $129.99 from a $199.99 list, and notes it was designed with a professional Street Fighter 6 player, with a floating circular D-pad suited to fighting games. Other coverage lists Hall Effect sensors, trigger stops, Bluetooth audio and about ten hours of battery.

Where it leads: licensing, Hall sticks, four paddles, trigger stops, Bluetooth audio, PS5 support and the deepest software of any pad here. Where it trails: list price, software that takes time to learn, and full customisation that runs through a PC app. If you can catch it at $130 to $150 it is the strongest licensed value; at $199.99 the Victrix's modularity competes. Against the D4, it is the better-documented and better-tuned pad; the D4 is the cheaper one with TMR sticks and app-free setup.

Hori FPS Plus: the licensed wired competitive pick

The Hori FPS Plus is a licensed wired pad built for competitive shooters, and GameRant credits it as the first third-party PS4 controller with a clickable touchpad. It keeps the touchpad and drops the light bar and motion sensor, which suits its purpose and limits its scope.

GameRant's description is direct: a bare-bones FPS controller with a clickable touchpad, no light bar and no motion controls, that registers inputs quickly without added latency for competitive PS4 players. It is wired, licensed and inexpensive, and its stick sensors are conventional potentiometers.

Where it leads: licensing at a low price, a competitive layout, and a cable that removes wireless latency. Where it trails: wired only, potentiometer sticks, no speaker documented, no motion, no light bar. For a desk-bound competitive PS4 player who wants a licensed pad with a touchpad and does not mind a cable, it fits; for couch play or drift resistance, the D4 is the better spend.

Nacon Compact: the licensed budget wired pick

Nacon's Compact is a licensed wired PS4 pad with a touchpad, dual vibration and a smaller body suited to younger players or small hands, at a budget price. It is the cheapest route to a licensed touchpad, with the compromises that implies.

The Compact appears in third-party PS4 controller roundups as a licensed, cabled pad with a soft-touch surface, dual vibration motors, an LED player indicator, a touchpad and X-input compatibility on PC. Its sticks are potentiometer, it has no wireless mode, and it is smaller than a DualShock 4 by design. For a second controller for a child, or a licensed backup pad, it does the job; for a primary controller it gives up too much to the D4 and the pro pads.

Budget unlicensed pads: what you get for $15–40

A touchpad, usually a speaker, Bluetooth, and a DualShock-shaped body — paired with potentiometer sticks, variable build quality, and in some cases AA batteries. They are the cheapest way to get a touchpad on a PS4, and drift is the risk that comes with them.

The budget tier is large and mostly interchangeable. Roundups describe pads that connect over Bluetooth, include a speaker and touchpad, offer vibration, and in some cases run on two AA batteries rather than a rechargeable cell. Their sticks are potentiometer almost without exception, which means the drift that a DualShock 4 develops arrives on the same schedule or sooner, and their build is what the price implies. Console wake and headset-jack behaviour vary by model and are rarely documented.

For a spare pad for occasional guests, they are fine. For a primary controller, the D4 at $49.99 is the step up that matters: contactless sticks, a documented feature set, back buttons and a one-year replacement policy. The gap between $30 and $50 is where the PS4 controller market changes from disposable to durable.

The DualShock 4 as the reference

The DualShock 4 remains GamesRadar's best PS4 controller for most people at $69.99, and it is the reference every pad here is measured against: the original touchpad, speaker and jack, the light bar PSVR needs, PS5 support for PS4 games, and Sony's warranty. Its weaknesses are potentiometer sticks, a short battery and micro-USB.

For a PS4 owner who uses PSVR, wants the official controller for system integration, or plays PS4 games on a PS5, the DualShock 4 is still the answer. For everyone else, the question is what it gives up: sticks that drift with wear, roughly four to eight hours of battery with the light bar always on, and no back buttons or trigger modes. The D4 addresses every one of those for $20 less, and the licensed pro pads address them for $100 more, as compared in D4 vs DualShock 4.

What does a Sony licence buy you?

Official integration and PS5 support, not better sticks. Licensed pads are guaranteed to behave as Sony intends in every system menu and to be updated alongside firmware; several also support the PS5. What a licence does not guarantee is contactless sticks — Hori's and Nacon's budget pads are licensed and use potentiometers, while the unlicensed D4 uses TMR.

This is worth stating because "licensed" is often read as "better." It is better for integration and for PS5 owners, and it carries the reassurance of Sony's approval. It says nothing about the stick sensor, the back buttons or the trigger design, which is why the licensed field spans $30 potentiometer pads and $200 Hall Effect pro pads. A buyer choosing on hardware should read the spec sheet; a buyer choosing on integration or PS5 support should choose licensed. The D4's documented PS4 behaviour — wired first pairing, wireless reconnection, console wake, touchpad, speaker, jack, four-controller support — covers what a PS4 player uses day to day, without the licence.

Which should you buy?

The short version: the D4 for the most PS4 feature per dollar and the only TMR sticks on the console; the Victrix or the Nacon for licensed pro hardware and PS5 support; Hori and Nacon Compact for licensed wired budgets; the DualShock 4 for PSVR and official integration. Browse the D4 alongside AceGamer's other PS4-capable pads in PS4 controllers.

View the AceGamer HyperShadow D4 →

Honest caveats

AceGamer D4. Unlicensed; no PS5; no camera-trackable light bar claimed, so no PSVR; no published polling rate, weight or dimensions; only black confirmed; PS4-mode features do not carry to other platforms.

Victrix Pro BFG. $175 and up; larger and heavier than a standard pad; modularity is a cost as well as a feature.

Nacon Revolution 5 Pro. $199.99 at list; software takes time to learn; full customisation needs a PC.

Hori FPS Plus. Wired only; potentiometer sticks; no light bar, no motion; speaker not documented.

Nacon Compact. Wired only; potentiometer sticks; small body is a limit for adult hands.

Budget unlicensed pads. Potentiometer sticks; variable build; some need AA batteries; wake and jack behaviour rarely documented.

DualShock 4. Potentiometer sticks; about 4–8 hours of battery; micro-USB; no back buttons.

All of them. Contactless sticks are drift-resistant, not a guarantee against every fault. Prices move with sales; the Revolution 5 Pro in particular swings by $70. Whether the D4 suits you is the subject of is the AceGamer D4 worth it?

Frequently asked questions

Do third-party PS4 controllers have a touchpad?
Some do and some do not, which is why it is the first thing to check. Every pick in this guide has a clickable touchpad: the AceGamer D4, the Victrix Pro BFG, the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro, the Hori FPS Plus, the Nacon Compact and most budget unlicensed pads. Many generic PS4 pads omit it, and games that use it become awkward or unplayable on them.

What is the best PS4 controller with a touchpad?
For value, the AceGamer D4 at 49.99 dollars: touchpad, speaker, headset jack, TMR sticks, four back buttons and console wake. For licensed pro hardware, the Victrix Pro BFG or the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro, both with Hall Effect sticks and PS5 support at 175 to 200 dollars. For the official pad, the DualShock 4.

Does the AceGamer D4's touchpad work like a DualShock 4's?
Yes, in PS4 mode. It is a capacitive dual-point touchpad that clicks as a button, so games that use it for maps, inventories, gestures and menus behave as they do with a DualShock 4. The D4 also keeps the built-in speaker and 3.5 mm headset jack, and its manual confirms it wakes the console.

Which PS4 controllers with a touchpad have drift-resistant sticks?
The AceGamer D4 with TMR sticks, and the licensed Victrix Pro BFG and Nacon Revolution 5 Pro with Hall Effect sticks. The Hori FPS Plus, Nacon Compact, budget unlicensed pads and the DualShock 4 itself use potentiometer sticks, which wear and drift over time.

Is a licensed PS4 controller better than an unlicensed one?
Licensing guarantees official integration and often PS5 support; it does not guarantee better hardware. Licensed budget pads from Hori and Nacon use potentiometer sticks, while the unlicensed D4 uses TMR. Choose licensed for PS5 or PSVR needs; choose on the spec sheet for sticks, back buttons and triggers.

Do PS4 controllers with a touchpad also have a speaker and headset jack?
Not always. The D4 and the DualShock 4 have both. The Victrix and Nacon pro pads document a headset jack; the Hori and Nacon Compact wired pads do not document a speaker. Budget pads often include a speaker but vary on the jack. Check each feature separately rather than assuming the set travels together.

Can a third-party PS4 controller wake the console?
Some can. The AceGamer D4's manual confirms that pressing Home on a paired D4 wakes the PS4 from sleep. Licensed pro pads generally do. Many budget pads cannot, and the behaviour is rarely documented, so treat it as unconfirmed unless the maker states it.

Do these controllers work with PSVR?
The DualShock 4 does, through its camera-tracked light bar. The D4 describes in-game light sync on its indicator but not a camera-trackable light bar, so PSVR is not claimed for it. The Hori FPS Plus has no light bar at all. For PSVR, keep a DualShock 4.

Which PS4 controller with a touchpad also works on PC and Switch?
The AceGamer D4 covers PS4, PC, Switch, Switch 2, iOS and Android with a rear mode switch, though the touchpad, speaker and jack are PS4-mode features. The Victrix and Nacon pro pads cover PS4, PS5 and PC. The wired Hori and Nacon Compact work on PC via X-input.

Are cheap PS4 controllers with a touchpad worth buying?
As a spare for occasional guests, yes - a touchpad and speaker from 15 dollars is hard to argue with. As a primary controller, no: potentiometer sticks drift on the same schedule as a DualShock 4 or sooner, build quality varies, and some need AA batteries. The D4 at 49.99 dollars is where durability and features begin.

Sources & methodology

AceGamer HyperShadow D4 specifications are from AceGamer's official listing and its V2.1 user manual as of September 2026. Victrix Pro BFG, Nacon Revolution 5 Pro, Hori FPS Plus and Nacon Compact details are paraphrased from the GamesRadar and GameRant PS4 controller guides and TechRadar's deal coverage linked below; budget-tier characteristics reflect the common pattern across third-party roundups. Prices are US list or typical retail at the time of writing and move with sales. Where a feature is not documented in the coverage consulted, the comparison table shows a dash and no claim is made. No test measurements were taken.

• GamesRadar — the best PS4 controllers.
• GameRant — the best controllers for PS4.
• TechRadar — Nacon Revolution 5 Pro deal coverage.
• AceGamer HyperShadow D4 — product page · specs & price · touchpad & speaker on PS4.
• Category — AceGamer PS4 controllers · best third-party PS4 controllers.