Acer Predator controller review: a few years out of date

Acer Predator controller: one-minute review

The Acer Predator controller is more than a little disappointing given the brand’s track record of producing high-quality gaming hardware. It’s apparent that this is one of Acer’s first forays into the realm of gaming controllers, as the Predator is pretty bare-bones for what it offers in terms of features. That, and its overall build quality, leaves something to be desired.

Much of this could be forgiven if it wasn’t for the Predator’s retail price. It comes similarly priced to some of the best PC controllers and best Nintendo Switch controllers, including the GameSir Tarantula Pro and the 8BitDo Ultimate. But unlike those, the Acer Predator hardly does anything to stand out from the crowd.

Don’t expect remappable buttons, trigger locks, or even basics like a good overall build quality here; the Predator’s closest analog is probably the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. And even there, Nintendo’s official pad has the Predator beat on both build and battery life.

This isn’t to say the Acer Predator isn’t at least worth a look. It still gets plenty of things right. Hall effect sticks allow for a controller that could last you years, and it does support Switch-friendly features like gyro aiming for games like Splatoon 3. It is a bit lamentable that the Predator requires AA batteries to be used wirelessly, but both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity are supported here and overall battery life is pretty decent at around 20 hours on average.

In summary, if you’re after a simple, no-frills controller similar to the official Nintendo Switch option, the Acer Predator might just be for you. However, when its peers are handily one-upping it in terms of design, features, and performance – often at the same price or less – it probably shouldn’t be at the top of your list.

Acer Predator controller: Price and availability

• £69.99 (around $87.99 / AU$139.99)
• Purchasable from Acer’s website in certain regions
• Limited overall availability, with the controller seemingly not available in the US

While the Acer Predator controller seems to be unavailable (at time of writing) in the US, it is available for £69.99 in the UK and can be purchased from Acer’s own website. Unlike most other third-party controllers, availability (at the time of writing) appears to be extremely limited. The controller isn’t listed at retailers like Amazon, Argos, or John Lewis in the UK. Moreover, Acer itself doesn’t have a store page for the controller in the US or Australia.

In terms of price, the Acer Predator is fairly competitive when you consider that many other top controllers fall within that £60-£70 price bracket. As mentioned, though, it’s not the most complete feeling controller out there when compared to other pads in this range. It would have been a more attractive purchasing option, I feel if it came in at £10 or even £15 cheaper than its current retail price.

Acer Predator controller: specs

Acer Predator controller: design and features

• Simple, but nonetheless eye-catching sci-fi-esque livery
• Lacking in build quality in comparison to its competitors
• D-pad and triggers feel noticeably spongy

Starting off with the positives, I really like the aesthetic touches on the Acer Predator controller. It’s emblazoned with cool sci-fi-looking patterns that definitely lend it some unique identity, but it’s understated enough to not stand out in a garish way. The bumpers up top also offer a soft, tactile clicky feel. Thumbsticks also feel great here with a comfortable amount of concavity for your thumbs to firmly rest on.

Other aspects of the controller don’t fare as well. The d-pad and face buttons have an overly mushy feel. It doesn’t help that the former is extremely basic and rather flat in design which did make for an occasional mispress during gameplay. Triggers, meanwhile, did grow on me after some time, but these are fairly wide and offer an unsatisfyingly spongy feel. A pretty mixed bag overall, then, in terms of buttons and modules.

It’s also worth noting that the Acer Predator’s 2.4GHz dongle is not separate in the box. Rather, it’s housed within the controller’s onboard battery compartment. So make sure you’re taking that out first before inserting any AA batteries if you’re planning to use it wirelessly on PC.

It’s a slightly strange choice for a controller, and it does take a little bit of wrestling to release it from the controller’s slot. But it does at least offer a safe way to store the dongle to prevent you from losing it when not in use.

Acer Predator controller: performance

• Hall effect thumbsticks make for a long-lasting controller
• Well-developed rumble that offers a robust and impactful play experience
• Battery life is decent but may vary depending on your battery brand of choice

Design issues aside, the Acer Predator does perform admirably as a controller, with few notable faults. Despite the pad feeling outdated in some aspects, I’m grateful for the inclusion of Hall effect sticks first and foremost. This will make for a long-lasting gamepad that’s resistant to stick drift issues. On that front alone, the Predator is worth considering if you’re tired of cycling through controllers on a semi-regular basis.

What surprised me most here is the Predator’s incredibly effective rumble tech. It’s not exactly haptic feedback a la the PS5’s DualSense wireless controller, but it feels significantly less flat than many other controllers in this regard.

Playing action-heavy titles like Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, I was really impressed with the impactful register of sword swipes and other special abilities. It’s a well-rounded vibration that successfully adds a good layer of immersion to whichever game you’re playing. However, you still may wish to switch off vibrations for competitive play as I do feel such a strong rumble could disrupt things like aim or other desired inputs.

The Acer Predator controller also matches many of its peers on compatibility and connection types. It works with Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices (both Android and iOS) and supports 2.4GHz and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, as well as USB-C for wired connections. Switch compatibility is an especially big plus here, as I feel the Acer Predator makes for a decent alternative to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

Battery life is also pretty decent overall. Acer’s own website states you’ll get around 25 hours here, but this will of course vary based on the AA battery brand used. The controller comes with a pair of Energizer AA batteries included in the box. With these, I managed to get around 20 hours of playtime before needing to swap them out. Again this will vary based on brand and the types of games you play, but this is an overall decent number that means you shouldn’t have to swap out batteries too often.

Should I buy the Acer Predator controller?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider…

If the Acer Predator is proving to be a hard sell, refer to the table below in which we compare its specs to two other great controllers.

How I tested the Acer Predator controller

• Tested for one week
• Platforms tested: Nintendo Switch, PC
• Compared to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and 8BitDo Ultimate

I tested the Acer Predator controller over the course of a week, hopping between PC and Nintendo Switch. By doing this, I was able to test multiple connection types from 2.4GHz to Bluetooth and wired, while also sampling a wide range of excellent games including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Astral Chain, Zenless Zone Zero, and Wuthering Waves.

While certainly far from the best controller I’ve ever tested, it did eventually somewhat win me over thanks to its broad compatibility, strong rumble tech, and impressive battery life – even if I’m not personally a fan of having to rely on AA batteries for wireless play.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025