PXN P5 8K Review: The Next Step?

At the beginning of the year, I had the opportunity to take a look at the PXN P5, a budget controller that was readily available and took a lot of design cues from the Xbox One controller. For $30, it was a solid option, but PXN is back, and asking for an extra $10 to get you their latest update, the PXN P5 8K. While most controllers are getting up to 1000Hz, some are pushing 2000Hz. They’re promising up to 8000Hz in what I’d consider a budget package.

But is it worth the upgrade? That’s what I’m here to figure out.

PXN P5 8K: Specs

While the specs seem impressive, there’s still a lot to look at for just $40. That, and the nicely upgraded black and purple colorway, of course.

Sticks: Capacitive Sticks
Triggers: Hall-Effect
Face Buttons and D-Pad: Membrane Face Buttons, Tactile D-pad
Extra Features: Gyro, M1-M4 Back Buttons, PXN Nexus App, Adjustable Triggers
Battery: 1000mAh
Polling Rate: Up to 8000hz (Wired/2.4ghz)
Connectivity: BT 5.2/Wired/8k 2.4ghz Dongle
Compatibility: PC/iOS/Android/Switch/”Car Infotainment System”
Weight: 213g

Amazon AliExpress

What I Like

The Performance

The big claim to fame is right in the name. The PXN P5 8K isn’t just okay, it’s great. In my testing across multiple games, the 8K simply felt more responsive. Maybe it’s the placebo of having “8K” in the name and specs, or maybe it’s the controllers I’m testing it against, but compared to the Gamesir Super Nova, this felt like a smoother experience.

If you’re a PC gamer specifically, I hope you have a high refresh rate monitor, because you will notice more of a difference when you’ve got more hertz in front of your eyes.

The Sticks and Face Buttons

Starting with the face buttons, you’ve got a situation of “nice but nothing special”. They’re clack,y responsive membranes that remind me of an Xbox controller. They don’t do anything wrong, and you’re happy to have them. They got me through my testing perfectly fine with no actual complaints. And honestly, that’s all I need in face buttons to make me happy.

As for the capacitive sticks, they’re an experience. They’re also smooth and responsive, but thanks to the PXN Nexus app, you can adjust them to exactly what you’re looking for out of a stick. For every type of racing game I could pull out, they worked to the best of their ability, and these alone might be why the experience was just so much smoother.

I’m unsure why they’re going with the name “Capacitive Joystick”, and I’m not sure how they differ from TMR or Hall, but these KSG K-Silver sticks just kind of elevated the experience for me.

The Ergonomics

It’s nearly impossible for a controller company to mess up ergonomics. “Follow something similar to the Xbox or PS5 and you’ll be fine”. If that’s what you want, that’s what you’ve got here. The textured plastic holds my hands well, and the triggers fall right in the perfect spot for my fingers. If you’re looking for a controller with good ergonomics, you’ve got hundreds of choices. I just actually quite like the textured feel of this one.

What I Don’t

The Hair Triggers

Triggers are always a hit or miss when it comes to changing their actuation. As it stands, my favorite in this regard is the GameSir Cyclone 2, which activates a clicky switch when you move over to hair trigger mode. The P5 8K not only doesn’t do that, but it still holds a good bit of travel even on short-throw mode. It’s okay, but for games that can utilize digital triggers instead, I really wouldn’t want to use this on it.

The Back Buttons

In this case, I’m really going to say, only half of the back buttons give me pause. I’ve made it known I’m not a fan of back buttons, and the PXN P5 8K is no different. The unfortunate bit is they haven’t changed it from the original P5. M1 and M2 are easy to reach and clicky to tell you they’ve been activated. M3 and M4 have an awkward rise to them that makes it harder to press. This is despite looking like it’s meant to curve better for your fingers. Overall, I don’t like them.

What’s In the Middle

The D-pad

Out of the entire controller, there was only one thing that I felt incredibly “mid” on, and that’s the D-pad. While most companies have begun moving to tactile, clicky d-pads, it feels like PXN has done it in a different way. You’re looking at short-throw switches that actuate quickly, but still feel like they need a bit more pressure to activate.

Because of that, the tension and the use of the D-pad aren’t my favorite. However, at the same time, the d-pad is ridiculously responsive and didn’t give me a single issue during testing. The only accidental inputs from me during my Celeste Classic runs came from me moving myself too far in one direction. It’s a good d-pad, but one that will only appeal to a certain group of people.

Software

When it comes to software, you don’t get any on PC. What you do get is the PXN Nexus app for Android and iOS. This is the same app as the original P5, but it once again covers everything you need for controller customization. It’s not my favorite thing, but you can easily connect it to your phone and just get your changes made before going back to PC, Switch, or a Car Infotainment System. It’s a nice add-on, and luckily not necessary.

Final Thoughts

For $40, the PXN P5 8K sits in an interesting spot. Controllers around this price range usually come with extra features in the form of external hardware. The Supernova, K20, and D05 all have charging docks. A lot of controllers are also bringing in swappable stick heights and the ability to move around face buttons.

With that in mind, you may think the P5 8K might not offer enough, but it’s changing things up internally. With a higher refresh rate and capacitive sticks, you’re getting a different controller package, not the package around it. I like the P5 8K, and I plan to keep it for further use and testing, but it’s for an audience that knows what they’re looking for. At $40, you’re getting a new experience, but don’t expect to get anything else with it.