5 Reasons Why a Controller Is the Best Gaming Laptop Accessory, and It's Not Even Close

Handheld gaming devices may be all the rage, but you can't deny that gaming laptops give you a better gaming experience. They are more powerful, have larger screens, and can also be used as a productivity tool when you're not gaming. They also tend to have more ports than regular laptops, which is handy if you want to use accessories. But in my opinion, there is one accessory you should buy before any other, and that is a great gaming controller. No matter what kind of games you like to play, using a controller on a gaming laptop makes the gaming experience better.

5 You get more responsive controls

Laptop input devices are simply not enough

With a few exceptions, even the best gaming laptops have poor controls for gaming. The vast majority use keyboards with scissor switches and shallow chiclet keyboard spacing that doesn't offer much tactile feedback for your finger placement. That's not great for typing, let alone controlling hectic movements in games. Even the few laptops that offer mechanical keyboards with Cherry MX switches, like the Alienware m18 R2, still have fairly shallow keyboards, even if they offer the excellent typing feel that every mechanical keyboard fan wants. It's still going to be less precise than using a controller's joystick.

So movement feels better with controllers, but what about controlling the camera or aiming? Again, this is much better with a controller, as the analog joysticks are much more responsive and easier to control than the touchpad on a gaming laptop. Have you ever tried playing a first person shooter with the touchpad? It's not fun, and I used to play FPS games using the keyboard as gaze control. I'm not saying that a controller is the only input device you should use with a gaming laptop, as there is a whole world of exciting keyboards, mice, and other accessories out there. But when gaming on the go, a controller takes up less space than a keyboard and mouse, and plus you can use all your USB ports for other things.

4 Rumble makes the game even more intense

When was the last time your keyboard moved you?

One of my favorite features of game controllers is haptic feedback, also known as rumble. It's been a staple of game consoles since the Nintendo N64, and allows for a level of immersion that keyboard and mouse players miss. There's nothing like the feel of the virtual road surface in racing games or the hard thuds of explosions. Modern game controllers also have haptic feedback on the triggers, so you can feel things like the tension of your bowstrings. Some games even use vibration feedback to let you know if you're being stealthy enough when walking crouched down, or if you're about to be spotted by a security guard for making too much noise.

While it's an important feature for me, I know not every gamer likes vibration. Competitive gamers often turn it off or even remove the motors so the vibration doesn't get in the way of their aim during firefights. In Windows, you can turn vibration off via software, so you can use the haptic feedback in titles where you want it, but not in games where it would be distracting.

3 External mice have a big problem

You may not find a flat surface

We've already established that using the trackpad on any gaming laptop for gaming is doomed to failure. While you could use a lightweight gaming mouse, which is what I do at my desk, the portable nature of gaming laptops means you're often missing a key part of that equation. You need a large enough flat surface to use your mouse on, which often makes it all but useless when you're out of the office.

Gaming controllers don't have this problem and will work whether you're sitting in the backseat of your car, in a cafe, or on your sofa. Sure, shooters are easier to control with a keyboard and mouse, allowing you to pull off crazy shots with a wave of your hand. But if you don't have room to use the mouse, having something other than the trackpad at your disposal will make your day better.

2 Controllers are more versatile

Can your gaming mouse switch between devices with the touch of a button?

Gaming on the go is all about convenience, and that means ditching anything that requires a wired connection. Gaming mice mostly use dongles that take up one of your precious USB ports. But that's not all. Using 2.4GHz instead of Bluetooth makes this gaming mouse less versatile when it comes to use. Gaming controllers often have Bluetooth as one of their wireless connection options, and that means versatility.

With a press of the pairing button, you can switch from using this controller with your gaming laptop to using it with your smartphone – or any other device that uses Bluetooth as an input method, like streaming boxes, smart TVs, or tablets. The point is that you can carry one accessory with your gaming laptop and control multiple devices if you want. Of course, when deciding what to pack in your laptop bag, the fewer accessories the better.

1 You can connect several

Your movement, keyboard and mouse

Gaming is great, but playing with a friend is even better. With a gaming laptop and two controllers, you can enjoy the same couch co-op experience as you do with consoles. In most cases, you'll need to use a combination of connection options, as Windows doesn't really support using more than one controller over Bluetooth. There is a workaround that involves using a Bluetooth adapter and plugging a controller into each Bluetooth connection, but it's easier to use other methods. You can use a USB cable and still get the same experience; though, you'll need to sit close to the laptop to see the screen properly anyway. You can also use the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows, which can connect up to eight controllers using Xbox controllers' Wi-Fi Direct connectivity.

Without a controller, local multiplayer on a gaming laptop is simply not possible. Even connecting an external mouse and keyboard will just override the built-in input devices, and there aren't many modern games that can be controlled by two players using the same keyboard.

Gaming on the go is much easier with a controller

Whether you want to avoid a trackpad and laptop keyboard or play head-to-head games with a friend, it's easier to use a gaming controller with your gaming laptop. It's my preferred way to play, although I don't often play competitive shooters where you might prefer a different control scheme. These games are best played over wired internet connections, which is harder on gaming laptops. In any case, if you don't already have a controller, consider this your sign from the universe to get one – you won't regret it.