What is the best/cheap wireless controllers for retropie from Aliexpress?

[Zombie101]

I need some controllers for my RPi3 that are wireless and cheap (Need to be less than 10$ with shipping to avoid import tax)

I found https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/2080/what-wireless-controllers-are-you-using-for-retro-gaming/15

With

**"eweek 8 months ago

I have the fake ps3 controller from aliexpress work very good with me"**

But can someone provide a link to one sub10$ and free shipping?`

Would be nice if it works out of the box with Retropie

[herb_fargus]

@Zombie101 let me just tell you right now: with Ali Express... You get what you pay for.

[PetroRie]

@herb_fargus I got a cigar case via Ali Express and the quality of the case is very good. There is a famous brand which makes cigar accessoires and I noticed that this case is exact the same as theirs, same build quality the only difference is that you're paying 80 EUR for their brand while I got the case for 18 EUR incl shipping. They do the same with the other cigar accessoires.

But with electronics, yes you're right. You can't expect much from a 10USD controller. In the long term you'll lose only more money on the controllers better to buy a good quality controller like a PS4 controller or a 8bitdo one.

@Zombie101 I think its not worth it at all. You better get a good quality controller; yes it might cost you around 60USD probably but it will work for many years. I can recommend you the PS4 controller, good build quality and it's the perfect controller if you want to play PSX games.

If you still want to buy it from AE just contact the seller and tell him to put a lower quote price on the customs forms. This is a common practice in China and Hong Kong and tell them to send it as a gift, in some countries they won't tax anything that has been imported as a gift. Most sellers do it without asking for it.

[mediamogul]

@herb_fargus said in What is the best/cheap wireless controllers for retropie from Aliexpress?:

let me just tell you right now: with Ali Express... You get what you pay for.

Also, the actual items sometimes vary in appearance.

[herb_fargus]

@mediamogul well your post has made my day.

I've purchased many a thing from AliExpress but I can attest that all of the electronics I purchased are very subpar and very few are currently functioning. None made it past a year but if you don't mind throwing away a few quid and waiting a month or two for shipping then give it a try but for Bluetooth I'd stick with a known brand and pay a little more

[mediamogul]

@herb_fargus

I've had good experiences in the past ordering directly from established Chinese companies and even certain Chinese distribution marketplaces that I've researched as having a good reputation. However, I've heard enough negative comments directed toward AliExpress over the years to ever consider using it to purchase any electronics.

[kudaba]

Ordered my 8bitdo controller from ali express and it works great. So far everything I got from there has worked fine including two pis.

[rsimmy]

@Zombie101
My dad has this one and it's worked for him for a few years. He doesn't do any intensive gaming though, usually uses it for old DOS games on his laptop and stuff.

https://m.aliexpress.com/s/item/32703335359.html#autostay