Acer PGR300 Wireless Gaming Controller
Available now
The PGR300 is Acer’s wireless gaming controller. At around £70, it does have stiff competition, but let’s see how it holds up against some very solid opposition.
The PGR300 comes with a decent spec list on the box, including dual vibration motors, a gyroscope, hall‑effect analog sticks, 0.1mm analog triggers, ergonomic grips, interchangeable thumbsticks, and 25‑hour battery life. It’s also claimed to be very durable, with a whopping 3 million button presses.
We will cover build quality first and out of the box the controller feels solid but very plasticky, We currently have a Gamesir Cyclone 2 and it just doesn’t match up to the feel which isn’t a great start with the Gamesir coming in at less than the PGR300 at around £55 and this model also includes a charging dock.
It isn’t all bad, though, and some people will definitely like the ergonomics of the PGR300. The connectivity is solid from our testing on both Bluetooth and through the wireless dongle. The dongle is stored inside the controller under where the batteries are put in, with a little pull tab to help remove it.
One strong point is the controller’s different connectivity options; the PGR300 can be used with Bluetooth, RF Wireless, Nintendo Switch, IOS and Android, making it a very solid all-in-one controller for a lot of people.
While mentioning batteries, this is another area that puts it behind the Gamesir. Acer have sadly decided to go with two AA batteries when most others at this price point or even cheaper have gone with the much better battery packs, eliminating the need to keep getting new batteries or rechargeables. The battery life is advertised at around 25 hours, but this isn’t an issue if you have spares around, as they are changed very quickly and easily.
On to the performance of the controller, and the hall effect sticks feel great! They feel very smooth and free from drift, which can only be seen as a huge plus. Also included are different stick caps to suit the user’s style of play and comfort. This is a good inclusion and very easy to change by just pulling the stick off and replacing it with the stick of choice.
Vibration felt solid with its two motors and did the job well, nothing ground-breaking over the competition, but it did enough. The Gyro control is a nice addition and worked well when we tried it. Some users will never use this feature, but it’s good to have it there just in case.
RGB lighting is very basic, with only the Predator logo lighting up and the small arrows at the bottom of the controller. Some users will prefer this as RGB isn’t for everyone!
Verdict:
The Acer Predator PGR300 is a well‑rounded wireless controller with solid build quality, wireless flexibility, hall‑effect precision sticks/triggers and gyro motion. It’s a strong option for multi‑platform usage, including PC and Nintendo Switch.
The PGR300 is a hard sell against competition in its price range, or in a few cases, even under it. No built-in rechargeable battery pack, spongy feeling buttons, D-Pad and a plasticky feel all make it feel like it’s a little overpriced for what it is.
A bit like our review of the Aethon 700 keyboard leaves you feeling like a few small tweaks, and the next variant could be in a solid position to do well in its category!
Score:
6.7/10
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The controller was loaned to us for our honest and unbiased review.
Pros
- Hall effect sticks feel great
- Triggers are comfortable and accurate
- Lots of connectivity options, PC, Switch, IOS and Android
Cons
- Spongy buttons and D-pad
- Plasticky feel
- No built in rechargeable battery pack
- Cost, others in price range offer more and sometimes at an even lower cost.
