Updated: October 9, 2026

Stick drift is why “Hall effect” and “TMR” now show up on controller boxes. Both are magnetic sensing technologies. Here’s what each one is, what the sensor makers actually claim, and four PC controllers that use them.

How we chose: research-based. We used manufacturer pages and sensor-maker technical pages (cited below, checked October 9, 2026, ET). We have not physically tested these controllers.

The short version

• Classic sticks use potentiometers. GameSir describes its TMR sticks as combining “the precise performance and low power consumption of traditional potentiometer sticks with the exceptional durability of Hall Effect sticks” [5].
• Hall effect: a sensor produces a voltage proportional to the strength of a magnetic field [6].
• TMR (tunnel magnetoresistance): the sensor’s electrical resistance changes with the orientation of a magnetic field [6].
• What sensor makers say about TMR vs Hall: for a given field, TMR gives a much larger output signal, “often 100 to 1,000 times larger”, which means a better signal-to-noise ratio [6]. Infineon says its TMR sensors use ultra-low current and names gaming interfaces, joysticks and triggers as applications [8].
• What that means for a controller (our inference): in principle, a TMR stick can read small movements with less noise and use less power, which matters for battery life. How much you notice depends on the controller’s design and firmware, not the sensor type alone.

Hall effect vs TMR at a glance

	Hall effect	TMR
What it senses	Magnetic field strength → proportional voltage [6]	Magnetic field orientation → change in resistance [6]
Signal size (sensor level)	Smaller native signal; needs more gain, which also amplifies noise [6]	“Often 100 to 1,000 times larger” output for the same field [6]; TDK says its TMR sensors’ output is 500 times a Hall element’s [7]
Power (sensor level)	In its current-sensor guidance, Allegro says Hall typically meets the need at lower cost when there are no low-power constraints [6]	Allegro lists battery-powered designs among cases where TMR is typically the better choice [6]; Infineon: “ultra-low current consumption” [8]
Who uses it here	8BitDo Ultimate 2C, GameSir G7 SE (sticks) [1][3]	8BitDo Ultimate 2, GameSir G7 Pro (sticks) [2][4]

The sensor rows describe Allegro’s, TDK’s and Infineon’s own sensor chips [6][7][8], not the sensors inside these controllers. Controller makers don’t publish which sensor chips they use.

Why magnetic sticks are marketed as “anti-drift” (our summary): a potentiometer reads position through physical contact, which can wear over time. Hall and TMR sensors read a magnet’s field instead. GameSir markets its TMR sticks as “anti-drift” [5]. We haven’t seen independent long-term drift data for these models, so treat that as a maker claim.

Side-by-side specs

	8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless	GameSir G7 SE	8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless	GameSir G7 Pro
Sticks	Hall effect [1]	Hall effect [3]	TMR [2]	TMR (“Mag-Res”) [4]
Triggers	Linear Hall effect [1]	Hall effect magnetic sensors [3]	Hall effect, switchable to tactile [2]	Hall effect analog, with Micro Switch trigger stops [4]
PC connection	2.4G wireless or wired (Windows) [1]	Wired only, 3 m detachable USB-C cable [3]	2.4G wireless or wired (Windows) [2]	2.4G wireless or wired [4]
Polling rate (PC)	1000 Hz, 2.4G and wired [1]	Up to 1000 Hz on PC only, with conditions (see below) [9][10][11]	1000 Hz, 2.4G and wired [2]	1000 Hz, 2.4G and wired [4][5]
Xbox console support	No (Windows, Android) [1]	Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, wired [3]	No (Windows, Android, Apple, SteamOS) [2]	Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, wired [4]
Extras	L4/R4 bumpers; 480 mAh battery [1]	2 back buttons; 3.5 mm jack; no battery [3]	Charging dock; 6-axis motion (2.4G mode); L4/R4 + 2 back paddles [2]	Charging dock; gyro (PC only); 1200 mAh battery; 3.5 mm jack [4][5]
Weight	217.5 g [1]	221 g [3]	246 g [2]	272 g [4]
Price tier	Budget	Mid	Mid	Premium

Specs from the maker pages numbered in Sources, checked October 9, 2026 (ET). Battery life and latency figures are the makers’ own claims.

Price tiers are relative to the products in this article. Each tier is based on the maker’s own US store listing, checked October 9, 2026 (ET). We don’t list street or retail prices because they change. “Not assigned” means we couldn’t find a price on the maker’s own US site. Check the current price before you buy.

Hall effect picks

8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless: lowest price tier here

• Hall effect sticks and linear Hall effect triggers [1].
• 1000 Hz polling over 2.4G and wired; 2.4G and wired on Windows, Bluetooth on Android [1].
• 8BitDo claims 19 hours on 2.4G and 32 hours on Bluetooth from a 480 mAh battery [1].
• Trade-off: no Xbox console or Apple support listed [1].

See the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless on 8BitDo

GameSir G7 SE: wired, for Xbox and PC

• GameSir Hall effect sticks; Hall effect triggers [3].
• Wired only, with a 3 m detachable USB-C cable; works with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10/11 [3].
• 2 mappable back buttons, 3.5 mm audio jack, GameSir Nexus software [3].
• Polling rate, with conditions: GameSir’s G7 SE product page advertises 1000 Hz on PC [10]. GameSir’s G7 SE manual says “The Xbox console enforces a 250 Hz polling rate limit, so the 1000 Hz option is only available on PC” [11]. GameSir’s legacy help site shows the report-rate setting changing from 250 Hz to 1000 Hz in a custom profile (the Default profile can’t be customized), and says 1000 Hz needs Windows 11, G7 SE firmware 6.30+, GameSir Nexus 1.2.9+ and a script run as administrator, and the headphone jack is disabled at 500 Hz or 1000 Hz [9].
• Conflicting GameSir info: the same product page says 1000 Hz is “available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections” [10], but GameSir’s G7 SE spec list and manual say it is wired only [3][11]. We go with the spec list.
• Trade-off: no wireless and no battery [3].

See the GameSir G7 SE on GameSir

TMR picks

8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless: TMR on PC, Android and Apple

• TMR sticks with a 12-bit ADC sampling chip; 8BitDo says they consume less power [2].
• Hall effect triggers you can switch to non-linear tactile triggers [2].
• Includes a charging dock and a USB-C 2.4G adapter. 8BitDo says plugging the dock into a Windows PC extends the wireless signal [2].
• Compatibility: Windows 10 (1903)+, Android 13+, SteamOS 3.7.13+, and iOS/iPadOS/tvOS/macOS/visionOS 26+ [2]. Wireless 2.4G and wired are for Windows; Bluetooth is for Android/Apple [2].
• Trade-off: no Xbox console support listed [2]. The mobile gaming clip is sold separately [2].

See the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless on 8BitDo

GameSir G7 Pro: TMR for Xbox and PC

• GameSir Mag-Res TMR sticks; Hall effect analog triggers with Micro Switch trigger stops [4].
• GameSir lists a 12-bit ADC chip, 4096-level joystick resolution and a 5-million-cycle joystick module [4].
• Wired for Xbox; 2.4G and wired for PC; Bluetooth for Android [4][5]. 1000 Hz on PC over wired and 2.4G [5].
• In the box: charging station, receiver, two D-pads, cable retainer and a 3 m USB-C cable [5].
• Trade-off: the highest price tier and the heaviest here (272 g) [4]. Gyro mapping works on PC only [4][5].

See the GameSir G7 Pro on GameSir

Which one fits you?

You want…	Consider
Lowest price tier, PC + Android	8BitDo Ultimate 2C
Wired controller that also works on Xbox	GameSir G7 SE
TMR sticks, PC + Apple + Steam, charging dock	8BitDo Ultimate 2
TMR sticks, wireless on PC + wired on Xbox	GameSir G7 Pro

FAQ

Does a Hall effect or TMR controller never drift?
Makers market them as anti-drift [5], but we haven’t seen independent long-term data for these models. Contact-free sensing removes one common wear point (our summary). It doesn’t rule out other faults.

Is TMR better than Hall effect?
At the sensor level, makers say TMR gives a larger signal and uses less power [6][7][8]. In a controller, firmware, calibration and the stick module matter too, so TMR isn’t automatically better in every model (our inference).

Do I need a high polling rate on a controller?
All four reach 1000 Hz on PC, the G7 SE only with the setup steps above (and not on Xbox, where GameSir says the limit is 250 Hz) [1][2][5][9][10][11]. GameSir’s legacy help site recommends 500 Hz for general gamers and 1000 Hz for professional players [9]. (Planned: Is 8K polling worth it? explains polling rate for mice.)

Real gear for a better everyday.

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Sources (all checked October 9, 2026, ET)

1. 8BitDo, Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller: https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-2c-wireless-controller/
2. 8BitDo, Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller: https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-2-wireless-controller/
3. GameSir, G7 SE (buy page with tech specs): https://gamesir.com/products/gamesir-g7-se/buy
4. GameSir, G7 Pro (buy page with tech specs; overview page): https://gamesir.com/products/gamesir-g7-pro/buy and https://gamesir.com/pages/g7-pro-overview
5. GameSir, FAQ: Questions about G7 Pro: https://gamesir.com/cs/pages/faq-questions-about-g7-pro
6. Allegro MicroSystems, “Hall vs. TMR: How to Match Sensor Technology and Sensing Range to a Specific Current Profile”: https://www.allegromicro.com/en/insights-and-innovations/blogs/current-sensors-series/hall-vs-tmr
7. TDK, TMR Sensors product overview (Tech Library): https://product.tdk.com/en/techlibrary/productoverview/tmr-angle-sensors.html
8. Infineon, XENSIV TMR-based magnetic sensors: https://www.infineon.com/technology/xensiv-tmr-based-magnetic-sensors
9. GameSir Help Center (legacy GameSir help site at doc.xiaoji.com, run by GameSir’s company under its Chinese brand 盖世小鸡 / Xiaoji), “How to Enable the 1000 Hz Setting on G7/G7 SE”: https://doc.xiaoji.com/en/gamesir/detail/1400.html
10. GameSir, G7 SE product page: https://gamesir.com/products/gamesir-g7-se
11. GameSir, G7 SE manual/FAQ: https://gamesir.com/support/manuals/gamesir-g7-se