Input Latency Test
Test input latency and measure analog pressure levels
How to use the latency tester
The latency tester measures the delay between pressing a button on your controller and the moment that signal arrives in the browser. Every millisecond counts — especially in fast-paced games where timing is everything. Here is how to run the test correctly and get a meaningful reading.
USB gives the lowest and most stable latency reading. Bluetooth adds natural variation.
Press the start button in the tester to begin measuring input timing
Press any button quickly and consistently — the tester records each press timing
Run at least 10 presses and check the average — single readings can vary
Always average your results. A single latency reading is not reliable — close background apps and browser tabs before testing for the cleanest numbers. Run 15 to 20 button presses and use the average figure. A one-off spike does not mean your controller has high latency. A consistently high average does.
What is controller input lag?
Input lag is the total delay between the moment you physically press a button and the moment that action registers. For controllers, this delay comes from three things working in sequence: the button sends a signal to the controller's internal processor, the processor packages that signal and sends it to your PC or console, and then the device receives and reads it.
In everyday gaming the whole process happens in milliseconds — so fast you would never consciously notice a single press. But when that delay is consistently high, it stacks up. Your shots feel like they fire a fraction late. Your jumps land slightly off. Your reactions feel slightly behind. It is one of those problems that is hard to name but immediately obvious when it is fixed.
This test measures controller-to-browser latency only. Your total gaming input lag also includes your display latency, your USB or Bluetooth stack, and your game's own input processing. This test isolates the controller's contribution — which is the one part you can directly test and improve.
How to read your latency results
Latency is measured in milliseconds (ms). Lower is better. Here is how to interpret what the tester is showing you.
This is wired controller territory. Your inputs are reaching the device almost instantly. At this level, the controller is not adding any meaningful delay to your gameplay. As good as it gets.
Typical for wireless controllers over Bluetooth or 2.4GHz dongles. Perfectly fine for most games and most players. Competitive players may notice it in fast-paced titles but it is not a real problem.
Something is adding delay. Could be a weak Bluetooth connection, low battery, USB interference or background software. Worth investigating — see the fixes section below for what to check first.
What is polling rate and why does it matter?
Polling rate is how many times per second your controller sends data to your PC or console. It is measured in Hertz (Hz). A controller with a polling rate of 125Hz sends 125 updates every second — one every 8 milliseconds. A controller with a polling rate of 1000Hz sends 1000 updates every second — one every millisecond.
Higher polling rate means more frequent updates and lower maximum latency. Standard controllers run at 125Hz. High-end competitive controllers like the Xbox Elite Series 2 and certain third-party controllers run at 250Hz or higher when wired. The difference is most noticeable when making very fast repeated inputs — rapid-fire presses, quick flicks, or fighting game combos where timing precision is everything.
| Polling Rate | Update Interval | Typical Controller | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 Hz | 8ms per update | Most standard wired controllers | Casual and everyday gaming |
| 250 Hz | 4ms per update | Xbox Elite, some third-party | Competitive gaming, fighting games |
| 500 Hz | 2ms per update | High-end PC gaming controllers | Esports, frame-perfect inputs |
| 1000 Hz | 1ms per update | Top-tier competitive controllers | Maximum precision, professional play |
Wired vs wireless — which has less input lag?
The short answer is that wired always wins on latency — but the gap is smaller than most people think for modern wireless technology.
The fastest and most consistent connection. A USB wired controller typically delivers 4–8ms of input latency with almost zero variation between presses. No interference, no battery drain affecting signal quality, no wireless stack adding delay. If latency is your priority, wired is always the answer.
The best wireless option. Xbox and PlayStation's proprietary wireless receivers use 2.4GHz radio which is significantly faster than Bluetooth. Latency typically sits between 8–12ms — close enough to wired that the difference is imperceptible in casual and most competitive play.
The most convenient but highest latency wireless option. Bluetooth typically adds 10–16ms of latency. The bigger issue is variation — Bluetooth latency is less consistent than 2.4GHz, with occasional spikes when other devices interfere. Fine for casual gaming, noticeable in competitive play.
How to reduce controller input lag
If your latency reading came back higher than expected, here are the most effective fixes to try — starting with the simplest.
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Switch to USB. If you are currently on Bluetooth, plug in a cable. This is the single biggest latency improvement you can make. Most modern controllers support wired play even if they are primarily wireless — the cable usually drops latency by 4–10ms instantly.
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Charge your battery. A low battery weakens the wireless signal and forces the controller to retransmit more frequently, adding latency. Controllers on 10–20% battery can show noticeably higher and more variable latency than a fully charged one.
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Move closer to the receiver. Wireless latency increases with distance and interference. If your USB dongle is at the back of your PC, move it to the front or use a short USB extension cable to bring it closer to where you sit.
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Close background apps. Other software that reads controller input — like Steam, Discord overlay, or third-party controller mappers — can add processing delay between the controller signal and your game. Closing these reduces the number of things competing to read your input.
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Update your controller firmware. Both Xbox and PlayStation release firmware updates for their controllers. These sometimes include latency improvements and communication protocol optimisations. Xbox controllers update through the Xbox Accessories app on Windows. PS5 DualSense updates through the PS5 console or PlayStation support software on PC.
Why controller latency matters more than people realise
The human brain can detect input lag of as little as 10ms in some tasks — which means the difference between a 4ms wired connection and a 16ms Bluetooth connection is something skilled players genuinely feel, even if they cannot name what is off. It shows up as shots that feel slightly late, jumps that do not feel crisp, and blocks or parries in fighting games that seem to miss by a frame despite correct timing.
For casual players, latency above 16ms is mostly invisible. For players pushing into higher skill brackets — ranked play, competitive modes, fighting games, or precision platformers — getting your controller latency as low as possible removes one more variable from your performance. It does not make you a better player but it stops the hardware from holding you back.
Run this test on every controller you use regularly. A controller that reads 8ms when new might creep up to 14ms after a year of heavy wireless use as the battery ages. Catching that change lets you decide whether to replace the battery, switch to wired, or upgrade the controller before the lag starts costing you in-game.