Google Stadia Controller

Inner Dead Zone

The Inner Dead Zone is the area around the center of the stick where small movements are not registered. This helps prevent stick drift or accidental inputs, but if the dead zone is too large, it can make aiming less precise, especially in games requiring fine control. We evaluate the Inner Dead Zone based on how much you need to move the stick before it responds—the less movement required, the better.

The Google Stadia Controller has a moderate Inner Dead Zone. You need to push the stick a bit more to get a response, which can make micro-movements less precise. This might be noticeable in games like shooters or platformers where small adjustments are key.

For comparison, many budget gamepads often have a moderate to large Inner Dead Zone, while premium controllers typically aim for a slight or no dead zone for better precision.

Want to learn more? Check out our video explanation of how the Inner Dead Zone works.

Outer Dead Zone

The Outer Dead Zone refers to the portion of the joystick’s physical range where the stick has already reached its maximum input (100% deflection) in software, but you can still physically move it further. This creates a mismatch: you might feel like you haven’t fully deflected the stick, even though you’re already at maximum speed or distance in-game. A larger Outer Dead Zone reduces the usable range of motion, making control feel less intuitive and precise.

The Google Stadia Controller has an Outer Dead Zone rated as low (0.2 mm). This is excellent! A low Outer Dead Zone means the stick’s physical range closely matches its input range, giving you intuitive and precise control. This is ideal for games where maximum deflection matters, like quick camera turns in shooters (e.g., Apex Legends) or sharp steering in racing games.

For comparison, high-quality gamepads typically have an Outer Dead Zone of 0.6 mm or less, ensuring the physical and input ranges align well, while some budget or older models can have values exceeding 1.0 mm, leading to a less intuitive control experience.

Want to learn more? Check out our video explanation of how the Outer Dead Zone works.

Stick Resolution

The Stick Resolution measures how many distinct positions the joystick can register between its center and the outermost edge. For the Google Stadia Controller, this value is 127 positions (based on an average step size of 0.00787). Think of it like the smoothness of your control: the more positions, the more precise and fluid your movements will feel in-game.

This is an excellent result! With 127 positions, you’ll get smooth and precise control, making it ideal for games requiring fine adjustments, like aiming in shooters (e.g., Valorant) or steering in racing games.

Note: The calculation is based on an average resolution, but in practice, the resolution can vary and may not have clearly defined movement segments. Some gamepads don’t have a constant resolution (e.g., step sizes like 0.0078 or 0.0150), so the actual number of positions might differ slightly.

Want to learn more? Check out our video explanation of how Stick Resolution works.

Asymmetry Index

The Asymmetry Index measures how unevenly the joystick moves in different directions (left-right vs. up-down). A higher index means the stick’s deflection is less balanced, which can lead to inconsistent movements, especially during small, precise adjustments. This parameter is particularly important for aiming or other fine movements that typically use 25-60% of the joystick’s range.

For the Google Stadia Controller, the Asymmetry Index is 0.8% for the left stick and 7.9% for the right stick. This is excellent! A low Asymmetry Index ensures balanced and consistent movements, making it ideal for precision tasks like aiming in shooters (e.g., Valorant) or making small adjustments in platformers.

For comparison, high-quality gamepads typically have an Asymmetry Index below 10%, ensuring balanced movement, while some budget or older models can exceed 20%, leading to a less consistent control experience.

Want to learn more? Check out this post to understand how the Asymmetry Index is measured.

Circle Error

The Circle Error measures how accurately the joystick moves in a circular path when you push it to its extreme diagonal positions. A high Circle Error means the stick’s movement isn’t perfectly circular, which can lead to inconsistent inputs in games. The lower the error, the better the stick’s performance.

For the Google Stadia Controller, the Circle Error is 7.3% for the left stick and 6.8% for the right stick. These are great results! Most high-quality gamepads aim for a Circle Error below 8%, so you’re unlikely to notice any issues, even in games requiring precise diagonal movements, like racing or fighting games.

For comparison, budget gamepads often have a Circle Error above 10%, while premium controllers typically aim for 5% or lower for smoother control.

Want to learn more? Check out our video explanation of how Circle Error works.

Stick Centering

Stick Centering measures how accurately the joystick returns to its neutral (center) position after you release it. A good Stick Centering value prevents stick drift—a common issue where your character or camera moves slightly in a game, even when you're not touching the stick. The lower the percentage, the better the centering, and the less likely you are to experience drift.

For the Google Stadia Controller, the Stick Centering is 0% for the left joystick and 0% for the right stick. These are excellent results, as most high-quality gamepads typically have values below 2%. This means the Google Stadia Controller is unlikely to have any drift, making it a great choice for games requiring precise control, like shooters or racing titles.

Warning: The Stick Centering appears to be ideal (extremely low values, close to 0%), but this may be misleading due to the presence of an Inner Dead Zone (rated as 'med'). The Inner Dead Zone prevents small movements from being registered, which can mask potential drift and make the centering seem better than it actually is. This could affect micro-control in precision-heavy games, such as competitive shooters.

Want to learn more? Check out our video explanation of how Stick Centering works.

Stick Skipping

The Stick Skipping is a rare but serious issue where the joystick doesn’t move smoothly from its center position. Instead of a gradual response, the stick 'skips' and instantly jumps to a noticeable deflection (e.g., 10-20%) as soon as you start moving it. This makes small, precise adjustments extremely difficult, as the stick lacks the fine control needed for subtle movements.

The Google Stadia Controller exhibits this issue, which is a serious drawback. This skipping behavior can significantly affect your performance in games requiring precise inputs, such as aiming in shooters (e.g., Valorant) or making small adjustments in platformers. For example, when trying to fine-tune your aim, the stick might jump too far, throwing off your accuracy.

For comparison, Stick Skipping is more common in budget or older gamepads, where manufacturing tolerances may not be as tight. High-quality controllers from brands like Sony or Microsoft typically avoid this issue, ensuring smooth and gradual movement from the center.

Note: If you’re experiencing this issue, you might try recalibrating the gamepad through software (if available) or contacting the manufacturer for support, as this could indicate a hardware defect.

Want to learn more? Check out our video explanation of how Stick Skipping affects performance.

Disclaimer

We tested the Google Stadia Controller gamepad using a single unit, so keep in mind that other units of this model might perform slightly better or worse. In most cases, these differences are minor and shouldn’t affect your experience significantly. The results were obtained with the Joystick Tester program, and some values might vary if you use different software or testing methods.

Testing conditions, such as the gamepad’s firmware version (FW: unknown) or connection type, can also influence the results. If you have this gamepad, we’d love for you to share your own test results! This will help us build a more comprehensive picture of the Google Stadia Controller’s performance across different units.