TL;DR
Hori's Mini Wired Gamepad is a budget-friendly, officially licensed PS4 controller perfect for kids and those with smaller hands. It's built tough and offers responsive controls for most PS4 games, but its wired nature and lack of a headphone jack are significant drawbacks. While convenient for younger users, the cable can be a hazard, and the absence of a touchpad and speaker limits functionality in certain games. Despite its compromises, it's a solid entry-level option if you can overlook the tether. Discover if this compact controller is the right fit for your gaming setup – read the full review!
(See our video review with ratings of the Hori Mini Wired Gamepad above!)
Japanese Hori is a well-regarded name among gamers, having produced several excellent gamepads over the years, including the Hori Arcade Stick Mini, which remains our preferred controller for playing arcade classics on RetroPie. The Hori Wired Mini Gamepad is a wired controller designed primarily for children and users with smaller hands. Boasting vibrant colors, robust construction, and responsive controls, it offers several advantages, although certain limitations prevent it from achieving top-tier status.
This gamepad, officially licensed by Sony, connects directly to the PS4’s USB port for immediate use. This true plug-and-play functionality represents a key advantage of wired connections. The controller exhibits a sturdy and durable feel during gameplay, while maintaining a light and stable profile. It appears capable of withstanding minor impacts and less-than-gentle use (within reasonable limits; excessive force may shorten its lifespan), making it suitable for younger users.
PS4 Controller Suited for Children
However, the combination of cables and children can present challenges, even with a generously sized three-meter cable. While plug-and-play offers initial convenience, a wireless controller paired via Bluetooth provides a superior experience overall, requiring only a one-time setup. Cables introduce the potential risk of accidentally pulling the console or damaging the USB port. Therefore, we advise against unsupervised use by very young children.
Aside from the cable, the most significant omission is the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. Its absence is notable, considering its relatively low cost and ease of integration during manufacturing. Another compromise is the lack of a touch pad, rendering games that rely on touch input unusable (though these are few in number). The function of pressing the touchpad, for example, to access the map in Witcher 3, is retained via a small, rectangular button. Furthermore, the controller lacks a built-in speaker (as found in the Dual Shock 4) and the front light bar (required for motion-based games and VR).
On the other hand, the Hori Mini Wired Gamepad is perfectly suitable for approximately 90% of the PS4’s extensive game library, and the control precision and responsiveness are ideally suited for smaller hands. If you have children in the 6-7 year old range through adolescence, or if you personally find standard controllers too large and unwieldy, the Hori Wired Mini Gamepad is a viable option. However, it necessitates certain trade-offs, with the cable and the missing headphone jack representing the most significant drawbacks. Nevertheless, at a reasonable price point of around 350 SEK, significantly lower than the Dual Shock 4, it remains a worthwhile entry-level choice, particularly for younger players.
How we rate products at SensesReview Highlights: Q&A
Who is this controller designed for?
The Hori Wired Mini Gamepad is designed primarily for children aged 6–7 through adolescence, as well as players with smaller hands who find standard controllers too large and unwieldy.
How does the controller connect to the console?
The controller uses a wired connection with a three-meter cable that plugs directly into a PS4 USB port for plug-and-play functionality.
Can you plug headphones into this controller?
No, the controller lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, meaning wired headsets cannot be connected directly to it.
Does it support all PS4 features and games?
It lacks a full touchpad, built-in speaker, and front light bar required for VR and motion games, but it works with around 90% of the PS4 library and includes a button for touchpad press inputs.
