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Welcome to GPADLAB — the controller diagnostic standard

GPADLAB is a free browser-based diagnostic platform for game controllers, built to outperform every existing tester on tool depth, measurement accuracy, and result transparency. The platform combines 25 precision tests, a composite Controller Health Score, and an AI diagnostic concierge into a single workflow that runs entirely in your browser.

AS
Abdul Soomro
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
May 31, 20262 min read
Welcome to GPADLAB — the controller diagnostic standard

Why we built this

Every existing controller tester has the same problem — they answer one question (does this button work?) without telling you what to do with the answer. They report raw axis values without context. They have no idea what counts as "normal." They don't track results over time. And almost none of them have ever published their methodology.

GPADLAB is built around the opposite philosophy: every test produces a number you can act on, every number gets compared against a community baseline, and every measurement method is documented in code that anyone can audit on GitHub.

What's actually different

Three things separate GPADLAB from every controller tester that came before it.

One composite score. A single number from 0 to 1000 that captures your controller's overall health. It's not the average of test results — it's a weighted index where the failure modes that matter most to gameplay (drift, button response) count for more than the ones that matter less (connection stability). The number is shareable, comparable, and trackable over time.

Community percentile rankings. Every test result (anonymously, with your permission) feeds an aggregate database. Your score gets compared against tens of thousands of identical controllers at similar ages, so "847" stops being an abstract number and becomes "you're in the 64th percentile of DualSense Edge units tested this month."

The Controller Passport. A permanent URL per tested controller. Sell a controller on eBay? Paste the passport in the listing as verified proof of condition. Submit a warranty claim? Reference the passport as documented evidence. Roster a player at a tournament? Verify their controller's drift score before they sit down.

The roadmap

Here's what ships over the next ninety days, in order:

  1. Twelve new diagnostic tools — polling rate, circularity, snapback, gyro, touchpad, adaptive trigger, plus adjacent peripheral testers for keyboards, mice, and monitors.
  2. Eighty device-specific pages — every controller worth testing gets a pre-configured page with the right button layout, known issues for that model, and pairing instructions.
  3. The Fix funnel — symptom-driven troubleshooting pages that diagnose the problem and route you to the right test, then to the right repair or replacement.
  4. AI Diagnostic Concierge — describe what's wrong with your controller in plain language, and the AI picks the right tests, runs them in sequence, and interprets the results.
  5. Tournament Certification — controllers scoring above 950 earn a signed certificate suitable for FGC, esports, and speedrun events.

How to follow along

If you want to see the build happen in real time, follow @gpadlab on Twitter. The methodology page on this site is updated as new tests get specified, and the GitHub organization hosts the open-source test code as it ships.

Welcome. Let's find out what your controller is really doing.

Frequently asked

Common questions

Is GPADLAB free to use?+
Yes, every diagnostic tool on the site runs free in your browser with no signup, no download, and no ads. The Controller Passport and tournament certification features may have paid tiers later, but core testing will always be free.
Do I need to install anything?+
No. GPADLAB uses the native HTML5 Gamepad API, Web Bluetooth, and Web Audio APIs available in modern browsers. Connect your controller via USB or Bluetooth, press any button to wake the API, and the tests run on your device. No data leaves your browser unless you opt in to the community database.
Which controllers are supported?+
Any HID-compatible gamepad that the browser can detect — including DualSense, DualSense Edge, DualShock 4, every Xbox controller from 360 to Series X, Switch Pro, Joy-Con, 8BitDo, SCUF, Razer, Flydigi, Nacon, Hori, GuliKit, and most third-party controllers. Wired and Bluetooth both work.
How is the Controller Health Score calculated?+
It's a composite index out of 1000 that weights six measurements — stick drift (25 percent), button response (20 percent), trigger range (15 percent), deadzone calibration (15 percent), input latency (15 percent), and connection stability (10 percent). The full methodology is published on our methodology page with open-source test code.
Can I share my Health Score?+
Yes. Every completed test generates a permanent URL called a Controller Passport — paste it into eBay listings, warranty claims, tournament rosters, or anywhere you need verified proof of a controller's condition.
What's coming next?+
Over the next ninety days we're shipping device-specific pages for the eighty most-tested controllers, twelve new diagnostic tools including polling rate and circularity tests, the AI diagnostic concierge, and tournament certification for scores above 950. The roadmap is public.
Tagged#announcement#product-launch#methodology#controller-health-score
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Written by
Abdul Soomro
Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Founder of GPADLAB and the lead author behind our testing methodology. Twelve years building consumer hardware diagnostics and a long-time competitive shooter on PC.