Upgraded TMR Analogue Sticks: Superior Controller Experience
When you explore our shop, you will see the option to upgrade your controller’s analogue sticks to TMR ones. Here is everything you need to know ow about this upgrade, and why it is a terrific upgrade for gamers, casual and pros alike. We won’t use any big engineering words :)
TMR analogue sticks utilize Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) technology for position sensing in a controller's analogue stick. This is a more recent advancement in analogue stick technology, often presented as an alternative or upgrade to traditional potentiometer-based sticks and Hall effect sticks.
Here's a breakdown of what that means:
- Traditional Analogue Sticks (Potentiometers): These sticks use physical contact and friction as internal components move against each other. This can lead to wear and tear over time, resulting in the dreaded "stick drift" and reduced accuracy.
- Hall Effect Analogue Sticks: These sticks use magnets and Hall effect sensors. The movement of the stick changes the magnetic field detected by the sensor, which translates to on-screen movement. Because there's no physical contact in the sensing mechanism, they are much more resistant to wear and drift.
- TMR Analogue Sticks: TMR technology is a further evolution of magnetic sensing. It relies on the principle of quantum tunneling of electrons through a thin insulating layer between two ferromagnetic layers. The resistance to this tunneling current changes based on the magnetic field.
Here are some of the advantages often associated with TMR analogue sticks:
- Higher Precision and Sensitivity: TMR sensors can detect even smaller changes in the magnetic field compared to Hall effect sensors, potentially leading to more precise and nuanced control.
- Lower Power Consumption: TMR sensors generally require less power to operate than Hall effect sensors, which can contribute to longer battery life in wireless controllers.
- Improved Stability and Reliability: Like Hall effect sticks, TMR sticks are contactless, minimizing wear and tear and significantly reducing the likelihood of stick drift. They are also reported to have better temperature stability and less susceptibility to magnetic interference.
- Faster Response Times (Higher Polling Rates): Some sources suggest that TMR technology can allow for higher polling rates, meaning the controller reports the stick's position to the console or PC more frequently, potentially resulting in lower latency and a more responsive feel.
- Extended Lifespan: Due to the contactless nature of the sensing mechanism, TMR analogue sticks are expected to have a longer lifespan compared to traditional potentiometer-based sticks.
In essence, TMR analogue sticks aim to provide a superior control experience by offering increased accuracy, reliability, and efficiency compared to older technologies. They are available a an upgrade to all of our Switch Pro-Controllers, PlayStation 5 controllers, and Xbox controllers. Simply add the upgrade to your cart, together with the controller(s) you picked, and we will build them upgraded and ready to play.
Are TMR analogue sticks the same as Hall Sensing ones?
Yes, TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistance) analogue sticks are a type of magnetic sensing, and in that sense, they can be considered within the broader category of "Hall sensing" as they both rely on magnetic fields to detect the stick's position.
However, it's important to make a distinction:
- Hall Effect analogue sticks directly utilize the Hall effect, which measures the voltage produced across an electrical conductor when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the direction of current flow.
- TMR analogue sticks utilize the principle of Tunneling Magnetoresistance. This is a quantum mechanical effect where the electrical resistance of a thin insulating layer between two ferromagnetic layers changes depending on the relative magnetization of the layers. The movement of the stick alters the magnetic field, which in turn changes the resistance in the TMR sensor.
Think of it this way:
Both Hall effect and TMR sticks use magnetic fields for sensing, allowing for contactless operation and reduced wear. However, they employ different physical principles to translate the magnetic field changes into electrical signals that the controller can interpret.
Therefore, while TMR sensing isn't the same as the traditional Hall effect, it falls under the umbrella of magnetic field-based sensing for analogue stick position. TMR is often seen as a more advanced and potentially more precise evolution of magnetic sensing compared to the standard Hall effect.
