TMR Stick Upgrade: Stick Drift Fixed for Good
TMR (tunnelling magnetoresistance) sticks read your thumbstick's position with a magnet instead of a carbon track, so nothing rubs and nothing wears out. That wear is what causes stick drift on stock controllers. We fit TMR to PS5, PS4, Xbox, Elite, Edge and SCUF controllers in our London workshop, from £29.99, with a 12-month warranty and a free tracked return on mail-ins.
TMR vs Hall effect vs stock sticks
Stock sticks use potentiometers: a small wiper rubs on a carbon track every time you move the stick. The track wears, the reading goes off, and the controller thinks you are still pushing the stick when you are not. That is stick drift. Fitting another stock stick resets the clock.
Hall effect and TMR sticks both read the stick with a magnet, so there is no rubbing contact to wear. Hall effect is the technology that came first. TMR is the newer sensor: it picks up smaller movements, so it is more precise, and it draws less power than Hall effect, which matters on a wireless pad.
Because we replace the whole stick, the mechanism and springs are new too. What TMR cannot prevent is physical damage: a drop that bends a stick is a different fault.
Is TMR better than Hall effect for controller sticks?
For most players, yes. TMR and Hall effect sticks both read position with a magnet, so neither wears out like the carbon track in a standard stick, which is what causes most drift. TMR sensors are more sensitive and draw less power, which helps battery life. Hall effect is cheaper and still a big step up.
What causes controller stick drift?
Most stick drift is wear. Standard controller sticks measure position with a carbon track and a metal wiper; as the track wears or gets dirty, the reading at rest stops being centred and the controller registers movement nobody made. Cleaning helps for a while, but only contactless TMR or Hall effect sticks remove the wear.
| Standard (potentiometer) | Hall effect | TMR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it reads the stick | A metal wiper slides over a carbon track | A magnet and a Hall effect sensor, no contact | A magnet and a tunnelling magnetoresistance sensor, no contact |
| Drift from wear | Yes. The track wears, the usual cause of drift | No track to wear | No track to wear |
| Sensitivity | Good when new, worse as it wears | Good | Higher than Hall effect |
| Power draw | Low | Higher than TMR, which can cost battery life on a wireless pad | Low |
| Still mechanical | Springs, gimbal and caps | Springs, gimbal and caps | Springs, gimbal and caps |
| PS5 DualSense at OG Repairs | £24.99 | Not offered on DualSense | £34.99 |
| Xbox Series controller at OG Repairs | £19.99 | £24.99 | £29.99 |
TMR upgrade prices by controller
Fixed prices for both sticks, fitted, calibrated and tested. Tap a price to book it. Every extra fix in the same order is 10% off.
| Controller | TMR fitted | GuliKit 720 TMR | Hall effect | Standard sticks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 DualSense | £34.99 | £59.99 | - | £24.99 |
| PS5 DualSense Edge | £64.99 | £84.99 | - | - |
| PS4 DualShock 4 | £29.99 | - | - | £19.99 |
| Xbox Series X|S | £29.99 | - | £24.99 | £19.99 |
| Xbox One | £29.99 | - | - | £19.99 |
| Xbox Elite Series 2 | £58.99 | - | - | £38.99 |
| SCUF Reflex | £64.99 | £84.99 | - | £44.99 |
| SCUF Instinct Pro | £79.99 | - | - | £59.99 |
| Switch 2 Joy-Con (TMR, per Joy-Con) | £34.99 | - | - | - |
TMR on a repair page and TMR on an upgrade page are the same service at the same price: only the parts inside the stick change, so your controller looks exactly the same.
TMR for the DualSense Edge: three ways
The Edge's sticks live in swappable modules, and a new Sony module has the same wearing stick inside. Pick whichever suits you.
We fit it
Send your Edge in and we fit TMR inside both of your stick modules, calibrate and test them.
£64.99
GuliKit 720 fitted: £84.99
Book the Edge TMR upgradeBuy ready-built modules
Edge stick modules with TMR already fitted. They click in with no tools.
- Single: £64.99 (Out of stock)
- Pair: £112.99 (Out of stock)
- GuliKit 720 pair: £139.99 (Out of stock)
Upgrade your spare modules
Got spare Edge modules? Post them to us and we fit TMR to them. Message us first so we can confirm the price and send posting details.
Message usMail it in or drop it off
- Mail in from anywhere. In the UK, add a prepaid Royal Mail tracked label at checkout: you get a QR code to show at any Post Office, nothing to print. We send it back tracked, free.
- Or drop it at our workshop in South London (Hatcham Road, SE15) by appointment. Bench time for a TMR upgrade is about 2-3 hours.
- You get photos and video of your own controller before and after, so you can see the work.
- 12-month warranty on the parts we fit and our workmanship. No fix, no fee.
A controller with TMR already fitted
- Refurbished PS5 DualSense with TMR sticks from £64.99
- Refurbished Xbox Series controller with TMR sticks from £59.99
- Custom PS5 controller with TMR, built in London from £114.99
All custom controllers → · Refurbished consoles and controllers →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TMR on a controller?
TMR stands for tunnelling magnetoresistance. A TMR stick reads its position from a magnet instead of a wiper rubbing on a carbon track, so nothing touches and nothing wears out. Stock controllers use the rubbing kind, which is why they drift.
Is a TMR upgrade worth it?
If your controller drifts and you want it to last, yes. On a PS5 DualSense standard replacement sticks are £24.99 and TMR is £34.99: the standard sticks wear the same way the old ones did, TMR has nothing to wear.
Can I upgrade my PS5 controller to TMR?
Yes. We fit TMR to a standard DualSense for £34.99 and inside both stick modules of a DualSense Edge for £64.99. Mail it in from anywhere or book a slot at our London workshop.
Do TMR sticks still get stick drift?
Not from wear: there is no carbon track to wear out. A hard knock can still damage a stick, and any stick can need recalibrating now and then. If a PlayStation pad feels off, recalibrate it with our free Gamepad Tester first; if that does not sort it, our 12-month warranty covers the sticks we fitted.
Which TMR sticks do you fit?
Right now we fit KS JS13 TMR modules, our OG TMR. They keep the same tension as a stock stick, so the controller feels like new rather than different. We only fit the best module we can get, so the exact part can change over time.
TMR or GuliKit 720, which should I choose?
Both are TMR. The GuliKit 720 adds adjustable tension, so you can make each stick heavier or lighter: £59.99 on a DualSense. If you want the stock feel, our standard TMR keeps the original tension.
Can I put TMR in an Xbox controller?
Yes. TMR on an Xbox Series X|S controller is £29.99 (Hall effect is £24.99) and on an Elite Series 2 it is £58.99. On the Elite the magnetic thumbsticks are swapped for standard ones, because a magnet throws a TMR sensor out.
How long does a TMR upgrade take?
Bench time is about 2-3 hours. Drop it off at our London workshop by appointment, or mail it in: mail-ins are usually done within 1-3 working days of reaching us, and we keep you updated with photos and video.
Will opening my controller affect the manufacturer's warranty?
It can. If your controller is still under Sony or Microsoft warranty and has drifted, a claim with them is worth trying first. Everything we fit carries our own 12-month warranty.
What if you can't fix my controller?
No fix, no fee. If we can't fix it, you don't pay for the repair and you get your controller back.
