Are controllers any use other than for games?

I rarely play games on my Gear VR. However, the touchpad on the side of the headset is a pain to use for navigating other apps. Would a controller be a better way of mimicking the touchpad functionality and what recommendations do you have?

Of course it would be useful!

I use the SteelSeries XL quite a bit for other apps. Some apps it allows for navigation, sometimes I just like having that A button so I don't have to keep holding my arm up.

Thanks Kris, the SteelSeries XL would be justifiable if I were into gaming, but just as an alternative to the side touchpad it seems too expensive.

Most controllers I've looked at have what looks like a "D" pad on the left and a diamond of buttons on the right lablled "A", "B", "X" and "Y", plus a couple of joysticks, and various arrangements of buttons in the centre. How do these buttons/joysticks map the functions of the touchpad? Is it a direct replacement or do the apps have to support it?

Sorry about the newbie questions, but games and controllers have never been my thing in the past.

I've used my Moga Pro with my phone in the Gear VR, works very well.

Is Samsung planning on making another game pad? The old one is hard to find.

Has anyone had any luck using a Playstation PS3 controller?

This. I didn't realize how much of a pain it was until I started using the SteelSeriesXL.

I know this is an old thread but try an ipega controller from ebay

Yeah ipega is probably the cheapest way to get a good controller experience with the Gear VR.

It really depends on you. E.g. if you have an xbox, then the new bluetooth xbox controller would be a good choice. Also works on pc if your pc has bluetooth.

Steelseries is a solid controller, but personally I have gone through 3 of them due to issues with the triggers. I actually own 2 now.... as I had them replaced under warranty. But I would hesitate to reccomend them.

To be honest, outside of gaming, if you don't game with your Gear VR, I think the new Samsung gear vr controller would be a good choice.

Yep. With the release of the Gear VR controller, I think that's your best bet.