EasySMX X05 review – a fantastic wireless PC controller on a budget

The EasySMX X05 is likely one of the most cost-effective wi-fi controllers you should purchase, but it nonetheless one way or the other manages to incorporate Corridor Impact thumbsticks and triggers, in addition to a chargeable battery. It is this easy core mixture of options and worth which means it is one of many highest-selling and well-reviewed controllers on Amazon. We put it to the check to see if it might probably reside as much as expectations.

With a spot on our greatest PC controller information at stake, this wi-fi controller does not have to do an excessive amount of extra than simply work to nonetheless be a contender, given its extremely low worth. Fortunately, although, EasySMX has finished extra than simply the naked minimal.

Specs

Options

The EasySMX X05 is not stuffed full of additional options, but it surely’s nonetheless impressively succesful for its worth. It delivers an ordinary set of Xbox-style controls, with two thumbsticks, a four-way D-Pad, ABXY buttons, a pair of bumpers, a pair of triggers, and a handful of face buttons. The latter encompass the highest, central energy button, the usual Xbox-style view and menu buttons, an O button, and an M button.

The O button is used to vary the joystick response, whereas the M button is used to regulate lighting and vibration. Double-press the latter and you may enter an RGB-adjust mode to vary the RGB lighting brightness and colour, utilizing the joysticks. In the meantime, urgent M+Left Joystick Up allows you to change the vibration stage.

As for the O button, holding O+Left Joystick Click on allows you to change between a round joystick and “regular” joystick response, whereas O+Proper Joystick Click on units the thumbstick useless zone to zero, or again to the default setting of getting a slight useless zone.

This controller additionally features a rumble characteristic that is adjustable between 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% energy, with 50% being the default. It additionally has RGB lighting within the type of rings round every thumbstick. You may modify its impact – respiratory, static, dazzling, gradient, or off – together with brightness and colour, with crimson, purple, blue, cyan, inexperienced, yellow, and orange choices obtainable.

As for what you do not get, this controller does not embody an audio jack for plugging in a headset, nor does it have a microphone of its personal. It additionally lacks any additional buttons, akin to ones you would possibly discover on the again, and it does not have mouse button-like microswitch buttons or adjustable short-click triggers both. It is simply an ordinary Xbox controller by way of general controls. It additionally does not have any skill to vary its settings through software program – it simply works because it comes

Mockingly, although, one factor this controller is not is Xbox suitable. As a substitute, it is solely primarily meant for PC use, but it surely may also be used with the Swap and different cell units by switching to Bluetooth mode.

With a purpose to get linked to your PC, you should use the USB-C port on its again – additionally used for charging the rechargeable battery – or the two.4GHz wi-fi dongle included within the field. That is the one additional within the field apart from two barely weird soccer ball-style rubber thumbstick caps and a brief charging cable.

Design and luxury

There’s maybe just one place to start out in terms of the design of this controller, and that is its luminous lime inexperienced colour. It is certainly one of three selections, with the others being “oyster white” and black. The white choice does include grey buttons for a clear look, however the black model has pink buttons, so your selections are a bit odd. We slightly just like the lime inexperienced look however, given this can be a funds controller that is usually barely discounted on Amazon and different retailers, we would truthfully simply go for whichever colour is the most affordable on the time.

In any other case, the X05 has principally the identical form of form as an Xbox controller however with barely much less beneficiant curves all through. Its grips aren’t fairly as lengthy or broad as these on extra premium controllers. They are not uncomfortably small and cramped, just like the Logitech F310, as an illustration, but it surely takes somewhat extra finger grip to carry onto it.

One other issue in terms of the shortage of grip is the truth that this controller has no rubberized or soft-touch coating on its grips or every other space of it. This makes it somewhat bit extra slippery in your hand. The again of the grips are textured, and the plastic feels respectable high quality, but it surely’s a particular compromise and cost-saving in comparison with premium controllers.

In any other case, it is easy to get on with the general form, and there are not any evident considerations with the design, given its extremely low value. It feels weighty and stable with no flexing or creaking or wobbly bits. Even the rumble is impressively highly effective, with the 100% setting positively shaking your palms round.

Efficiency

The EasySMX X05’s controls really feel nice for its worth. The ABXY and different face buttons have a crisp response that feels similar to an ordinary Xbox controller, and whereas the D-pad does not fairly have the snap of extra premium models, such because the microswitch buttons of the Nacon X Revolution, it’s miles from mushy.

The thumbsticks additionally really feel clean and correct, though they require just a bit extra pressure to push out from the central area than some, so it isn’t fairly as simple to be tremendous correct. You additionally do not get the flexibility to enhance your accuracy by swapping out the thumbsticks for longer ones, like on the Scuf Valor Professional, as an illustration, however this can be a characteristic reserved principally for way more costly controllers.

The triggers, in the meantime, really feel remarkably clean and properly sprung/weighted, with them even having an extended vary and firmer resistance than some premium controllers I’ve examined.

The principle space of concern I had when utilizing the controller generally was the central portion of the thumbsticks, with the mix of the default useless zone and the marginally larger resistance of those sticks making it really feel like a good portion of the middle of the stick was fairly unresponsive. Nevertheless, by switching the useless zone to zero, this gave again somewhat additional central response, tremendously enhancing the general really feel for me.

One other issue for me is the design of the highest of the thumbsticks. They’ve a reasonably customary dimpled high, slightly than domed, however I favor a extra domed-style high. Even then, some dimpled tops are extra comfy, akin to on the Turtle Seaside Stealth Pivot. It is from a deal breaker, but it surely’s one space the place the enchantment of a premium controller with swappable components is actually highlighted. That stated, you can too simply purchase thumbstick grips to experiment with tweaking the texture of those sticks.

Battery life

The EasySMX X05’s battery life relies upon massively on whether or not you retain the RGB ring lights on and whether or not you employ the rumble characteristic (and the extent of rumble). With out the lights and rumble cranked up, it solely lasts round 4 hours, however with the lighting off and rumble turned all the way down to 25% – sufficient for a light-weight buzz – it lasts for round eight hours.

Value

The EasySMX X05 worth is formally $29.99, however they’re commonly bought for underneath $25, with the black model proper now costing simply $23.98. At that worth, it is simply an astonishing cut price. You do get extra when you spend more money – particularly in order for you audio options or official console help – however for core PC gameplay, there’s nothing we really feel is missing at this worth.

Alternate options

Xbox Wi-fi Controller

If you would like entry to Xbox compatibility and audio inputs, together with barely nicer construct high quality, you’ll be able to’t go flawed with an official Xbox controller. It is a tried and true design that, regardless of a scarcity of Corridor Impact options and different extras, makes it a reliable choice for an affordable worth. Learn our Xbox Wi-fi Controller evaluate for extra info.

8BitDo Final 2C

The 8BitDo Final 2C presents a really comparable characteristic set to the EasySMX X05 in the identical worth bracket. It additionally provides additional bumper buttons and has arguably a nicer number of designs, however its form is not as comfy to carry because the X05.

Verdict

The EasySMX X05 is effortlessly simple to suggest. For its extremely low worth, it presents a terrific set of options with construct high quality, consolation, and efficiency that hardly misses a beat. It lacks premium extras, akin to rubberized grips and swappable sticks, however these are uncommon on controllers underneath $100 not to mention underneath $30.

You completely do get a greater really feel with even simply an ordinary Xbox Wi-fi Controller, however that is what you’d count on from a controller costing greater than twice as a lot, and the official controller nonetheless does not embody a chargeable battery.

The opposite issue to contemplate is that this controller lacks official console help, exterior of use with the Swap or different Bluetooth units – it will work with gaming handhelds just like the Steam Deck too – and it does not help any audio options, however for PC gaming these are minor considerations.

We won’t really say whether or not using Corridor Impact thumbsticks and triggers leads to a long-lasting controller, as we have solely used this one for a month or so, however in idea, this tech ought to guarantee this low-cost controller does not ever develop stick drift or unresponsive triggers. In the end, when you’re on a funds and desire a wi-fi controller, simply go and purchase this one.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for extra methods to manage your PC video games, try our greatest gaming mouse and finest gaming keyboard guides for our high KBM choices.