EasySMX X05Pro review

I like testing budget-friendly equipment – ​​I’ve said this more than once. It often demonstrates what fleeting technological advancements can achieve, because making something and making it so cheaply that production is even remotely profitable for either party (the manufacturer and the end customer) is quite a difference. But has the new model from the popular Chinese manufacturer, the EasySMX X05Pro, surprised me in this regard? Time to find out!

Packaging

The X05Pro’s packaging is different from other models from this manufacturer. The box is white with the controller printed on the front. The back features a more detailed description of the specifications. Inside, you’ll find the controller in a plastic sleeve, along with a receiver, a USB cable, and paperwork.

Specifications

• Layout: Xbox
• Compatibility: PC, Mobile, Nintendo Switch
• Connectivity: Wired, 2.4 GHz, Mobile
• Analogs: Hall Effect (HallPi)
• Triggers: Hall Effect with trigger lock
• Main Switches: Membrane for ABXY, metal dome for D-Pad
• Secondary Switches: Two on top
• Gyroscope: None
• Vibration Motors: 2 asymmetric + 2 in the triggers
• Polling Rate: 1000 Hz (wired, 2.4 GHz), 125 Hz (Bluetooth)
• Available Colors: Black, White, Purple
• Docking Station: None at the moment
• Price: Around $35

Specifications are based on the manufacturer’s website and our own observations.

First Impressions and Thoughts

The 2.4 GHz receiver is a fairly standard size. On the top, you’ll find a button, and above the “EasySMX” inscription, you’ll find an LED indicating the pairing status.

The controller itself, in terms of shape, is somewhere between the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C and the GameSir SuperNova – the grips are slightly wider apart, but also much smaller. What I really appreciate is that the manufacturer has managed to use rubberized grips. While the quality of the rubber may not be exceptional (the feel of the rubber is more like plastic than rubber, honestly), it’s there and doesn’t make my hands sweat excessively – at least in my case. The build quality itself isn’t terrible at this price either.

The analog sticks are designed by HallPi. Their smoothness is very pleasant, as is the tuning of the centering spring. The tops of the analog sticks themselves are also quite pleasantly rubberized and grip the finger well. Unfortunately, there are no metal anti-friction rings, only a POM ring on the shell, which may not improve durability, but does significantly improve the smoothness of movement.

The ABXY switches are quite pleasant membranes. They provide slightly noticeable tactile feedback and operate pleasantly quietly – I have no major complaints about them. Unfortunately, the D-Pad isn’t quite as impressive. The feel isn’t the worst, as the combination of dome switches and a circular design makes quick inputs quite easy, and the input itself is quite stable. However, it doesn’t feature a pivot, which means you can press all four switches, which can cause unwanted inputs.

Moving on to the top, we find three things. First and foremost, we have the triggers, which I personally think are remarkably similar to the design found on the 8BitDo Ultimate. A big plus is that the manufacturers didn’t overdo the angles of attack or the spring, making them relatively pleasant. There’s also a trigger lock, but it’s the simplest design, based on a stopper and without an internal switch. Worst of all, I can’t say it works well, as I was never able to switch the triggers to digital mode.

The bumpers and two remapable switches are also straight out of 8BitDo. I don’t see the point in dwelling on them, as I didn’t notice any significant difference in feel. Other than the mode switch and the contacts for the currently absent dock, you won’t find anything else.

Latency and calibration

Since I’m lazy and don’t feel like rewriting the controller teardown section every review, I’ll just skip ahead to the tests. The X05Pro button latency aren’t particularly impressive. We’re looking at around 5 ms wired and 10 ms on 2.4 GHz, both at 1000 Hz polling rate. Bluetooth is also quite good – under 20 ms, except maybe with Dinput.

However, to be honest, that’s where the positives end. On analog, we get a much less pleasant 12 ms wired (still usable, but I’d like to see less) and a decidedly unusable 35 ms on 2.4 GHz. It’s a small plus that (apart from wireless Dinput) the controller maintains below 20 ms in other tests, but honestly, it’s still a big disappointment.

The analog calibration on the X05Pro is, in my opinion, a major letdown. The external dead zone is horrendously high and quite asymmetrical, which doesn’t favor precise input. A slight plus is the lack of other issues, such as poor recentering or axial dead zones, but the result isn’t satisfactory. The analog resolution is 8-bit, which is adequate at best. I didn’t see the point in testing linearity – the controller isn’t capable of offering good precision anyway.

The battery life is rather poor. After about 6 hours of use, it was already screaming for a charge.

Summary of the EasySMX X05Pro

Honestly, after the really nice X20 and the quite decent D10, I expected something more from the X05Pro. The controller offers neither a brilliant feel nor great performance. The feel is decent at best, and the performance is simply poor. I can’t say anything other than that it’s a major disappointment, and unfortunately, I can’t recommend this product.

This review was made possible by EasySMX.

Orginal review in Polish.