The budget controller market is booming with excellent options lately. I recently got the EasySMX X05 Pro which feels excellent, but lacks somewhat in a few competitive features. So today, I’ll be comparing the X05 Pro with one of my favourite budget controllers ever, the GameSir Nova 2 Lite.
This will be an interesting comparison, as both of these controllers aim for a different feel. You’ll see what I mean in this comparison.
– Charging Dock : $15
– Champion, Ironman Edition : $35
– Xbox-style shape (slightly less flared handles)
– Plastic grips with good texturing. Adequate grip
– All buttons are ergonomically placed
– Luminous White
– Midnight Gray
– Champion Edition
– Ironman Edition
– POM anti-friction ring. Might feel scratchy over time.
– Good stick centering in all situations
– Feels excellent and slightly smoother
– Micro-switch trigger stops (clicky)
– No trigger vibration
– Deeper “thocky” sound
– Good actuation force and the button is stable.
– Central pivot is great and there is no wobble
– Quite stiff but in a good way. Minimal pre-travel and very precise inputs.
– Accuracy is good and performance is good. Diagonals are excellent.
– Feels good. Nothing spectacular, but not disappointing either.
– Good tactility, not loud
– Overall slightly more tactile feel
– Comfortable positioning and actuation force. No complaints.
– Remappable
– Feels detailed and pretty good, could do with a little more vibration strength
– 1000hz in wired and 2.4ghz mode, 125hz in bluetooth mode
– Good latency numbers. No qualms in experience.
Compatible with Windows, Android, iOS
– Quite granular control over settings
– about 10 hours with rumble enabled
N/A
AVAILABLE SEPARATELY :
– GameSir Nova Charger (dock) for $15
– No RGB
– $46.99 with charging dock
– Aurora Purple Limited Edition : $40 without dock, $50 with dock
– Shape between Xbox controller and Switch Pro controller
– Hard rubber for grip
– All buttons are ergonomically placed
– Black
– White
– Aurora Purple (limited edition, costs slightly more)
– Only POM anti friction ring, hence might feel scratchy over time
– Slightly high stick centering error during slight movements (Not a dealbreaker)
– Also feels quite good
– Only half-way trigger stop, no micro-switch
– Trigger vibrations (in supported games) feels great
– Thumpy, soft “thunk” sound (it’s hard to describe ok)
– Good actuation force and feel, no button wobble
– 2 extra bumpers : remappable, mechanical, ergonomic, great feel
– Very stable with some pre-travel due to silicone layer
– No central pivot, but due to the silicone mechanism, I never had any misinputs
– Great accuracy, all directions are excellent
– Feels great, minimal wobble/play
– Excellent tactility without being loud
– Nice texture and good overall feel. Soft feel (not mushy)
– 2 remappable extra shoulder bumpers which feel excellent
– Feels nice, hefty, and detailed. Satisfactory but nothing spectacular
– Trigger vibration is good
– 1000hz in wired and 2.4ghz mode, 125hz in bluetooth mode
– Usable (but worse than competition) button latency; Analog Stick latency is quite high and noticeable during gameplay (especially in wireless modes)
Compatible with windows, android, ios, macos, linux.
– About 8 hours without RGB
– About 6 hours with RGB
– Charging dock (if you pay the extra $9, which IMO is a good value)
AVAILABLE SEPARATELY :
– Charging dock for $15
– Customisable RGB
Which one should YOU buy?
While I like both controllers, there is a clear purpose for them. Personally, I enjoy the softer feel of the EasySMX X05 Pro a lot. BUT, due to the relatively high latency, it hinders your performance in competitive games.
So, if you’re looking for a competitively viable controller, the GameSir Nova 2 Lite will be your pick hands down.
But if you’re looking for more relaxed casual experience, honestly you could go for either of these controllers. Both the EasySMX X05 Pro and the GameSir Nova 2 Lite will be great for casual games where a split second won’t decide whether you get to rank up or not.
Hello! 🥰 I'm Fang.
I like gaming and related tech. I enjoy learning more, and sharing my experiences through my review videos and blog posts. Have fun! 💖
