There's No Way a Controller This Good Should Be So Affordable

CNET

4 days ago

CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
GameSir Super Nova Multiplatform Controller $50 at Amazon Pros Solid hardware
Lots of customization
Plenty of pro features
Mappable buttons
Affordable Cons Mobile app is limited
PC app UI needs work
No Xbox support
GameSir Super Nova Multiplatform Controller
$50 at Amazon
I've used a lot of GameSir products over the years, and it's gotten to the point where I'm never sure what to expect when they send a new product. It's always hit or miss. The Super Nova is one of the company's hits, and quite likely one of the best controllers it has ever made -- especially in a gaming landscape that's become increasingly competitive.
The Super Nova has all the features you'd expect from a solid controller, including many you typically only find on pro-level controllers, plus some fun customization options, all at a price that's much lower than you might expect.
What I like about the GameSir Super Nova
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From a design standpoint, the Super Nova looks and feels a bit like a Nintendo Switch Pro controller, which isn't a bad thing, especially for those of us with smaller hands. I really like the way it feels. I find it more comfortable than most Xbox and other popular controllers.
The buttons are nicely tactile, which is surprising for membrane ABXY buttons. Typically, membrane buttons feel mushy and soft, but these are crisp and satisfying. You can even switch the buttons around for playing on Switch or PC, which is a useful feature.
At $50, you might not expect the Super Nova to come with many "pro-level" features, but surprisingly it does. For starters, it has Hall Effect joysticks. These are becoming more popular but it's still rare to find them on controllers priced far below $100.
There are also two-stage, Hall Effect triggers, so you can mechanically lock the trigger pull for much faster response times. You can even set a digital hair trigger for high-speed games. If you've never used multi-stage triggers on a controller before, they're a game-changer (pun intended).
Jason Cockerham/CNET
On the back, there are two programmable buttons that you can remap to almost any keypress. You can also get up to a 1000Hz polling rate via the wireless dongle or the included USB-C cable. There's also support for macros and, of course, there's RGB lighting.
Compatibility
The Super Nova is compatible with PC, Switch, iOS and Android, but switching between them quickly can be annoying. If you're switching Bluetooth inputs, just be prepared that it might take a couple of minutes before everything's ready to go.
My favorite feature of the Super Nova is auto-play. Once paired to a device, you can just pick up the Super Nova from the charging station and it will instantly reconnect, waking your device in the process. I can grab the Super Nova and by the time I've sat down in my chair, my Switch is awake, the TV is on and I'm ready to play. You'll quickly get spoiled by not having to manually turn on your console like a Neanderthal.
Customization options
Jason Cockerham/CNET
The entire faceplate is attached magnetically, and GameSir has made several different color options for the Super Nova, allowing you to add your own dash of flair. If you want the white controller and charging stand, however, you'll have to order the "whipped pink" color, but again, you can swap the faceplate out if you prefer.
Aside from the magnetic faceplates, there are plenty of other customization options available in GameSir Connect app for Windows. There are also iOS and Android apps, but they don't offer quite as much customization. You'll need to use your PC to fully fine-tune it.
GameSir Connect is pretty comprehensive, letting you adjust the trigger stops, joystick dead zones and even the motion control settings if you like using the gyroscope for Switch games. The UI is a little stale, and you can't store multiple profiles for the controller, but overall it works well. The only issue I've seen is that sometimes connecting to the controller wirelessly can be tricky; just use a cable and you'll be fine.
Should you buy the GameSir Super Nova?
To be honest, there really isn't anything I don't like about the Super Nova. A nitpick might be that the D-Pad is not the best, but it's certainly not bad. I do wish you could store multiple profiles on the controller, and some people might be turned off by the lack of Xbox support, but none of those are deal-breakers for me.
CNET
Especially when it only costs $50. I personally don't know of another controller on the market that is this good and gives you this many features for so little money. If you want to upgrade your Switch controller with one that also works great for PC and mobile, or if you want a great, inexpensive extra controller for your partner or kiddos, you really can't go wrong with the Super Nova.