Machenike G3S Wireless Gaming Controller | Dual Vibration Motors, Dual Connection Modes

Worked great for PC gaming. Battery level lasts a decent time and you can use it while it's plugged in.

I have a lot of controllers... and I'm on a mission of reviewing every controller I own.This one appealed to me because it's one of the few symmetrical layout options, which is my preferred layout for games that make more use of the dpad. It also has a mechanical dpad which I have grown to like for certain types of games.Features:- Symmetrical layout- Membrane face buttons- Mechanical dpad- Standard ALPS Joysticks that are advertised as near zero deadzone- Pretty heavy feeling triggers- Turbo, but no macro- RGB Sparkly!This is one of the few modern symmetrical layout options besides the 8BitDo Pro 2, a controller which I have used for a long time. Aside from the mechanical dpad though, this controller doesn't really offer anything that the Pro 2 does not... however I like some things about it more than the Pro 2 which I'll get into later.QC / Durability Concerns:So this is my second one. I had to return the first one out of the box because while testing it, when I pressed the right side of the dpad with typical amounts of force (not all that hard) it would also register an up press. This wasn't repeatable with any other directional press. The replacement still seems to exhibit this behavior, but I have to press it considerably harder for it to happen on the second copy. It's probably some sort of design quirk, but given that I have to literally mash the second one for it to happen, it's not something that will interfere with gameplay now. Keep an eye out for this if you decide to purchase.Functionality:So if I had to pick one word to describe this controller... I'd just say what my headline says - stiff. The face buttons are stuff... the dpad is stiff... the bumpers are stiff... the triggers are stiff... literally everything feels like it takes more effort to press than on the other controllers I regularly use. The one exception to this rule is the joysticks, they feel moderate in resistance. The controller feels pretty comfortable to me... honestly more comfortable than the 8BitDo Pro 2 in ways, but the authority every dpad press took fatigued my thumb very quickly during my Tetris testing. I did play Genshin with it though, and for a symmetrical layout controller, the joysticks did feel pretty nice to use... they feel way better than the Pro 2. I could also see the stiffer triggers feeling nicer for racing. A bit of resistance could offer a bit easier throttle control... but I can't really definitively say that because I use a wheel if I'm playing any sort of serious or semi-serious racing game.Tests:A staple of my controller reviews... the Tetris dpad test. I play games on Tetris at as fast of a pace as I can (I'm roughly a 1 minute sprinter in modern Tetris games) and see how many false hard drops I get. This controller (second copy) passed the false hard drop test with a perfect score, but the dpad itself required such a heavy press that it overall slowed me down. I did manage to get a 59 second sprint with it but it was way more effort to sub 60 second on this controller than it is with a dpad that doesn't require as heavy of a touch, like the 8BitDo Pro 2 or even the Flydigi Apex 4. I think my first game was like 90 seconds because I just kept not pressing hard enough!And a second test I like to do now… joystick resolution! If you play Genshin Impact, there is a function that allows you to set the time of the day, and you can get a good idea of how much resolution a joystick has by how easily you can set a precise minute on the clock. That being said, it's not that great at this test. I can't get 1 minute intervals, it's generally 2 minutes. It's a bit better than the 8BitDo Pro 2 in this regard, but I can't really say I'm impressed with the joystick resolution. The joystick does however feel decent to actually play with.In Conclusion:In general, this is advertised as a high end gaming controller. I feel it falls a little bit short of that mark, but I don't think it's a bad controller by any means. Typically in "pro" range controllers you'll get things like macro buttons, but this one only offers turbo. Also most controllers in the upper range (and even some in the lower now) will have a metal ring around the joystick to reduce friction, but that is missing here too. I also feel like it's stiffness is probably a detriment in everything, except possibly the triggers feeling nice for some racing games given the resistance. Overall I think I have to take a star away from the controller because I feel like it sacrifices too much for the price range and only gives you a mechanical dpad in return.That being said, if you're looking for a symmetrical option and don't mind having to press a little harder than most other controllers, I feel like this controller may be a decent option for dpad heavy games. I will keep my second copy and see if maybe the dpad softens up a little bit with use.

It doesn't specifically state Steam Deck compatibility, but it does state PC compatibility which should be compatible with the Steam Deck, but unfortunately it doesn't work. Tried several ways, with the dongle and pairing it directly with bluetooth (Steam Deck sees it) but it won't work when trying to test it.It's a shame because it's one of the few controllers on Amazon with the traditional 'Playstation' style layout which I prefer.The controller itself seems decent quality and the LED backlight is nice, just a shame I couldn't use it like I wanted for the Steam Deck. DON'T buy if that's what you want it for.

When its hardline plugged in the controler responses and performs great about 80% of the time when its not after about 30 mins the controller will machine gun click / move around the controls and fail the wireless feature is flawd I wouldnt pay more then 10 bucks for this I am prob gonna refund it back after I give it another day..

I love the design and layout, the lighting is super subtle. I had an issue with my initial order, but the customer service team fixed it right away!

I wasn't expecting a whole lot out of this controller for the price... Boy was I surprised. The mechanical D-pad is a joy. It's much less stressful on my thumb than traditional membrane D-pads (even compared to my high end controllers). It's also super responsive and the positive click feedback removes any doubt about a directional button press. I was truly shocked by how well it works as well as how nice it feels... Almost like a quality mechanical keyboard.The sticks are very smooth, but also have a bit of resistance... A perfect feel, in my opinion. All the buttons and triggers are smooth and positive. The controller has a decent weight and the rumble feedback is strong (and adjustable). Again, the quality is surprising for the price. This thing feels and works like an $80-100 controller.I was able to use this controller with my Windows desktop, android phone and a couple of retro emulation consoles (ARM based) without any issues. I did not run into any battery life issues, but I'm getting old and don't game for extended sessions any longer. I was able to use it for 6+ hours over a week or so before I decided to plug it in to recharge (it wasn't complaining of a low battery). I do turn off the lighting in the controller. It looks neat and offers a few lighting options, but does nothing for me so no point in wasting battery for some pretty lights.The only negative I have is the wireless USB dongle. This thing would be 100% gold if it also had Bluetooth (I'd also pay a bit more for the added option). I know the dongle helps to eliminate compatibility/setup issues, but I'm not sure what you can do if you lose it. At least there could be a compartment/slot in the controller to insert the dongle into (like many wireless mice) so you can keep it secure when not in use.If you're looking for a no frills (no macro, but does have turbo options for all buttons), quality Xbox controller clone, this shouldn't disappoint if you don't mind the dongle. At half the price, I'll put up with the inconvenience of said dongle. Should this be a pain point, you could try the Machenike G5 Pro which solves all mentioned issues / lacking features.

I do wish it had interchangeable battery but I ended up using a backup battery bank and can still while connected.Was disappointed I am restricted to the dongle. I can connect to normal pc bluetooth card but won't function, maybe I still need to troubleshoot.Also...if you have other 2.4ghz wireless items....this causes interference and can drop your controller signal or your other device...