EasySMX X10 review: "a no-fuss controller with more than a few hidden weapons"

Budget PC controllers are by no means a revolution - you can scroll Amazon for hours and find hundreds of different makes and models, all running off the same Xbox-style design. EasySMX isn't the biggest name in this space either, so it's got its work cut out for it muscling for space against more well known brands. Thankfully, its X10 controller has more than a few tricks up its sleeve to keep that $49.99 / £49.99 MSRP competitive. Is it going to top the list of the best PC controllers on the market? Not quite, but if you're after mecha-tactile face buttons, hall effect joysticks, and on the fly macro mapping you're going to find excellent value in this wireless gamepad. 

Design

Straight out of the box, the EasySMX X10 feels far more premium than its low price point would suggest. There's a nice weight to the gamepad as a whole, a far cry from the hollow plastic options I'm usually restricted to in this budget position, and excellent balancing between the two grips. Compared to the slightly cheaper Turtle Beach React-R's 207g, the 355g package feels incredibly premium, with a build quality that speaks volumes to its value. 

The entire gamepad feels incredibly sturdy in the hand. There's no spongey plastic or rattly echoes in this build - instead, I'm treated to a satisfying clunk of action with a crisp but still cushioned feel whenever I snap down on one of the mechanical face buttons. The main gamepad area is still plastic, but it's a mottled silver that feels more akin to the Xbox Elite Series 2 than it does even the Series Core controller. Underneath, a darker gray section of nicely textured plastic provides reliable and comfortable grip across the handles and around the back of the device as well. While it's not the rubberized material you might find on a more expensive gamepad, it's a less sweat-inducing alternative that won't peel in the same way over time.  

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Of course, you're getting a full set of controls in an Xbox asymmetrical design across the main face of the gamepad. Around the back, you've also got two additional macro buttons, placed in the crook between the grips and the center. The placement and sensitivity of these back buttons mean they're incredibly easy to accidentally hit when holding the controller with one hand - something I regularly came up against when shifting position or grabbing my phone during play. With two hands on the controller, though, they're in just the right place for easy actuation, so this is likely more an issue with switch actuation points than location. 

If cool gray tones don't suit your style, you can also swap the faceplate and grips to the all-white alternative supplied in the box. Everything is held in place magnetically, so completing the swap is easy enough - just pry the plate off the controller, though the grips are a little tougher to crack. The alternative plate isn't as crisp a white as you'll find on other devices, and has more of a creamy tone to it. 

Features

The feature I was most excited to test out on the EasySMX X10 was its mechanical face buttons. I'm not particularly fond of the squishier face buttons you'll find on traditional Xbox controllers and the vast majority of third party options. I prefer the shorter travel distance and satisfying clack of a more tactile option, and the X10 is one of the few budget controllers to offer that. The switches used here aren't quite as tight as those used in a lot of Razer controllers, but they still provide that snap I'm looking for. I was surprised at the use of the mechanical buttons in such a cheap gamepad. 

Not as surprised as I was when I found out everything else EasySMX has managed to pack into this device. Aside from the aforementioned back buttons (customizable on the fly using the Settings button), you're also getting rumble, three different connection options, and even gyro controls for Nintendo Switch in here. The X10 even features hall effect thumbsticks for a longer lifespan and smooth, precise controls. That's an astonishing feature list for a budget controller. 

Under the hood you'll find a 1,000mAh battery, which EasySMX rates for 40 hours of juice. I can see how this would be the case on Bluetooth - I was rarely charging at all during my Nintendo Switch testing, but I did find that battery drains quicker over 2.4GHz connection.

There is an Android app that EasySMX claims will allow you to further customize your buttons and inputs, downloadable via the brand's site directly. Unfortunately, I was never able to get this working - it's still listed as a beta program and simply refused to recognize that my controller was paired via Bluetooth during testing.

Performance

If I had to describe the experience of using the EasySMX X10 in one word it would be snappy. Each thumbstick has a comfortable but precise level of tension behind it, and springs back to its original position particularly nicely. The face buttons feel particularly fast and tactile but still manage to offer up a robust actuation for additional satisfaction in the hand as well. Each shoulder button benefits from a delightful clack with a slightly longer travel distance compared to the ABXY but still a much more tactile pop than a standard Xbox controller. 

A lower scan rate does mean the X10 isn't going to be up to the task of more competitive titles, but for casual everyday Fallout 4, Super Lucky's Tale, and Super Mario RPG testing everything was reliable. I never noticed any dragging in these more relaxed scenarios, and inputs were recognized exactly as they needed to be. 

If the X10 had a higher price tag I would have liked to be able to tune the left and right triggers for a slightly shorter travel, bringing them inline with the feel of the rest of the pad. However, for $49.99 I can certainly live with some heavier pads even if that means relying on the back buttons for games that require faster repeat shots. 

Should you buy the EasySMX X10?

I'll come clean. I actually stole the opportunity to review the EasySMX X10 from our hardware editor Duncan. I needed a wireless controller with swift mechanical face buttons to use in my Asus ROG Ally setup, and I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by. The X10 has exceeded my expectations in this particular use-case, and even extended into my Nintendo Switch and regular gaming laptop setups as well. It's a fantastically priced piece of kit that works straight out the box, doing everything you could ask of it and much more (there aren't many cheap controllers offering gyro, rumble, hall effect sticks, and full PC / Switch compatibility). 

The slower speeds will keep it out of the hands of truly competitive players, but they by no means hold more casual games back. Plus, those chasing the leaderboards will be more interested in a device with more hardware configuration options like the Victrix Pro BFG or Thrustmaster eSwap X Pro. If you're looking for a no-fuss controller that just screams excellent value, you've found it here. 

How we tested the EasySMX X10

I've been using the EasySMX X10 for around two months, split across an Asus ROG Ally docked setup, a Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop, and Nintendo Switch. I've put the controller through its paces across Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, We Happy Few, Apex Legends, Doom Eternal, Fallout 4, and New Super Lucky's Tale on PC and Super Mario RPG, Mark Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario Party Superstars, and Fall Guys on Nintendo Switch. For more information on how we test controllers, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. 

We're also rounding up all the best Xbox Series X controllers and the best PS5 controllers if you're going more console-first. Or, take a look at plenty more of the best Nintendo Switch controllers for hybrid play.