Review on 🎮 SHAKS S5b Wireless Gamepad Controller - Best for Android, Windows, iOS, X-Cloud, Stadia, Geforce & iPhone XS Max by Joe Michels

Wanted to try this controller because it's one of the few telescope controllers available. Unfortunately, that doesn't live up to the excitement promised by the Kickstarter campaign. First off, the controller seems very cheap. The plastic molding is thin, making the controller feel hollow and unpolished. The seams where the two plastic parts join are not smooth, which is not what you would expect from a controller in this price range. The ABXY feel pretty good, they have a short travel, and they click like a button you'll find on most portable systems. Analog sticks have a wide range of motion, but their tops are just plastic with a matte finish. They don't have much grip and the groove isn't very deep. The worst thing about this controller is the rear triggers. They are spongy and prickly. The controller isn't as handy as it might seem. Unlike some other telescope controls, they have handles on each side. You might think that would make it more comfortable, but since they're blocky, they actually dig into your palm a bit. It's not very uncomfortable, but I was hoping for something more ergonomic. The controller makes up for this somewhat by placing the front buttons further apart than other telescope controllers, making it easier to switch between analog sticks and buttons. The cross is good. There's no center pivot, but they click, which helps you feel more confident using them. You can replace the traditional D-Pad with a round disc like the Xbox Elite/Core controller. It's a cool little feature, but I don't think I'll be changing the d-pad very often. The telescoping arm extends longer than comparable controllers, but like other parts of the controller, it feels very cheap. The grip feels completely plastic and, like the triggers, scratches badly when pulled/flexed. My hand often gets caught when folding, so I have to press the two halves together manually. On a phone, the controller gets ridiculously long. This is because the face buttons are further apart. It's a bit cumbersome, but it works. Armrests are designed for smaller tablets, but anything 9 inches and up probably won't fit. The lag on this controller was one of the things advertised in the Kickstarter launched campaign. It's just as responsive as other controllers I've used, but I wouldn't say it was noticeably better. All in all, this is a very interesting controller, but unfortunately the build quality falls short. I'm not expecting console quality here, but it looks like a cheap Ipega controller. If they improve the plastic molding, add better analog stick buttons, fix the triggers, and round off the corners a bit, this could be my new favorite telescopic controller. As it is, it doesn't matter.