Lyvix Wireless Switch Pro Controller

Hardware Type: Controller

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Review:

(Note: This product was received at no cost for review via the Amazon Vine program.)

When looking at third-party Nintendo Switch controllers, one feature I often tend to gloss over is the controller’s lighting, something that may make the device look nicer, but has little effect on its functioning. Many third-party controllers have some sort of LED lighting built-in, but every once in a while a controller puts this feature front and center. A while back, I reviewed the Twylyte Wireless Switch Controller, which did exactly this with a bright neon light outlining the controller, and now the Lyvix Wireless Switch Pro Controller is doing much the same.

Originally, I approached this review in much the same way, with the question in my mind of whether this controller put flash over substance. However, another issue cropped up that added a complication to things. You see, when I received the Lyvix Wireless Switch Pro Controller, it did not come with instructions. And as many functions of third-party Nintendo Switch controllers are not immediately obvious in how they’re used, this presented a unique problem.

I tried looking for a website for Lyvix or a way to contact them to get additional info, but could not find any way to do so. In the end, I’m reviewing what I can, and the stuff I can’t figure out will have to be relegated to “I’m forced to assume this doesn’t work because I cannot figure out how to make it work” status.

As with many of the Pro-style controllers released for Nintendo Switch, Lyvix’s controller is pretty comparable in size and shape to Nintendo’s own Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, with a comparable button layout, and asymmetrical analog stick placement. However, Lyvix’s controller weighs less, and its transparent casing is much more smooth in a way that seems like it’ll make for much clammier hands during long play sessions, which isn’t ideal.

The analog sticks use a concave top with a ribbed rim at the edge, and unlike Nintendo’s controller, these are hall effect sticks (which means they won’t “drift”). The D-Pad and primary face buttons work well enough here, being vaguely in the middle of the “squishy-clicky” spectrum, and generally I find it pretty responsive, though the D-pad can feel a tad stiff at times.

Conversely, the L and R shoulder buttons are very clicky, which works fine for these buttons, while the ZL and ZR trigger buttons are analog triggers, which should work well for other game platforms the controller can be used with, but will make them less precise on Nintendo Switch, which only recognizes a digital input.

The plus and minus buttons are in the standard positions, but the home button has been enlarged and moved to the center-top (which works out fine), the screenshot button moved to the usual spot where the home button is, and in place of the screenshot button there is now a turbo button, which works in the usual manner that turbo buttons do. Finally, at the bottom-center is a macro programming button, which works with the macro buttons on the back of the controller, which I’ll get to in a moment.

When it comes to the other standard features of Nintendo Switch controllers, this controller includes the ability to wirelessly wake the Nintendo Switch from sleep mode. The gyroscopic motion control works fine, too. And while it has no Amiibo functionality, this is rare in third-party Nintendo Switch controllers so I don’t hold that against it. Finally, while this controller is advertised as having adjustable rumble, I cannot figure out how to adjust it, and by default I find the rumble in this controller far too strong.

Flipping the controller over to look at its underside, we see five buttons. Firstly, dead-center is a lighting adjustment button to change the color, lighting pattern, and brightness of the lighting on the controller. At the base of the grips on either side are a pair of macro buttons, which are used with the aforementioned macro settings button to have these buttons memorize customized command sequences, like a Street Fighter-style “hadouken”.

Finally, to the left and right midway up on the controller are a pair of buttons that Lyvix calls “Mouse Touch & Programmable M1/M2”, and I cannot figure out what these are. They don’t function like the other macro buttons, and when I tried using this controller on PC, these buttons didn’t do anything related to the mouse or anything else.

Speaking of connectivity with other platforms, I did eventually figure out that this controller can be wirelessly synced to Android devices by holding down the Home+A buttons, with the controller working fine with that platform. But I was only ever able to get it working on PC when connected directly via USB-C, and no amount of fiddling with Bluetooth settings would get this to connect to PC. At the very least while it was connected wired, it worked just fine. This controller is also supposed to work with iOS, but I couldn’t test it with that platform.

Would this review be different if I had access to this controller’s instructions? Maybe. Perhaps then I would have been able to connect wirelessly to PC, perhaps I would have known how to reduce the overpowered rumble, and perhaps I would have better understood what the heck the “Mouse Touch & Programmable M1/M2” buttons are. But even without these issues addressed, I’d still be lukewarm about this controller’s smooth casing adhering to my skin and a D-Pad that I’m less than thrilled with. Overall, I do think the Lyvix Wireless Switch Pro Controller isn’t a terrible controller, but I feel you can do better in this price range.

tl;dr – The Lyvix Wireless Switch Pro Controller is a Pro-style controller that does some things well and other things poorly, but multiple features became unusable due to the fact that I wasn’t provided an instruction manual. Overall, I feel like this is a decent controller, but you have much better options in this price range.

Grade: C

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