Hex Gaming is becoming a more well-known name in the world of premium Xbox and PlayStation controllers. I’ve reviewed quite a few of their controllers on this site, and the controllers not only always look good, but they also perform in the top category of controllers for their respective systems. At the moment there is a lot of talk about Hall effect analogue sticks, with the Switch 2 not implementing Hall effect in their Switch 2 Joy Cons. This could potentially lead to a scandal if Joy-Con drift is widespread with the new Joy-Con. Hall Effect sticks use magnets and are much less likely to develop stick drift. The Ultimate controller from Hex Gaming does have Hall effect analogue sticks. During gameplay, you can’t notice much difference. However, in the long term, the Ultimate is very unlikely to develop stick drift. On top of this, the controller is beautiful, feels good to hold, and does its job. Read on for a review of the Hex Gaming Ultimate controller.
Compatible Devices
The Ultimate is, first and foremost, a PS5 controller. However, that doesn’t mean that it won’t work on other machines and devices. It looks and feels not too dissimilar to an official pad, and it works on PS4 and some other PlayStation devices. However, little touches and a rubberised texture make the controller more comfortable to hold than even official controllers. I have tested it playing emulator games on Android on a Chromebook linked to a large display, as well as on Android on my phone. I tried to connect it to Switch 2 via an 8-bitdo adapter. With the new 8bitdo firmware update, the adapter should have worked, but I was unable to connect it. After contacting 8bitdo for help connecting the device, I was told that the adapter would only work with official PS5 controllers. This seems like a step backwards, as I’m sure the adapter allowed Hex Gaming controllers to work on Switch 1. However, that is the 8bitdo adapter’s fault and not the Hex Gaming Ultimate controller’s fault. I also tested the Ultimate with a Chromebook and an Android phone. I used Game Boy and N64 emulators. I played games, including Super Mario 64, which requires quick movements, and the controller was super responsive with no lag. I also played F-Zero X, which requires nimble movements to guide your ship to the right path at speed. The controller’s analogue stick did a precise job.
Surprisingly, while I experienced no lag testing the controller on my Android phone and using an N64 emulator, on the Chromebook and using a Game Boy and GBA emulator, I did experience a small amount of lag. This may have been the connection issue rather than the controller, since, as I’ve said, there was zero lag when using the phone. Also, I’m sure that the controller would have worked fine via the adapter and a Switch 1, as I’ve tested Hex Gaming controllers before on Switch 1 with this setup, and there was no lag, and they were extremely responsive.
Style
As you can see from the images above, I chose the grey version of the controller. It not only looks great but also feels great. There are buttons on the back reminiscent of other Hex Gaming controllers. The grey body has a rubberised feel. The face buttons are shiny silver and look and feel like they are made out of quality materials. The analogue sticks and home buttons are white, and the back buttons are also white. The shoulder buttons are silver. Overall, the grey and silver colour combination makes this one of the best-looking controllers in my collection. There’s also a headphone jack on the handset and a USB-C port for charging. The controller comes with alternative analogue stick heads, some longer, some shorter. This allows you to customise the sticks as you would wish.
The Ultimate Controller?
If you have a PS5, PS5, or Nintendo Switch 1 with an adapter, the Hex Gaming Ultimate controller is one of the best-looking and feeling premium pads that one could purchase. However, the high price tag (almost $200), can put a lot of people off the product. An official PS5 pad costs around 1/3 of that price. The hall-effect sticks in the Ultimate are a huge bonus, and for some, will be the primary reason that they pick up the pad. If you are a collector and value high-end pads, I would recommend the Hex Gaming Ultimate controller. However, if you are on a budget, I wouldn’t recommend it, as there are so many great budget controllers available. In the end, whether you purchase a Hex Gaming Ultimate controller should come down to whether you value premium pads. Remember, the controller is designed for PlayStation consoles; even with an adapter, it will not work on Switch 2 (from my experience).
BongoBongo123 is an avid Zelda fan who also likes the odd game of Smash. His interests in gaming are broad but he loves a good Metroidvania or action RPGs.