EasySMX D10 review

Even with the Switch 2 on the horizon, there are still plenty of Switch controllers releasing. The EasySMX D10 is another multi platforming offering covering the usual consoles (Switch, PC, mobile), and boasting some impressive specs for its price.

While it’s the first controller from EasySMX that I’ve tried, the D10 — not to be confused with their Steam Deck fan of the same name — is a solid controller that easily beats out first party offerings. However, there are a few areas I’d like to see improved upon in a potential D20.

Specs

• Compatibility: Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS
• Connectivity: 2.4Ghz Wireless, Bluetooth, Wired
• Buttons: Mechanical (except for membrane shoulder buttons)
• D-pad: Mechanical
• Sticks: TMR
• Polling rate: 1000Hz
• Battery: 1000mAh
• Other features: Rumble, motion control (seemingly Switch only), trigger locks, two back buttons, charging stand

Design and Usability

As is the case with a lot of third party controllers, the D10 is very similar to an official Xbox controller in terms of shape and layout. This means that, assuming you’re alright with official offerings, the D10 will also be comfortable in the hands. The grips don’t make use of rubber, but are textured (even the front has a slight grippy texture to it).

The most obvious part when it comes to the visual design are the colours used, at least in the initial two offerings. Both the “Farout Purple” and “Wirtanen Green” variants feature coloured grips, with the transparent plastic letting you see each motor used for the basic rumble.

Oddly, each also features slight differences to their visual design. While both have face buttons in their respective colours, only the Farout Purple features a coloured d-pad, shoulder buttons, and triggers. The Wiranen Green instead keeps these silver, opting to go for a dark gray back piece rather than the all-white body of the Farout Purple.

Personally, I prefer the look of the purple variant, if only because I’m not the biggest fan of the dark gray back of the green option. However, there’s also a Black variant now (no fancy naming for this one), which should be nice if you want something more plain.

TMR sticks have popped up a few times on third party controllers, and the ones on the D10 definitely match up to the competition. They’re nice and accurate, with a grippy rubber top. I’m also glad to see it use anti-friction rings, as they always feel far smoother than controllers without them. Honestly, it’s still baffling that these aren’t standard on all controllers at this point.

(Mostly) Great Mechanical Buttons

Mechanical buttons on controllers are still somewhat uncommon, especially outside of leverless options. Of the few I’ve reviewed, GameSir’s Cyclone 2 was the best for these, but even that ran into some issues with wobble when being pressed.

The D10’s mechanical face buttons are definitely a step up from the Cyclone 2. They have that satisfying click that makes mechanical buttons so good, with less wobble when compared to other controllers. It’s definitely still there though, causing the buttons to rub up against the plastic casing. This might just be something current mechanical switches for controllers can’t get rid of, and for the most part it doesn’t get in the way of gaming.

One aspect of the EasySMX D10 I wasn’t completely sold on ahead of trying it out was the d-pad. It makes use of a circular design, which can often feel imprecise when done incorrectly. But after a lot of use, I’ve definitely come to like this d-pad, even if it isn’t quite my favourite.

The d-pad makes use of mechanical switches like the face buttons, offering definitive clicks when hitting the four cardinal directions. Its circular design also means that diagonals aren’t an issue either, something that I couldn’t say the same of for the Cyclone 2.

One let-down on the mechanical button side is with the trigger locks. They’re intended to allow you to switch them to mechanical buttons, something I prefer in most games where analogue trigger input isn’t used. However, on the D10 the triggers are quite stiff when locked, making them tiring to hold in longer gaming sessions. Because of this, I opted to just use them without the locks.

There’s also the fact that, despite every other main button making use of mechanical switches, the shoulder buttons are still membrane. They feel much cheaper than the rest of the package, featuring a slight hollow click. While still useable, they’re definitely the weakest part of the D10.

Rounding out the package are two back buttons. They’re nothing spectacular, being functional but cheap. They’re thankfully less stiff than the shoulder buttons and can easily be programmed — they start as LS and RS by default, great for games that use LS to run.

Pricing

The EasySMX D10 is priced at £46 directly via the EasySMX website (it doesn’t seem to be available via Amazon in the UK currently). For this price, you also get a charging stand that’s quite similar to one bundled with the GameSir Super Nova (synced RGB, easy wake up).

It’s a competitive price for a controller that includes TMR sticks and mechanical buttons, while also slightly cheaper than the Cyclone 2. Outside of the shoulder buttons (which are more of a sidegrade), this is easily an upgrade over official Xbox controllers if you’re playing on PC.

EasySMX D10 review – Final Thoughts

The EasySMX D10 is a mostly well-rounded controller that avoids some of the missteps of its competitors. With some improvements to the shoulder buttons, triggers, and mechanical face buttons (the latter being something most controllers haven’t quite got right yet), a successor could be the perfect controller. Well, assuming you’re not after an ever-elusive DualShock-style layout.

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The EasySMX D10 was reviewed using samples provided by the manufacturer.

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