Satechi Bluetooth Game Controller Review

Rating: 3.5/5

What I Like:

Good button action with springy response
Solid and comfortable grip
Smooth triggers with variable force
Holds a smartphone in the pull-out mount
Built in rechargeable battery

What I Don’t Like:

Refuses to pair with Windows 10 (W10 required typing a PIN to pair and none of the default pins work)
USB port is on the inside of the controller so it is awkward to charge and play at the same time
Plastic build quality and spring mount feels cheap

Conclusion: The Satechi Bluetooth gamepad has a similar look and feel to an Xbox controller. The button action is springy and the response of the triggers is great. I tested the controller with some playstation emulators and it worked great. After mapping the keys in the application it was just like playing the game on a real console. The controller is comparable to my Xbox 360 controller in feel. I had no problems connecting it to Android and it pairs each time it turns on. I did not get to test it with iOS. Unfortunately all my attempts to pair the controller with Windows were thwarted by the computer thinking that the controller is a keyboard. Windows asks for a pin to by ‘typed’ but there is no way to type with a gamepad. Alternative methods of pairing were unsuccessful as well – the gamepad did not pair after entering default passcodes. This is a big disappointment as I was hoping to use this controller primarily with Steam on my desktop. The controller seems to only be able to connect by Bluetooth and it does not connect over USB. The battery life of the gamepad is pretty good. I’ve used it for a few hours and it still keeps on going. It can also be used while charging. Overall it’s a great gamepad for mobile gaming, but too bad it doesn’t like pairing with Windows.