GameSir Nova Lite 2 review

Résumé de l'actualité

A new benchmark for budget gamepads, the GameSir Nova Lite 2 has a tremendous feature set for something that costs as much as a couple of overpriced coffees.

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The GameSir Nova Lite 2 is our new best budget controller for PC. It's extremely well equipped considering the small asking price. Depart with just $30/£30 of your hard-earned cash, and you'll receive a wireless controller with Hall effect sticks, mechanical D-pad, trigger stops, and programmable rear buttons.

There's enough here that even GameSir's own exceedingly popular G7 Pro is at risk of cannibalisation. The Nova Lite 2 doesn't look that out of shape by comparison, with only quality of life and more advanced features between them. Such as a handful of micro switches and a bigger battery. The G7 Pro is a better all-round controller, but for less than half the cash, the Nova Lite 2 is tough to ignore.

There are some drawbacks with a controller at this price. The plastic doesn't feel great and it's not overly grippy. The software could be smarter and the shoulder buttons wider, too. But they all seem savvy sacrifices for the savings that the Nova Lite 2 delivers.

✅ You don't use a controller often and you're not looking to spend a lot of money: If you use a mouse and keyboard for most of your gaming, you don't need the next best thing. A dependable, wireless pad like the Nova Lite 2 is plenty sufficient for the odd singleplayer game.

❌ You want lots of customisation: You can't change the thumbsticks out on the Nova Lite 2, nor are the trigger stops switching between different types of actuation as with more high-end pads. There's no lighting, only a couple of extra buttons, and the software could be better. But, hey, not everyone is into that sorta thing.

The Nova Lite 2 is less than half the price of the G7 Pro, but it's not at a loss for many of the same or similar features. This budget gamepad really packs a lot in.

First off, it offers wireless connectivity at a low cost. It supports 2. 4 GHz for PC, via a USB Type-A dongle, and Bluetooth for Android, iOS and Switch. Using the 2. 4 GHz dongle, I measured a range exceeding 20 metres, in line of sight, so I wouldn't worry about range at any sensible distances (though Bluetooth and a wall or two will notably trim that down).

Then there are the Hall effect sticks. These sorts of sticks are becoming pretty ubiquitous among gamepads these days—that or TMR, as found in the G7 Pro 8K—but they lower the chance of pesky stick drift making an appearance later in life. This pair lack the premium feel of more expensive controllers but they're otherwise pretty great.

The triggers are also Hall effect, though most are, and offer two modes: full range of movement or stubby li'l clicks. You might get some use out of the shortened trigger stops in fighting games—a more tactile controller may be better suited—though they do come in handy when using the Nova Lite 2 with a Switch 2. I've been using the Lite 2 on Switch and it's very well suited for a mean Mario Kart machine like myself.

The mechanical D-pad is a standout feature. It has a great, lightweight click in each direction. It doesn't take much to actuate but you can be quite deliberate with it. For more casual users, it's great for clicking through menu screens, though it could just as reliably be mashed repeatedly in a fighting game.