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SteelSeries Launches New Apple-Certified Gaming Controller With Clickable Joysticks and Up to 50 Hours of Battery Life

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SteelSeries today announced the launch of its new MFi-certified Nimbus+ wireless gaming controller for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, with key features including clickable joysticks and up to 50 hours of battery life.

nimbus-plus-apple.jpg

Included in the box is an optional mount for attaching an iPhone directly onto the controller.

Nimbus+ replaces the original Nimbus, which SteelSeries claims was the world's best-selling mobile gaming controller.

The controller is available to purchase for $69.95 on Apple.com. It will also be available at SteelSeries.com starting May 26.

Article Link: SteelSeries Launches New Apple-Certified Gaming Controller With Clickable Joysticks and Up to 50 Hours of Battery Life
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/05/12/steelseries-nimbus-plus-controller/
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Love the Arctis 7 headset, I have no doubt it's a good controller. My DualShock 4 is already good for the iPad though, does this offer any advantages (besides battery life)?
 
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Almost a little surprising, someone thinks they can compete with official PS4, Xbox One compatibility, and all of the discounts & clones and things you can get for less than $70. Not to mention the "unofficial" stuff that also works (8bitdo controllers). Looks like a nice controller, but unlike these other options, you can only use them on Apple devices I presume...
 
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What sets the Nimbus apart is the lightning port charging. And now that it has clickable thumbsticks, it’s basically a perfect controller. Battery life is way better than PS4 DS4 controller.

But I’m not sure I’ll be able to justify the purchase given I have so many PS4 controllers and the first gen Nimbus. AFAIK, it’s mainly Fortnite that uses clickable thumbsticks, and even then you can adjust settings so it’s not needed.
 
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This or go for a PS4 controller + phone mount? Would also want to use it for games on Bootcamp, like the new Doom.
 
On a slightly unrelated tangent: I wish graphic designers of various 3rd party vendors and developers would use realistic device mockups for their advertisements that showcase devices as they really are and not as they wish them to be –case in point, the almost notchless bezel-less iPhone here. I don't like the notch either, but I cannot wish it or photoshop it away on my actual phone.
 
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I'm going to chime in a couple more than 2 cents, as I've used a number of different controllers this generation, including the first gen of this thing.

SteelSeries' controller was not nearly as comfortable as other controllers available on the market, not to mention the feel of the button presses also did not fit the bill. $70 for a controller of this style is high.

Between PS4 and Xb1 controllers...I have used both a lot, and while I prefer the DS4 (Dualshock 4, for PS4, for those who dont know the acronym) by a wide margin, I think they're still both great controllers with great feels, and if you already gravitate towards one or the other, use that.

The absolute only benefit this controller has as an upside is that super high battery life, but given that I can get many hours of play out of a dualshock 4 and can charge it over USB, it ends up meaning very little.
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otternonsense said:
On a slightly unrelated tangent: I wish graphic designers of various 3rd party vendors and developers would use realistic device mockups for their advertisements that showcase devices as they really are and not as they wish them to be –case in point, the almost notchless bezel-less iPhone here. I don't like the notch either, but I cannot wish it or photoshop it away on my actual phone.
Click to expand...

No idea if you're talking about the picture above because it realistically really has the iphone, hideous notch and all.

Everyone should absolutely photoshop it out wherever they can.
 
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Eorlas said:
I'm going to chime in a couple more than 2 cents, as I've used a number of different controllers this generation, including the first gen of this thing.

SteelSeries' controller was not nearly as comfortable as other controllers available on the market, not to mention the feel of the button presses also did not fit the bill. $70 for a controller of this style is high.

Between PS4 and Xb1 controllers...I have used both a lot, and while I prefer the DS4 (Dualshock 4, for PS4, for those who dont know the acronym) by a wide margin, I think they're still both great controllers with great feels, and if you already gravitate towards one or the other, use that.

The absolute only benefit this controller has as an upside is that super high battery life, but given that I can get many hours of play out of a dualshock 4 and can charge it over USB, it ends up meaning very little.
[automerge]1589292987[/automerge]


No idea if you're talking about the picture above because it realistically really has the iphone, hideous notch and all.

Everyone should absolutely photoshop it out wherever they can.
Click to expand...

I would agree with this I have the original steel series mfi controller and while battery life is great and lightning charging is handy the controller is uncomfortable and the buttons feel clunky would recommend going for a playstation or xbox controller.
 
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Eorlas said:
I'm going to chime in a couple more than 2 cents, as I've used a number of different controllers this generation, including the first gen of this thing.

SteelSeries' controller was not nearly as comfortable as other controllers available on the market, not to mention the feel of the button presses also did not fit the bill. $70 for a controller of this style is high.

Between PS4 and Xb1 controllers...I have used both a lot, and while I prefer the DS4 (Dualshock 4, for PS4, for those who dont know the acronym) by a wide margin, I think they're still both great controllers with great feels, and if you already gravitate towards one or the other, use that.

The absolute only benefit this controller has as an upside is that super high battery life, but given that I can get many hours of play out of a dualshock 4 and can charge it over USB, it ends up meaning very little.
[automerge]1589292987[/automerge]


No idea if you're talking about the picture above because it realistically really has the iphone, hideous notch and all.

Everyone should absolutely photoshop it out wherever they can.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I've been meaning to get a controller for a while (kb+m for life :D) and was planning on a DS4 but didn't know if there was a better option. The MR post piqued my interested towards the SS but now I'm gonna go for a DS4.
 
Eorlas said:
No idea if you're talking about the picture above because it realistically really has the iphone, hideous notch and all.

Everyone should absolutely photoshop it out wherever they can.
Click to expand...

Until Apple reduces it or ideally removes it, photoshopping it away is plain false advertising, regardless if I/you hate it or not.

If you look carefully at the picture above it's significantly reduced, as well as the bezels. I understand they want to make the phone look "sexier", but that's just not a real device then, plus it looks bizarre next to the realistic 2017 iPad Pro (think it's a mini actually - but why not use the '18 Pro anyway?)

</designer rant>
 
I might get this if they do some more colours. I’ve got the white Nimbus that was around for a short while. I’ve been hoping for a red or blue one. I did switch to a DS4 for a while, but went back to the Nimbus as the battery life on the DS is pretty bad and it’s a pain turning that controller on and off compared to the Nimbus.

In terms of comfort I find them pretty much even, the only area the DS is definitely better is the buttons are quieter. The SteelSeries tends to be a bit noisy when I’m button mashing in Tekken.
 
I don't know much about Steel Series but I bought one of their mechanical keyboards for office work and it's a very good product.
 
Eorlas said:
SteelSeries' controller was not nearly as comfortable as other controllers available on the market, not to mention the feel of the button presses also did not fit the bill. $70 for a controller of this style is high.
Click to expand...
SteelSeries is in a bad situation imo. They're facing the compatibility of the twin kings of controllers. I would not want to be them. They may have to come up with a new pricing strategy to stay viable.

Eorlas said:
Between PS4 and Xb1 controllers...I have used both a lot, and while I prefer the DS4 (Dualshock 4, for PS4, for those who dont know the acronym) by a wide margin, I think they're still both great controllers with great feels, and if you already gravitate towards one or the other, use that.
Click to expand...
It's good to see someone who prefers the DS4 vs the XB1 controllers. I rarely encounter them. Anecdotal: everyone (including me) in my limited circle uses the XB1 controllers on the XBox and Playstation consoles. One controller to rule them all. :D They're just more comfortable imo. I think Sony thinks so too since they've changed the new upcoming Dual Sense controller to more ergonomically resemble the XB1 conroller.
 
Well whenever Apple finally decides to add support for the Series 2 Xbox Elite Controller, I’ll be able to use a controller with 40 hours of battery life and much better build quality than any of these MFI controllers. Can’t believe they haven’t added it for all of iOS 13 (current beta still doesn’t support it). Probably won’t be until 14.
 
Hard to justify when DS4/Xbox controllers have better build quality for less money and are fully supported. Also haptics.
 
I have one and prefer it to the non-elite Xbone controllers overall minus the lack of clickable joysticks (which this one has added on) and single menu button, think it's better quality and more comfortable too. Whoever put those glossy/slick textured triggers on the Xbone controller needs to learn from the designers at Nintendo and Sony.

Though now that we have Xbone support on Apple TV and it also works on PC, Mac, and just about every other thing, this is a little harder to justify.
 
Foxglove9 said:
Looks good. Still hoping Apple releases or licenses out a controller with the H1 chip to easily sync and switch to any iOS device I want to use. My shoebox of controllers right now reminds me of the 90's when I had a shoebox of IR Remotes.
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An official controller and API for force feedback would be nice. The Nimbus will do fine in the meantime :)
 
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Finally! Will order 4 for co-op games! Selling 2 Nimbus and 2 XBox 360 controllers
 
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OriginalClone said:
The amount of quality games that support controllers is still too low. You’d be better off with a PS4 or XBOne controller anyway.
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This is the bigger issue. I started the Apple arcade trial as soon as I was able to pair my XB1 controller to my appleTV. I had a lot of fun playing skate city, but then dropped it because too many games lacked controller support
 
blackcrayon said:
Almost a little surprising, someone thinks they can compete with official PS4, Xbox One
Click to expand...

Apple would dominate the game space if they would allow developers to create games that required a game controller and 100% ignored the touch screen. All the Nintendo Switch is, is a mobile device merged with a game controller.... touch screen is ignored on most Switch games.
 
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