First Official Apple Certified Wireless Controller Released By SteelSeries

SteelSeries has launched its first wireless controller for iOS 7 devices, making it the first fully wireless controller for iDevices certified by Apple. The Stratus looks like a smaller version of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 controller, and features a directional pad. There are two analog sticks and four face and shoulder buttons. All buttons are pressure sensitive, and the controller comes with a single micro-USB port at the bottom for charging. The controller connects via Bluetooth 2.1, and works with the iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5, iPad Mini, iPad Air, iPad 4th gen and the 5th gen iPod Touch running iOS 7.

SteelSeries claims that the device has a full charge endurance of 10 hours, with the controller taking 2 hours to fully charge. Currently, not all games recognize a wireless controller, but more are starting to work with external controllers, so it should not be too long before every game in your catalogue works with the Stratus. Newer games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, for instance, work just fine with the Stratus.

Other wireless controllers like the MOGA Ace Power and the Logitech Powershell connect using the Lighting port, and as such aren’t the best solution if you’re looking to use the Lighting port for HDMI out. In that way, the SteelSeries Stratus is significantly better. However, the diminutive size of the controller is a drawback, and we for one cannot see the Stratus as the ideal controller for extended sessions of Infinity Blade 3.

Another major issue with the Stratus is its price, which is at $99.99. This is astronomically high considering Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and PS4 controllers cost $59.99 and are leagues ahead both in terms of build quality and comfort.

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