SteelSeries Nimbus MFi Wireless iOS Controller Review

Peter Donnell / 9 years ago

Final Thoughts

Price

Given that the first generation of SteelSeries controllers for iOS devices were small and expensive, I was expecting an equally wallet busting price this time around. However, the Nimbus controller is available directly from Apple.com and iOS stores for around £44.99 / $49.99, which is pretty competitive overall.

Overview

There’s a huge range of mobile controllers on the market these days, and seemingly more cropping up all the time. However, it’s without a doubt that the Nimbus is the best iOS compatible controller I’ve ever used. Personally, I still think the best mobile controller on the market is the Nvidia Shield Controller, but given that won’t work with Apple devices, the Nimbus is a close second.

The build quality of the controller is fantastic, with durable construction overall, and good quality components used for the analogue sticks, triggers and switches. I’m especially pleased with the D-pad, it’s not perfect, but I’ve seen so many controllers come and go that get the absolute basics of this wrong, so it’s nice to see one that’s actually enjoyable to use, especially when playing classic arcade games. The triggers are pretty special too, with fantastic ergonomics and a nice tactile feel to them that’s well suited to a wide range of game types.

The pressure sensitive buttons are a nice feature and one that Apple are pretty strict on being included. They can add an extra level of depth and control to some games, but I must admit that I prefer the tactile feedback that some digital switches can provide vs pressure switches, but that’s just me. The inclusion of the menu button is a nice touch too, especially for those who use the Apple TV. It speeds up navigation and means you don’t have to reach for the Apple TV remote to get to what you need when you need it.

With up to four controllers supported at a time, at least dependant on your device and game of choice, the Nimbus is great for some multiplayer action too. Combine this with the perfectly reasonable price tag and the Nimbus is sure to be the controller of choice for iOS gaming, on Apple TV or any other compatible device for that matter.

If you’re looking to kick back and enjoy some mobile games, then there’s really no better option out there for iOS. The build quality, performance and price are going to be hard for anyone to beat, especially with the added bonus of a trusted brand name such as Steelseries at the helm. The added bonus of their free Nimbus companion app will even make it easier than ever to find the games that work the best with it.

Pros

Great build quality
Pressure sensitive buttons
Great analogue triggers
Good quality d-pad
Long battery life
Lightning compatible
Menu button
Wireless
Lots of iOS devices supported, including Apple TV
Competitive price

Cons

No lightning cable included, requires use of your own for charging

Neutral

Pressure sensitive face buttons lack precise tactile feedback

“Gaming on mobile hardware may not be a thread to mainline gaming just yet, but when it comes to picking up a controller to play your favourite games on iOS, be that on your iPad or Apple TV, the Nimbus is by far the best controller for the job we’ve seen to date, highly recommended!”