Our VerdictCompact, shiny, and with personality, the Kaleid controller is easy to use. The glassy material gets dirty quickly with smudges, but there are similarly feature-rich wireless pads for the same price. Though they do look rather boring.
Our VerdictCompact, shiny, and with personality, the Kaleid controller is easy to use. The glassy material gets dirty quickly with smudges, but there are similarly feature-rich wireless pads for the same price. Though they do look rather boring.
Our Verdict
Our Verdict
Compact, shiny, and with personality, the Kaleid controller is easy to use. The glassy material gets dirty quickly with smudges, but there are similarly feature-rich wireless pads for the same price. Though they do look rather boring.
ForLightweightRGB lights can be turned on/offGreat gripAgainstSoftware not intuitiveButton Symbols are hard to read
ForLightweightRGB lights can be turned on/offGreat grip
AgainstSoftware not intuitiveButton Symbols are hard to read
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TheGameSir Kaleid Fluxwired Xbox Controller with paddles is tough, well-priced, and good-looking. The techy glass design is simple and clean, and the name ‘Kaleid’ is certainly fitting for this controller due to its kaleidoscope-type pattern weaving from one end of the controller to the other. The otherwise minimalist colorway of black and gold is a great fit for a minimalist setup—perhaps one with dark, dramatic decor—though it won’t match with a pink or white setup.
The design inside the controller, the face buttons, and D-pad are gold. The joysticks, options, mute, share, and screenshot buttons are black. To be honest, all black everywhere on the buttons makes it hard to read. It also might make it tough to notice the extra button on the controller. It’s the mute button, which is a bit insignificant for PC gamers, controlling as it does the 3.5 mm headphone jack. However, it doubles as a mapping button that turns on the hair trigger, cycles through the RGB lights and controls their brightness.
At first glance, the Kaleid Flux looks sleek. It is worth a wee double take from the design alone. It’s one of those controllers you hope lights up, as I had hoped for theLexip Kakashi controllerwhen I saw the Susano mask on it.
Kaleid specs(Image credit: Future)Connection:Wired (USB-C to USB-A)Thumbsticks:Hall EffectTriggers:Hall EffectButtons:MembranePrice:$47|£56
Kaleid specs
(Image credit: Future)Connection:Wired (USB-C to USB-A)Thumbsticks:Hall EffectTriggers:Hall EffectButtons:MembranePrice:$47|£56
(Image credit: Future)
Connection:Wired (USB-C to USB-A)Thumbsticks:Hall EffectTriggers:Hall EffectButtons:MembranePrice:$47|£56
The software is a good thing to have on hand, not only for customizations but for updates. Right out of the box, I noticed the controller would shut off quickly after turning on. A software update fixed the issue, however, my computer noted the update file as dangerous. My PC tells me to download this with caution—just for you guys, I took the risk.
The buttons are satisfying to push, it feels like a mechanical controller, though inevitably doesn’t have the tactile feel of the excellentRazer Wolverine V3 Pro. For everyone with blue and green switches, though, this controller is for you. These Kaleid Flux buttons are loud. Can’t forget about the two paddles, well, you can because they’re barely noticeable. That’s a good thing, though; the paddles don’t feel bulky or out of place. And are still clicky, like a good mechanical keyboard.
Grounded is the main game I’ve used the Kaleid controller for. My Grounded sessions last a minimum of four hours and I don’t feel the need to take a break from the controller. I tested out the two paddles on the back. The right paddle I used as an Action button; throw, chop, hammer, etc. The left paddle I used for LT, to block. Which is super crucial especially when venturing into anthills.
Image1of4(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)
Image1of4(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
Buy if…
Don’t buy if…❌You don’t want to mess around with peripheral software:Trying to get the controller to work out of the box could be an issue. The update software isn’t easy to find, nor is the GameSir software.❌You’re looking for something heavy:This isn’t the controller for you. It’s an artistic piece for sure and I am afraid to drop it with what seems to be tempered glass. It’s like having the anxiety of a phone, without the high price point.
Don’t buy if…
❌You don’t want to mess around with peripheral software:Trying to get the controller to work out of the box could be an issue. The update software isn’t easy to find, nor is the GameSir software.❌You’re looking for something heavy:This isn’t the controller for you. It’s an artistic piece for sure and I am afraid to drop it with what seems to be tempered glass. It’s like having the anxiety of a phone, without the high price point.
❌You don’t want to mess around with peripheral software:Trying to get the controller to work out of the box could be an issue. The update software isn’t easy to find, nor is the GameSir software.
❌You’re looking for something heavy:This isn’t the controller for you. It’s an artistic piece for sure and I am afraid to drop it with what seems to be tempered glass. It’s like having the anxiety of a phone, without the high price point.
Star Wars Outlawshas the right stick as the action button, on the Kaleid Flux, that button is mapped to the right paddle, and it makes the game so much more enjoyable. Even if I didn’t map it, pushing in the right stick isn’t as laborious as other controllers, it goes in fairly quickly with little pressure.
With an MSRP of around $50 (€66), it’s still a wired controller, with its software, plus Hall Effect triggers, six customizable RGB lights/buttons, and paddles, also customizable. This rubbery, tactile controller is lightweight and cool to the touch, and I really enjoy holding this controller, but I will say it dropped a bit for me on the likeability scale when the update software is portrayed like malware.
The Gamesir Kaleid Flux is a solid, good-looking wired, RGB, Xbox controller. Though thePowerA OPS v1 is the same price, with Hall Effect sticks, paddles, and a 2.4 GHz wireless connection. That does make the environment pretty hostile for a wired pad. Still, it feels unique when measured against other wired controllers. Most of the them are either painted beautifully and also set at an affordable price, while others are boring, wired, and have paddles. The Kaleid Flux is affordable with paddles, and a nice tech design, adorned with an LED RGB strip winding from one end of the controller to the other. Though, it must be said, the competition at this price point is growing ever more tough.
GameSir Kaleid Flux: Price Comparison
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The Verdict70Read our review policyGameSir Kaleid FluxCompact, shiny, and with personality, the Kaleid controller is easy to use. The glassy material gets dirty quickly with smudges, but there are similarly feature-rich wireless pads for the same price. Though they do look rather boring.
The Verdict
The Verdict
70Read our review policyGameSir Kaleid FluxCompact, shiny, and with personality, the Kaleid controller is easy to use. The glassy material gets dirty quickly with smudges, but there are similarly feature-rich wireless pads for the same price. Though they do look rather boring.
70Read our review policy
70
GameSir Kaleid FluxCompact, shiny, and with personality, the Kaleid controller is easy to use. The glassy material gets dirty quickly with smudges, but there are similarly feature-rich wireless pads for the same price. Though they do look rather boring.
GameSir Kaleid Flux
Compact, shiny, and with personality, the Kaleid controller is easy to use. The glassy material gets dirty quickly with smudges, but there are similarly feature-rich wireless pads for the same price. Though they do look rather boring.
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