The Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons are quite divisive controllers. While praised for being two controllers in one, the Joy-Cons have many issues. Its small form factor and expensive cost come to mind, with the biggest problem being the tendency to stick drift. Controller manufacturer QRD Game recently released their QRD Stellar T5; A full-fledged wireless Joy-Con alternative compatible with Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile. Is the QRD Stellar T5 a worthy replacement for Nintendo’s official Joy-Cons?
Quality Control
Inside the box, the QRD Stellar T5 includes both a left and right joypad, a centerpiece attachment, a USB type C charging cable, and 2 D-Pads. Unlike Nintendo’s Joy-Con grip attachment, the T5’s centerpiece attachment contains no grips. The bulk of the controller lies within the left and right joypads themselves. When combined with the attachment, the QRD Stellar T5 feels great in the hands. The extra inch in width is a noticeable improvement for those with larger hands. The back grips of each joypad have a texturized rubber grip, which gives the controller a more premium feel. Out of the box, the Stellar T5 is compatible with Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile.
Stylish Flair
Unlike Nintendo’s official offerings, the QRD Stellar T5 comes in one color option. While I find the controller’s semi-translucent dark grey appealing, it is a personal preference. Each controller has an LED ring housed around the joystick. The rings can be set to one of seven colors, as well as a rainbow effect. Each joypad’s ring is individually programmable, allowing for offset color combinations and brightness adjustments. The vibration features can also be adjusted, allowing each pad’s feedback to be individually set. The vibration levels range from 100%, 75%, 50%, and 30% to disabled. Unfortunately, custom colors and vibration seem to reset to default upon powering off the controller.
Removable D-Pad
Another neat customization feature of the Stellar T5 is the left pad’s removable D-Pad. The stock pad is a more traditional 4-way cross, whereas the additional pad is a more circular 8-way. The inclusion of a removable D-Pad allows gamers to customize the functionality, depending on the case. In testing, both pads were incredibly responsive and did not net any false presses. I found the stock D-Pad to be an excellent choice for puzzle games like Tetris 99. The circular pad is a better option for games utilizing the d-pad for menus, or for retro RPGs.
Hall Effect FTW
One major improvement the Stellar T5 has, over the official Joy-Cons, is Hall Effect joysticks. These sticks are specially designed to utilize magnets and electrical conductors to sense the joystick’s position. This provides accurate measurement of movement without the need for analog components. The joystick’s moving parts make no physical contact, which was the root cause for stick drift. The Stellar T5’s joysticks feel quite stellar, and longevity-wise should last quite some time. When testing the T5 with Portal Companion Collection, the sticks were very responsive. Both vertical and horizontal movement felt buttery smooth. The stick drift plagued within the Joy-Cons proves that Hall Effect should become the standard.
Macros
The QRD Stellar T5’s back grips each house a programmable macro button. The additional macros can function as a single button or a combination of multiple presses. Programming the macros is as simple as pressing the small “m” button along with the desired button combination. Each joypad’s macro button is individually programmable, allowing for better customization. These additional paddle-like buttons are incredibly simple to set up, adding value to the controller’s functionality. Like the LEDs and rumble, the macros also reset upon powering off the controller. While a minor inconvenience, remapping the button is a quick task.
Button Up
The Stellar T5’s face buttons and triggers use mechanical microswitches. This results in more reliable tactile button presses. Microswitches provide multiple contact points, remedying unresponsive button presses. While a functional improvement, it does come at a cost; Noise. The face buttons and triggers are very clicky and loud. While not majorly distracting, it is quite noticeable. Each button is also capable of turbo functionality.
Single Pad Play
Both of the T5’s joypads are fully usable as individual controllers, much like the Joy-Cons. The T5’s left joypad contains a D-Pad, making it less than ideal for single pad play. Each joypad’s more concave ergonomics feel much better to hold vs the Joy-Con’s flat design. The official Joy-Con straps are also compatible, giving access to full-sized SL and SR buttons. While single pad play is not the T5’s forte, it is a viable option.
QRD Stellar T5 vs Nintendo Joy-Con
Gyro-mite
Both of the T5’s joypads contain 6-axis motion-sensing gyro functionality. When testing games like Nintendo Switch Sports, the gyroscopic motion controls work great! Playing rounds of bowling and tennis was on par with the official Joy-Cons. Games that use aim controls, such as The House of The Dead, are seemingly unplayable. The in-game cursor moves on its own, often off the screen, rendering aiming impossible.
On The Go Play
QRD’s Stellar T5 works incredibly well in handheld mode. Setting up is as simple as snapping the joypads onto the Switch. The Nintendo Switch immediately recognized them as standard Joy-Cons. The joypads are larger than the official Joy-Cons, which results in horizontal girth. While this is great for comfort in play, it does present a portability issue. Most cases designed for the Switch will not fit the console with the T5 attached. Those looking to take their Switch on the go will need a new case. I was able to fit the Switch and detached joypads into an ROG Ally case. It would be nice to see QRD develop a carrying case compatible with their controllers.
Portal Companion Collection in Handheld Mode
Closing Thoughts
The QRD Stellar T5 is a great Nintendo Switch Joy-Con alternative. While not a perfect replacement, it does offer quite the added value for the price. The Stellar T5 is a great solution for those who find Nintendo’s Joy-Con uncomfortable. Whether you play docked or in handheld mode, QRD’s latest controller is a worthy alternative. The QRD Stellar T5 is a robust and responsive controller that is well worth your consideration. The QRD Stellar T5 is available now for $58.99 USD on QRD’s official storefront. Our readers can get 10% off their purchase using code WMar10 at checkout!
A QRD Stellar T5 wireless controller was provided for the purpose of this review.
