The Nacon Evol-X Professional controller for Xbox marks the primary time I’ve been significantly upset within the model’s {hardware}. Whereas Nacon controllers just like the Revolution X usually strike a stability between high quality and affordability, the Evol-X Professional strays into the latter with out providing a lot of the previous.
Issues are initially obvious while you maintain the controller in your palms for the primary time. The Evol-X Professional is comparatively massive in comparison with the likes of the Xbox Wi-fi Controller and the GameSir T4 Kaleid, so until you’ve obtained bigger-than-average palms, longer play classes with the Evol-X Professional could be fairly demanding.
Different design points come to gentle when truly enjoying with the Evol-X Professional. Its analog sticks really feel fairly delicate, and the triggers are rendered a bit slippery due to their massive and sloped design. These issues did contribute to an unsatisfying play expertise, regardless of the face and shoulder buttons feeling sturdy.
Value and availability
The Nacon Evol-X Professional controller is available for purchase now from Nacon’s retailer for £27.99. On the time of writing, the gamepad isn’t out there for buy within the US or Australia; availability is at present restricted to the UK and Europe.
At floor degree, that is an exceptionally reasonably priced value level, being among the many least expensive controllers which can be formally licensed by Xbox. The controller can also be out there in three distinct colorways: normal black, carbon black and LED Professional.
The Evol-X Professional’s value level could also be tempting, however we advocate taking a look at different formally licensed Xbox controllers on this value vary. Chief amongst these being the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, which sits in our greatest Xbox controllers information and prices simply $34.99 / £29.99 and provides an total larger high quality expertise in comparison with the Evol-X Professional.
Design and options
It’s simple to boost an eyebrow on the Evol-X Professional out of the field, given its comparatively massive dimension when in comparison with most different official Xbox pads. For my average-sized palms, it was troublesome to relaxation my palms in opposition to the controller’s grips, making my thumbs hover awkwardly within the house between the grips and the analog sticks.
And it’s not simply the controller’s chassis that’s a bit of on the XL aspect; the triggers are questionably huge, wrapping underneath my index fingers nearly of their entirety. Once more, in case your palms are on the bigger aspect, this will likely make a level of sense; I can think about them becoming snugly underneath the fingers of such customers. However for me, they felt as uncomfortable to relaxation on because the controller’s grips.
Issues do enhance in different features of the controller’s design, fortunately. Its face and shoulder buttons, in addition to the d-pad, all really feel completely high quality and are of ample dimension and high quality. The central Dwelling, Menu and Share buttons are additionally appropriately positioned and I didn’t have to overly prolong my thumbs to succeed in them.
Ancillary options embrace a 3.5mm headphone jack on the backside of the controller – between the grips as normal – in addition to two programmable buttons on the again that may be simply assigned by holding the rear Operate button and your required enter on the entrance of the pad.
Now, I reviewed the LED Professional mannequin of the Evol-X Professional, and I’d strongly advise you to go for one of many different colour choices out there should you’re planning on shopping for. That’s as a result of, whereas the translucent shell is kind of good, the LEDs inside are positioned moderately randomly, and no effort has been made to cover the truth that these are straight up simply LEDs hooked up to the circuit board. It simply seems moderately low-cost and cobbled collectively.
For comparability’s sake, try how the GameSir T4 Kaleid approaches the identical design philosophy: its beautiful gold-on-black circuit board is flanked by RGB strips that look totally unbelievable and aren’t overly vivid like they’re on the Evol-X Professional. You possibly can hit a button on the entrance of the pad to vary the Evol-X Professional’s lighting patterns, nevertheless it actually doesn’t have an effect on the general brightness an excessive amount of.
Efficiency
If the Evol-X Professional felt adequately good to play video games with, I may forgive its design shortcomings. Sadly, this isn’t the case right here. With the Evol-X Professional, the general cheap-feeling design extends to its modules and in flip their total efficiency.
The controller’s analog sticks really feel a contact too delicate. They relaxation within the deadzone simply high quality, and I didn’t encounter any stick drift in my time enjoying, however they do really feel a bit of slippery throughout play, with even the slightest actions registering as inputs in-game.
This could be a downside in titles that require fairly exact motion and/or dodging, equivalent to Lies of P or platformers like A Hat in Time. And I’d not advocate the Evol-X Professional for video games that use the sticks as a method to enter instructions; that features a few of the finest combating video games like Avenue Fighter 6 and Responsible Gear Try.
The triggers, in the meantime, really feel very mushy when pressed inwards. I discovered this to be a difficulty in shooters, particularly, like PUBG: Battlegrounds and Remnant 2 with weapons that required single shot or semi-auto hearth. The Evol-X Professional doesn’t characteristic set off stops, both, so that you’ll usually want a full press of the set off so as to shoot, creating a level of unresponsiveness whereas enjoying such video games.
Ought to I purchase the Nacon Evol-X Professional controller?
Whereas the Evol-X Professional has its excessive factors in relation to the standard of its face buttons, shoulder buttons and d-pad, I discover little or no motive to advocate it past its affordability. And even then, equally priced gamepads – just like the HyperX Clutch Gladiate and 8BitDo Professional 2 – outclass it in nearly each approach.
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
How we reviewed the Nacon Evol-X Professional controller
I examined the Evol-X Professional over the course of a few week, going backwards and forwards between enjoying video games on Xbox Collection X and PC. I ensured to check the controller throughout a variety of titles, from extra informal choices like Fall Guys and Stardew Valley, to extra demanding video games like Lies of P, Elden Ring and PUBG: Battlegrounds.
For various controller and accent suggestions on Xbox, take into account trying out our guides to the finest Xbox Collection X and Collection S equipment.
