HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB Review

Verdict

Transparency means its addressable RGB isn’t subtle in any delicate method, and the circuit board beneath is a glance that may nonetheless come throughout as cheesy. However with some correct professional options by the use of two programmable again buttons, the HyperX Gladiate Clutch RGB justifies its buzzwords. You’ll be able to simply get the identical strong efficiency at a slightly cheaper value from the non-RGB variant.

Professionals

On-board profiles
Comfy form
Quick sticks, programmable buttons, and clicky, adjustable triggers

Cons

Seems to be gained’t attraction to everybody
Vastly dearer than the non-RGB model
Button really feel gained’t be to everybody’s flavour

Programmable paddlesTwo further buttons on the again might be shortly programmed to imitate different buttons.
Software program and tool-free useEach customization effort might be carried out on-device in a couple of steps.
Clear shell and addressable RGBSix evenly-spaced LEDs might be managed individually and shine brilliant by way of the clear shell

Introduction

Tacking on RGB lighting and swapping its typical black shell out for a colourless clear one to deliver the bulbs entrance and heart, the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB can’t be the price range choose for the gamer in want of one other pad. So how can it justify the value soar over its sleeker, non-illuminated predecessor?

Coming in at simply shy of £20 greater than its spectacular non-RBG providing, the wired-only HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB controller for Xbox One, Collection X/S, and PC runs near the value of a wi-fi first-party controller. You may suppose that it’s a cut price comparability with fancy lighting as well, however you’d be forgetting that it’s wired solely. You’ll save on disposable batteries and by no means threat a power-based disconnect, however the attainable inconveniences are value taking into consideration.

It’s by no means going to be for everybody. The gaudy, bare look is all the time firmly on the backside of my precedence listing. However these kind of designs live on as a result of there’s a marketplace for them. And for that, the model title carries it ahead. It’s not the most affordable glowy clear pad you’re prone to discover on retailer cabinets, however there’s a superb likelihood it’s among the many finest you may get for the cash, with the easy-to-use rear programmable buttons setting it aside from a personalized first-party pad.

Design

Extremely clean
Six individually-addressable RGB LEDs
Absolutely clear chassis

The HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB controller wears its “full-body” lighting badge boldly. The brilliant field struggles to convey the way it seems to be within the dimly-lit dwellings it’s prone to wind up in, nonetheless, as a substitute it turns to concentrate on how the six LEDs are symmetrically positioned round its face.

Regardless of the field picture and the one beneath, they will’t be individually managed to show completely different static colors: they will solely cycle by way of them like a rainbow. Static pictures sadly confuse issues.

A top-down view of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB. — Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)

Within the hand, that is one critically clean pad. There’s a pure grip to it, if that’s even a phrase, and a peculiarly morish roundness to the handles, regardless of having an apparent and completely vital ergonomic drop to facilitate a correct grasp.

Outdoors of the plain variations, the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB is simply one other clear Xbox controller. Every little thing is in the correct place, completely positioned as all Xbox layouts are typically. On the again, nonetheless, you’ll word that you just’re ring fingers naturally curl round to relaxation on the one again paddle button on both sides of the grip.

These are small and flat, so extra intently resemble the type of these discovered on the Steam Deck to the right paddles of dearer choices just like the PowerA Fusion Professional 3, Scuf Intuition Professional, or official Xbox Elite choices. Like the remainder of the buttons, they’re fairly loud when pressed.

A rear view of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RG — Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)

There’s little dampening to speak about there, and little or no of that good mechanic click on you may get in additional luxurious choices except for the hairline triggers that may be accentuated by limiting their actuation distance by way of their respective toggle switches on on the rear. For personal and occasion use, there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack on the backside as anticipated.

For the rightfully environmentally-conscious players on the market, relaxation assured that, except for some shrinkwrap alongside the highest of the controller, the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB is available in fully recyclable paper packaging.

Efficiency

Intuitive button project
Quick joysticks
Adjustable clicky triggers

When plugged in, the six front-facing LEDs spring to life with none enter, remaining on a static inexperienced to point life – which is a job devoted to the smaller gentle just under the big Xbox key.

Rapidly double-pressing the tiny profile button on the again of the controller causes this single bulb to breathe, with a press on both aspect of the d-pad then biking the bigger LEDs between three preset behaviours and the face buttons to regulate the color. The remaining two instructions dictate brightness. You’ll be able to flip them off, however the centre gentle will stay lively each time the controller is plugged in and operational.

A top-back view of the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RG — Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)

In use, each joysticks are notably clean. There’s no trace of the scratchiness you may get across the outer ring. For those who’re used to stiffer sticks, you’ll lack of resistance will probably be obvious, which could stand out extra in video games that want very exact and gradual actions like racing sims or video games with stealth parts.

For the combating followers on the market, the Dpad is just a little on the mushy aspect, with an Up press on my evaluate unit feeling just a little shorter than the opposite instructions. The entire thing is ready right into a circle, so whereas it’s not bodily omnidirectional like the present inventory Xbox controller, it does try to information you into these diagonal actions: one thing the aforementioned PowerA Fusion 3 omits in favour of 1 largely uniform shell.

Whereas the overwhelming majority of the controller’s buttons fall on the gentle and squishy aspect, the triggers use an unidentified technique to offer a tactic click on. You’ll get this whether or not you employ the toggles to set the journey distance to its default full squeeze or brief hairline-style actuation level.

It’s not excessively loud, nevertheless it’s sufficient to seemingly irritate these with a sure disdain towards the purposefully clicky mechanical switches on keyboards and mice. For those who like that form of factor, you’ll be tapping away on them to no finish. Possibly mute your foyer mic in the event you’re listening to music between matches. The twin rumble motors aren’t something to shout dwelling about, however suggestions feels good, balanced, and never too loud or punchy.

A view of the d-pad on the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB. — Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)

Conveniently, simply because it does the lighting, the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB helps you to program its two paddle buttons with out the necessity for software program. Which means you possibly can assign them on-device and instantly carry them out of your PC, to your Xbox, and to a laptop computer or a pal or institution’s machine, too.

The multi-second button maintain essential to set off it makes it troublesome to tug off within the warmth of the second, however in the event you take your time with it, it’s sensible to set a face button to both one. You’re not going to be tying any difficult enter sequences right here, however you possibly can preserve the necessity to raise your thumb off the correct joystick to a minimal by giving your center fingers the flexibility to reload a weapon, open the map, toggle between grenade sorts: that form of factor.

Software program

There isn’t any – and that’s (largely) nice
Three onboard profiles
Simply switchable presets

In a uncommon twist in right now’s gaming panorama, the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB can hit its peak with none annoying installs, sign-ups, or sharing of non-public information. It’s a breath of recent air in a world consistently demanding your particulars for trivial positive factors. Producers will declare it retains prices low, however HyperX manages to do the identical while going towards the grain.

What this implies is that any setting you’re capable of tweak might be achieved on-device, no matter platform, and carried effortlessly to the following. The directions poorly clarify it, however the lighting profiles work for button assignments, too, letting you feasibly preserve customized instructions on your three most-played video games accessible on the press of some buttons.

Simply bear in mind {that a} lack of software program assist means there’s no solution to inform which of the three profiles you’re toggling by way of if all of them mirror the identical LED color and impact. So in the event you arrange profiles for 3 completely different video games however use your favorite color, impact, and brightness for every (or flip the lighting off fully) you might need to repeatedly cycle by way of every and check them earlier than you hop right into a severe session.

Newest offers

Must you purchase it?

You desire a customizable controller you possibly can belief

The HyperX model continues to get consideration for all the correct causes, and the Clutch Gladiate RGB provides extra to an already well-reviewed pad

You favor operate (and value) over kind

If seen electronics and obtrusive, undiffused lighting aren’t your cup of tea, it can save you the headache (and your pockets) with the legacy Clutch Gladiate controller.

Remaining Ideas

Will the HyperX Clutch Gladiate RGB change your recreation? The lighting gained’t. I see it as an enormous distraction. There’s no solution to have it react to issues like depleting well being. It’s purely for present and self-expression, and the lighting instructions too excessive a value hike.

The identical potential in-game advantages can be found within the drastically cheaper alternate that, in my opinion, is a darn sight extra pleasing to the attention. Nonetheless, when you have the money to cost up from one to the opposite and revel in that form of aptitude, grabbing the HyperX title means one thing. They’re economically acutely aware efforts with a strong repute for high quality.

The 2-year guarantee seemingly doesn’t apply to break from exterior pressures – sore losers beware – nevertheless it’s reassuring to know there’s perception within the product’s clicky switches that, on first use, can really feel like a significant failure ready to occur mid-match. Relaxation assured: they will take a squeeze.

As an alternative of the Clutch Gladiate RGB, the worth appears to be in going for the non-RGB possibility or just choosing the simple Xbox controller, which is nice in its personal proper. For those who’re tied to a budget-wired choose, then the Nacon Professional Compact stays a strong possibility. You’ll have to up your price range if these picks don’t have every thing you’re after, which you’ll find in our greatest recreation controllers and finest PC recreation controller shopping for guides.

How we check

We use each recreation controller we check for at the least every week. Throughout that point, we’ll verify it for ease of use and put it by way of its paces by taking part in quite a lot of completely different genres.

We additionally verify the controller’s software program assist and battery life if relevant.

We used as our primary controller for at the least every week.

Performed quite a lot of video games to check all of the options.

Examined out the battery life.