My desk has seen a parade of gamepads over the last decade, ranging from high-end custom scuf controllers to bargain-bin knockoffs that barely function. Getting my hands on the new EasySMX X05 Pro was an experience that immediately stood out. This is the company’s latest attempt to conquer the budget PC and mobile gaming space, and they are making some incredibly bold claims.
The most shocking aspect of this package is the price point. You can currently pick this up on AliExpress for around $35, or slightly more if you opt for the limited edition colors. Seeing a spec sheet that includes Hall Effect sensors, a 1000Hz polling rate, and a massive battery for under forty bucks creates a mixture of excitement and skepticism.
This review will dissect every aspect of the EasySMX X05 Pro. I want to move past the spec sheet and dig into the reality of living with this device day in and day out. Is this truly the budget champion of 2025, or is it just another pretty face in a crowded market?
Design & Build Quality
Aesthetics are subjective, but it is hard to deny that the EasySMX X05 Pro is a head-turner. The unit I reviewed came in the “Aurora Purple” colorway, and it is honestly one of the most striking finishes I have encountered on a peripheral this cheap. The color isn’t a flat paint job; it’s a dynamic, shifting hue that dances between deep purple and electric blue depending on how the light hits it. For those who prefer a more understated look, standard black and white options exist, but the purple really showcases the personality of the device.
Material choice is critical in this price range, and EasySMX has made some smart decisions. The shell is entirely plastic, which is expected, but the quality of that plastic is surprisingly high. There is a rigidity to the frame that inspires confidence. I spent a good amount of time trying to flex the handles and squeeze the body to check for creaks or groans, and the controller remained silent and solid.
The shape follows the classic Xbox-style layout, which is the gold standard for PC gaming comfort. The handles are substantial enough to fill the palm without feeling bulky. What elevates the feel significantly is the rubberized grip texture on the back. It provides just enough friction to keep the controller secure in sweaty hands without feeling sticky or abrasive.
Button feel is another area where the X05 Pro takes a deliberate path. Instead of the trendy mechanical microswitches that sound like mouse clicks, this controller uses a membrane setup for the face buttons. EasySMX has added extra silicone padding to dampen the sound, leaning into their “quietest controller” marketing. The result is a button press that feels cushioned yet responsive. It lacks the sharp snap of a mechanical switch, but the tactile bump is satisfyingly distinct. There is almost no pre-travel or post-travel, making inputs feel direct and intentional.
The D-pad deserves special mention because it is often the Achilles’ heel of budget gamepads. I was pleasantly surprised by the implementation here. It is tactile and accurate, perfect for fighting games or navigating retro platformers. The pivot point feels centered, and accidental diagonals are rare. Like the face buttons, it operates quietly. You won’t hear that loud plastic-on-plastic clacking sound that can be so distracting. It strikes a lovely balance between soft actuation and precise feedback.
Ports and exterior features are standard but well-executed. The USB-C port is located at the top, recessed slightly to protect the cable head. On the rear, you will find the two programmable back buttons, which are positioned naturally under where your middle fingers rest. My only gripe with the build is that these rear buttons and the shoulder bumpers have a slightly more “clicky” sound compared to the silent face buttons, which breaks the auditory consistency a bit. However, mechanically, they are sound and responsive.
Performance
Performance is the engine room of any controller, and this is where the EasySMX X05 Pro makes its most aggressive play for the throne. The headline feature is the inclusion of Hall Effect sensors for both the joysticks and the triggers. For the uninitiated, Hall Effect sensors use magnets to detect movement rather than physical electrical contacts. This means there is no physical wear and tear on the sensor mechanism, effectively making stick drift—the plague of modern controllers—a thing of the past.
Testing the sticks revealed a level of precision that is frankly startling for the price. Out of the box, the circularity error rate is incredibly low, hovering around an average of 0.3% to 0.4% in testing software. This is elite-level accuracy. The movement is buttery smooth thanks to the contactless sensors and the anti-friction rings. There is a default deadzone of about 10% applied to the center, which is standard for consumer controllers to prevent jitter, but EasySMX includes a hidden “no deadzone” mode.
The polling rate is another massive win. On a wired connection and via the 2.4GHz wireless dongle, the X05 Pro delivers a rock-solid 1000Hz polling rate. However, the Bluetooth performance brings us back to reality. When connected via Bluetooth, the polling rate drops significantly to a standard 125Hz.
Gaming performance across genres was stellar. In racing games like Forza Horizon 5, the Hall Effect triggers provided smooth, granular control over throttle and braking. You can feather the gas with precision that standard potentiometers struggle to match. In shooters, enabling the “hair trigger” mode (which shortens the actuation distance digitally) allowed for rapid-fire performance that rivaled dedicated pro controllers.
Features & User Experience
Beyond the raw performance specs, the X05 Pro is packed with quality-of-life features that enhance the daily user experience. The standout for me is the implementation of the “Turbo” function. You can assign a turbo fire mode to any face button, which is a godsend for retro gaming or games that require button mashing. The frequency of the turbo can also be adjusted using the joystick, giving you control over how fast the automated inputs register.
The rear back buttons (labeled M1 and M2) are well-positioned and easy to actuate. They are fully remappable to any other button on the controller. I typically map them to the stick clicks (L3/R3) to save my thumbs from strain during sprinting or melee attacks. They can also be programmed with macros, allowing you to execute a string of inputs with a single press. While the macro recording process is a bit fiddly without a screen, the functionality is powerful once set up.
Smart features like the “stick boundary” adjustment show that EasySMX understands their audience. You can toggle the stick output boundary between a circle and a square. Square boundaries are often preferred by retro gamers and specific competitive communities, while circular is the standard for modern 3D movement.
One area where the experience falters slightly is the vibration feedback. The controller has four rumble motors—two in the grips and two in the triggers. The grip rumble is standard fare; it gets the job done but lacks the nuanced “HD rumble” feel of first-party controllers. The trigger rumble, however, was disappointing. It feels buzzy and irritating rather than immersive. In many games, it felt more like a distraction than a feature. It lacks the refinement needed to convey subtle textures or recoil. Fortunately, you can adjust the intensity or turn it off, which I found myself doing often.
Battery & Charging
Battery life is often the silent killer of wireless peripherals, but the X05 Pro comes prepared. It houses a massive 1000mAh battery, which is significantly larger than what you typically find in controllers of this size. In my real-world testing, the battery life was outstanding.
I consistently got between 12 to 15 hours of continuous gameplay on a single charge with the RGB lights on and vibration enabled. If you turn off the RGB and disable the rumble, you can squeeze even more juice out of it. This stamina means you can easily go a week of moderate gaming without needing to reach for the cable.
Charging is handled via the USB-C port on the top. The charging speed is standard; it takes a couple of hours to go from empty to full. The RGB indicator on the faceplate acts as a charging status light, pulsing to let you know it is drinking up power. Since the battery is so large, the charging time feels justified.
Final Thoughts
The EasySMX X05 Pro sits in a price bracket that is incredibly competitive yet often underwhelming. At an MSRP of around $35.99 to $39.99 on AliExpress, it is competing against a legion of generic controllers and older models from established brands. However, its value proposition is nearly unmatched.
When you break down what you are getting—Hall Effect sticks, Hall Effect triggers, 1000Hz polling rate, mechanical-feeling D-pad, high-quality build, and a 1000mAh battery—it is hard to find a direct competitor that offers the same package for the same money. The GameSir Nova Lite is a close rival, but the X05 Pro’s build quality and finish feel slightly more substantial.
While it lacks the sophisticated software suites of controllers like the BigBig Won Blitz 2 or the Flydigi Vader series, those controllers cost significantly more. The X05 Pro carves out a niche as the “performance value” king. It strips away the software bloat and focuses entirely on hardware excellence.
You are effectively paying $35 for a device that performs like a $70 controller in 90% of scenarios. The compromises—lack of audio jack, mediocre trigger rumble, no app—are easy to swallow when you look at the receipt. It redefines what we should expect from the entry-level market.
