Verdict
The SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud boasts itself as a singular resolution to a Twenty first-century downside, enabling you to briefly fold up a super cellular controller right into a Bluetooth-ready gamepad. It additionally is helping that it is speedy, responsive, and relaxed to carry. It is only a disgrace it is so dear.
- Responsive, tactile buttons
- At ease design
- Double danger and closes up for more room
- Pricey
- No stressed out connectivity
I have discovered myself questioning quite a few occasions prior to whether or not a cellular controller that switches to a same old gamepad would paintings, however it kind of feels that SteelSeries were given forward of me on that concept. The SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud controller doubles as an extension in your telephone in addition to a Bluetooth-enabled little bit of tech that unusually manages to be a jack-of-all-trades for iPhone and PC, in addition to a grasp of its lane.
It isn’t highest – not anything ever is. However the Nimbus Cloud seems like the suitable selection for any individual who performs the absolute best cellular video games after which briefly dives onto a PC for a couple of classes. It is dear, as one of the crucial priciest choices in comparison to one of the crucial most sensible selections from our absolute best cellular controllers information, but it surely additionally has the advantage of being a double danger.
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Worth and availability
The SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud controller, which I can be shortening for the rest of this evaluate, holds a horny hefty ticket. At $149.99 / £149.99 at SteelSeries, it is one of the vital dear cellular controllers (and gamepads basically), whilst Gamesir’s more than a few choices are a lot less expensive – the G8 Galileo stays one in every of my favorites at simply $80 and can also be discovered on sale continuously.
There may be just one colorway right here, a swish, easy black. There is not any RGB across the analog sticks, neither is there the Kishi V3 Professional’s great lighting fixtures somewhere else, only a gentle indicator for charging and battery existence. That isn’t a deal breaker for me, however I might’ve appreciated just a little pizazz, despite the fact that the controller’s get together trick is fascinating sufficient by itself.
Design
I used to be shocked at how gentle the controller is, in spite of all the little gimmicks that differentiate it from the contest, sitting at only a measly 230g. If I have been a foul comic, I might make the shaggy dog story that it is as ‘gentle as a cloud,’ however for the sake of your studying enjoy, I would possibly not make that shaggy dog story.
I am satisfied that the true structure of the buttons feels precisely the best way I would like, an asymmetrical joystick with an Xbox-style method, which is far better than the Steam Deck / PlayStation-like design. It is extra relaxed to carry for lengthy play classes, and I have spotted that it is a lot more straightforward to make use of in intense missions within the absolute best FPS video games, akin to Future Emerging and PUBG Cellular.
The most obvious function that makes the SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud stand out is how it may be a telephone controller, prolonged out to suit your gaming telephone at one second, however then briefly shut up for use as a regular gamepad. That makes it remarkably more straightforward to retailer and in addition signifies that it takes up much less house on my table. By itself, that is a horny nice reason why to shop for it.
The entire buttons really feel remarkably clicky, and it kind of feels that SteelSeries has taken a web page out of Razer’s ebook to make each and every press really feel tactile and gratifying. That isn’t only a function restricted to the face buttons, however slightly, the whole lot from the shoulders and triggers to the clicking of an L3 or R3 – it enhances the peripheral and makes each and every motion really feel relaxing.
Efficiency
Directly off the bat, I had a small factor with the SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud that made it exhausting to revel in absolutely. Even supposing the iPhone 17 Professional Max is suitable with the controller, as Apple suggests it’s, the software’s design with the plateau for the digicam signifies that, whilst the massive style does have compatibility, it is not highest, and it does really feel just a little unfastened for my liking.
Alternatively, that is one in every of simplest two issues of a horny impressive and distinctive controller. The House button robotically directs to Apple’s new Video games app for fast get right of entry to in your library of titles, with no need to obtain a third-party app just like the Spine or Razer telephone controllers do, and it makes it simple to leap directly into your favourite video games briefly.
The relationship with the USB-C is forged sufficient and does not randomly fall misplaced in spite of my aforementioned worries concerning the 17 Professional Max, and enjoying Future Emerging on it particularly made for a good time. I in reality stopped enjoying the PC model as my major machine to benefit from the gacha sport on, just because Future’s good gunplay feels in reality impactful with the Nimbus Cloud.
Alternatively, I additionally needed to make the unlucky selection between my PC and iPhone for Future. The SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud, no less than in all of my checking out, would possibly not hook up with my PC with a stressed out connection – and that’s the reason an issue for me. Whilst it is a downside alleviated through the Bluetooth possibility, I love having it stressed out up for low latency, and I additionally shouldn’t have a Bluetooth dongle hooked up to my pc.
Should you do have a Bluetooth-ready software, like a hand-held console or in all probability your gaming telephone (if you need it arrange a special approach), then it really works reasonably smartly. The relationship is fast and snappy. I did not realize any latency problems when enjoying video games like Lifeless Cells or COD Cellular, and it has got a tight battery lifetime of round 15-20 hours in accordance with my checking out. I like the truth that it has passthrough, permitting you to rate the controller when you are gaming.
Must you purchase the SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud Twin-Mode controller?
The solution as to if you will have to purchase the SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud controller is a ‘perhaps,’ and that most probably depends upon your state of affairs. If you have got an iPad or any other gaming pill along your telephone that different controllers do not have compatibility, then it is a just right all-in-one technique to a singular downside. It is expensive, certain, however the ease of use, in addition to the incredible design, make it value that worth.
If you are in search of only a cellular controller, chances are high that it’s kind of overkill. You’ll be able to pay so much much less to get a an identical enjoy from the likes of Gamesir, and I do not believe it is value that $150 ticket when you find yourself the usage of it for only one reason why. Alternatively, there is a just right reason why it is referred to as a Twin Mode controller, and that’s the reason now not as a result of you’ll be able to need it for one software.
That is our SteelSeries Nimbus Cloud Controller evaluate, and whilst it can be dear, it is nonetheless a perfect controller to pair with a few of our absolute best finances gaming telephones. If you will cost a fortune on a top rate peripheral, you may also save on upgrading your getting old handset.
