Credit: QRDGame
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Do you own a Nintendo Switch, and are looking for an alternative to the original Joy-Cons? Then look no further than the QRD Stellar T5 Wireless Joycons! I was recently presented with the opportunity to review these Joy-Cons, and I’ve decided to share my thoughts in a detailed review for you all. This review will be helpful for those of you who are in the market for a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con replacement.
In order to properly review the QRD Stellar T5, I spent quite a bit a time with it. I played a variety of games in order to get a good sense of its function, positives and negatives. After reading this review, you should be able to determine whether or not the QRD Stellar T5 Joy-Cons are right for you.
What Is The QRD Stellar T5?
The QRD Stellar T5 was created by QRDGAME, a company established in 2021 that has a passion for creating affordable, and stylish gaming controllers. The QRD Stellar T5 is available for $58.99 and has many features packed in that make it a suitable replacement to what you may be used to on the Nintendo Switch. These features include the hall-effect joysticks, mechanical buttons, a replaceable d-pad, a turbo-speed function, RGB lighting, adjustable vibration, 6.5 hours of battery life, back macro buttons, and much more.
Pros: What I Liked
I was immediately impressed when I laid my eyes on the Joy-Cons. The Joy-Cons are much larger than the original ones provided by Nintendo. The QRD Stellar T5 fits very nicely in hand, and when docked is slightly larger and much lighter than both my Xbox and PlayStation 5 controllers. The size, look, and feel of these Joy-Cons are a welcome upgrade.
I rarely play my Nintendo Switch as one of my biggest complaints is how uncomfortable the original Joy-Cons are. The buttons and triggers are relatively small, and you usually have to buy some type of accessory to make these feel a bit more comfortable. I was very excited to open the QRD Stellar T5 and get normal-size buttons and triggers!
Buttons and Triggers
Mechanical buttons: One of my favorite features of the QRD Stellar T5! The buttons and triggers have a very precise and snappy feeling. The closest comparison I can make is they resemble the functionality of a computer mouse. This helped give me a ton of confidence especially when playing online shooters. Oddly enough I prefer the triggers here over the ones offered on my PS5. They are much more responsive, and the snappy feeling just feels so much more precise.
Hall Effect joysticks: This is a feature that is heavily advertised with this controller, and I’d say they held to this promise very well as I didn’t experience any stick drift or latency during my playthrough. The controllers are relatively smooth and fluid, and are at a height that should be comfortable for most adults.
Replaceable D-pad: I did learn that the D-pad is replaceable, but I have yet to get confirmation from QRDGAME regarding this, but the D-pad is comfortable to the touch as well. It also includes a similar snappy feeling to what you have with the left and right triggers.
Back Macro Buttons: The back macro buttons are a nice touch as well. I did not use them very much while testing, but they are also very comfortable to the touch.
RGB Lighting
If you’re a fan of RGB lighting, then you’ll love how the QRD Stellar T5 uses this on the circular ring around the triggers. There are a total of 8 different color options, and they are very simple to change to your liking. All you have to do is hold down the turbo buttons, and press on each individual joystick until you reach the desired color. This is a very nice look and adds a little bit of customization to the controller.
Bluetooth
Similar to the original Switch joy cons, the QRD Stellar T5 connects to your console via Bluetooth, but the added benefit here is that you can connect them to multiple devices including your cell phone or PC. I tested this feature out, and I did enjoy it. It’s very simple to connect each Joy Con, and the lightweight of the dock makes the controller a comfortable option to consider even for those that are choosing to game on their phone or computer.
Standing
This controller can stand on it’s own! This may not be a big deal for some, but I think it’s incredible. How this works is the controllers are designed with a smaller flatter portion on either side. This allows you to stand the controller upright, and add little more cool to your gaming setup.
Cons: What I Disliked
Overall I enjoyed my experience with the QRD Stellar T5, but there are a few items that I disliked about the controller. The first that I’ll mention has to do with using the controller when it’s docked.
Lightweight Dock: The center dock is extremely light, and this may be a positive for some, but it is a disadvantage for me, but one that I wouldn’t say is particularly critical. When connecting both controllers, the dock is so light that it had me wondering if my Joy Cons were secured. I’d like to see QRDGame add a little more weight to the dock in future versions as this would give me a little more confidence while holding the controller in this mode.
Lack of Lighting of the X, B, Y, and A Buttons: The X, B, Y, and A buttons are laid out differently on every gaming platform. Since these buttons do not light up, it can be difficult to locate a particular button if you are gaming in a darker area. I’d like to see QRDGame add a version of this controller with transparent buttons that have a backlight or they can at least add coloring to the letters to help make these buttons more identifiable.
Battery Life: This one I didn’t necessarily have an issue with, but I do realize that some gamers may not like the 6.5 hours of battery life you get with each Joy Con. Add to this, each joy con must be charged individually so I can see how this may present a problem if you’re someone that games for lengthy periods of time.
Final Thoughts
The QRD Stellar T5 Wireless Joy Cons are a great alternative to the original Nintendo Switch joy cons. At just under $60.00, I think these will provide more than enough value for someone looking to upgrade. They are comfortable, look great, and have enough features to at least make them a solid option to consider if you’re in the market.
If you’d like to learn more about this controller or the other options provided by this brand, feel free to check out QRD’s website.
